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Trek 1000: Unveiling The Ultimate Road Bike Experience

October 25, 2023

‍ Key Takeaways

The Trek 1000 road bike harmoniously blends vintage aesthetics with modern-day functionality, perfect for nostalgic touring.
Offering a lightweight aluminum frame and reliable components, it stands as a top pick among affordable yet high-performance bikes.
As a testament to Trek's renowned quality, the Trek 1000 provides a seamless balance of durability, comfort, and efficient road cycling experience.

This article may contain affiliate links where we earn a commission from qualifying purchases.

‍ Trek stands out as a top bike manufacturer because of the quality and comfort. And because of this, one of the top road bikes worth trying is the Trek 1000.

The Trek 1000 road bike combines vintage charm with contemporary functionality. Designed for touring, its lightweight aluminum frame ensures nimble handling, while reliable components promise durability. It’s also packed with modern features and a durable aluminum frame for longevity.

After rigorously testing the Trek 1000 road bike on various terrains and conditions, we've compiled an in-depth review based on our first-hand experience. Our team, with years of expertise in cycling and gear evaluation, offers an authoritative insight into this iconic bike's performance, aesthetics, and value.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

‍ Trek 1000 Road Bike Overview

The Trek 1000 road bike, a classic in the world of vintage bikes, offers a delightful blend of past aesthetics with present-day functionality. For those passionate about taking a journey down memory lane or wanting to embark on a touring adventure, the Trek 1000 serves as a trusted companion.

Many bike enthusiasts looking for the ideal touring bike are immediately drawn to the Trek 1000. Its design considers the long-distance traveler, ensuring smooth, efficient, and reliable rides. Its frame geometry and components are conducive to both leisurely jaunts through the countryside and more rigorous multi-day journeys.

The Trek 1000 isn’t just any road bike; it truly captures the essence of what makes a vintage bike so special. Every curve, weld, and detail echoes an era where craftsmanship and bike design went hand in hand.

In today’s market flooded with high-end, costly models, the Trek 1000 stands out as one of the more affordable options, making it a top pick among low-cost bikes. However, don't let the price tag fool you. This bike’s affordability doesn’t compromise its quality. It's constructed with the care that one would expect from the Trek brand, ensuring durability and performance.

The Birth Of Trek 1000

The Trek 1000 was first introduced in the 1980s but gained popularity in the mid-1990s. This road bike's design has evolved over time with continual updates, making it a popular choice for riders seeking a reliable yet affordable option.

With its sleek design and efficient components, the Trek 1000 is a timeless classic in modern bikes.

Why You Should Consider The Trek 1000

There are numerous reasons why the Trek 1000 is a great bike for riders of all levels. One of the main contributing factors is its 7005 series aluminum frame, which keeps the weight low at just over 1.5kg for the frame only.

This lightweight aspect allows for both speedy rides and easier handling on the road. In addition, the Trek 1000 comes equipped with a responsive and efficient drivetrain, ensuring smooth shifting and consistent speed management.

Its lightweight and durable wheels offer stability while minimizing the bike's overall weight, making climbs and descents more enjoyable. Moreover, the Trek 1000's comfortable and adjustable geometry ensures a great fit for a variety of riders.

It also has Bontrager Ergo handlebars, which contribute to a comfy grip and riding position. This bike provides good components such as Shimano Sora Triple derailleurs, giving riders access to a mid-range configuration without the high price tag of high-end bikes like the Trek Domane.

Technical Specifications Of Trek 1000

Frame and construction.

The Trek 1000 road bike features an Alpha SL Aluminum frame that ensures a balance between lightweight and durability. The frame provides a responsive and efficient ride, which is essential for road bikes.

The bike also comes with a Bontrager-approved carbon fork to help absorb road vibrations, thus offering a more comfortable ride. The aluminum frame and carbon fork construction make it a great choice for various terrains and long rides.

Drivetrain And Gearing

The Trek 1000's drivetrain features Shimano Sora components, ensuring smooth shifting and a wide range of gears for tackling different riding conditions.

The bike's Shimano Sora Triple front derailleur and the Shimano Sora STI Dual Control Brake Levers provide a responsive and reliable gear shifting system. This combination ensures good bike performance and enjoyable rides on various terrains.

Brakes And Safety

Safety is critical when riding at fast speeds, and the Trek 1000 road bike's braking system doesn't disappoint. The bike comes with Shimano Sora STI Dual Control brake levers that provide precise braking control while ensuring smooth gear shifts.

This makes the bike suitable for beginners and experienced riders alike when riding or cycling in various conditions.

Tires And Wheels

The Trek 1000 road bike is equipped with durable tires and wheels designed for road cycling. The bike features Bontrager tires that offer excellent rolling resistance and grip for fast speeds and consistent performance.

On the other hand, the wheels ensure stability and comfort during long rides, as they're designed to handle the demands of road biking. These components make the Trek 1000 road bike a dependable option for riders seeking high-speed performance and reliable handling.

The Ultimate Road Bike Experience

Unmatched comfort.

The Trek 1000 road bike is designed to provide riders with maximum comfort. The lightweight aluminum frame ensures that it's easy to handle and maneuver, while the supportive saddle and well-designed handlebars enable a comfortable position for longer rides.

Aluminum Frame: Lightweight and durable, perfect for efficient riding
Handlebars: Drop handlebars that provide great grip and control
Saddle: Supportive and designed for long rides

Cycling on the Trek 1000, you might find yourself momentarily transported to the Tour de France. Its design, reminiscent of an old bike, captures the essence of iconic races of yore.

Even if you're just cruising around your neighborhood, the bike exudes a competitive spirit that makes you feel as if you're on the grand stages of the world's most famous cycling race.

Delivering Speed

When it comes to speed, the Trek 1000 road bike does not disappoint. The skinny tires and 14-speed configuration make for a nimble and fast ride.

Furthermore, the carbon fiber components add to the bike's overall lightweight, allowing riders to pick up speed and easily tackle various terrains.

The Trek 1000's vacuum tires, paired with the ability to maintain higher tire pressure, set it apart from many bikes. This combination ensures smoother rides, even on challenging terrains, offering both comfort and speed.

The higher tire pressure increases efficiency and gives the rider a significant performance advantage, especially when aiming to win races or outpace fellow cyclists.

Enhancing Endurance

For riders looking to push their limits and improve endurance, the Trek 1000 road bike is a fantastic option. In addition to its lightweight, its responsive handling makes tackling long distances and challenging rides more enjoyable.

This provides a road bike experience allowing riders to push their boundaries confidently.

Responsive Handling: Smooth and swift, making navigating different types of terrain easier
Wide Gear Range: The 14-speed configuration gives riders more options when tackling hills and varying gradients
Light Weight: The aluminum frame and carbon fiber components make the Trek 1000 easier for riders to maintain their pace and power over long distances

Riding the Trek 1000 requires and fosters consistent rational thinking. Its shifting style and the Bontrager sport components demand an engaged rider who is constantly attuned to the bike's responses and the road's demands.

Investing In Trek 1000

Price and value.

Investing in a Trek 1000 road bike is wise for those seeking a versatile and affordable option. This popular road bike offers great value for money, with many riders enjoying its performance and durability.

While the Trek 1000 used to sell for under $1000, new additions have slightly increased the price. However, the Trek 1000 remains affordable compared to many modern bikes.

When it comes to value, the Trek 1000 delivers. The aluminum frame ensures longevity, while the lightweight and quality components provide an enjoyable cycling experience. Cyclists seeking a good road bike without breaking the bank will find the Trek 1000 a great choice.

Maintenance And Durability

Many riders prefer road bikes that require minimal maintenance and can withstand the rigors of daily use. The Trek 1000 is one such bike known for its durability.

With its sturdy aluminum frame, resilient components, and quality construction, the Trek 1000 appeals to cyclists who demand a combination of longevity and performance.

Maintaining the Trek 1000 is relatively simple. We recommend regular upkeep on the bike, such as checking tire pressure, lubricating the chain, and making minor adjustments to the gears as needed.

By performing these routine maintenance tasks, cyclists can ensure the Trek 1000 remains in optimal condition for miles of riding enjoyment. In the long run, the Trek 1000 offers an excellent balance between low-cost investment and consistent performance.

Is The Trek 1000 Road Bike Worth Buying?

The Trek 1000 road bike is definitely worth considering for multiple reasons. First and foremost, Trek is a renowned brand with a reputation for producing high-quality, durable bicycles.

This entry-level road bike offers a great balance between price and performance. Its lightweight aluminum frame provides a smooth ride and is ideal for both beginners and more experienced riders looking for a reliable road bike.

The components, including the gear shifting mechanism and brakes, are consistent and dependable. Additionally, the ergonomic design ensures comfortable long rides. Finally, the value for money is impressive.

It offers features and performance often found in more expensive models. In conclusion, if you're seeking a dependable, well-designed, and cost-effective road bike, the Trek 1000 is a commendable choice.

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About THE AUTHOR

Danny Lawson

Mountain biking is more than just a hobby for me - it's a way of life. I love the challenge and excitement that comes with it, and I'm always pushing myself to go faster and ride harder. Some people might think that mountain biking is dangerous, but I see it as the only way to live.

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About PedalChef

PedalChef is a blog on all things cycling. We are a group of people who love bikes, and we want to share the joy that comes with the experience. You can read more about us here .

We can be reached at [email protected]

PedalChef.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. This site also participates in other affiliate programs, and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies.

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Trek SL1000 review

Half a grand is a lot of money for a lot of people - luckily it can get you a lot of bike

Paul Vincent

Half a grand is a lot of money for a lot of people - and luckily it can get you a lot of bike. There's a huge range to choose from at this price, from commuting cycles to long-distance tourers, but if you're looking for something a little lighter and sportier you'll be pleased to know that for around £500 you can buy a machine that'll easily cope with distance rides such as sportives, as well as your day to day cycling, with a good dose of style thrown in.

