FitSugar

You Asked: What Gives With Women's Bikes?

FitSugar — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 05:30:00 PDT

You're asking and I'm answering . . .

Dear Fit,
I'm in the market for a new bike, but while shopping I've noticed that there are bikes made for guys and then that company will make the same bike but designed for women. The colors are usually very feminine, which I hate. I'm wondering is it OK to go for the guy's model, or is there really a huge benefit to riding a women's specific bike?
-Tomboy Tara

This is a great question since so many of our readers are into cycling. To find out what I think

Regardless of gender, you need to choose a bike that's right for your body type. Most women specific bikes are made to suit the average size woman who typically has a shorter torso than the average man, as well as shorter arms and legs. The benefit of choosing a bike designed for women is that these physical differences are taken into consideration in the construction of the geometry of the "cockpit" - the top tube, length of the handlebar stem, and the position of the seat. Here are some basic differences in women specific bikes: the frame is smaller, the distance between the seat and the handlebars is shorter, the distance from the seat to the peddles is also shorter, the brake levers are closer to account for a woman's smaller hands, and the bike is lighter weight so it's easier to carry. Sometimes the front bar is lower as well to protect your lady business in case you fall forward.

The bottom line is that women specific bikes aren't just made in girly colors, they're actually made to fit a female's body better than male specific bikes. Since fit is the most important thing, try to look beyond the color of the bicycle. If you tend to be on the shorter side, bikes designed for women will offer you more benefits in regards to fit and ease of riding. If you're taller, then the larger frame male bikes may be your best bet.

Fit's Tip: My advice is to test drive all brands and models, both male and female specific bikes. Some companies also make bikes in different sized frames such as extra small, so give those a spin too. If a rugged appearance is important to you, be sure to check out bikes made by Cannondale (like the one shown), Trek, and Giant since their women specific models don't necessarily look girlish.

Source

15 Days of Holiday Giveaways, Day 6: Win a Trek Bike and Vella Bag

FitSugar — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 11:35:31 PST

It's the holiday season, and we're getting in the spirit with our third annual 15 Days of Holiday Giveaways! Every day for the first 15 days of December, one of the PopSugar Network sites - plus our sister sites PopSugar Shop, Fashionologie, and ShopStyle - will feature a new fabulous giveaway.

For our sixth day of holiday giveaways, we are giving away two prizes; you can enter to win either a Trek Cocoa or Trek Neko Bike and a Vella bag from the leader in women-specific-designed bikes, Trek.

This giveaway has ended. Congrats to our winners Paula from Ohio, who won the Trek Cocoa bike and Vella Bag, and Tesa from Texas, who won the Trek Neko bike and Vella bag!

After you enter our giveaway above, don't forget to enter ShopStyle's giveaway of a $2,500 Barneys New York shopping spree, YumSugar's giveaway to win a $1,000 Williams-Sonoma gift card, SavvySugar's giveaway to win a Lenovo U300 Ultrabook powered by Intel, CasaSugar's giveaway of $1,000 to Design Within Reach, PetSugar's giveaway of three Limited Edition iRobot Roomba 780s, and GeekSugar's giveaway of two Xbox Kinect prize packages. We will be revealing more amazing giveaways every day, so come back daily and enter them all. Good luck and happy holidays!

Flux Productions Creates a Brilliant Version of the Classic American Quilt

Elka Karl — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 04:00:44 PST

Ever since I first ran into Ryan Greer's stand, Flux Productions, at the Brooklyn Flea Market this past May, I've been a little obsessed with his line of handcrafted leather and cork bags, bracelets, and bicycle packs. I'm far from his only admirer, either - Ryan has collaborated with Thakoon and Osborn Design - and he's also dressed Justin Bieber's backup dancers. His work has also been featured everywhere from J. Crew's blog to GQ

Flux Production's latest offering are these very cool leather and cork wall art pieces, which remind me of a classic quilt. I talked to Ryan about his inspiration for this new offering from Flux Productions, which are available in numbers of 12, 15, and 20 and will cost $120, $150, or $190, respectively, for the sets. Currently, there's one listing for a set of 15 availble.

CasaSugar: What was your inspiration for this new project?

Ryan Greer: I'm very interested in old textiles and woven rugs and the new project seemed like a good opportunity to create something that referenced traditional quilt and rug patterns while using materials that have a more masculine, industrial feel (leather and cork).

