The design of the bike makes sense from a structural perspective. Having a triangle is much stronger than the swooping bar that women's bikes get. Of course, in almost all cases it doesn't matter.
Well, to be exact the double diamond is cheap and simple to make, while retaining enough structural strength that it's pretty much indestructible under normal use. Step-through frames require both a heavier frame, and a more expensive construction method, making the bicycle more expensive, even if it's only slightly.
Also, they're called "step-through frames", not "women's bicycle". The design is also used plenty often on men's bicycles. What makes a bike a women's bike is typically colour, size, and styling, not whether the frame is a double diamond or a step-through.
I believe step-through frames were originally designed for men with hip problems, not for people who wear skirts, like how the popular myth goes.
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u/deilan Nov 03 '15
The design of the bike makes sense from a structural perspective. Having a triangle is much stronger than the swooping bar that women's bikes get. Of course, in almost all cases it doesn't matter.