The Trek SL1000, was a winner in Cycling Plus' 2006 budget race bikes of the year. >

Frame >The Trek frame is based on 7005 series aluminium tubing with butted main tubes and is 1,551g in the 56cm size tested. The welding is plain without any smoothing of the joins, and the paint and decals are an improvement on the previous year's model. We like the neatly executed mudguard bridge detailing between the chainstays.

The distinctive and unusual forward-sloping top-tube (it's higher at the seatpost) is an aspect of the 1000-1500 series that you'll either like or loathe, but the short head-tube enables a low riding position for time trialling that simply isn't possible on the Specialized with its taller head-tube. The handlebar height can be altered considerably by flipping the stem through 180 degrees to point upwards, and further adjustments can be effected in small increments by using the headset spacers provided. The inclusion of rack and mudguard eyes is a major plus point as far as versatility for commuting and general cycling is concerned, meaning that this frame is a good all-rounder.

> Equipment >Given that the £500 price point is largely focused on those who are just getting into their cycling, it is appropriate that Trek have specified the SL1000 with a triple chainset, because the range of gears this provides is more important than the small weight saving of a double chainset. The anatomic 'pistol grip' handlebars have a slightly deeper and lower bend than those of the Specialized, and the radically sloping stem provides a greater than average range of handlebar height settings, though it doesn't win points for style. The Shimano Sora levers work well with your hands rested on the hoods, but it's a long reach to the brake hood button levers when your hands are on the drops.

>An eight-speed Shimano cassette means the transition to a smaller gear is a noticeably bigger step than with a 10-speed system, but the testers felt that it hardly affected their ability to maintain a constant pedalling cadence on undulating roads.

> > Wheels >The Trek wheels are of the traditional variety in using 32 spokes per wheel, laced in a 3-cross pattern to strong, reputable Alex rims - each spoke is crossed by two others, between hub and rim - with unbranded but smooth-running hubs. This year's wheels are 115g heavier per pair than those of the previous year's model that were outwardly similar but used Rigida Chrina rims instead. Trek have retained the tried and trusted Bontrager Select tyres that are probably the best budget tyre we have come across for vertical compliance, and they grip tenaciously in the wet. Their slightly larger 25mm width means they are more resistant to pinch punctures than 23mm tyres, but they'll need to be changed for a 23mm tyre if mudguards are to be fitted to provide enough clearance.

> Handling

The Trek's butted tubes make for a lively performance out on the road and were it not for the weight of the components, this could easily be confused with a bike costing twice the price. There really is very little to criticise when ridden on the flat, but at a shade under 21lb its bulk, which is mainly centred on the wheels, makes it harder for the rider to change tempo on a climb. That said, the fun and lively nature of the ride makes you want to take the long way home on a warm balmy summer evening.

Though odd looking, the system of using spacers stacked to give the greatest handlebar height didn't cause our testers any worries, and the time triallists will warm to the fact that the spacers can be omitted completely to get a low, aerodynamic riding position. > > Verdict

The Trek won our budget race bike of 2006 award by virtue of its versatility and now receives a carbon seatpost, but it's 115g heavier overall because of the new wheels. Compared to the previous model year, the Specialized has seen the biggest raft of improvements which, like the Trek, include a carbon seatpost in place of an aluminium one, together with a higher spec and marginally lighter wheels. >Iit's hard to ignore the Trek's inclusion of mudguard and rack eyes. These make the it a very versatile bike, a quality that can't be overlooked if the bike is to be used year-round for different types of riding. If versatility is your bag, the Trek should be right up your street.

Trek’s Seventh Generation Madone Blends Radical Design and Performance

Trek's new Madone is made to go fast and win races.

Takeaway: A pure-bred road race bike designed to win at the WorldTour level. With its latest Madone, Trek ditches the IsoSpeed decoupler for the new lighter weight, more aerodynamic, and visually radical IsoFlow seatmast.

Drops weight and gains efficiency.
Proven geometry remains unchanged from the gen-6 model.
Flared bars for reduced drag.
Three SRAM and three Shimano build kit offerings.

Trek Madone SLR 9 eTap Gen 7

Trek’s Madone is an iconic bike. First launched in 2003, the Madone has evolved massively over the past two decades. The platform’s most significant technological leap came about in 2014 when Trek debuted the Emonda, its dedicated lightweight bike. The Emonda freed the Madone from having to strictly be a light bike, allowing aerodynamics to become its primary focus.

To deal with the notoriously stiff and uncomfortable ride of early aero bikes, Trek’s engineers incorporated an IsoSpeed decoupler, similar to the one used on the brand’s Domane endurance bike. With IsoSpeed, the bike’s seat tube moved independently from the top tube and seat stays, allowing it to absorb road chatter and small bumps. The resulting sixth-generation Madone was incredibly fast against the wind while also receiving praise for its ride quality. But the downside was the added weight.

With the new seventh-generation Madone, Trek set an ambitious goal of reducing weight without sacrificing the comfort and aerodynamic properties of the old bike. The most obvious place to shed grams was the IsoSpeed system, now replaced by the visually striking IsoFlow.

According to Trek, function drove IsoFlow’s development. Aided by computational fluid dynamics (CFD), Trek sought to overhaul the entire aerodynamic package of the Madone. The result was a new generation of Trek’s Kammtail tube shapes, including a smoother head tube, a down tube better optimized for use with and without bottles, a taller bottom bracket area, and the radically designed seat tube.

The new Madone is bold and will not be mistaken for any other bike. But it definitely won’t please riders who prefer a more traditional aesthetic. Trek deserves props for pushing the design language of a bicycle forward. Though its looks won't please everyone, I’m happy to see something other than a cookie-cutter, dropped-stays, aero-ish, all-around-er that seems so popular amongst bike designers.

The new seat mast set-up is well-designed, offering easy and consistent height adjustment. But the best detail was in the seat clamp, which allowed for fore and aft adjustment independent of saddle tilt. It’s a small detail that makes setting up the bike much easier, as it allows for minor saddle angle tweaks while leaving it clamped in place.

These changes account for roughly half of the aerodynamic improvements of the new bike. Trek claims that the new Madone saves riders 19 watts of pedaling energy at 28 mph, but just half of that savings (9.3 watts) is from improvements to the frame. The remaining watt savings come from changes to the rider position due to the new flared handlebar design. The Madone SLR handlebar measures a traditional width in the drops, but the bar's flare positions the hoods inward by 30mm. This narrower hood location puts the rider in a more aerodynamic position when riding, thus saving watts.

Thankfully for riders that are particular about their contact points, Trek made the new bike compatible with standard 1-⅛” stems so riders can set up their cockpit however they like. However, changing to this would give up a large chunk of the Madone’s claimed aero benefits unless riders choose a narrower-than-normal bar width.

More importantly for pro riders and weight weenies alike, the new frameset is now two-thirds of a pound lighter than its predecessor. Our 56cm test bike came in at 16.2 pounds which is pretty svelt for an aero bike with 51cm deep clincher wheels and disc brakes. A big part of the weight saving comes from the new IsoFlow design. The cantilevered design of the seat tube and IsoFlow allows for engineered flex in the new Madone. This design is how Trek maintains the Madone’s celebrated ride quality.

Trek stuck to its H1.5 geometry as used on the previous generation Madone. It conceived this as a meeting point between Trek’s old racing-focused H1 geometry and its more relaxed H2 angles. The wheelbase on our 56cm bike was only 983mm, nearly a centimeter shorter than the Specialized Tarmac SL7 and Giant’s TCR, and 13 mm shorter than Canyons Ultimate. Combined with a relatively steep 73.5-degree head tube angle and a 58mm trail figure, you get a bike that will dive into corners as hard as you’re willing to push it.

Pricing and Build Options

There is no getting around the fact that as the top-of-the-line road racing bike from Trek, the Madone is not cheap. The move to electronic-only groups on all builds of the Madone does the price no favors as well. While equivalent new models of the Madone only get $200 more expensive for 2023. The entry-level build for the 2023 Madone SLR 6 (with Shimano 105 Di2) comes in at $8,000. That is a $1,100 increase over the 2021 Madone SLR 6 equipped with mechanical-shifting Shimano Ultegra. Top-of-the-range Dura-Ace and Red eTap builds retail for $12,750 and $13,200, respectively.

Trek offers the new Madone in six builds, three with SRAM (Red, Force, and Rival eTap) and three with Shimano (Dura-Ace, Ultegra, and 105 Di2). All of the Madone builds ship with the new integrated cockpit; Dura-Ace and Red-equipped Madones ship with Bontrager Aeolus RSL 51 wheels, while all other builds get the slightly heavier Aeolus Pro 51.

Ride Impressions

The new Madone has an exceptionally smooth ride, lacking the characteristically dead and harsh feel of past aero bikes. But the mellow ride is not without an edge. The Madone does an exceptional job of balancing all-day comfort with the agility and aggression needed to be a top-tier race bike. Under sharp accelerations, especially at speeds under 25 mph, the Madone felt impressively stiff. But accelerations from the high 20s into 30+mph territory felt a bit more muted, which is not inherently a bad trait. A twitchy bike is not helpful when you’re going that fast.

Once the Madone is up to speed, it just wants to stay there. I was impressed with how quickly and easily the bike would get rolling up to 20-22 miles per hour. Combined with the gentle ride quality, it felt like the new Madone would constantly surprise me with how fast I was going. The sensation of speed on this bike is almost sneaky, you get used to what 25mph feels like on a road bike, but on the Madone, the same pace feels calmer and less frantic, at least in a straight line. Throw the Madone into a corner, and it instantly feels sharp and aggressive.

As a racer, I very much enjoyed the Madone’s willingness to corner aggressively, but it did expose one of the bike's faults. The 25mm tires shipped on our test biker are simply too narrow. Trek claims that the Madone can fit tires up to 28mm, but this feels short-sighted. Wheel brands such as Reserve, Enve, and Zipp now design around a 28mm tire as the default width. There is plenty of space in the frame for wider tires, so Trek is likely very conservative in its stock tire choice and maximum tire width recommendation.

Even riding the stock 25mm tires with pressures as low as 65 psi front and 75 psi rear, the narrow rubber still felt like it was missing grip, with the back end stepping out multiple times when exiting a corner. It was also discouraging that a road bike selling for over thirteen thousand dollars does not ship with tubeless compatible tires or the proper bits to easily set up the Bontrager Aeolus RSL 51 wheels as tubeless.

Another thing missing from the bike was a computer mount. Usually, it is not something I would expect a brand to include, but the bars require a Trek-specific part. Given the complete bike’s price tag and Trek’s integrated cockpit, it should come with a computer mount. I sourced a Blendr mount from my local Trek store, but it was not without its issues (it rattled loose during a training crit and fell off). It is possible to entirely avoid this proprietary part by using a standard 1-⅛” stem and handlebar but making this swap would involve cutting hydraulic houses and would not be cheap.

I was also pleased to see Trek continue using the T47 bottom bracket standard on this bike. A threaded bottom bracket shell is a win for mechanics everywhere. However, the latest Madone is now only compatible with electronic shifting. We can argue whether it's bike brands like Trek (releasing electronic-only high-end bikes) or component brands like SRAM and Shimano (no longer developing high-performance mechanical road groupsets) or if consumers are just voting with their dollars. But the result is that we are witnessing the death of mechanical shifting from high-end racing bikes. And that's a little bit sad.

Ultimately this Madone, like the versions that have come before, was conceived and designed to meet the needs of World Tour professionals. Everything about the bike, from how it rides, to how much it costs, reflects that niche design requirement. Aside from a small pool of professional racers, very few people will likely make the most of this bike’s capabilities. It’s analogous to the way most drivers will not benefit from driving a Formula One car. It’s a pure-bred race bike designed to win at the highest level. If that’s what you’re looking to do—or you just want to own a bike with that ability—then the Madone should be on your shortlist.

Test Editor Dan Chabanov got his start in cycling as a New York City bike messenger but quickly found his way into road and cyclocross racing, competing in professional cyclocross races from 2009 to 2019 and winning a Master’s National Championship title in 2018. Prior to joining Bicycling in 2021, Dan worked as part of the race organization for the Red Hook Crit, as a coach with EnduranceWERX, as well as a freelance writer and photographer.

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Best road bikes: A bike for every budget

The best road bikes from value offerings to pro-level rides

Road bikes under £1000 / $1500
Road bikes under £2000 / $2500
Road bikes under £5000 / $6000
All-rounder race bikes
Lightweight bikes
Endurance bikes
Electric road bikes

If you're looking to choose between the best road bikes, there's a bewildering array of choices.

The best budget road bikes are still very affordable. They're usually endurance all-rounders, but once you look further up manufacturers' ranges you'll usually find bikes designed for different purposes.

There's still an array of endurance bikes at higher prices, but you can also choose between the best lightweight road bikes and the best aero road bikes. It's not a simple choice either; although a lightweight bike may feel livelier, aerodynamics is usually more important if you want to go faster.

Read our guide on how to choose a road bike if you want more guidance. The best electric road bikes are also an option if you value the assistance of a motor but want a bike that still looks and rides like a road bike.

All road bikes are getting more tyre clearance as well. That means that whereas a few years ago 25mm wide tyres were the norm, many newer bikes, even performance models, will allow you to fit 32mm tyres or wider.

That makes for a much more comfortable ride without appreciable loss of performance. It also leads to increasing overlap with the best gravel bikes - which often are getting more like road bikes as gravel racing takes off and gravel race bikes become an important category.

Here at Cyclingnews , our job is to test and review bikes, so you can be sure that our selection of the best road bikes below won't let you down. If you want more guidance on how to choose the best road bike for you, there's a useful buyer's guide lower down the page too.

Best road bikes available today

You can trust Cyclingnews Our experts spend countless hours testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

Best road bikes under £1000 / $1500

If you're looking for a bike in this price range you should be able to find an alloy-framed bike, usually with a carbon fork to help absorb some road chatter that will perform well. You should find one of Shimano's lower spec groupsets, either 8-speed Claris, 9-speed Sora or 10-speed Tiagra, although the best budget road bikes may stretch to middle tier Shimano 105.

1. Triban RC 520 Disc

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

Decathlon makes some excellent value bikes with well-chosen components. The Triban RC520 Disc is a good example. At a price at which you'd expect to find 8-speed Shimano Claris, you get an 11-speed Shimano 105 groupset with a good gear range from its 50/34-tooth chainset and 11-32-tooth cassette and much smaller jumps than you'd get with Claris.

Not only that, you get disc brakes in the form of TRP HY/RD calipers that are cable operated but with hydraulic actuation for better modulation and power. Decathlon specs a lot of its own brand components including the wheels, which are tubeless-ready.

The bike comes stock with 28mm own-brand tyres, but you can swap these out for rubber up to 36mm wide, which would add an extra dimension of plushness to the already comfortable and relaxed ride. You can add mudguards for all-weather riding and a rack for load-lugging duties.

As you'd expect at this price, the Triban RC520 Disc isn't particularly light, but it's on par with the competition.

Read our full review of the Triban RC520 Disc .

Best road bikes under £2000 / $2500

Spending twice as much cash as the bikes above will get you some significant upgrades - usually a more sophisticated frame, often hydraulic disc brakes and better components.

You'll still usually find an alloy frame, although carbon fibre will sometimes make an appearance. Don't think that carbon is essential though as quality alloy frames on the best budget bikes can be lighter and ride better than a lower-priced carbon number.

A white specialized Allez Sport stands on rocky ground

2. Specialized Allez Sport

Specialized's stalwart entry-level alloy road bike comes with a rich history that stretches back for years and it gets some trickle-down tech from the brand's high-end road bikes like an all-carbon fork and a frame with butted tubing to save weight. There are also dropped seat stays and internal cable routing, although we found the bike's design and colour slightly uninspiring.

The Allez has had an upgrade for the 2024 model year and now includes disc brakes and enough space for 35mm tyres or 32mm tyres with mudguards. We've ridden the higher-spec Allez Sport with 10-speed Shimano Tiagra and hydraulic disc brakes; the base model has a Shimano Claris groupset and mechanical disc brakes.

The range of Specialized components is designed for comfort, like its Body Geometry Bridge saddle and shallow drop bars. Specialized fits its own Axis Sport wheels with 30mm tyres.

There's lots of versatility built into the Allez, with rack and mudguard mounts, so you can use it for the commute or light gravel riding as well as faster recreational rides.

Read our full review of the 2024 Specialized Allez Sport .

3. Giant Contend SL Disc 1

The Contend is Giant's alloy entry-level road bike, but the SL is the top end of the range, with a lightweight frame with Giant's trademark sloping compact geometry, an all-carbon fork and a D-shaped carbon composite seatpost designed to dampen road vibrations.

It's well-specced, with a Shimano 105 hydraulic disc brake groupset and a wide range cassette that goes down to a 1:1 ratio for easy hill climbing, and is finished with an array of Giant components.

The Contend SL 1 is equipped with a Giant S-R2 Disc alloy wheelset. Tyres are 28mm but Giant says that they measure 30mm on the wide rims and the frame has clearance for 34mm.

4. Trek Émonda ALR 4

The frameset of the alloy Émonda has a quality look with smooth welds that make it appear to be carbon at first sight. It's also lighter than many carbon framesets at this price point and even ones that are in the next price band above.

This spec of the Émonda ALR headlines with Shimano Tiagra 10-speed shifting and Tiagra hydraulic disc brakes for great shifting and stopping power. There are tubeless-ready Bontrager alloy wheels, although the 28mm wire bead tyres would need a swap-out if you want to set up tubeless.

Other kit includes Bontrager bars and a Bontrager stem that's compatible with its Blendr system, so you can bolt on lights, computers and other accessories.

There's a huge range of frame sizes available, with the Émonda coming in nine sizes from 47cm up to 64cm.

In April 2023, Trek launched an update to the Émonda ALR range , with aero tube profiles and integrated cabling for an aero boost.

Best road bikes under £5000 / $6000

Spend this much money on the best road bike and you can expect a high-quality, performance machine. You'll invariably get a carbon frame and fork, often with higher-grade carbon fibre to help keep weight down.

Many bikes at this price will include a 12-speed electronic groupset, although don't discount mechanical options. You should also find lightweight, carbon wheels with tubeless-ready rims and tyres.

Close up of the Canyon Ultimate CF SLX 8 bike

5. Canyon Ultimate CF SL8 Disc Di2

Kitted out with Shimano's latest 12-speed Ultegra Di2 groupset complete with a lightweight, compact power meter from 4iiii, the Ultimate is Canyon's all-rounder lightweight performance bike. The bike's frame is designed for aerodynamics without the all-out aero design of the Canyon Aeroad (see below). The ride position is set for all-day comfort on longer rides, but is still aggressive enough that higher spec Ultimates are ridden by the WorldTour pros.

Canyon bikes usually have great specs for their price and highlights here include Canyon's width-adjustable CP0018 Aerocockpit carbon integrated bar/stem, as fitted to the Aeroad, and a Selle Italia SLR Boost Superflow S saddle.

This spec is equipped with DT Swiss ARC 1400 Dicut db 50mm deep front/62mm rear aero wheels with Continental Grand Prix 5000 25mm front/28mm rear tyres, again quality options that exceed what you often get at bikes at this price.

Read our full review of the Canyon Ultimate CF SLX 8 Di2 .

Best all-round race bikes

A race bike should do everything well. Expect tuned aerodynamics for more speed on the flat, paired with a light enough ride for efficient climbing and handling that's race-ready while still being predictable enough for all-day riding. You'll want the comfort for long days in the saddle too.

