Pinarello offer an ‘Easy Entry’ women’s bike, but most of their bikes are available in a 42cm sized frame. We spoke to Brian Tinsley, technical director at Pinarello’s UK distributors Yellow Limited.

“If you look at the geometry of the ladies bikes the top tube is a couple of millimeters shorter. The only logical reason for that is that we’re told that ladies are proportionally long in the leg and shorter in the body.”

Marketing to sell more

I think it’s a little bit of a marketing ploy to sell extra units within a sector

Tinsley doesn’t mince his words: “It’s a bit like sportive bikes. I think it’s a little bit of a marketing ploy to sell extra units within a sector. I’m being really honest. Within Pinarello we have twelve sizes – we can put you on a men’s bike and position you perfectly, while a brand with fewer sizes will find it more difficult.”

[TWC: But you have made women’s bikes – are you happy to say that it’s mainly marketing?]

“Fundamentally, for me, I think yes. The top tube length is marginally shorter by 1.5mm to 2mm. There are lots of brands creating new styles of bikes to create more sales these days. I don’t think Pinarello have created the trend, more followed it.”

Female pro’s don’t ride women’s specific

Pinarello have supported a host of female pros. Tinsley says: “We looked after Nicole Cooke and Lucy Garner – we’ve looked after lots of female athletes, and they’ve never asked for women’s bikes. We have so many sizes, we’ve got something for everyone.”