women's white paper

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SPECIALIZED WOMEN’S WHITEPAPER

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2011 Specialized Women's White Paper

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Page 1: Women's White Paper

SPECIALIZEDWOMEN’S

WHITEPAPER

Page 2: Women's White Paper

WOMEN WHITEPAPER 2 WOMEN WHITEPAPER 3

SPECIALIZED WOMEN’S PRODUCTS LEAD PERFORMANCE

Every Specialized bike must survive a rigorous design and test procedure before it reaches production, and women’s bikes are no exception. First, we work to understand rider demands, and then we study variables like anthropometric data, weight, and power output. Only through this research can we optimize our women’s bikes for fit, confidence, and efficiency in order to provide the fastest, lightest and most confidence inspiring rides..

FIT:Specialized Women’s products are created using anthropometric data, measurements that help us understand human physical variation and provide a better fitting bike for women. Instead of taking a men’s product and scaling it down or adjusting the geo, we start with our data on women and build products from the ground up.

CONFIDENCE: By listening to riders we know that women are looking for a balanced ride and we design every product to instill confidence in the rider.

Through anthropometric studies, we can ensure that every size bike, from 44 cm. to 57 cm., has the same amazing ride quality; that the smaller bikes don’t become too harsh and the larger bikes don’t become too flexible. It also allows us to build different families of bikes with different characteristics, depending on the rider at hand—whether she wants the all-out stiffest bike or the most compliant for long distances. This approach carries through to mountain bike design, where we tune all suspension around women’s average weight and distribution.

EFFICIENCY:We go to great lengths to lighten both our bikes and equipment so that women can accelerate quickly and maintain the greatest degree of efficiency on their ride.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

A. Anthropometrics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 3

B. Road Bike Technology . . . . . . . . . . .Page 4-5

C. Road Bike Experience Map . . . . . . .Page 6-7

D. Mountain Bike Technology . . . . . . .Page 8-9

E. Mountain Bike Experience Map . . .Page 10-11

F. Saddle Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 12

G. Shoe Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 14

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4 0 IN- LBf [4.5NM]

LENGTH: 110

MATERIA

L: 60

61 A

LLO

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COMP-SET

RISE IS ANGLE CLOSEST TO DOT

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120 lbs. 150 lbs. 180 lbs. 210 lbs.

* Curve based on the average 150 lbs female rider.

* Off the shelf traditional suspension based on an average 180 lbs rider.

120 lbs. 150 lbs. 180 lbs. 210 lbs.

* Curve based on the average 150 lbs female rider.

* Off the shelf traditional suspension based on an average 180 lbs rider.

Through our studies, we’ve learned that the median height of women is 5’ 4” (male median is 5’ 9”), so we design our medium women’s bikes (51 cm, 15 in.) to fit that rider and scale up and down in size accordingly. This ensures that female riders get the best fit and maximum efficiency out of their bikes.

Bell curve of average women’s weight vs. average men’s weight

Women’s reach (combined torso and wingspan) is on average 2.5cm shorter than a male of the same height. So we tune our geometries and spec accordingly.

Our scientific studies show that the average weight of a female rider is approximately 150 lbs. (male average is 180 lbs.) and that women’s center of gravity is lower. This data helps us develop targets for suspension, tube sets, and layup stiffness to optimize the function for the female rider and ensure that every ride experience is confidence inspiring—whether ripping some singletrack or bombing a descent on a fresh piece of tarmac.

Women’s feet have a narrower heel cup, lower volume in the forefoot and require a lower cuff. We design all BG shoes around a women’s last.

Page 3: Women's White Paper

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INTEGRATION

Each road frame and fork is designed in tandem to create the lightest, stiffest, and most comfortable combination. This kind of control over the bike allows us to pioneer features like our tapered steerer tube assembly that reduces weight and improve steering precision (found on the Amira).

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700C WHEELS

Thanks to the ultra-refined geometry developed by our female product managers, even the smallest of our road bikes uses full-sized 700c wheels for a smoother ride and universal compatibility.

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WHAT WOMEN WANTFrom customized tubing dimensions to experience-specific geometry, every detail of our women’s road bikes is designed and engineered to improve and enhance her time on the road.

GEOMETRY

Every Specialized women’s road bike features experience-specific geometry that’s designed to fit women’s bodies for the perfect fit and optimal handling—whether adapted for racing, endurance, fitness, or recreation. Frames are offered in sizes down to 44cm.

