I never did figure that one out from a practical standpoint. I can dig the whole 'feminine sensibilities' angle, but they might was well have factored a row of sharpened gutter spikes into the design of those old 'boy's' 10-speed and spider bikes. They were enough to make your voice go through puberty twice in one childhood.
"Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats."
--H.L. Mencken, The Sage of Baltimore