View Poll Results: Do you ride a step-through bike?
I am a man, and I don't ride step-through bike--that's for women!
30
27.78%
I am a woman, and I don't ride step-through bike.
8
7.41%
I am a man, and I ride a step-through bike--it's not just for women!
45
41.67%
I am a woman, and I ride a step-through bike--it's more convenient.
14
12.96%
I don't know my gender, or what step-through is.
11
10.19%
Voters: 108. You may not vote on this poll
Do you ride step-through bikes (whether you are a man or woman)?
10-19-10, 11:19 PM
#26
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10-20-10, 09:18 PM
#27
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I started riding a step through because of hip problems, after my left hip got replaced I needed a no-impact way to get some exercise and the bicycle seemed like a perfect choice. But, I still wasn't strong enough to throw my leg up over a high top bar.
Personally I think the Bicycle Sales Market is missing out on a huge segment of the population by not offering a larger step through frame bike, and by sticking to the outdated dogmatic idea that any step through frame is a so-called "Ladies/Woman's frame. With all the different frame types out there the lines become blurred pretty easy anymore.
What would you call this?....
They just call it "Unisex"...
Personally I think the Bicycle Sales Market is missing out on a huge segment of the population by not offering a larger step through frame bike, and by sticking to the outdated dogmatic idea that any step through frame is a so-called "Ladies/Woman's frame. With all the different frame types out there the lines become blurred pretty easy anymore.
What would you call this?....
They just call it "Unisex"...
10-20-10, 09:32 PM
#28
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Women's, Men's, or Unisex?... Is there really enough difference to be concerned with?...
10-20-10, 11:34 PM
#29
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10-21-10, 03:43 AM
#30
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10-21-10, 03:48 AM
#31
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Aaron
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Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
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Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
10-21-10, 03:51 AM
#32
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Sudden stops on the MUP when Ms. Oblivion has fido on a long leash and he darts between your wheels. Quickest way to stop was nail the brakes and put both feet down to keep from going over, I was on my Twenty at the time, if I had been on a full sized bike I probably would have crashed.
Aaron
Aaron
And why my road bicycles are fairly small and have a sloping top tube.
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10-21-10, 06:59 AM
#33
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When I was bike-shopping in the fall of 2004, I only considered a step-through frame. Diamond frames have a hostile, "you can't ride me" look about them, whereas step-throughs look inviting and instantly ridable. (Yes, I realize I'm anthropomorphizing.)
Plus, I can't hoist my leg over even a small diamond frame. And why would I want to?
BIGmybikew:baskets.jpg
Plus, I can't hoist my leg over even a small diamond frame. And why would I want to?
BIGmybikew:baskets.jpg
10-21-10, 09:11 AM
#34
Senior Member
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The only good things about a horizontal top tube I can think of is light weight and the flexibility to mount bottles, pumps, U locks, etc.
10-21-10, 10:06 AM
#35
Pedaled too far.
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Well, at age 5 1/2 I taught myself to ride by borrowing a female friend's Schwinn Pixie for a couple of hours. I also used to have a Sears Free Spirit 10 speed with a step-through frame as my back-up bike.
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10-21-10, 11:25 AM
#36
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10-21-10, 01:14 PM
#37
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
If you have ever ruptured the bursa in your knee by slamming it against the top tube you can appreciate a step through frame... they are not as stiff as a diamond frame and tend to be heavier but are ideal for urban riding.
10-21-10, 02:04 PM
#38
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10-21-10, 04:00 PM
#39
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That treehugger link is interesting. But if you are old or have a stability problem, you'd probably be better off on a trike anyway.
10-21-10, 04:11 PM
#40
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Around here most of the girly frame bikes are ridden by guys. It seems to be very related to baggy, low riding pants- crotch heights being lower and needing more room. Or they are unable to swing their leg high enough to get over a "guys" style frame with such low hanging pants. Having to ride a girly bike is the consequence of what is seen as a manly fashion statement.
10-21-10, 09:25 PM
#41
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Around here most of the girly frame bikes are ridden by guys. It seems to be very related to baggy, low riding pants- crotch heights being lower and needing more room. Or they are unable to swing their leg high enough to get over a "guys" style frame with such low hanging pants. Having to ride a girly bike is the consequence of what is seen as a manly fashion statement.