Keep reading for the rest of the interview and a closer look at the new project from Flux productions.

Biking How-To: Change Your Flat Tire

FitSugar — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 03:07:01 PDT

Longer, warmer days mean it's time to dust off your bike and get pedaling. If you pull your bike out of storage only to find one of your tires is flat, fear not. You can fix it. Here are step-by-step instructions from Trek Bikes. The company, which has a great line of women-specific designed bikes, wants to help get gals two wheelin' - be it on the road or mountain.

An unexpected flat tire, when out on a long ride, can be a serious bummer. That's why it is good to practice your tire changing skills. Why not take a rainy afternoon and play with your bike if the weather is keeping you from cycling?

Tools needed: tire levers, bike pump, and if you don't have quick release wheels, you will need an Allen key

Source: Thinkstock

Beginner Bicycle Buy: The 7.2 FX WSD by Trek

Leta Shy — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 15:31:30 PDT

You never forget how to ride a bike, but hopping on one for the first time since those school days gone by can be intimidating. So when Trek sent me a bike that it promised was perfect for beginner cyclists, I was hoping it was the ideal gateway bike for me to start navigating San Francisco's hilly roads on two wheels.

What's New
Released over the Summer, the 2012 Trek 7.2 FX WSD hybrid bike ($550) is an update of the company's most popular model. Since it's a part-road, part-mountain hybrid bike, it's made for anyone who commutes in the city, cycles for fitness, or is just the casual rider. Upgrades to the new model include a lighter body, shock-absorbing handlebars, and improved saddle comfort. Also, Trek's WSD line features women-specific design to ensure that the bikes' proportions and sizing are made for your body.

The Ride
As a city cyclist newbie, I loved how comfortable the 7.2 FX felt from the start. From the seat to the shock-absorbing handlebars, I felt confident and at ease. The low-rise handlebars make for back-friendly upright riding, and the bike's sturdiness reassured me that I was in control (everything helps when those cars are whizzing by). When I took the 7.2 FX with me during a camping trip, its hybrid tires - wider than a road bike's but not as big as a mountain bike's - navigated well-worn trails with ease, whether they were paved, rocky, or sandy.

Besides the comfortable ride, many of the 7.2 FX's other features make me a fan. My appreciation for the 7.2 FX's aluminum frame and eight speeds, for instance, grew exponentially as soon as I confronted my first hill. Its light body meant I wasn't weighed down, and once I got a hang of shifting gears I was able to actually make it to the top using the bike's low gears.

Read on for more details about the Trek 7.2 FX WSD.

6 Reasons to Row Your Way to Fit While Burning 800 Calories

Self — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 04:08:43 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from Self here on FitSugar!

Once upon a time, rowing was considered a man's sport, beloved by preppy Ivy League boys and lake fishermen. Times have changed. Here's what happened: we ladies found out it was fun. You know what else is fun? Being toned. And, contrary to popular belief, rowing accomplishes that for more than just your upper body.

Just ask ultra-endurance athlete and World Rowing Champion, Josh Crosby, who created the now internationally practiced Indo-Row workout with partner and fitness developer Jay Blahnik. (They even collaborated with WaterRower on a special Indo-Row Machine that uses actual water.) Though the first classes began in 2005, Indo-Row went global in the last three years and is now offered at over 50 clubs from Equinox and Sports Club LA to The Mayo Clinic's Wellness Center. And, as with any growing trend and especially ones that start in California, Hollywood has caught on. Though the Indo-Row team is hush-hush about A-list clientele, a few names have leaked out like Nicole Kidman, Estella Warren, Kevin Bacon, and Jason Patric.

In the creator's own words, "Indo-Row was designed to bring the benefits of rowing to the masses." See Crosby's top six reasons to row after the break!

Exercise No Good For Weight Loss?

FitSugar — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:30:17 PDT

A couple of years ago the Cardio Free Diet introduced popular culture to the concept that exercise and weight loss were incompatible. Recently we learned that exercise doesn't boost fat-burning. Now Time magazine's new cover story investigates the seemingly detrimental relationship even further. A thumbnail sketch of the article: exercise makes you hungry, so you eat more and don't lose weight.

Should you give up the treadmill forever? Learn more.