Why do guys bikes have the cross bar ?and women's do not?

Question

Why do guys bikes have the cross bar ?and women's do not?

Answer 1

guy's wear trousers so they lift their legs over the bar.

Women wear skirts and dresses so they step through the v of the frame.

it would be hard to lift your leg over the bar with a skirt :)

Answer 2

Because they are dumb and want to hurt guys nuts.

Answer 3

That one goes back to the days when women were expected to ride in a skirt.  It was a better design to have a dropped top tube to accomodate the skirt in a ladylike manner.

Answer 4

It's more an historical reason than a practical one.  Women wear skirts, and you can't get into a 'standard' bike without exposing, well, certain parts.

But mostly, this designs almost only apply to entry level bikes.  Medium to high end bikes the top tube is very similar to a mens bike, what changes is the geometry, lighter tubing, and other subtle changes here and there.

Answer 5

Frame strength. A longer unsupported seat tube/post will have more flex, so the horizontal top tube makes for a stiffer bike. Women's models or compact frames give up some stiffness for the convenience of easier stand-over and sizing.