Are you looking for the best women’s road bike for beginners?
If you are new to cycling you will easily get overwhelmed by all the different types of women’s bikes in the market. Many are not aware that there are specific bikes designed for women riders. In fact, women’s bikes have been available in the market since the early 1900s.
A women’s road bike often comes with smaller frames, shorter stem, shorter crank arms, and a more comfortable saddle. These features help the rider be comfortable during long rides and also help in improving their speed.
If you’re ready to buy your first road bike. This article will give you ideas on what is the best women’s bike for beginners that you should consider buying.
Best Women’s Bikes For Beginners
Diamondback Airen 2
The Airen 2 features an aluminum frame with a carbon fork. The frame size is 50-52 cm and the total weight is 31 lbs. It has a Shimano 105 shifters and derailleur with a combined 20 gears. Other features include a Michelin dynamic sport tires, Diamondback women’s performance road saddle, and FSA Omega compact crankset. Another feature that I like about this bike is it comes with a hydraulic disc brake.
The only downside is even with the carbon fork the Airen 2 is quite heavy compared to some of our bikes on the list. However, I’d still recommend this bike because it is custom-designed for women. The Airen 2 will offer a comfortable ride because the saddle and grips are designed for women.
Giordano Libero Aluminum
The Giordano Libero is a decent beginner bike for women. The bike has a lightweight 6061 aluminum frame with a High Tensile Steel Fork. The total weight is around 32 lbs. which is acceptable for its price. It has a Shimano Claris STI Shifters and rear derailleurs with a combined 16 gears. The wheel size is 700C and it also has an Alloy Dual Pivot Brakes.
What I like about this entry-level bike is that it has decent parts for its price. The design of the bike is very stylish and it has a white, pink, and black color scheme for you to choose from. Sizing is not a problem as you have multiple sizing options. If there is a downside about this bike is that the seat design needs a little improvement. Of course, you can always buy an after-market saddle and that will solve the issue.
Tommaso Forcella Endurance Aluminum Road Bike
The Tommaso Forcella features a lightweight aluminum frame. It also has an HCT Carbon fork which helps in dampening the vibration when riding. The drive train is a 24-speed Shimano Claris Groupset featuring a 30/39/50T Claris crankset and a 12x25T Claris cassette. The bike also features a Shimano Claris STI shifters and Shimano Claris brake calipers that will provide great handling plus accurate braking. You will enjoy the long rides because of the WTB Volt saddle that is designed for women’s comfort.
Tommaso Forcella is a great entry-level bike made for women with many sizes to choose from. The price is under $1000 which is fair considering all the premium components of the bike.
Schwinn Phocus 1400 And 1600
As far as I can remember the Schwinn brand has been in the market for decades and they have been producing quality bikes. The Schwinn Phocus is listed as an entry-level women’s road bike, but don’t get me wrong this bike features some of the best parts. The main feature of this bike is the aluminum frame and carbon fiber road fork. It also features 700c wheels and alloy double-wall rims with lightweight spokes. Another notable part is the Shimano 16-speed drivetrain and the Promax alloy dual-pivot brakes.
Here are some reasons why you should consider buying the Schwinn Phocus as your first bike. Sizes are available for riders 5 feet up to 6’4 inches tall. The bike is lightweight as it only weighs 26 lbs. The seat is designed for a comfortable ride and the frames have a step-over design. Lastly, Schwinn is known for its quality and they have a warranty on parts as well.
Giordano Aversa Women’s Road Bike
The Giordano Aversa is a good women’s bike for beginners because of its price and compact design. The frame is made of a 6061aluminum frame which makes the bike lightweight. The fork is high tensile steel and the rims are high-profile silver Vitesse alloy. The total weight of the bike is 26 lbs and it also has a 14-speed Shimano drive train. The brakes are caliper alloy dual-pivot brakes.
The Aversa retails at a much lower price compared to other brands with the same features. That is why I highly recommend this for those looking for an entry-level bike on a budget.
Things To Consider When Choosing A Women’s Road Bike
Here are some of the factors that you should consider when choosing a women’s bike for beginners.
Frames
Bike frames are usually made of steel, aluminum, or carbon fiber. Choosing the right frame for you is crucial as it will affect your biking performance.
Carbon fiber frames are the best choice if you want to have a lightweight bike. However, it is the most expensive of the three.
Steel frames are heavy but it is reliable and won’t easily break.
Aluminum frames are light and have the durability of a steel frame.
The weight of the bike is important for a women’s road bike so I recommend getting the lightest frame that your budget can afford.
Gears/Drivetrain
Drivetrains are important because they keep your road bike moving. Get an entry-level road bike with drivetrains that came from proven brands like Shimano, SRAM, and many more. You can always upgrade those parts later when you have the budget.
Breaks
A road bike can either have a disk or rim brakes system. The disk brake is a little expensive compared to a rim brake but it has a better stopping power compared to a rim brakes system, especially in wet conditions.
Wheel Set
The wheelset is made up of Hubs, Spokes, and Nipples. The Hubs has bearings inside which makes the wheels rotate on it. The Spokes supports the rim. You can choose from round or aero profiles. Nipples are added to the spoke to add tension. You can use aluminum or stainless spoke.