10-22-10, 03:14 AM
#42
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Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
10-22-10, 03:59 PM
#43
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Step through frames need to be heavier generally due to the frame not being triangulated which means more material is required in the tubing to provide adequate stiffness and frame strength. The Mixte is an exception as the diagonal tubes aid frame stiffness considerably and several companies such as Soma, and VO are now doing mixte frames in sizes for people up to about 6' or so. IMO the steel Mixte frame is the best compromise between standover height and frame stiffness at a reasonable weight.
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10-22-10, 04:29 PM
#44
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My preferred bicycle brand is.......WORKSMAN CYCLES
I dislike clipless pedals on any city bike since I feel they are unsafe.
Originally Posted by krazygluon
Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred, which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?
My preferred bicycle brand is.......WORKSMAN CYCLES
I dislike clipless pedals on any city bike since I feel they are unsafe.
Originally Posted by krazygluon
Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred, which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?
10-22-10, 04:39 PM
#45
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It's interesting to note that ALL the bikes in this share program are heavy duty "girls" bikes !!
https://www.capitalbikeshare.com/
https://www.capitalbikeshare.com/
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My preferred bicycle brand is.......WORKSMAN CYCLES
I dislike clipless pedals on any city bike since I feel they are unsafe.
Originally Posted by krazygluon
Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred, which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?
My preferred bicycle brand is.......WORKSMAN CYCLES
I dislike clipless pedals on any city bike since I feel they are unsafe.
Originally Posted by krazygluon
Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred, which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?
10-22-10, 08:08 PM
#46
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Step through frames need to be heavier generally due to the frame not being triangulated which means more material is required in the tubing to provide adequate stiffness and frame strength. The Mixte is an exception as the diagonal tubes aid frame stiffness considerably and several companies such as Soma, and VO are now doing mixte frames in sizes for people up to about 6' or so. IMO the steel Mixte frame is the best compromise between standover height and frame stiffness at a reasonable weight.
Last edited by Bionicycle; 10-22-10 at 08:13 PM.
10-23-10, 07:05 AM
#47
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The older I get, the harder it is to swing the leg over the saddle! I have two bikes, an old Raleigh road bike and a converted MTB I use for touring and commuting. The MTB has a small frame and sloping top tube. If it wasn't for the sloping top tube that I can step through, I probably wouldn't ride it as much. I have a hard time getting on/off the Raleigh so it just sits.
My next bike build will definitely have a deep sloping top tube or be a Mixe. Function over fashion. It's always been that way for me.
Jerry H
My next bike build will definitely have a deep sloping top tube or be a Mixe. Function over fashion. It's always been that way for me.
Jerry H
10-23-10, 08:07 PM
#48
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I'm a 50+ year old woman and I ride both a Specialized Tricross and a Trek Allant WSD. It has been my feeling that a DF bike is more for sport, competition or recreation, whereas a step-thru is more urban or lifestyle oriented. I use my cyclocross DF for training rides to prep for touring and my step-thru for errands or getting around locally, and that includes 28-mile roundtrip rides to get dog food. For me, it is much easier to see traffic and stop suddenly on the Allant. I never understood why step-thru's were designated a "girl's" frame in the first place.
10-23-10, 11:49 PM
#49
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Assuming I know what you mean by "U-frame"... It seems "V-frame" is structurally stronger than U-frame, thus could be lighter (closer to horizontal top tube than U-frame)?
10-24-10, 04:53 AM
#50
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I'm a 50+ year old woman and I ride both a Specialized Tricross and a Trek Allant WSD. It has been my feeling that a DF bike is more for sport, competition or recreation, whereas a step-thru is more urban or lifestyle oriented. I use my cyclocross DF for training rides to prep for touring and my step-thru for errands or getting around locally, and that includes 28-mile roundtrip rides to get dog food. For me, it is much easier to see traffic and stop suddenly on the Allant. I never understood why step-thru's were designated a "girl's" frame in the first place.
With all the improvements in steel and aluminum materials I think strength is less of an issue today than it was 50 years ago. Yes the step through frame is going to be a tad heavier than the diamond frame and it may flex a bit more, but how many people are really going to be riding a step through like they are in the TDF?
In Germany they sell three types of bikes, the typical diamond frame, the step through, and a low tube step through. Men's, Women's and Monotube is the way the have them listed. However for the most part in the areas of the EU where cycling is a normal way of life you will see people riding anything and everything and not thinking about it one bit.
Aaron
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Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon