Best Women’s Road Bikes for Beginners

When you’re just getting started with road cycling, you want to find something that’s comfortable, stable, and yet designed to suit women. The market for entry-level women’s road bikes is growing more than ever, and there are numerous factors you should consider before making a purchase.

However, we know how overwhelming it can be to choose the right bike that will suit all of your needs. In light of that, we’ve selected the best women’s road bikes for beginners to make your choice easier. Moreover, you’ll learn about what to consider before you pull the trigger on a new road bike.

Best Women’s Road Bikes for Beginners: Reviews

Takara Kabuto Single Speed Road Bike

When you’re a beginner just starting to explore road cycling, you want to find something reliable but preferably also good-looking. And if it doesn’t break the bank, then it’s even better. The Takara Kabuto is one of the most popular women’s road bikes for beginners. Its simplicity and minimalist appearance appeal to most female cyclists. Since it comes in various color combinations, you’re bound to find something that reflects your character.

The bike is made of steel and alloy components. Although steel can be on the heavier side, it also allows you to ride this bicycle even on rougher terrains without having to worry about damaging the bike. And since there are three different sizes, every woman is sure to find the one that suits her body.

There are front and rear side pull brakes that give you the right amount of control while cycling. However, some users have reportedly experienced brakes squeaking, which can be annoying.

Since this is a single-speed road bike, changing gear isn’t something you have to worry about while cycling and enjoying the scenery. That said, this makes it a good beginner road bike. Toward this end, Takara uses a flip-flop system. There are two modes: a freewheel and a single mode. You can easily switch between these by flipping the handle.

In a nutshell, this is an affordable road bike that has some unique features suitable for beginner female cyclists.

Giordano Libero 1.6 White/Pink Womens Road Bike-700c

Finding a girly bike in a sea of sporty ones can be challenging. What’s more, they aren’t usually affordable. Luckily, this bike by Giordano isn’t only pink and inexpensive but it also boasts other enticing features.

The Giordano Libero women’s bike combines a classic, lightweight design with the ability to absorb any vibrations from the road. Like other Giordano bikes, this also has a handcrafted aluminum frame, meaning that this is one stable, long-lasting bicycle. Moreover, the front forks are made of high-tensile steel, which is another useful shock-absorbing feature.

The ride is smooth, and shifting gears doesn’t require much effort. The bike features entry-level brakes, which can be upgraded as you ride it more and more. But don’t think that it’s only a bike for running errands. The Giordano Libero is designed to give you a good ride, even on rougher roads.

Since the bicycle comes disassembled, know that you’ll need to put it together. This may seem like an annoying task, but the assembly is quick and simple. However, you should take it to your local bike shop to get it tuned up a bit before riding it for real.

The seat can be uncomfortable for some users. That said, you can easily fix this by wearing padded shorts. Furthermore, women with smaller fingers might have problems reaching the brakes. The manufacturer thought of that too and added rubber shims that’ll help you.

For women looking for a girly beginner road bike, this one may be the right call. It’s less expensive than some other bikes on the market, but it’s well-built and will last for years to come with occasional component replacements.

Read our full review of the Giordano Libero 1.6 Road Bike.

Schwinn Phocus 1400 and 1600 

The main difference between the Schwinn Phocus 1400 and the 1600 is the frame size and gears. Depending on your physique and purpose, you’ll choose the Phocus 1400 if you need a smaller bike. Alternatively, if you’re taller, then the Phocus 1600 is a better option.

Both bikes are designed as road bikes. These Schwinn Phocus bikes are made of lightweight Schwinn aluminum, which means carrying them will be rather easy. The Phocus 1400 is definitely lighter than the 1600, but keep in mind that this doesn’t mean the bike isn’t stable. As you know, Schwinn has a century-long reputation and is known for making robust bicycles of all levels.

Another key difference between these bikes is the gear and gear position. The Schwinn Phocus 1400 features a traditional gear positioning, with the gear shifts on the bike frame. It’s also got a gear of 14 speeds, compared to the Phocus 1600 that has 16. Now, this is indeed a rather minor difference, but it can give you more options when you’re riding on various slopes. Plus, if you’re looking into training for races, then the Phocus 1600 might be a better option.

The Schwinn Phocus 1600 has gear levers on the handlebars. Since they are next to the brakes, many cyclists prefer this kind of positioning as it allows them to navigate between these two effortlessly.

Although a reliable braking system is crucial for any bike, many manufacturers tend to use cheaper brakes for their entry-level models. However, this isn’t the case with Schwinn. As a result, both the Phocus 1400 and 1600 feature excellent Promax caliper brakes.

Here’s our in-depth review of the Schwinn Phocus 1400 and 1600 Road Bike.

SAVADECK Carbon Road Bike, Warwinds3.0 700C 

Unlike entry-level bikes, this Savadeck road bike comes with a carbon frame that provides higher performance and comfort. Plus, it’s better at absorbing vibrations than, say, aluminum. And the most amazing thing about this is that this bike is much less expensive than other carbon bikes.

