How to convert a men's bike to a women's bike

Before you even start the conversion process, it’s best to make sure you’ve got the right type of bike for the riding you like to do. We’ve got plenty of information about each type of bike out there, so you can decide whether you’re better off with a road bike, a gravel bike, a mountain bike, or a commuter bike.

Read more: Every type of bike explained

Generally, the advice is that women should pick a size smaller than a size guide recommends. Usually, people say this is because women have longer legs and shorter torsos than men, although that’s actually a myth. In fact, women should pick a smaller size because generally speaking, women have shorter arms, proportionally, than men, so a frame that’s designed for male proportions might feel a little long.

Even if you get exactly the right size frame, it probably won’t fit you perfectly straight away. Have a look at our guide to getting a perfect bike fit to get comfortable on your frame.

Read more: Signs you bought the wrong size bike

Women’s saddles are designed to accommodate wider sit bones and offer better pressure relief to any soft tissue. It might take a bit of trial and error to find a saddle that suits you, so look into finding a bike shop that offers test saddles or a fitting service.

Read more: How to choose a road bike saddle

Generally speaking, men’s bikes come with wider handlebars – usually between 40 and 44cm – that fit men’s wider shoulders. Most women have narrower shoulders, so consider fitting a narrower bar between 36 and 40cm.

Read more: How to change integrated handlebars

On modern STI levers, you can usually adjust the reach of the levers by adjusting a bolt under the hood. The placement of the bolt varies depending on your model, so check the individual specs of your levers, then adjust the levers until you can reach the levers with ease.