General Cycling Discussion - Bought the wrong bike!

I recently bought a 2nd hand bike during the evening, the problem is that I didn't look carefully enough.
The following day I realised that I bought a woman's bike :twitchy: the top tube is slanted down on the bike which is a WSD. The bike is a Carrera Subway 1 road bike. Does it matter if I ride this bike? Are there actually any major differences in male and female bikes?
Thanks

Your twig and berries will immediately fall off if you ride that bike. You should send it to me - I won't charge you for disposing of it for you.

Nah, it's just like driving a mini-van.

It won't suck out your testosterone and leave you a sniveling useless wuss of a man.

Honest.

A bike is a bike. If it fits, ride it.

It might be faster.

I would imagine the bike has a shorter effective top tube length, so that might place you in a more upright position than you'd like. But like someone above said, if it fits then ride it.

Does it look like this?
http://www.halfords.com/wcsstore/HalfordsConsumerDirect/images/catalog/400-213637.jpg
That's not a women's bike. That's the typical geometry of a hybrid.

Does it say WSD on the frame somewhere, or are you just assuming that?

Most important question: DOES THE BIKE FIT YOU?

A sloping top tube does not necessarily mean a WSD. It could just be 'compact' geometry frame.

If it fits, just ride the damned thing till the wheels fall off. Anybody give you grief, just tell them that it's a loaner while your "INSERT DREAM BIKE HERE" is in the shop.

And next time you go shopping for a bike, take a flashlight just in case...

You should ask that here:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=490653

It's sort of a freeform newbie welcoming thread.

If yours is the size of mine, you'll appreciate the extra room. *ahem*

Uh oh! Girl germs. Beware, you might become infected.

There are literally hundreds of thousands, if not millions of men in Europe who ride mixte frames that look remarkably like what Americans think are girls' or women's bikes.

As to differences in men's and women's sizing in bikes (WSD as opposed to otherwise), women's bikes usually have shorter toptubes. The general population seems to show that women have longer legs and shorter torsos than men, and that's why fitting a woman to a traditionally sized man's bike involves a lot of compromises because of issues with reach to the handlebars.

Like the other posters have very helpfully said, if the bike fits, wear it!

You'll be safe, girl germs or not.

I'm female, but my bike doesn't seem to have either balls or boobs. I just arbitrarily named it Radagast.

Too late, the sex change operation has already been scheduled... :eek:

Actually, I don't know the model, but in general the usual differences are that the virtual top tube length will be a little different... and the brake levers may possibly be designed for smaller hands, and possibly a narrower handlebar.

But, the difference is minimal. Women rode men's bikes for years without problems, so it is now your turn to show them that men are able to deal with adversity too. ;)

Nah, it's just like driving a mini-van.

It won't suck out your testosterone and leave you a sniveling useless wuss of a man.

Honest.

Maybe this mini-van: http://www.turbovan.net/van.html

Male version (http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_240361_langId_-1_categoryId_165534#dtab), female version (http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_240461_langId_-1_categoryId_165534#dtab).

Slight differences. I like the review of the men's version, written by manager from stoke-on-trent who claims to enjoy top quality brands. I'm not in the least bit suspicious of his impartiality.

But are you violating anybody's "fundamental rights" by riding it?

The Carrera Subway bike is made in mens or womens form. Differences in the bikes will not be major so if it fits- don't worry. In fact looking at the two forms- I doubt there are any differences.

if it fits don't worry about it. actually, bikes with women's frames tend to be less trashed and in better condition than the standard men's frame bike. what i tell myself, is that with all the crazy full suspension frames all crazy, there is really no mens or womens anymore (in a sense). if your secure about your sexuality and th ebike fits, sport it.

Nobody will even look twice at you riding that bike. When people talk about getting mocked for riding a "women's bike", they mean something like a mixte:
http://www.bikerentalsplus.com/assets/images/3col_photos/chybridmixte.jpg

Note how the top tube doesn't even come near near the seat stays.