The color options are good enough. It comes in blue, orange, grey, and red. The paint isn’t prone to chipping, so no need to worry about your bike losing its elegance.

The changing of gears goes smoothly, so you can enjoy different speeds even if you’re a beginner road cyclist. Even after miles of cycling, this bike isn’t going to give you any problems with the gears and overall construction.

The manufacturer pays attention to small details. For example, the cables are hidden in the handlebars and the frame. The handlebars are aerodynamically shaped and they’re quite comfy as well.

24″ Royce Union RTT Womens 21-Speed

This Royce Union women’s road bike is solidly constructed and features an aluminum frame. It’s available in various colors and features an overcoat that’s going to keep your bike shiny and resistant to rust and corrosion.

The saddle is padded and comfortably too. Furthermore, you can adjust it to match your height. The bicycle has a 21-speed gear to suit a variety of terrains. It’s great for climbing, light cycling, and even off-riding. The Shimano trigger shifters are great and effortless to operate. The braking system is powerful and the brakes themselves have the alloy finish.

The bike comes in several frame sizes for shorter and taller women. You won’t have any problems finding the one that suits your physique. As to be expected, the heavy-duty Shimano drivetrain has excellent rust resistance.

Finally, this is one of the most affordable best women’s road bikes for beginners that are equipped with an adjustable handlebar to protect your neck, shoulders, and back.

Buyer’s Guide

The above mentioned best women’s road bikes for beginners all have certain like and unlike features. But what should you consider when you’re looking to buy a road bicycle? Find out for yourself in the following sections.

Frame

When buying a road bike, the frame is an important consideration. In general, women’s bikes have handlebars closer to the saddle and a shorter top tube. Moreover, the frame will depend a lot on the riding purpose. If you’re looking for a road bike that you’ll ride occasionally, you might prefer the frame to have a more relaxed geometry. On the other hand, if you’re considering training for racing, the frame should be stiffer and house long top tubes.

Furthermore, the frame material also varies. Most commonly, the frames are made of steel, aluminum, carbon, or titanium. Aluminum bike frames are probably the most popular because they are inexpensive. They are also lightweight. Steel tends to be heavy but comfortable during rides.

Carbon fiber is even stronger and lighter than aluminum. Moreover, it’s popular because it absorbs vibrations quite well. Finally, titanium is the premium material, but it’s also very expensive. The metal doesn’t corrode and remains the same over time, so many cyclists choose it when they’re buying a long-term bicycle.

Finally, the size of the frame will depend on your height. Most bike shops have a chart that matches road bike frame sizes to heights.

Wheel Size

In addition to the frame, the wheel size is critical in choosing the appropriate road bike. Therefore, women should be aware that the wheel size can impact their rides. In general, the most common wheel size is 26”. This refers to the outside diameter of tires that’s suitable for this wheel size. These wheels are also ideal for shorter women. Taller women should look for 27.5” or 29” wheels.

To find a suitable wheel size for you, you should use the bead seat diameter. Narrower tires work better with smaller wheel diameter, while wider tires are for larger wheels.

Suspension

A bike’s suspension improves comfort and riding efficiency. When you’re cycling on the road for a really long time, you’re bound to feel some discomfort. But a suspended frame or fork can help to ease it. As a result, it enables you to ride faster as you’re not feeling the bumps in the road as much. In general, not all road bikes are suspended. Your decision to go with or without will depend on your preferences and the condition of your local roads.

Saddle

A good road bike saddle must be comfortable. Moreover, it must support your sitting bones and your spine. There are many different shapes and sizes, so the best way to go would be to head over to your local bike shop and have your sitting bones measured. You’ll know for sure what works best for you.

If you’re someone who cycles in a low-down position, you should check out narrower saddles, ideally, the flat ones, too. Alternatively, if you prefer to cycle upright, a wider saddle will do.

Gearing and Cranksets

For a beginner road cyclist, the gears and cranksets can be confusing. Changing the speed to suit the terrain can make your ride more efficient. Your bike might be a one-speed bike, which means you won’t have to change the speed. But usually, you should get to know your bike and see how it acts on different terrains.

Road bikes usually have a double crankset. This means that the larger chainring is better for greater speeds, while the smaller one is perfect when you’re going uphill. Beginner road cyclists don’t have to worry too much about this, but as you improve your skills, you should probably consider upgrading the chainrings.

Start Road Cycling Today

As you can see, each of these road bikes has its own advantages. Choosing the best women’s road bikes for beginners can get confusing very quickly, but we hope that we can help you make a smart choice.

If we had to select our favorite, that would have to be the Takara Kabuto Single Speed Road Bike. It’s affordable and an all-in-all reliable road bike for beginner cyclists. Alternatively, you could consider either of the Schwinn Phocus models. They’re elegant and have a superlative braking system.