I’m really into vintage bicycles… and I absolutely love the look and convenience of step through frames (esspecially those with a curve!)
I’ve heard a lot of sh*t talking about this frame shape, (it’s structurally unsound, etc… etc…) but how much of a difference does it really make?
For example I currently ride a 70′s woman’s schwinn suburban 10 speed like this: http://www.selloldtoys.com/bike/images/IMG_2516_jpg.jpg
and the thing is STEEL… Solid heavy hardcore heavy duty steel! It’s one of the heaviest bikes I’ve ever had, is it really going to make a difference?
Or what if the top tube wasn’t curved, but just angled down in a straight line like this:
http://www.cyclerecycler.com/DSC00037.JPG?
Does that make it better or worse?
or split top tubes like this?:
http://bluecollarmtb.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/07/deere.jpg
If it were aluminum would it be a different story?
What exactly compromises structural integrity in terms of women’s bikes, and are any of these better then the other? Aluminum vs. steel? Hypothetically, What if it were carbon? What problems does this type of frame actually cause in the real world, like day to day commuting?
Earlier designed bikes such as your first two are leftover designs from the 50′s when most if not all women who rode a bike generally wore a skirt and this type of frame has just carried over to the present. It is still just as easy to "step thru" than it was back then…Not the strongest of frame designs but these bikes aren’t made for 10′ drops either.