General Cycling Discussion - more unisex models

This is a sort of follow up to the thread re older folks and biking.

I'm 52 and I would not mind biking on a female or unisex model. As we get older it can get more difficult to swing our leg over the bike. I live in the Netherlands and the overwhelming majority models of bikes here are commuters and in two flavors - male and female.

I think it would a smart marketing move for the companies to begin offering unisex models. Any thoughts?

Originally posted by davehorne
This is a sort of follow up to the thread re older folks and biking.

I'm 52 and I would not mind biking on a female or unisex model. As we get older it can get more difficult to swing our leg over the bike. I live in the Netherlands and the overwhelming majority models of bikes here are commuters and in two flavors - male and female.

I think it would a smart marketing move for the companies to begin offering unisex models. Any thoughts?

I think I would go for this. I am 60 and the riding is easy for me - the swing over is not.

Try this: instead of keeping the bike perpendicular to the ground and slinging your leg over it lean the bike over towards you a bit and you'll find you don't have to raise your leg nearly as far to clear the seat.

Zack

Zack, I've done that ... I've also parked next to a curb to make it easier to get off. This, for me at least, could be a marketing strategy for a company who wants to sell more bikes.

I, and many others, are put off if we (men) were to buy a 'female' model bike. If the companies marketed 'unisex' or 'for the older gentleman' model, they might actually sell more bikes ... and get more older folks off their duff.

Are there any marketing folks reading this? I'd love to hear from you. I'd love to work for you!!!

Hmm.. and here I was hoping for a thread about those androgynes in the Calvin Klein advertisements... ;)


Personally, I have no problem riding or being 'seen' on a mixte frame (http://www.google.com/custom?q=mixte+frame&cof=LW%3A471%3BL%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.sheldonbrown.com%2Fimages%2Fharris_logo.gif%3BLH%3A61%3BAH%3Acen ter%3BAWFID%3A3e78bba1cececa56%3B&domains=sheldonbrown.com%3Bsheldonbrown.net%3Bsheldonbrown.org&sitesearch=sheldonbrown.com), which is what your looking for. so-called 'ladies' frames are a poor design that the mixte frame overcomes while keeping the low top tube height. As in individual, I would like to see a return of some of these frames, especially on city or commuter bikes.

On the other hand, as a big complay I would have to gauge sales vs. the cost of design, production, and an ad campaign to overcome the notion that they are "ladies" bikes. In the long run, not many companies would be willing to take the plunge methinks.


Anyway, my point is maybe look for an older mixte frame and fix it up into your daily rider?

The bike maker, GT made some step-through models that were quite good.
You can see them at
http://blogs.salon.com/0001490/stories/2003/01/01/cyclingPhotosFrom90s.html

I thought that the U-Frame (http://www.breezerbikes.com/townframe6.html) was designed to make this easier.

These are commuter bikes very popular in Europe (I hear).

Dan