Triangles are the most rigid structural object known.
Step through bike vs diamond frame.
You still see casual women s bikes with that look but it s for aesthetics not performance.
The biggest disadvantage of a step through frame is the weight strength and stiffness.
Bicycles with a high top tube cross bar known as a diamond frame were known as men s gents or boys.
However the step through frame requires thicker tubing to compensate in strength for the loss of the horizontal crossbar on the diamond frame.
These alternatives to the diamond frame provide greater versatility though at the expense of added weight to achieve equivalent strength and rigidity.
Back in the day they were also called diamond frames because the top tube down tube and seat tube form a diamond see image above.
Bike designers today are experimenting with curved elements on many pieces not.
Alternative step through designs may include leaving out the top tube out completely as in monocoque mainframe designs using a separated or hinged seat tube and twin top tubes that continue to the rear fork ends as with the mixte frame.
Step through bikes lack the top tube and instead the front of the bike slopes downward as it extends towards the back of the bike.
Among the wide variety of bikes to choose from there is one type that has become the most popular among female cyclists the hybrid bike.
It s a seven speed model with a u shaped frame for easy mounting and stepping off.
They are made with 3 triangles.
This german bike is known as one of the best step through bikes on the market and for good reason.
As time has gone by the women s hybrid bike has seen a ton of upgrades toward ease of use comfort speed and a wider field of use.
Diamond frames are stronger and lighter than step through models for several reasons.
The regular diamond shaped design of most bikes is so widely used because it is the better design.
Traditionally bicycles with a step through frame were known as ladies women s or girls mainly for their advantage to riders wearing skirts or dresses.
The top tube gives the frame strength and stability while allowing for the use of lightweight materials.
What about step through frames.
Step through frames rely on a rectangular trapezoidal or tubular shape at the joints.
1 0 1 best women s step through hybrids best women s hybrids best women s hybrid e bikes.