How many times have you wistfully thought of joining your kids as they wisk down the street on their bicycles laughing all the way?
Are you itching to join that friend of yours who just completed her third triathalon but afraid to make the commitment because your bike is too uncomfortable for long rides?
Ever get jealous when your husband heads out the door humming Queen's "I Love to Ride My Bicycle" to himself as he jumps on his bike for a Sunday ride?
Too many women have convinced themselves that their riding days are over because they can't find a bike that is comfortable or it's been years since they rode one and they somehow have become convincedthey have forgotten how to ride.
Neither premise could be farther from the truth. It's never too late to jump on a bike and take it for a spin and there are plenty of options that will make cycling a fun and exhilarating experience.
According to a study by the National Sporting Goods Association, 19% of the U.S. female population rode their bikes at least once in 2005. That may not sound like much, but that was up a whopping 44% from the previous year.
The numbers are growing and it's partly due to the fact that bike manufacturers are listening to what women really want in bikes and gear.
Bikes designed specifically for women go well beyond feminine colors and graphics. Indeed, a women's physical structure is very different from a man's.
For instance, a woman's pelvis is tilted forward, which ultimately causes 15% more pressure on her lower back when in the same bent over position as a man. Often women experience shoulder pain, lower back pain and numb fingers because they are too stretched out on the bike.
Women Specific Design (WSD) geometry provides optimal power and comfort by shortening the top tube and offering a slightly less aggressive riding position. WSD bikes create a more natural riding position for women by balancing their weight more evenly between the hips and the hands.
That takes the pressure off the lower back and centers a woman's gravity points with the center of the bike making it more stable and comfortable.
Moreover, women's hands are not only smaller than a man's, they are generally not as strong. To compensate for that, women-specific bikes have shorter reach break levers and smaller diameter grips.
A woman's derriere also has a different density and distribution than a man's, which requires a different saddle position and shape. WSD saddles reduce pressure on the pubic bone and soft tissue. This in turn allows legs to relax and gives them more power.
Trek was one of the first bike manufacturers to tackle these issues and design bikes expressly to a woman's specifications. Today, Trek has over two dozen bikes crafted specifically for women. The list includes road, mountain and comfort bikes.
Trek's WSD team will be in Castle Rock on May 5 at the Castle Rock Bicycle Company with a slew of road and mountain bikes women can test ride. Team members will be on hand to help fit women with the right bike in the right size.
Castle Rock Bicycle Company is celebrating its sixth anniversary with its annual blowout sale and demo day. In addition to Trek's WDS team, representatives from Rocky Mountain Bicycles, Scott USA and Diamondback will also have bikes for both men and women for folks to test ride.
Everything in the store is on sale. Bikes are up to 30% off and some accessories can be had for up to 70% off. The demo runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 5. The sale runs all weekend.