STELLAR GOES STAINLESS

The “Stellar” bicycle, made especially for women, not only better accommodates a woman’s body, but now Seattle’s rainy weather as well. R & E cycles (5627 University Way NE, 206.527.4822, www.rodcycle.com), has produced a stainless steel Stellar model that won’t rust in the rain.

After 26 years of selling bicycles, R & E Cycles owners Estelle Gray and Dan Towle have become experts on the shape of men’s and women’s bodies and how they fit bikes. Five years ago, they designed the Stellar, a new bike modeled on custom orders they had received from women cyclists in the past. Most bicycles, says Gray, are designed for men’s longer torsos and arms. They aren’t as comfortable for women, who generally have longer legs but shorter torsos and arms than men (not to mention wider behinds). the Stellar’s frame is shorter in both length and height. The handlebars have been raised significantly to accommodate women’s shorter torsos and custom tailored to the width of the rider’s shoulders. Although the STellar starts at $1,100, almost 200 are now sold annually. “If you don’t feel comfortable on your bike” remarks Gray, “it doesn’t matter what it cost you or what it’s made of, your aren’t going to ride it. Our goal is to create that comfort.”

AMY HATCH and AMANDA GARRICK