Cute women's bike for tall girls?
June 11, 2010 7:13 PM   Subscribe

BikeFilter: I am looking for a women's cruiser / city bike with a step-through frame. I am six feet tall. Suggestions? How tall should the bike be?

I've been having a terrible time finding anything big enough for me. Shops have been suggesting I get a men's bike but I really like the step-through look.

If not specific suggestions, how about general tips, like the bike handlebars should reach up to your hip/bellybutton or something? Thanks!
posted by ista to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (15 answers total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
I'm reluctant to offer what might be useless advice, but I share the opinion of the shops--the traditional double-diamond frame is an enduring and wildly popular design for a reason (well, a lot of reasons). If you're tall enough to ride one comfortably (and, unless your legs are extremely short relative to your torso, you are), I think it's a good way to go, and its ubiquity means that you'll get the widest possible variety of choices.
posted by box at 7:30 PM on June 11, 2010


Try googling for Electra and or Townie bikes. They're really popular here in the beach areas and in my opinion would probably be very suitable for you. They are definitely comfort/cruiser bikes but I think they are pretty sweet and very city worthy.
posted by snsranch at 8:07 PM on June 11, 2010


This mixte
posted by hortense at 8:16 PM on June 11, 2010


I've been having a terrible time finding anything big enough for me

To be blunt your chances of finding a step-through frame that will be a proper fit are likely to be zero. Step-through (especially classic step-through rather than mixte) involves trade-off between strength and rigidity, and the convenience of the design. The bigger the frame the bigger the trade-off and at six foot you are the wrong side of that equation.

If I were you I would be looking for something with compact geometry: i.e. a sloping top tube. This should provide you with at least some of the looks and convenience, while still be strong enough, and you will find it much easier to find a bike in your size (approximately 58 cm which is the largest size in general production these days, but do yourself a favor and get it fitted properly).
posted by tallus at 8:32 PM on June 11, 2010


A friend of mine who's not much shorter than you glides around on this Globe mixte, and looks classy as heck doing so. (She's also a mefite, and may well stop by at some point; I'll point her at the thread.)
posted by Tomorrowful at 9:41 PM on June 11, 2010


My wife loves her Townie, but they're definitely oriented towards a relaxing seating position, and she's quite short compared to you.
posted by davejay at 10:09 PM on June 11, 2010


If a serious Dutch bike is in your price and weight range, WorkCycles makes a 61 cm omafiets that's the right size for this 6'2" guy, and this is probably the only one this size you can get in North America. But I would guess you'd be fine with a 57 cm frame size, and companies like Pashley, Batavus, Gazelle, etc. all make excellent city bikes with 57 cm step-through frames. After raising the seat and handlebars, I believe you should be able to get your leg almost straight when pedaling, and be just able to touch the ground with your toes.
posted by parudox at 11:13 PM on June 11, 2010


I second parudox: there are a lot of 6' women in the Netherlands. As a result both Batavus and Gazelle make specially reinforced step through bikes for them.
In fact I have a 64 cm Batavus Stabilo for men myself.

parudox links to the grandma style dutch bikes. There are also modern Dutch bikes with stepthrough frame in your size. Gazelle city bike example, Gazelle hybrid bike example.

If these bikes are too expensive for you I'd look into finding a second hand large frame Gazelle Impala or Batavus Stabilo. They've been making these bikes for tall people for decades. They've got a steel frame and are very sturdy.
posted by joost de vries at 12:56 AM on June 12, 2010


I'm going to add to the chorus and recommend you buy a dutch bike. My girlfriend's just bought one and she loves it, partly because of the style and partly because of the upright position (she's got back problems).

Workcycles distribute a whole bunch of Dutch bikes worldwide, they seem to have step-throughs in sizes up to 61cm.
Models are here, international dealers here.

If you're 6ft I'd guess you'd want a 57cm frame, but it's really dependent on your leg length and what you feel comfortable with. For instance Pashley suggest a 20"/51cm frame for inside legs of 30-34" (76-86cm) , 22.5"/57cm for inside leg of 32"-36.5" (81-92cm).

Handlebar height's a matter of preference; Dutch bikes have a high headtube anyway, so even at their lowest you'll still have a very upright position.
posted by SyntacticSugar at 3:01 AM on June 12, 2010


Get an extra-long seat post and stem for an attractive step-through frame that doesn't technically fit you.

You'll slightly reduce your chances of winning the Tour de France, but you can still end up with a perfectly comfortable and stylish ride. There's no strictly too-small frame size when the frame style is already functionally presposterous -- it's all about making the frame comfortable to ride ontop of, and there are lots of ways to accomplish that.
posted by gum at 6:39 AM on June 12, 2010


ista, I found this simple frame size calculator very helpful to find my correct frame size. It's important not to estimate one's bike frame size against that of a man of the same height, since women, generally speaking, have longer legs then men do.

I'm also about 6' and am currently looking for new bike (a vintage road bike/10-speed). It's been a challenge to find a men's style in size 60" or 61" and no mitxe I've seen yet comes anywhere close to fitting us.

Another thing I've noticed in my bike search is that there a few different ways to measure a bike, and some people (especially if you are shopping craigslist or anywhere but a real bike shop) have no idea how to measure a bike. Good luck!
posted by applemeat at 6:44 AM on June 12, 2010


But I would guess you'd be fine with a 57 cm frame size

I'm a 6' tall woman who will guess that she wouldn't.
posted by applemeat at 6:49 AM on June 12, 2010


Too small or too large? GF's just under six foot and a 57cm fits her to a T. Frame design on the Dutch bike is very different from the road bike, with a very long head-tube relative to the seat tube (seat-tube length giving the nominal frame size) to give the upright position. You can't really compare the two.
posted by SyntacticSugar at 7:08 AM on June 12, 2010


Oh, right. I was thinking road sizes, for which a 57cm would probably feel too small. Sorry.
posted by applemeat at 7:23 AM on June 12, 2010


Oh yeah, I totally agree, 57cm would be too small with a road frame. Like you say 60 or 61cm would be ideal.

Velo-orange do a lovely looking mixte frame, but only up to 57cm. Would probably be OK as a City bike (as they've built it up), but not as a racer.

Some useful-looking info on buying a vintage mixte here if you want to go that route.
posted by SyntacticSugar at 8:28 AM on June 12, 2010


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