6. Cannondale SuperSix EVO 4

The fourth generation of the Cannondale SuperSix Evo has had a subtle makeover from its predecessor. The geometry remains the same, but there's a swap from a PressFit bottom bracket to a threaded one. Weight has also dropped a little bit, particularly for the expensive LAB71 bikes.

Cannondale says that its refinements to tube shapes save 12 watts, although at heart the SuperSix Evo remains a climber's bike, despite the Hollowgram wheels not having quite the performance edge of the DT Swiss wheels on the Canyon Ultimate.

Otherwise, our first ride review bike was fitted out with a separate bar and stem rather than Canondale's more aero one-piece option. Cannondale has upped its paint game, moving on from the underwhelming colours of the last generation.

Read our first ride review of the Cannondale SuperSix Evo 4 .

7. Boardman SLR 8.9

At a price where alloy frames and Shimano Tiagra are the norm, Boardman somehow manages to give you a carbon frame complete with Shimano 105, although this is the rim brake version with the calipers swapped out for Tektro units rather than 105 brakes. There is a model with in-series 105 hydraulic disc brakes available in the range too though.

The frame comes with aero tube profiles as well, with features like dropped seat stays and a recessed seatpost clamp.

Boardman even gives you tubeless-ready wheels, although you'll need to swap out the folding Vittoria Zaffiro Pro 25mm tyres to take advantage. But that does give you the option to fit 28mm rubber at the same time, taking advantage of the larger frame clearance.

8. Pinarello Dogma F

The Pinarello Dogma has been the quintessential all-around race bike since Team Sky first raced the F8 model in 2014. Now, three generations later, it's better than ever, with increased integration, more tyre clearance and disc brakes.

The F8 was one of the first bikes to mix aero tube profiles with a light(-ish) overall weight, while the latest Dogma F manages to shave that down to 7kg even with its disc brakes. There are a host of 3D-printed titanium parts, like the seat post's saddle clamp, that help keep that weight off.

Pinarello has upped the Dogma's aerodynamics too, with its Flatback tube profiles, integrated bars and stem with hidden cable routing and redesigned down tube and seat stay profiles claimed to improve aerodynamics by 5 per cent.

It all adds up to a bike that's good at everything: climbing, flat-out downhill runs, fast twisty roads... It's comfortable to ride longer distances too.

Read our full review of the Pinarello Dogma F .

Best lightweight bikes

Gone are the days when lightweight bikes and aero bikes were two non-overlapping categories; the best lightweight bikes will nowadays include truncated aerofoil tube shapes to give you an aero advantage, while still edging towards or undercutting the UCI's notorious 6.8kg weight limit for bikes used in competition.

That's despite additions such as disc brakes - still heavier than rim brakes - and often deeper section aero wheelsets.

9. Van Rysel EDR CF Ultegra Disc

Although Decathlon says that EDR stands for "endurance", the EDR is also lightweight thanks to its sub-kilo frameset made from high modulus carbon fibre.

As with all Decathlon's bikes, you get a high spec for the price point with a Shimano Ultegra R8000 mechanical groupset with a semi-compact 52/36t chainset and an 11-28 tooth cassette. You also getUltegra hydraulic disc brakes, while the Deda cockpit and Fizik Antares saddle add to the quality spec.

The EDR CF comes with good quality Fulcrum Racing 3 DB alloy wheels as well. Along with the Hutchinson Fusion 5 25mm tyres, they're ready for tubeless running. At 7.7kg claimed weight, it's a bike that's light without breaking the bank.

10. Wilier Zero SLR

Hitting the UCI's 6.8kg weight limit, even in a road-going consumer spec with 28mm tyres, the Zero SLR is Wilier's pro-level climbing bike with a claimed frame plus fork weight of just over a kilogram.

Despite the low weight, Wilier says that it's increased the frame's stiffness-to-weight by 24 per cent over its previous generation climbing bike, thanks to features like asymmetric chainstays and fork legs.

Like many of the new crop of lightweight bikes, the Zero SLR doesn't compromise on aerodynamics though, with flat-backed tube profiles and an integrated, aero cockpit with hidden cable routing. You can get as flashy as you like with the spec, with options that range from Shimano Ultegra Di2 12-speed up to Campagnolo Super Record EPS.

Best aero bikes

Although some brands have stopped making separate aero and lightweight bikes, many still offer machines specifically designed for aerodynamic performance. The best aero road bikes typically have deeper cross-section tubes and are kitted out with deeper carbon wheels too. That can make them a little heavier than a climbing bike or an all-rounder but ensures the best possible aerodynamics.

11. Vitus ZX-1 Evo CRS

Vitus took the ZX-1 to the wind tunnel and refined its tube shapes, adding a Vision-integrated cockpit to the highest spec models. The frame's chunky tubing certainly looks aero, though we found the bike a little harsh when riding over rough road surfaces.

All specs get the same Reynolds deep section aero wheels, with differential profiles and rim depths front and back to mix front-end aerodynamics with rear-end power delivery. They're shod with Michelin Power Road TLR 25mm tyres.

There's a choice of groupsets, with everything from mechanical Shimano Ultegra up to SRAM Red eTap AXS on the menu. The Ultegra spec tested came with a Sunrace cassette; it won't match an in-series piece for shift quality, but higher specs get better cassette options.

Read our full review of the Vitus ZX1 Evo CRS .

12. Canyon Aeroad CFR

The Aeroad CFR (for Canyon Factory Racing) is raced by a quiver of pro teams, including Movistar, Alpecin-Deceuninck, Movistar, and (unsurprisingly) Canyon-SRAM.

The frame lay-up includes Toray M40X carbon fibre for a stiff, lightweight build, but despite this, the Aeroad CFR is surprisingly comfortable. It's well-priced for a pro-level bike too.

There is a range of Canyon-specific parts, including the adjustable width CP0018 Aerocockpit which lets you alter the bar width by 20mm and height by 15mm without needing to cut anything. It's also handy for travel, as the bar can be disassembled.

Wheels are DT Swiss ARC 1100 Dicut, with a 25mm Continental Grand Prix 5000 TL tyre at the front and a 28mm at the rear. The saddle is a Selle Italia SLR Boost Superflow Kit Carbonio to top off the Canyon seatpost, so Canyon has addressed our major gripes about spec from when we reviewed the bike.

There appears to be a new Canyon Aeroad in the works, which we've spotted being ridden by Mathieu van der Poel in early-season races in 2023.

Read our full review of the 2021 Canyon Aeroad .

Best endurance bikes

The best endurance road bikes are designed around long-distance comfort and usually have a more upright ride position and increased stability over more race-oriented machines. Expect plenty of tyre clearance so you can fit wider tyres, an important promoter of ride comfort. You'll often get specific comfort features built-in like micro-suspension or a seat post or front end designed to add compliance.

13. Cannondale Synapse Carbon 1 RLE

The Cannondale Synapse Carbon RLE bikes are equipped with lights and a rearview radar, powered by a single frame-mounted battery, upping your visibility and all-around awareness.

It's the fifth iteration of Cannondale's endurance bike and is equipped with Cannondale's own-brand HollowGram 45 SL KNØT wheels and Hollowgram Save handlebars for all-day ride comfort. As well as a top-end Shimano Dura-Ace groupset Cannondale says that the frame is even plusher than its predecessor.

14. Cervélo Caledonia

Raced at Paris-Roubaix by Jumbo-Visma, the Cervélo Caledonia looks to blend performance, aerodynamics and comfort for a ride that can handle everything well. The geometry is designed for stability and comfort over rough terrain and you can fit 34mm tyres.

At the spec level we tested, there's a SRAM Force eTap AXS groupset with SRAM's 10-36t cassette and a Quarq integrated power meter.

The finishing kit includes Cervélo's AB07 bars, which have a slight back sweep for a comfortable hand position for long days in the saddle and allow hidden brake hose routing. The higher specs are electronic-only, but lower-spec models can accommodate the cables for a mechanical groupset.

To up its endurance capabilities, the frame has a range of mounts, including for lights, and removable mudguard mounting points.

Read our full long-term review of the Cervélo Caledonia .

Best electric road bikes

The best electric road bikes combine race-bike-like handling and specs with a motor and battery that often are hard to spot without a closer look. The quality spec means that on the flat you can usually ride them above the speed at which the motor cuts out and this in turn saves battery power and increases range. The motor is still there to support you when you hit a hill though, making tougher terrain much more manageable. They are also just downright fun to ride.

15. Ribble Endurance SL e

The Ribble Endurance SL e lets you choose from a variety of specs from mechanical Shimano 105 or SRAM Rival up to Dura-Ace Di2 and including the latest electronic 105 Di2 12-speed. As with all Ribble's bikes, you can choose to up-spec certain components too via the Ribble BikeBuilder app.

Ribble uses the Mahle e-bike motion motor/battery system that's a popular choice due to its low weight and stealth format and is found in many of the best lightweight electric bikes . It contributes to an electric bike that doesn't weigh a lot more than many non-assisted bikes, while the 40Nm output from the motor helps out without giving you too much of an assist.

The range is decent, particularly since it's easy to ride the Ribble SL e above the motor's cut-off speed. You can buy a battery extender if you want more range still. The single-button controller mounted on the top tube is slightly tricky to keep tabs on and use while riding though.

Best electric gravel bike: Specialized Turbo Creo SL Expert EVO

16. Specialized Turbo Creo SL Expert

The Specialized Turbo Creo SL range heads up to the very expensive S-Works version. Stick to the Expert spec and you get something a little more affordable but with the same frame, tuneable Future Shock 2.0 headset and lightweight motor.

There's a SRAM Rival eTap AXS 1x groupset and Roval C38 Disc carbon wheels with 30mm tyres, along with Specialized's comfort-oriented bars and saddle.

If you want more than the 80 miles claimed range, you can fit an optional extra bottle cage range extender battery to add another 40 miles.

