• paddytokey@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      22
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      Lots of manufacturers stop calling that frame shape woman’s bikes, but rather find terms like step through or low step and so on to be better suited. This frame design is a lot more accessible for people who aren’t as mobile anymore (think old people, people with hip problems, heavy people) and are also much easier to handle with tall cargo on the back, typical example would be a child seat.

      For the average person, this frame design is probably preferable as there are no benefits to the typical male frame shape.

      My parents think it looks odd when a guy sits on one of these, but then my parents are in their sixties :>

      • leross@lemmy.ml
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        12
        ·
        1 year ago

        Since I am a father and decided to bring my kid with me on bike rides, I needed that frame. It’s just convenient to not have to Jean Claude Van Damme before each ride.

        • StereoTrespasser@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          2
          ·
          1 year ago

          I bought a step through because of the child seat too. Luckily before I dropped cash on a new bike I had already discovered that there is no way to swing your leg over the bike frame when a child seat is attached.

      • Altima NEO@lemmy.zip
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        9
        ·
        1 year ago

        I don’t understand why there’s even a difference? Seems like that frame design would work great for everyone?

        • pyrflie@lemm.ee
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          2
          ·
          1 year ago

          If you are over 200 lbs and not just street riding I would worry about the welds/supports, but for daily commuting there isn’t one.

      • noobnarski@feddit.de
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        7
        ·
        1 year ago

        The disadvantage is higher weight for the same structural strength because the lower and upper tube are closer together (or combined into one tube) so the leverage is much less.

        I dont mind the “mens” frame, but if other people want to use a low step frame I am not going to call them sissies or something stupid like that.

    • PM_ME_FAT_ENBIES@lib.lgbt
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      15
      arrow-down
      4
      ·
      1 year ago

      It’s a commuter bike. Most bikes in the US are sports bikes, designed for athletes. Most bikes in the Netherlands are commuter bikes, designed for average people. It’s not “small dick energy” for a man to not be an athlete. That’s toxic masculinity that harms men. It’s misandrist and it upholds patriarchy. Part of destroying patriarchy is liberating men from judgement like this.

        • PM_ME_FAT_ENBIES@lib.lgbt
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          5
          arrow-down
          2
          ·
          1 year ago

          Good point, but calling a commuter bike a girl’s bike because it’s not for athletes has the same problem.

          I for one think men should be allowed to have a comfy and easy ride to work or the grocery store no matter what their fitness level

    • psud@aussie.zone
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      7
      ·
      1 year ago

      They’re also called “step through frame bikes” in places where people don’t associate them with cycling in a skirt

    • m3t00🌎 voted@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      they were girl’s bike when I was a kid, 70s. I’d ride it. heck I’d put on a skirt and ride it just to piss off the dork in the monster truck