In 1986 I bought a Terry Despatch road bike. I had no intention of buying it, but I went on a test ride and I was totally amazed at how comfortable it was. My toes did not hit the front wheel when I rounded a corner. My shoulders didn't hurt from handlebars that were built for someone with shoulders like a linebacker. I'm 5'4" (and shrinking) which seems a fairly average female height, but I could not believe that blue Terry bike experience. I just sold that bike a couple months ago after converting it into a singlespeed. I sold it to a woman who seems to love it as much as I have, and while lots of things in my life have changed since 1986, I stayed together with that Terry bike.
That bike - and you can go to the Terry Bicycle website and learn specifics - was important. I have met Georgina Terry and even ridden bikes with her, and a dozen other folks. There were more bikes produced in the the 80's that tried the idea of women specific, as well as bicycles for anyone who was not 5'8 or taller. Most were not around long, but sometimes you can find one with a 24" front wheel and a 700cm or 27" rear wheel. I believe Nishiki and Fuji each had a model.
Now we are seeing a new wave of women specific bikes and some seem to mostly be Pink or sporting a fancy paint job, but lacking any other changes. Some, mt bike and road bike, do consider narrower handlebars, shorter cranks, and a shorter top tube. If you see one, do try to find out what really makes it women specific. It is said often that the women's bikes are designed to address the fact that women have longer legs and shorter torsos proportionally than men. Some do. Some don't.
While working in a bicycle store, I sold a wonderful bike to a fellow who had bought 2 bikes and returned each one, because neither was quite right. Then he saw a white bike in the rack, fell in love and bought it. He loved that bike. At least until someone pointed out to him that is said, in tiny letters, women specific geometry. He brought that back in a flash. Kinda sad, really.
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