As well as the standard spec, there are EVO versions of both the Turbo Creo Expert and the S-Works Turbo Creo that are specced for gravel riding.

How to choose the best road bike for you

We're well aware there are a bewildering array of options out there. Aero, lightweight, endurance, it can be a confusing landscape so it's natural to have a couple of questions.

Fortunately, we have a whole guide on how to choose a road bike , so if you're absolutely awash with confusion then head there, but otherwise, we'll cover the basics below.

Do I need a road bike?

This is the most important question and one that will depend on the type of riding you intend to do. If you are only going to ride on the road then a road bike is a natural choice, but if you're going to be riding a bit of gravel then perhaps one of the best gravel bikes will be a better choice.

Likewise, if you're primarily going to use it for commuting then you may well be better served by one of the best hybrid bikes designed for the purpose of transport rather than speed.

What sort of road bike do I need?

Another question that you'd do well to answer honestly. Are you going to be racing? In which case an aero road bike or all-around race bike may well be the ideal choice for you. However, if you're just riding for the fun of it, doing long miles, or just weekend club runs you may get more enjoyment from the additional comfort offered by an endurance road bike.

Likewise, the minor weight savings offered by a lightweight climbing bike can make all the difference if you're heading up Alpe d'Huez, but if you live in Norfolk or somewhere else flat as a pancake then you'll not really gain any benefit.

Which groupset is best?

At the top end of things, where 12-speed, all-electronic shifting is the norm there is little to separate the main players, so it's all a matter of personal preference.

At the mid-range, now Shimano has introduced electronic shifting at 105 level, there is still nothing significant between Shimano and SRAM, and while Campagnolo is specced as standard on far fewer bikes it'll still compete perfectly well.

At the lower end, you'll likely find only Shimano and its Claris, Sora and Tiagra groupsets. For the price they provide excellent performance, and while they don't have 12 speeds or electronic shifting they are a little more user-friendly and cheaper to maintain.

Many of the best road bikes now offer gear ratios going down to 1:1, if you're concerned about cresting ascents; on the other hand, you can find bikes with narrower ranges, if you don't need such low gearing.

If you're still concerned we've a comprehensive guide to road bike groupsets to help you.

What other components are important?

Road bikes are rarely sold with pedals or will come with basic flat pedals, so choosing the best road bike pedals and pedal system for your needs is step one.

Obviously, getting the best road bike saddle that's right for you is important for comfort, as is finding the right handlebars . They're both items which can be upgraded easily and without too much expense, as are road bike tyres .

The most attractive upgrade is often to the best road bike wheels though. Many brands now fit quality wheels to their bikes, which match the price and quality of the bike. But you'll still find bikes across the price range that would benefit from a wheel upgrade.

How do we test?

The only real way to get a feel for a road bike is to put plenty of miles into it, which is what we do. Collectively we're ridden enough bikes here at Cyclingnews to know what's hot and what's not.

We'll pay attention to the handling, and see how the geometry affects things day to day and when going hell for leather. Are the tyres any good? We'll find out. Is it comfy over eight hours, or even over 18? Moreover, we'll find out if it's easy to live with too; can you swap parts easily or is it away with proprietary bits?

There's no substitute for time on the bike, in all weathers, so if we've given a bike a review you can be sure we've put it through its paces thoroughly to find the hidden gems and highlight any duds so you can spend your hard-earned cash with confidence.

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Paul has been on two wheels since he was in his teens and he's spent much of the time since writing about bikes and the associated tech. He's a road cyclist at heart but his adventurous curiosity means Paul has been riding gravel since well before it was cool, adapting his cyclo-cross bike to ride all-day off-road epics and putting road kit to the ultimate test along the way.

Florian Sénéchal apologises after berating Bianchi in post-Roubaix rant

YT launches more affordable Szepter gravel bike

Amstel Gold Race Ladies Edition neutralised after accident ahead of race

Trek 5000 Road Bike

OCLV 120 Carbon Frame
Bontrager Race Fork
Bontrager Race Wheels
Bontrager Race Lite 53/39 or 52/42/30 Crankset
Shimano Ultegra Rear Derailleur
USER REVIEWS

High carbon frame quality for the money. It is worthy to do upgrades as needed. -- Roll Off Dumpsters

None so far

Light, strong, tall enough for my long legs with the most impressive shifting mechanism I've seen and it is fast!!!

It's short in the front, so I feel like I'm moving head first into traffic so I swapped out the handlebars for a taller aluminum pair. I'm much happier with it now.

I just bought this bike used from a retailer in Miami. I nearly bought an English touring bike but the owner answered the phone leaving me alone. I picked up both bikes and carried them around for a minute simulating carrying it up a flight of stairs. I fell in love with the Trek. I don't race so I took off the racing tires, handlebars and pedals. What an amazing street bike it has become. This is my first graphite, it's tall, fast and I am delighted with it! For those considering a Trek racer, I am over 50, female, frugal and active. So if you are too I recommend the 5000!!

Stiff and light and very responsive and can carry a heavy man.

Bought this bike new in 2003 and have put 15K + miles on it in races and mostly training rides throughout Texas and New Mexico. I liked the paint scheme over a specialized, which was a little lighter by .3 lbs.. This one weighed in at 16.6 lbs in a 54cm frame. Talk about a smooth ride. I road a Schwinn Letour 50 miles one day when I was in my late 20's and thought I would die even though I had been riding 20 miles several times a week. At 50, after buying this bike and riding if for a couple of weeks, I rode 60 miles and could not believe that I did not die! lol A great bike for my first carbon bike and one that I will keep until I cannot ride anymore. Thanks Trek for a great ride! I am now in the process of upgrading this one into a compact x 11 speed to ride in Thailand where I now live. For the money, I cannot find a replacement Trek near as light as this one so that is why I am upgrading this frame.

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Road Bike Size Chart: A Simple (But Complete) Guide

“Bike Pursuits is reader-friendly. We may earn a small commission when you buy through our links. Read More!

Many road bikes typically come in 2 styles that include sportive road bikes (that have short top tubes & high front ends for more comfort) and racing road bikes (these are long in their top tubes & low for fast riding at the front). Nowadays, there has been an increase in cyclocross bikes.

These are typically for casual off-road drives. Hence, it has led to the invention of new adventure road bikes. They are drop-bar and lightweight bikes for a mixture of terrains, trails, and roads. For detailed information on the road bikes size chart, keep reading this article.

Road Bike Sizing Guide for men, women & Kids

You need to select an appropriate size of a road bike frame for a new bike that does make all the difference. It is so as when the bike fit is ideal, then you would feel more comfortable while riding. The handling of your road bike would be simpler, and you would enjoy the riding experience more.

In this road bike size guide, we would tell you how simple it’s to look for the right bike size by simply using the following bike size charts (men, women, and kids) for the particular road bike that you are quite interested in.

Road Bike Size Chart for Men

Road Bike Size Chart for Women

Every road bike might look quite similar. However, in case you try out some male’s bike, then you would quickly come to know that it isn’t quite as comfy as you will like. Hence, a good way to purchase a road bike is to see female bike sizes for several types of road bikes.

Surely, this is not a thumb rule, but it provides you a clear notion of what you’ll be looking for. When your road bicycle is delivered, then you might make some necessary adjustments on the handlebars and saddle and all other parts for making sure that you’ll get a perfect ride experience every time.

Road Bike Size Chart for Kids

You can look at following road bike sizing chart for kids to see how kids’ road bikes are defined and measured. You will get a clear idea about what you are actually looking for while shopping for some specific road bike. A crucial thing to keep in mind is that you can measure children’s road bikes by using the tire diameter (outside). It’s just opposite to adult road bikes, whose measurement refers to the bike’s frame size.

One real challenge in picking a child’s road bike is to exactly knowing that the child would outgrow this not long after you buy a bike. Hence, you are facing a serious dilemma. Also, do you purchase a good road bike that would likely be a bit smaller? And, do you buy some big-box clunker that is a temporary and cheap solution? In this case, you are anticipating that a road bike does not fall apart at all or otherwise is such a bad choice which it does turn your child off to riding altogether.

This is a basic question without a simple answer, but probably a couple of other choices that you might explore to assist yourself out. First of all, do you’ve other children, younger or older, that you might give this road bike to them? If this is the case, then it does make the question even simpler about whether or not to consume money on some decent road bicycle.

How about your extended family members, cousins & the like? Also, are there any families in your neighborhood with children that you might set up a kind of road bicycle exchange with?

One more good idea is to resale the road bike. In case you have some connections with the other cycling lovers who have children, they are even more likely to come to know & appreciate the true value of a nice road bike. Offering this for sale, such as you will an adult’s road bike, is a great way to retake some of the investment.

Lastly, certain road bike shops & online retailers (that include Performance Bike) typically offer you some programs for buying children’s road bikes. The main premise is that if you purchase a child’s road bike, you will get either guaranteed trade-in value on your old road bike in case it’s outgrown or some straight out discount offers on the future road bikes. This is quite advantageous because the child continues moving through the road bikes into the large sizes.

What is important to look out for when choosing the right road bike size?

Seeking the proper road bike size is not difficult anymore. All you have to do is simply measure your own height. Now, look at the above road bike sizing chart. You may also want the measurement of your inside leg as different bike brands such as Giant typically use this measurement and height in their particular bike sizing charts.

We have also teamed up along with different professionals to inform you how simple it’s to select the perfect size bike if you are going to buy it online. Also, we offer some useful tips about how to select the best size road bike for yourself when you’re in-between sizes.

Sizes for Different Types of Bikes

The mountain bike sizes and road bike sizes are a bit different. Also, the units that are there in different bike sizes differ, relying on the brand and type. The road bike size charts are generally in centimeters, whilst the mountain bike size charts are available in inches . By luck, our road bike size chart does take away the guesswork because it also tells you road bike frame sizes in inches as well as centimeters. It would be very helpful for you while buying a road bike.

