CliffordK

I interpreted that to mean "not a mixte".

The above bike doesn't appear to have Nuovo Record.

There were several very nice Mixte bikes offered, but generally only with second tier bikes, not top tier bikes.

But, for big manufactures, the Motobecane Grand Jubilee had a mixte variant which is quite nice.

And, some posters have found some unique Italian step-through bikes.

One issue, of course, is that many of the "women's bikes" are shorter. That pink bike looks like it is a pretty tall frame. 60cm?

And, of course, it is more difficult to find high quality tall vintage mixtes. I think someone mentioned looking in Holland.

Nonetheless, those sizes may well be one of the core issues with women's bikes vs men's bikes. Is it easier to sell a tall men's bike to a tall woman than it is to sell a short women's bike to a short man?

Greater frame variety is good. If only Specialized does something like the "Project One" that would also allow specifying the color choice (not black)

cyccommute 

Because it's harder than it looks. Check out Georgena Terry's series on how to design and build bikes for women. She started the whole "women's specific design" and is still the only one who got it right.

Neither is a solution. Mixte frame are actually worse than a regular bike because the effective top tube is longer. You also have the addition of weight to a bike that is built for a rider who has a lower muscle mass ratio. The bike is both uncomfortable and heavier. That's not really all that conducive to riding enjoyment. Even with the mixte design, the bike is too large for many small riders.

MoAlpha

Yeah, your interpretation of the post may be correct. The bike was built as a road racer, back when it’s owner, who, I am proud say, has been my main squeeze for some 42 years, was a much younger woman.

Rajflyboy

Good Post!

thanks for this info

cyccommute 

The other thing to consider is that the smallest Roubaix is a 49cm bike. That’s sized for someone who is about 5’4” to 5’5” tall. If Specialized is really dropping women’s bikes...they still list a number of “women’s” bikes..., that’s a giant step backwards by about 30 years. My 5’ tall wife has long suffered on the “smallest bike” that companies made. It wasn’t until we found Terry Bikes that she was actually comfortable.

Korina

Thank you for that.

MEversbergII

I haven't looked in a while but I remember a number of mixte frames I looked at in the past were all basically just fancy loops - proportioned more towards women, with a relatively short virtual top tube. A few really high end ones I remember being better proportioned - but expensive. Which is a shame because I'd have liked one at the time!

M.

Pilot321

^^^^^This. Many corporations use Virtue Signaling to various groups to sell products. However, this is a cost cutting measure spun in the current wave of "Men and Women are exactly the same" mantra that is PC. I'd like to see the stats on bike riders by gender. I would bet the vast majority are Men.

TakingMyTime

My wife is 5'2" and has short legs and arms. We are usually looking at 47-48s when we go shopping. She is also drawn only to bikes with what might be consider a female colorway. Finding a prosumer level bike for her is tough enough and I fear that with the elimination of a women specific design it's going to make that field even smaller.

Road Fan

Mrs. Road Fan has a fire-engine red 1997 Georgena Terry that has a horizontal top tube, both wheels 700c, and long chainstays. She also has a 2012 Georgena Terry with equal-wheels, with real long chainstays. More than the small front wheel, the Terry trick seems to be long chainstays. Some of her earlier ideas were pretty good - short reach bars and brake levers, narrow bars. My question is, if women "usually" have longer legs, why are the seat tubes so upright? And if they are so upright, why do the chainstays need to be so long?

Is it body weight distribution, women can't get 55%/45% without a steep seatpost and long chainstays?

Any body chime in on this?

Road Fan

I like your signature!

philbob57

The all flat-black 'men's' bikes are as ugly as sin, IMO. With my relatively long torso and short legs, WSD bikes aren't for me, but the colors are. Don't forget, at one point the charcoal gray suit with pink shirt was one of the most admired looks for men.

Road Fan

Mrs. Road Fan is 5'5" but loves her Terries. As I said, I grok the front end stuff that Ms. Terry did, but I don't get the long chainstays.

I've tried to put her on my Mondonico, Masi, and Trek 610. While she appreciates the riding qualities, she's back at home on her Terry. She's been intrigued by a Ruby, but maybe now it's not a deal to dol

Korina

Thanks, Road Fan, made it myself! And I've never seen anything to contradict it.

Regarding Terry bikes, have you tried asking her?

grayEZrider

But then again the old ex-Army Sgt rides this perfect fitting WSD 57cm Dolce with pint trim.
I admit I would prefer a bright Ford Mustang blue though!

Road Fan

You mean, Ms Terry, regarding the chainstays? I think we spoke about it when I ordered my wife's Cote Donana Vagabond (I had Georgena design it for my wife's retirement gift). We discussed a lot about geometry and design features and I thought we had discussed it, but I don't remember it all. That was already about 8 years ago. I should just ask her again. Mrs. Road Fan is thinking the geometry suits her less, now, as she becomes a more adventurous rider.

You sound like you might have had some discussions with Georgena Terry. I found her very accessible and supportive!

freeranger

My wife rides a LeMond Reno WSD, and tried several bikes before we bought it. The LeMond fit differently enough that though we paid a bit more, compared to some small men's we looked at, it was worth it. Probably cost a little more to make a wsd that doesn't sell a lot, but I hope women aren't being forced to compromise having a well fitted bike. Maybe some brands weren't all that different from the men's to women's geometry, but hers seems to be.

NomarsGirl

Love it! Clearly you are secure enough to not be bothered by a little bit of pink. And of course, the fit is the most important thing. Mine's an orangey pink, so not even all that girly and my husband is horrified by it. At least it keeps him off my nice bike!

sweeks

Hi, Road Fan ("KF")!
I'm trying to get "Mrs. Root Canal" back on her bike. And I've got some recovering to do after screwing up my ankle (surgery, 2 screws) 15 months ago.
Hoping to be ready for the Apple Cider Century by this fall.
Cheers,
Steve

Korina

I haven't, but I've seen her site, saw her YT videos, and recently discovered her podcast, so yeah, I'm a fan.

Road Fan

She had a pair of really good podcasts out around 2009 with Richard Schwinn, who runs Waterford Cycles and was just taking on responsibility to build Terry's steel custom frames. About an hour of conversation overall.

My wife's first Terry was bought used as a complete bike, a 1997 Georgena Terry Classic, with full 8-speed triple Campagnolo indexing. When Georgena owned the company that sells al the clothing, they had an extensive used bike list. I don't know if they still do. Her second one, the Cote Donana Vagabond, was built by Waterford to our order, and we bought it as a finished frame. We had an LBS source the parts and assemble it, but I should have done it myself. I've built all my own bikes, and I think they work better. I have a lot of Campagnolo experience and the bike shop did not.

Road Fan

Steve,

Does ankle recovery usually take that long? My broken wrist has essentially taken about 8 months.

sweeks

Slipped on the ice January 10 (2018). Treated initially as a bad sprain, diagnosed a week later as a "Maisonneuve fracture" (a case much like mine HERE). Surgery 1/24, then 2 weeks in a cast, followed by a boot for 6 weeks; non-weight-bearing for all but the last 2 weeks. I was off work for 2 months, off the commuter bike for 4 months. Physical therapy for 6 weeks after returning to work... it's amazing how fast your muscles turn to ***** after inactivity. I'm basically 100% recovered; the ankle gives me a twinge every now and then, but I'm looking forward to passing the 50-mile mark soon!
Sorry to hear about your wrist, but glad you're mended. I've got osteoarthritis in my right wrist... luckily it doesn't affect my work, but it *is* a bit depressing to be slowly falling apart!

Korina

Sorry about your ankle; they're not something to mess with. As for your muscles turning to jelly, imagine what it would be like without the PT!

I hear you about falling apart, as my arthritic knees and sprained hand will attest. Two+ weeks ago I managed an embarrassing slow-speed fall off my bike while attempting to make a u-turn. Landed on my left i.e. dominant hand, and it still hurts. X-rays didn't show any fractures, so just soft tissue damage. Getting old sucks rocks.

Korina

I listened to the first one, and really it was a particularly excellent conversation. I'm not binging, but listening slowly. What did you think of her talk with Ian Jackson about breathing?

For anyone interested, they're available here or on iTunes.