Santa Cruz’s sibling company, Juliana Bicycles, have published a statement on their website that denounces the whole sub-industry of bike geometry-for-females.

“We don’t believe in ‘Women-Specific Geometry'” – Juliana Bicycles.

Mountain bike geometry is constantly evolving. We’re actually in something of a purple patch for radical and progressive geometry.

>>> Bike Check: Rachael Walker’s custom ‘tattoo’ Juliana Furtado

First bikes embraced slack head angles. Then bottom brackets started to creep lower. Now bike designers are embracing long top tubes and reach and also increasingly steep seat angles.

Who knows, maybe companies will stop searching for ever-shortening chain stays and contemplate that lengthy wheelbases might actually be a good thing for some riders?

>>> Prototype Nicolai Geomotron downhill bike to be raced in 2016 World Cups

It’s all interesting and generally sound. Finally it looks as though the MTB world might be freeing itself of long-held prejudices that have come over from road bike design.

With Juliana’s bold statement (printed in parts below) it looks as if women riders aren’t going to be left out from the modern geometry attitude revolution.

What have Juliana Bicycles said?

“‘Women’s specific’ bike geometry arose. It was based on the theory that women have (proportionally) shorter torsos and longer legs than men. And it led many bike companies down the path of creating women’s mountain bikes with a shorter reach and a taller front end.”

“This approach, which creates a more upright riding position, was also said to help inexperienced or timid riders feel more comfortable. Sure, it might feel good when you first sit on it and take a quick pedal around the bike shop, but when it comes to mountain biking and control on the trail at speed, an overly upright riding position is not optimal for good handling and stability.

“BUT, WAIT A MINUTE, WOMEN ARE DIFFERENT TO MEN!

“Yes. On average, women are shorter and weigh less than men – about 5 inches shorter and 30 pounds less … And this is corroborated by our own studies, which suggest the average female rider demoing a Juliana is around 32lbs lighter than male riders of similar height.”

They end the piece by explaining how Juliana bikes do it differently. Standover heights are kept minimal, suspension is tuned for lighter riders and have some “used and approved by women” finishing kit.

>>> Size matters: why we’re all riding bikes that are too small

What do you think?

Juliana Bicycles say: “We know it sounds awfully simple, but the truth often is.”

Is it really as simple as this? Is women specific geometry a load of b***s? Do you have a Women Speicfic Geometry bike and love it?

Leave a comment below.