There are a lot of bike manufacturers who typically quote their road bike sizes such as L, M, S, or large, medium or small, etc. on a few or all of their products. Children’s road bike sizes generally depend on the wheel size. Many MTB sizing guides would use inches whilst you may find a road bike size in centimeters. So, it is good for you to know both of them

Sizing in Store

In case you have a road bike just in front of you, just stand straight at the center of the top tube. Also, there must be clearance between the bike and you that is 2 to 4-inches for the mountain bikes & 1 to 2-inches for the road bikes. Are you worried about a seat height sitting properly? Stop worrying. Once you have found the exact size for your road bike from a trial test drive, you might easily adjust your bike to fit properly.

Sizing Online

In case you do not have a road bike just in front of you, then the most crucial measurement for you to know is the inseam. An inseam measure is typically the length from the crotch down to the feet. When you‘ve got this measurement, you can easily use your chart as a buying guide for the best road bike size.

How proper must a road bike fit look like?

As you have selected a right frame bike size; however, that does not mean your road bike fits properly. There is a lot more you should – can – do in order to tune the machine to your body. Why this?

To go further and faster
To avoid any type of injury
For greater pleasure and comfort

The following are the top five techniques to keep your road bicycle setup easy.

1. Adjust the Reach

If you stretch from a bike’s saddle to its bars, it determines the riding position. Plus, your spine must lean at about 45 degrees so you would be able to reach all parts of your bike’s bars conveniently. You should bend your elbows slightly. The excessive stretch is also very common, particularly for females, who usually have relatively short torsos as compared to males.

You might reset the reach along with long or short bars or stems with a totally different reach. Like, for instance, the aluminum OS-99 CSI, ultralight carbon, and aluminum SL-K provide stem along with the +/- 6º rise. It is there in all sizes that are from 70mm up to 140mm, which allows different adjustments. Amongst FSA’s different stems is an SL-K. It contains high-grade aluminum & weighs only141g in a hundred mm length.

2. Adjust the Bar Angle

You can easily neglect the old suggestion regarding drops parallel to the surface – it’d almost surely put so much weight on the hands. You can simply rotate your bars until you get a nice bend in the wrist. Plus, the hoods must not pull the thumbs, such as wishbones.

Your height is a major key. In case you are racing, you will need the bar a bit lower than your saddle. However, otherwise higher or even level is just fine. Its major defining factor is a great level of comfort.

In addition, carbon fiber also damps the vibration for more long-distance performance. On the other hand, a shallow drop, just like a 125mm K-Force Compact, is comfortable as well.

In case you are racing, then you still should not worry about as the 150mm-drop K-Force New Ergo bar offers large-radius curves & a flat, wide top to decrease your fatigue.

3. Adjust the Saddle

As you know, seat height is very much crucial. Your knees must bend a bit at complete extension. You can also adjust via raising your saddle until the leg is completely straight with the heel on your pedal. In case your hips are rocking, then your saddle must be quite high.

Along with the level of pedals, the forward kneecap must sit properly above the road bike’s pedal axle. The laser pointer or plumb bob does assist here a lot. It is not a strict law, though: as you might also reset it to fine-tune your weight on the hands. Pressure must not be very much, but a little.

Lastly, the ‘right’ angle does not put much pressure on the center or front of the pelvis. You need to try to avoid the forward tilt of above some degrees, as it puts a huge weight on the wrists, which is not good at all. You must have a good and durable Seatpost for this. For example, lightweight SL-K posts give you incredibly great adjustments along with the fatigue-decreasing compliance of carbon too.

4. Adjust the Cleats and Pedals

Pressure hot spots typically cut circulation, whilst wrong angles put stress on your legs and knees. These things aren’t good at all for you! If clipped in, balls of your feet must be over your pedal axle, or a tad ahead of the pedal axle. In case you are straining your Achilles tendons or calves, reset your cleat towards your heel. When the arches are sore, then you need to move this towards your toe.

You should look down carefully when pedaling your road bike; the knee must be over the foot. You can easily adjust your cleat side to side; hence the feet are neither inside nor outside your knees. The cleats must mimic the toe-out/in an angle of the feet – and keep this in mind that they may not be similar on each side.

5. Check the Frame

When you are still trying hard to get a well-balanced position, then you might want to think again about the frame size of your road bike after all. The length of the top tube might just be not correct. As a casual guide, we will expect you to see:

160centementer-169centemeter (5feet 3inches to 5feet 6inches) bikers on 52- 53centemeter frames
171centemeter-181centemeter (5feet 8inches to 5feet 11inches) bikers on 54- 56centemeter frames
183centemeter-193centemeter (6feet to 6feet 4inches) bikers on 56-58centemeter frames

Combining the above 5 tips, you must get the maximum road bike fit along with the advantages of cycling longer and faster in better ease, and avoiding any chance of injury.

Invest in a Road Bike Fit

Selecting a professional road bike fit before buying might make a great difference. That is why Missy Erickson, who is a fit specialist and owner at ERO Sports, suggests that the Pre-Purchase Bike Fit for every athlete. “This does not matter when you are purchasing a new road bike from some bike shop, ordering your road bike online, or getting off Craigslist,” she said.

“Knowing about every fit dimension & having a fit expert assist walk one through the whole process and not only makes sure that you’re getting the proper size but your road bicycle also for some specific requirements.”

The road bike fit would also offer all your detailed measurements. Like, for beginner athletes and cyclists, it might be very helpful. Erickson says, “Investing in the bike fit makes sure that you are about to have the right bike. Plus, you will also be going to set up your bike perfectly.

It would ultimately avoid any kind of discomfort, injury, and pain that would make roadside cycling more enjoyable as compared to this already is”.

What if I got my road bike size wrong?

If this happens, you should immediately tell your merchant, who will easily exchange that road bike. In case you do not need to do this, then you might do the following important things:

purchase a shorter or longer stem. This would change the position of your body
move the saddle backward or forward
to get a long seat post

You should give it some time to get the feeling right. As I remember that time when I bought my very first 29er road bike. This felt just like a huge ship & seemed too much tough to ride that in the forest or narrow trails.

However, I have become so much familiar with my bike after some time and could ride with full skill and comfort that while I sit on the 26″ road bike, it does seem so ridiculous how small it’s.

Road Bike Sizing Calculator

The road bikes come with thinner tires as well as light frames. They are specially made for riding on paved and smooth surfaces that include roads, paths, and streets. A few of them might even handle gravel roads or dirt. There are so many different types of road bikes. The road bikes are generally used for commuting, racing, and touring.

Whilst styles differ, the main approach to road bike sizing does remain the same that is using the rider’s leg length and height to determine proper frame size. There is a road bike calculator that recommends the road bike frame size, depending on the measurements that you take. In case you do not know about your leg length, then you would get a large range of different frame sizes in order to try them out.

Do you have an Appropriate Ape Index?

You must know when you need a short or long reach. It does mean that you want to look for your “ape index” (that is the arm span as compared to the height).

When you get the positive ape index (that is your height is smaller than the arm span), then you need a longer reach & you must also opt for the bigger of the sizes.
When you get the negative ape index (that is the arm span is smaller than the height), then you need a shorter reach & you must also go for the shorter of the sizes.

Try Before You Purchase

It is much overused and obvious suggestion out there. However, it is true: Seeing the bike for yourself in person, trying that out, & having a feel for it’s usually the perfect way to come to know whether it is suitable for you or not.

Most bike shops and bicycle brands give demo events or days for allowing clients to test road bikes. This also assists to ask a few important questions and directly speak to expert staff members. Also, as an additional bonus, the customer avoids some potential damage like from shipping. You will not need to assemble it yourself.

Getting the exact size of your road bike is quite significant, and if this is your very first road bike, then you must pay more attention.

The exact sized road bike would be more efficient, quite comfortable, and great fun for you to ride. You should know very well about your road bike size chart just before you purchase it. It would surely make the entire process easier.

By doing so, you will be able to set up for successful bike rides right from the very beginning. Quite often, however, there’re some other ways as well to know whether your setup is right or not like a poor fit. Happy Riding!

Gravel and Touring Bikes for Smaller Cyclists: XXS, XS, 38cm, 42cm, 44cm

Bikes for smaller cyclists: standover height, bikes for smaller cyclists: the bike fit, stack and reach, 26″ and 650b wheels on small bikes, xs gravel bikes (light touring) by standover height, xs touring bikes by standover height, xs off-road touring bikes by standover height.

Finding XS touring bikes can be hard work. I know because I fall on the other end of the spectrum; I’m two metres tall and am always looking for bikes big enough.

With more than 30 extra-small touring and gravel bikes listed below, there may well be an off-the-shelf bike option for you, without resorting to a custom-made frame – provided you’re not smaller than 147cm or 4ft10. But as you’ll soon find out, this will largely depend on your inseam length.

Note: This article was originally published in Jan 2015, but has been updated in May 2020.

The standover height is one of the most important measurements for smaller riders. It is the measurement that tells us whether we can easily stand over the top tube with our feet flat on the ground, but it also gives us a good indication for how easy it will be to get on and off a bike.

Some standover measurements are made at the mid-point of the top tube, but the majority are calculated 50mm in front of the bottom bracket shell (see diagram above).

This list will have touring bikes with a ‘comfortable’ standover height for riders down to a 69cm/27″ inseam. But with the absolute minimum clearance, you could have an inseam of 66cm/26″ on the smallest models and still be fine (just).

Ideally, you’ll want an inseam 2cm/1″ longer than the measured standover height. If you require lower standover heights than those listed in this resource, please make sure to check out my list of every step-through touring bikes .

Unless you’re really comfortable on your current bike, I’d recommend getting a bike fit at a shop before buying your next one. Not by the work experience kid, but by somebody who has a long history of making people comfortable on their bikes.