CUSTOM TUBING

The custom alloy tubing or carbon layups used on our women’s road frames create a supple ride with low weight, excellent handling, and proven efficiency. This makes our bikes climb and accelerate faster, while also making them more compliant.

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2011 AMIRA DOWNTUBE

WOMEN’S-SPECIFIC COMPONENTS

Our road bikes feature components designed exclu-sively around the female form and the way women ride, including short-reach brake levers, anatomically con-toured Body Geometry saddles, and all-new handlebars designed with a short reach and shallow drop.

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Pressure mapping image of Specialized Body Geometry Dolce women’s saddle (left) compared to a competitor women’s saddle (right). Red indicates zones of highest pressure/discomfort.

The image above illustrates the customized tubing dimensions applied to each size of the Amira, from largest to smallest. Size-specific tubing optimizes the ride quality for each rider size.

WOMEN’S ROAD BIKE TECHNOLOGY

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Page 4: Women's White Paper

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WOMEN’S ROAD EXPERIENCE MAPS

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ED

S U P P L E R I D EP E D A L I N G E F F I C I E N C Y

DOLCE

RUBY

AMIRA

VITA

BIKE VITA

FRAME MATERIAL A1 WITH ZERTZFEATURES Rack mount and fender rack compatibility ensure versatilityCLAIM TO FAME The most versatile bike for event rides, first-time triathlons, and commuting around town

BIKE DOLCE

FRAME MATERIAL E5 & A1 WITH ZERTZFEATURES Predictable handling through OS DT. Compliance through triangulated SS.CLAIM TO FAME The first women’s road bike from Specialized (2004). Lightest weight and best handling bike in its class.

BIKE RUBY

FRAME MATERIAL FACT IS 9R CARBON WITH ZERTZFEATURES Predictable handling through OS DT. Compliance through triangulated SS.CLAIM TO FAME Nothing is smoother and faster. This is the bike that started the endurance road category for women.

BIKE AMIRA

FRAME MATERIAL FACT IS 10R & 9R CARBONFEATURES Ultimate stiffness-to-weight through tapered HT/steerer tube combination, OSBB and OS chainstaysCLAIM TO FAME 20 PODIUM FINISHES AROUND THE WORLD AND TOP ATHLETE ENDORSEMENTS

EXPERIENCE COMPETITIVE ROAD

EXPERIENCE ENDURANCE ROAD

EXPERIENCE RECREATIONAL ROAD

EXPERIENCE FITNESS/COMMUTE

Page 5: Women's White Paper

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WOMEN’S MOUNTAIN BIKE TECHNOLOGY

IT’S ABOUT THE SYSTEM, NOT JUST THE FRAME COLOR.From custom-tuned suspension to generous standover height, every detail of our women’s mountain bikesis designed and engineered to improve and enhance her time on the trail.

FRAMES CUSTOM TUBING

ANATOMICAL SADDLES CUSTOM TUNED SUSPENSION

Every Specialized women’s MTB frame is developed from anthropometric research and riding experience to appropriately fit the female form. With smaller sizes, experience-specific geometries, and the lowest possible standover heights, our women’s frames give female riders more control on the trail.

We create custom tubes for all of our women’s MTB frames and utilize specific carbon layups (where applicable) so they are lighter and smoother riding than over-built bikes for men. This makes our bikes climb and accelerate faster, while also making them more compliant.

Whether grips, rotors, handlebars or cranks, our women’s components are tuned, designed, or specially selected to be proportional for women’s bodies and the way they ride.

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Our women’s-specific saddles are the result of extensive research, pressure mapping, and development with medi-cal experts. We refine saddle shape, foam density, and seam positioning and formulate anatomical cut-aways to relieve pressure on sensitive soft tissue and increase overall comfort.

All of the suspension forks and rear shocks we spec on our women’s bikes (whether proprietary designs or not) are specifically tuned and sized to suit female riders, so even the lightest riders will benefit from more comfort, control, and efficiency. ` On air forks and shocks, we tune the spring curve to

provide a plush initial ride and ramp more at the end of the curve, so women are able to utilize all of their suspension. Most shocks ramp up too soon, which essentially becomes wasted travel. ` On coil-sprung forks, we use lighter weight, size-specific

springs.

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Load

(lb)

Displacement (mm)

2011 SPRING CURVES STD MEN VS STD WOMEN

90psi Main/50 Neg/Sm VC

70psi main/60 neg/Lg VC

INITIAL ZONE BUMP ZONE ENDING ZONE

WOMEN’S-SPECIFIC COMPONENTS

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Women’s spring rates (blue line) are tuned for lighter average rider weights to ensure that women are able to utilize all the travel and to have a plush ride.

