Specialized make a wide range of women’s bikes, helmets, shoes and components. We spoke to Olivia Bleitz, Women’s Business Manager at Specialized.

“We strongly believe that in given instances a women’s bike does more to serve the female rider. We don’t ever create a women’s bike just for the sake of creating a women’s product. We look for differences between the male and female rider in three key areas: experiential, anatomical and motivational. If there are key differences in one of these areas then we develop a product that meets those needs.”

Specialized work with high tech Retul fitters

Bleitz explains: “As thousands of fits are done around the world we are able to analyse that data and use it to dictate our women’s geometries. The short torso and long legs things isn’t supported by anything – but women, on average, have a 3cm shorter wingspan – which is the arm and torso length.”

She added: “If there are instances where the data supports sharing a frame across a men’s and women’s bike we will.”

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Bleitz uses the examples of the mountain bike models, the Rhyme and Stumpjumper to illustrate this – here Specialized found no key differences, so they simply made an X-Small version for smaller women – with women’s saddle and finishing kit.

She adds: “In categories where we are making completely unique frames such as [sportive road bike] Ruby, it is because we can achieve the best fit and best ride quality by utilizing a frame with a unique geometry and carbon lay ups. The motivations of the Ruby Rider and comparable men’s bike, Roubaix, are pretty different so in this category you will see a unique frame.”

Lightening the load on women’s bikes

“We want to ensure that all bikes in all sizes have the optimal ride quality for the rider they are meant to. This means, in most instances, greater deflection at a lighter load. So, as an example, lighter carbon layups on our [road race] Amira over the Tarmac to ensure a great ride quality and tube diameters that get smaller as you move down the sizing so a rider on a 44 has the same great experience as a rider on a 56.”

She also confirmed that the Boels-Dolmans team all definitely rode off the shelf Amira frames, including women’s World Champion, Lizzie Armitstead.