At a cost of roughly US $100, a bike fit consultation will have you set up on a stationary bike. The bike fitter will ask you how often you ride, about the type of riding you do, and about any riding goals that you may have. They’ll also incorporate some flexibility and strength tests in there too.

The measurements that come out of your bike fit session will allow you to be extra comfortable on your new bike. Provided you collect the ‘stack’ and ‘reach’ data from your bike fitter, you’ll even be able to use this resource to find your next bike!

The universal sizing metric that I’m using to compare small bikes is called ‘stack’ and ‘reach’. The reason it’s the best sizing metric is that it can inform us about how long and tall a bike frame is. Simply measuring the seat tube or top tube doesn’t take into account the bike’s angles, head tube length or fork length.

Most bike sizing is based on the seat tube length. Some manufacturers will tout their bikes as 42cm or XXS, but when we calculate the ‘stack’ and ‘reach’ numbers, you’ll see that some bikes are actually much taller and longer than others in the same size. Just take a look below – some “50cm” bikes are actually smaller than other “44cm” bikes! Don’t get caught out…

You won’t need to focus too much on the ‘reach’ numbers. The difference between bikes is usually no more than 20mm and we can easily accommodate this length discrepancy by swapping the handlebar stem. It’s not a huge deal at all.

But the ‘stack’ will give you a good idea for how high your handlebars will sit, so if you’re after an upright ride, look for the high stack figures.

If you’re interested in learning all about the frame geometry of a bicycle, click HERE .

The smallest touring and gravel bikes in this list employ smaller diameter 26″ or 650B wheels. These wheels are more proportionate to smaller bike frames (when compared to 700C) and offer the advantages of less toe-overlap and a lower standover height, in particular.

To put it simply, extra-small bikes are ideally designed around smaller wheels to minimise frame geometry compromises elsewhere on the bike.

Knolly Cache 49.5cm: Reach 385mm / Stack 559mm – Standover 646mm Salsa Journeyman XS (650B): Reach 364mm / Stack 528mm – Standover 658mm Salsa Vaya 49.5cm: Reach 355mm / Stack 543mm – Standover 660mm Evil Chamois Hagar S: Reach 400mm / Stack 575mm – Standover 662mm Co-Motion Ochoco 42cm: Reach 374mm / Stack 506mm – Standover 665mm Devinci Hatchet XS: Reach 376mm / Stack 528mm – Standover 676mm Specialized Diverge 44cm: Reach 357mm / Stack 568mm – Standover 683mm Felt Breed 47cm (650B): Reach 374mm / Stack 544mm – Standover 687mm Marin Nicasio (650B): Reach 350mm / Stack 535mm – Standover 697mm Norco Search XR 45.5cm (650B): Reach 355mm / Stack 504mm – Standover 701mm Merida Silex XS: Reach 379mm / Stack 588mm – Standover 701mm Cannondale Topstone XS: Reach 368mm / Stack 518mm – Standover 703mm Surly Straggler 38cm : Reach 368mm / Stack 518mm – Standover 704mm Niner RLT9 47cm: Reach 362mm / Stack 535mm – Standover 705mm Kona Rove 46cm: Reach 370mm / Stack 510mm – Standover 707mm All City Space Horse 46cm: Reach 359mm / Stack 493mm – Standover 709mm Marin Headlands 49cm: Reach 370mm / Stack 550mm – Standover 711mm Giant Revolt XS : Reach 373mm / Stack 548mm – Standover 714mm Jamis Renegade Expat 44cm: Reach 351mm / Stack 495mm – Standover 715mm

Louis Garneau Beacon 9.0 37cm (26″): Reach 386mm / Stack 537mm – Standover 648mm Marin Four Corners XS (650B): Reach 377mm / Stack 560mm – Standover 667mm Co-Motion Pangea 44cm (26″): Reach 356mm / Stack 514mm – Standover 686mm Salsa Marrakesh 50cm: Reach 361mm / Stack 540mm – Standover 704mm Co-Op Cycles ADV 3.1 (650B): Reach 368mm / Stack 532mm – Standover 709mm Surly Disc Trucker 42cm (26″): Reach 362mm / Stack 515mm – Standover 710mm (mid top tube) Trek 520 48cm: Reach 368mm / Stack 540mm – Standover 713mm Gunnar Grand Disc 48cm (26″): Reach 363mm / Stack 513mm – Standover 716mm Soma Saga 44cm (26″): Reach 359mm / Stack 527mm – Standover 719mm Thorn Nomad MK3 (26″): 379mm / Stack 529mm – Standover 725mm (mid top tube) Jamis Aurora 47cm: Reach 371mm / Stack 518mm – Standover 726mm Kona Sutra 47cm: Reach 374mm / Stack 549mm – Standover 745mm

Salsa Fargo XS: Reach 350mm / Stack 594mm – Standover 692mm (disputed figure, will try to update on this soon) Salsa Cutthroat 52cm: Reach 358mm / Stack 585mm – Standover 697mm Surly Bridge Club XS (27.5″): Reach 376mm / Stack 553mm – Standover 709mm Breezer Radar Expert XS: Reach 393mm / Stack 576mm – Standover 711mm Surly Troll XS (26″): Reach 371mm / Stack 551mm – Standover 720mm

Check Out The Step-Through Touring Bike List HERE

small bike list

15 comments

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Talk about synchronicity. I went online a couple of days ago to research just this question, discovered your site which I think is the most informative, written in a manner that is comprehensive to someone who is “less-then techie”, and now you have written the post I’ve been searching endlessly for! I’ve had decades of being “fit” into poorly sized bikes, including “women specific” designs. I really appreciate your explanation on what constitute a fit, and also for listing potential frames and their measurements. You rock!

Thanks madcrumpet, appreciate your words. I’m glad we’re channelling the same energy! All the best on finding your new bike that fits well. Alee

Ive researched intensively for my first touring bike purchase and now have a massive folder of bookmarked webpages – tips, suggestions, etc. This was the best and ultimately the only article I needed! Thank you times a million from every sub 5’5” woman!!!! Do you have a blog? Im starting my solo world tour this May in the US & would love to connect

Hi Megan. I’m glad you’ve found this resource useful! Our blog from two years on the road is located at https://www.cyclingabout.com/category/worldventure-blog/ . If you’re in Melbourne, give us a yell! Alee

I would think that when you’re very small the standover heigh is important if you don’t want to hurt yourself. Am I wrong?

I’m 4’11½” 671mm standover with my shoes on. “They” recommend 1″ clearence. There is nothing in this list that fits me.

I think i’m going to have to wear high heels for touring! Or maybe buy a junior size bike! Do you have an article about junior touring bikes? Thanks!

You may have to look into 26″ MTBs to get your desired standover. One of the smallest I’ve found is 614mm standover on a Giant Tempt ( http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-au/bikes/model/tempt.1/18996/76600/#geometry ). Unfortunately you won’t find bikes with seat tubes this small on touring bikes though, unless you get something custom made.

Hi! Thank you for your answer! My choices are very limited!

I came across this frame: http://www.somafab.com/archives/product/buena-vista http://bikecult.com/works/archive/11bicycles/somabuenavistaRTN.html

I was wondering if it could make a good touring bike? What do you think?

Or maybe this one in 26″ (if I cand find it in Montreal…): http://www.stevensbikes.de/2014/index.php?bik_id=1431&cou=CA&lang=en_US

Thanks again! 🙂

I’ve looked at the frame geometry of the Soma and it will be quite fine for touring. The bike is a little steeper in the head angle than is ideal, making the bike feel a bit more nimble than most, but if you were to put weight on the front that will slow everything down. The only thing is that the frame tubing is probably not optimised for heavy pannier loads on the front and rear.

An even better bike (which I forgot about!) is the Koga Randonneur or Traveller – Womens version. http://www.koga.com/en/bikes/trekking/collection

It comes with a proper touring geometry, plus heavyweight frame tubing so that if you’re running front and back panniers the bike will stay nice and stiff.

The Stevens Trekking Tour is another good find!

Let me know what you decide to go with. Alee

Check out Islabikes in the UK. They do properly scaled down bikes for smaller people. They even use smaller brake levers and cranks sized to go with the bikes.

Thanks, I recently came across this company and have been meaning to add them to the list. Alee

Great list and very helpful for the many short cyclists out there! I would add one more to your list: the Surly Straggler 650B — a highly versatile bike that is excellent for both light touring and randonneuring — and it’s made in sizes as small as 38 and 42cm with 650B wheels. The 38 cm was the ultimate solution to all my tiny lady’s fit issues. Riding a properly sized, well-fitted bike truly makes all the difference in the world!

Hi Alee – thanks for pulling together the list above, much appreciated as a short person! Just wondering if you knew where the Dawes Galaxy Cromo Ladies 43cm version would sit in the above list?

My calculations work the Galaxy Cromo Ladies to be about: Reach 381mm / Stack 523mm. Alee

Alee, what a comprehensive list, thanks! Just wondered if you knew offhand if any or many of them are disc brake-compatible?

Most of them will be disc compatible!

Comments are closed.

The best touring and bikepacking bikes of eurobike 2023.

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Best women's road bikes 2024: the ideal bikes for female riders

We pick out some of the best women's road bikes on the market - and explain what makes a road bike 'female specific'

Female cyclist riding one of the best women's road bikes

The Quick List

1. Best aero bike
2. Best value carbon
3. Best endurance
4. Best race bike
5. Best aluminium
6. Best value

What makes a women's road bike female specific?

Best Women's road bikes 2023: Jump Menu

The list in brief ↴

1. Best aero bike 2. Best value carbon bike 3. Best endurance bike 4. Best for racing 5. Best aluminium bike 6. Best value

Advice What makes a women's road bike female specific?

As the upward trajectory of women's cycling is on a constant march, many brands are thinking more carefully about what women actually need - and want - from a road bike.

