Hi, my interest in cycle racing is mere curiousity. I live in Belgium and have noticed that the womens's races are not on 'women's' bikes. I've asked a few people why do the women also have to have a cross bar and the only half decent answer I've got is to minimise the statistical difference. i.e men use cross bar, so to keep things 'even' women must race with them too.
If that's true, should they alternate every now and then. Just imagine, a Tour de France on girly bikes.
I've tried doing a search for the answer here, but only found one amusing thread which didn't really answer the question (apart from how it might feminise men)
I've asked a few people why do the women also have to have a cross bar and the only half decent answer I've got is to minimise the statistical difference. i.e men use cross bar, so to keep things 'even' women must race with them too.
Rubbish. There is no advantage in using a "women's" frame configuration for racing (or indeed much anything except for riding in a very long skirt) but rather substantial disadvantages wrt weight and frame rigidity (and probably aerodynamics) and that's why nobody would even think about racing with one. Plus nowadays most of them would not even allowed in road, track and cyclocross races because of the current geometry rules (article 1.3.020), as the maximum distance from the highest to the lowest point of the top tube must be under 16 cm.
Hi, my interest in cycle racing is mere curiousity. I live in Belgium and have noticed that the womens's races are not on 'women's' bikes. I've asked a few people why do the women also have to have a cross bar and the only half decent answer I've got is to minimise the statistical difference. i.e men use cross bar, so to keep things 'even' women must race with them too.
Racing bikes are made to be strong and light. Women's-style bikes are inherently weaker. -Paul
Hi, my interest in cycle racing is mere curiousity. I live in Belgium and have noticed that the womens's races are not on 'women's' bikes. I've asked a few people why do the women also have to have a cross bar and the only half decent answer I've got is to minimise the statistical difference. i.e men use cross bar, so to keep things 'even' women must race with them too.
Ah. It's a side-effect of doping. When women dope, they need to use bikes with a top tube. Note that the converse need not be true: you can't infer from the use of a top tubed bike that a female is doping. However, since all racers dope, all racers need to use bikes with top tubes.
Hi, my interest in cycle racing is mere curiousity. I live in Belgium and have noticed that the womens's races are not on 'women's' bikes. I've asked a few people why do the women also have to have a cross bar and the only half decent answer I've got is to minimise the statistical difference. i.e men use cross bar, so to keep things 'even' women must race with them too.
Ah. It's a side-effect of doping. When women dope, they need to use bikes with a top tube. Note that the converse need not be true: you can't infer from the use of a top tubed bike that a female is doping. However, since all racers dope, all racers need to use bikes with top tubes.
"aquachimp" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Hi, my interest in cycle racing is mere curiousity. I live in Belgium and have noticed that the womens's races are not on 'women's' bikes. I've asked a few people why do the women also have to have a cross bar and the only half decent answer I've got is to minimise the statistical difference. i.e men use cross bar, so to keep things 'even' women must race with them too.
If that's true, should they alternate every now and then. Just imagine, a Tour de France on girly bikes.
Hi, my interest in cycle racing is mere curiousity. I live in Belgium and have noticed that the womens's races are not on 'women's' bikes. I've asked a few people why do the women also have to have a cross bar and the only half decent answer I've got is to minimise the statistical difference. i.e men use cross bar, so to keep things 'even' women must race with them too.
Quoted message said:
If that's true, should they alternate every now and then. Just imagine, a Tour de France on girly bikes.
Well thanks for that little curiosity all the same. Not quite a 'male bike, not quite a female one either.... but a very high seat. Indecisive? Also a curious stand... at least I think that's what that is front of rear tyre at ground level.