In some countries, a mixte isn't necessarily a "women's bike", but makes a good utility bike for deliveries etc.

Does it look like this?
http://www.halfords.com/wcsstore/HalfordsConsumerDirect/images/catalog/400-213637.jpg
That's not a women's bike. That's the typical geometry of a hybrid.

Yeah it looks exactly like that! Thanks for the help everyone I can now ride in confidence! (the bike)
I have to say that I have never been on a forum that is soo active! It's brilliant :)

Yeah it looks exactly like that! Thanks for the help everyone I can now ride in confidence! (the bike)
I have to say that I have never been on a forum that is soo active! It's brilliant :)

I thought the links I posted where they showed the exact bike in male and female versions made it relatively clear that on the subway 1 it appears that only the WSD has a sloping top tube. Of course halfords wouldn't actually be as useful as giving you a decent geometry diagram.

just a smaller mtn bike frame. all that worrying over nothing. remember its not how you think others will like you on the bike, whatever it is, its how you like the bike, whatever it is.

Does it matter if I ride this bike?

If you ride that bike three feet, you must immediately surrender your man card.

Women will notice you're riding a girl's bike and wonder about your sexual preference, thereby destroying any chance of a hookup. If you value your male heritage, get a man's bike. Maybe a 1980s era slightly rusted Stumpjumper with a scabbard to carry your rifle when you go deer hunting.

I almost bought a WSD - intentionally - but found the difference wasn't that much. And they'd have to order it. So they had the "male" version, in my size, right there. I am not in the least concerned what people would think of me. I outgrew that phase years ago. Plus my beard and mustache kind of say that I'm certain that I'm male - and I look like a Hell's Angel.

Nobody will even look twice at you riding that bike. When people talk about getting mocked for riding a "women's bike", they mean something like a mixte:
http://www.bikerentalsplus.com/assets/images/3col_photos/chybridmixte.jpg

Note how the top tube doesn't even come near near the seat stays.

In some countries, a mixte isn't necessarily a "women's bike", but makes a good utility bike for deliveries etc.

That is not a mixte. This is a mixte:

Old thread but i just wanted to add that i got a Carrera Subway 1 for Christmas. I intentionally chose the woman's version because i was set on getting a Subway after reading the reviews and looking at the specifications but am too short for the men's version!

Anyway, it fits me well and i'm still very pleased that i chose it. Great bike for the money and hardly looks like a girls bike :thumb:.

Cheers, Matt

I still have yet to fix mine up! Got a slight wobble in the wheel that I tried to true but I'm too much of a novice to do it.
You are right about it doesn't look like one its just when I saw the female symbol on the frame it threw me off a bit :S but I am over it now thanks to all the positive comments. I guess I was being a bit immature!

The wobble could be fixed by either adjusting the spokes http://sheldonbrown.com/wheelbuild.html#tensioning or the bearings in the hub http://www.sheldonbrown.com/cone-adjustment.html

Hmmm RonH. That looks like MY bike!! (Looks down to check to see if major apendege is still noticeable). lol

You have to realize that the reason for a woman's version is that some marketing guy said "Hey, I bet we could sell more bikes to women if we made some inconsequential modifications and then called it a 'Woman-Specific-Design' bike."

Here's the bottom line on bike frames. The frame will not affect gender-preference in any way whatsoever(grin). Basically a "girl's bike frame" was initially designed to make it easier for someone in a dress to get on and off a bike. What girl rides in a dress these days? Consequently the only issue is ease of getting on and off a bike. An older male rider may well consider getting a "girl's bike frame" for convenience and comfort, especially if they have arthritis!

For STABILITY, a men's frame is simply a more geometrically solid structure. Due to that, some women's bike frames are thicker to help maintain stability. Consider the basic shape of a full triangle supporting weight and force. Then cut off the top part of the triangle and minimize the top tube(to make a women's frame). The structural integrity is diminished.