Page 6: Women's White Paper

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PE

RF

OR

MA

NC

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S P E E D + F I T N E S SA D V E N T U R E + C H A L L E N G E

MYKA HT

MYKA FSR

ERASAFIRE

ARIEL

WOMEN’S MOUNTAIN EXPERIENCE MAPBIKE ERA

FRAME MATERIAL FACT IS 10M CARBON & M5 ALLOYSUSPENSION 100MM of custom-tuned FSR suspension with BrainCLAIM TO FAME Only women’s bike to win a WC and 24-Hour World Championship

BIKE SAFIRE

FRAME MATERIAL M5 ALLOYSUSPENSION 120/140mm of custom-tuned FSR suspension with Brain technologyCLAIM TO FAME Lowest standover height 120mm bike on the market

BIKE ARIEL

FRAME MATERIAL A1 ALLOYSUSPENSION 75mm of custom-tuned front suspensionCLAIM TO FAME Fully capable off-road bike

BIKE MYKA HT

FRAME MATERIAL M4 & A1 ALLOYSUSPENSION 80/100mm of custom-tuned suspensionCLAIM TO FAME Family lineup includes the best fitting 29er on the market for women

BIKE MYKA FSR

FRAME MATERIAL M4 ALLOYSUSPENSION 100mm of custom-tuned FSR suspensionCLAIM TO FAME Most capable and balanced bike in its class

EXPERIENCE PERFORMANCE XC

EXPERIENCE XC TRAIL

EXPERIENCE RECREATIONAL XC TRAIL

EXPERIENCE RECREATIONAL XC

EXPERIENCE ALL ROAD

Page 7: Women's White Paper

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WOMEN’S SADDLES

In order to create Body Geometry (BG) saddles designed specifically for women, we have conducted pressure mapping studies with a variety of saddle designs, which shows us, in real-time, how a female rider exerts pressure on her saddle while pedaling. By recording this data in a variety of riding positions, we can determine which sizes, shapes, and cut-outs are best for women’s riding experiences. Additionally, we tune the foam density of our saddles to reflect average rider weight and relieve direct pressure on sensitive soft tissue, maximizing performance and comfort for female riders.

• Softtissuepressureisrelievedthrough a women’s Body Geometry cut-out, beveled foam contours, and dual density foams.

• Nocut-outand“dome”shapecausessevere soft tissue pressure.

• Improperlyshapedcut-outcausessevere soft tissue pressure.

Dolce pressure mapping

Competitor saddle with no cut-out

Competitor saddle with incorrect cut-out

BLUE = less pressure

RED = more pressure

BG FIT professor Aaron Post works with Team Vera Bradley rider to find the perfect saddle fit.

Page 8: Women's White Paper

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WOMEN’S SHOES

Our research indicates that traditional cycling shoes are not ideally suited to women’s feet due to excessive volume in the toe box and heel width, allowing the foot to shift within the shoe. To compensate for an ill-fitting traditional shoe, many women will over-tighten the shoe’s closure, which decreases performance, comfort, and can potentially lead to rider injury.

In order to directly address the fit and performance needs of female riders, BG women’s shoes are built using a women’s last to address their anthropometric variations. This last creates a more precise women’s-specific fit than the traditional shoe by decreasing toe box volume, narrowing the heel, and lowering the ankle cuff—all of which translate directly to an increase in power output and comfort.

Our Women’s BG shoes also incorporate each of the following technologies designed to optimize fit and performance:

A built-in Varus Wedge elevates the inner forefoot by 1.5mm, minimizing forefoot collapse and helping eliminate knee movement under load. Varus Wedge insoles with varying thicknesses are also available to fit every rider’s unique biomechanical needs.

Longitudinal Arch Support is designed to act as a gasket between the foot and the sole of the shoe, providing a stable platform for power delivery. As a shoe’s closure is tightened, the arch support ensures that the arch of the foot remains in a neutral position during the power phase, eliminating common foot pain and providing measurable performance gains.

The Metatarsal Button is positioned beneath the forefoot in order to alleviate pressure on the muscles, nerves, and veins between the metatarsalbones,whichisthemostcommoncauseofwhatcyclist’scall“hotfoot”.

Lower volume forefoot

Narrower heel cup

WOMEN’S LAST

Page 9: Women's White Paper

WOMEN WHITEPAPER 16 www.specialized.com/women