First off, it might be a surprise, but not every female rider will want a women's specific bike. We'll take you through the difference between 'female-specific' and unisex frames further down - this is just to highlight now that our guide will also be including some of the best unisex road bikes , which can also also make a great ride for female cyclists and are well worth considering

While we are probably pretty much aligned on the need for the best women specific cycling shorts , and even the best women's cycling saddles , the jury is actually still out when it comes to the question ' is women's specific geometry still relevant ' ,

Further down this page, we explain the different approaches brands take when creating women's bikes, and how to make sure you choose the very best bike for you, so take a read if you're still deciding what's best for you.

But first, our picks of the best bikes...

Best aero bike

The updated EnviLiv Advanced Pro is designed to be lighter and faster yet also more comfortable thanks to geometry tweaks. Integrated cabling makes for a clean, aero cockpit.

Best aluminium bike

The latest Allez adds wider tire clearance and disc brakes to the legendary platform that's oft-regarded as the benchmark for fast, affordable alu road bikes. Sizes start at 44cm.

Despite being the cheapest bike reviewed, the Triban still boasts an 11-speed Shimano drivechain and cable hydro disc brakes. A host of mounts make it a practical steed, too.

Best women's road bikes: our picks

Liv Enviliv Advanced Pro AXS women's road bike

1. Liv Enviliv Advanced Pro AXS

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

The updated EnviLiv Advanced Pro, while still an aero race bike, has opted for more forgiving geometry, which should make it better suited for longer days in the saddle, too.

This totally new geometry almost mirrors that of the Liv Langma Advanced millimetre by millimeter. What that means is a higher front end than the previous model. The tube shapes and frame material are also new. In general, the bike is slimmer than before, with more rounded tubing. The material is the brand's new Advance SL Grade composite. The result, according to Liv, is bike that's both lighter (the frame weighs about 200g less) and faster.

We were huge fans of the outgoing model but on test felt that all his reworking has resulted in the new bike losing some of its 'zing'. Sure, it's still fast in a straight line but the handling wasn't quite as good as the previous model - although we felt that some of this is likely down to the deep section wheels.

But there is plenty to like here. The new frame design alongside the new aero bars and stem has resulted in a far cleaner looking cockpit. It's a huge improvement aesthetically and vitally will also make adjustments and maintenance much easier.

While we test the SRAM Force AXS equipped bike, the EnviLiv Advanced Pro is also available with a Shimano Ultegra Di2 groupset.

. Read more: Liv Enviliv Advanced AXS Disc full review

Best value carbon

Canyon Endurace CF 8 road bike

2. Canyon Endurace CF 8

While Canyon doesn't choose to make women specific road bikes, it's wide size range for most of its models makes it a good fit for many. Take its Endurace and Endurace SLX range - the bikes are offered in sizes that start at 3XS, which translates to a standover height of just over 700mm. The more expensive SLX models also feature the German brand's adjustable-width handlebar.

The Endurace CF 8 delivers great value for money. It's built around an endurance-focussed carbon frameset and comes equipped with a mechanical 11-speed Shimano Ultegra groupset that includes hydraulic disc brakes. Sensibly for a bike that's designed to be comfortable over long distances, it comes with plenty of tire clearance and is fitted with 32mm as standard.

We found that the bouncy VCLS seatpost in conjunction with the big tires makes for a plush and comfortable ride. However, the frame is plenty stiff. The downsides? A rather heavy wheelset and a lack of fender/mudguard guard mounts, which seems an odd omission for a bike that's well-suited to four-season riding.

Read more: Canyon Endurace CF 8 full review

Best Endurance bike

Trek Domane SL 6 road bike

3. Trek Domane SL 6

While Trek did away with its gender categorisation in 2020, it now offer smaller sizes across its range of road bikes - including the versatile Domane, which is available in frame sizes that start at 44 cm.

The Domane, Trek's capable endurance bike that can be raced (it's won Paris-Roubaix Femmes) as well as ridden for leisure, is offered in a huge range of models. The top-tier SLR 9 will set you back well over $/£10k, while a Gen 4 AL 2 can be yours for under $/£1,500.

As for the Trek Domane SL 6 it's probably one of the most versatile bikes on the market, with century rides, touring rides, and even fast paced group rides all being taken in its stride when we tested it. In fact, when we reviewed an older generation model we loved it so much we gave it our Editor's Choice Award.

Similar to the way Liv Enviliv stretches it's aero categorisation, the Trek Domane SL 6 does the same for it's 'endurance' one. On test we found it a great do-all bike, managing to be sprightly, if a little heavy on the hills, as well as comfortable.

The ride-smoothing IsoSpeed frame comes with decouplers at the rear of the top tube and in the head tube, making it a very comfortable ride.

Any concerns that this inbuilt suspension would compromise power transfer were quickly put to bed, with its oversized tubing assisting in its responsiveness to seated and out-the-saddle efforts.

The latest Gen 4 SL 6 is offered with either a SRAM Rival AXS or a Shimano 105 Di2 12-speed electronic groupset and has clearance for 38mm tires.

Best race-ready bike

Liv Langma Advanced SL Disc women's road bike

4. Liv Langma Advanced SL Disc

The Liv Langma Advanced Pro 1 is a direct descendant of the professionally ridden bike. The bike was updated for 2022 , with a stiffer fork, although it seems to have kept the front cables that we weren't keen on.

The bike's biggest claim to fame is its low weight, and our review model - with disc brakes and Shimano Ultegra - came in at 15.7lbs/ 7.13kg, but the top-end rim brake options sit under the UCI weight limit of 6.8kg and had to be bolstered for pro riders.

The low weight, however, hasn't reduced its stiffness - even a sprinter like Coryn Rivera can race this bike to success - and we found it offered ample platform for power transfer, with optimised components like the Giant PowerCore bottom bracket and Overdrive II steerer.

Its another stand out bike, and hard to compare against it's peers, but the latest version reminded our Cycling Weekly Tech Ed of the Specialised Aethos that she loved so much.

While we await a full review of the new model, the current one was a top scorer at nearly full marks, and is easily a GC contender, and will more than hold its own on all but off-road terrain, meaning there is a great deal to really like about the bike.

Read more: Liv Langma Advanced SL Disc full review

Specialized Allez Disc road bike

5. Specialized Allez

Available in a wide range of sizes, including a 44cm, the recently updated Specialized Allez is a great option for those wanting a versatile road bike without breaking the bank.

Based around a stiff and agile aluminium frame and carbon fork, the new Allez has added comfort and compliance to its list of tricks. Tire clearance has been increased, allowing for up to 35mm width, while the geometry has been relaxed a little to make it better suited to longer rides. This versatility is enhanced by the inclusion of fender/mudguard and rack mounts, making it a legitimate four-season road bike that could also handle the commute to work.

However, as we found out when we tested the bike, it's certainly no slouch when shown some power, just like the previous models which were focussed a little more on speed. The 8-speed drivechain did leave us between gears more often than we would have liked, but the next model up solves this problem with the inclusion of a 10-speed Shimano groupset.

Read more: Specialized Allez first ride review

Triban RC 520 road bike

6. Triban RC 520

When it comes to value for money, Decathlon's Triban RC 520 is hard to beat. Alloy frame, carbon forks, Shimano groupset cable hydro disc brakes...the list of impressive specs goes on. And while it isn't a women's specific bike the size range does include an XS. Alternatively, if you're looking for a women's specific Triban road bike, the RC 500 with rim brakes is available at the time of writing.

As for the RC 520, in the constantly shrinking sub $/£1000 category, in our view it's almost unchallenged. With enough clearance for 36mm tires, it's plenty versatile. This aided by plenty of mounts too - fenders, rack, bottle cages, they're all here.

Perhaps the standout detail however is the 11-speed 105 groupset. In this price range you're often looking at 8-speed drivechains, which can really limit performance and ride quality.

Yes, it's a bit on the heavy side but on test we enjoyed the way it handled at higher speeds, feeling nice and solid even on fast descents. In short, if you're just starting your road bike journey the Triban RC 520 won't hold you back and is equipped to handle a wide ranging of riding, from long, all-day adventures to winter commutes.

Is the saddle most important for women's bikes?

Mike Smith is one of Britain’s top Retül bike fitters and runs Velomotion in Milton Keynes. He believes that the major difference in men's and women's bike fit lies in saddle comfort.

He commented: “I think it all comes around the saddle which makes the real difference to a female rider. Women are a lot more sensitive to putting weight through their perineum, soft tissue and their pubic bone.

“They prefer to sit to the back of the saddle where they put more weight through their sit bones.”

This sensitivity can be relieved by using a saddle with a cut-out, though thought should still be given to saddle width. “Spacing between the sit bones means the average woman would favour a wider saddle compared to a male rider,” Smith added.

Failure to address the saddle issue will see the rider sitting way back on her saddle, bending at the waist, not the hips, to give an upright position that makes the bike feel longer than it really is. This is a problem manufacturers mitigate with the aforementioned different tube lengths.

Saddle on one of the best women's road bikes

The saddle on a women's road bike

What type of women's road bike should you look for?

You can trust Cycling Weekly. Our team of experts put in hard miles testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

Before you enter a bike shop, get a clear idea of what you want your perfect women's road bike for. If you want the speed and aerodynamic benefits of a drop bar bike, then you're in the road bike camp - and the next step is to decide if you want an endurance focused on more aggressive race orientated frame.

Key road bike categories include:

Endurance focused women's road bikes

Endurance women's road bikes will generally feature a shorter reach, and a taller stack - putting the rider in a more upright position. Disc brakes are more popular in this category, along with a longer wheelbase to aid stability and the material will be fine tuned to offer greater compliance - or comfort. The Trek Domane is an example of an endurance road bike.

Race focused women's road bikes

Race bikes are created to offer nippy handling and a lower, more aero position - usually with a longer reach, lower stack and short wheelbase. The fork angles will be tuned for quick and responsive handling. Some of the best women's road bikes in this style will have disc brakes, which in our opinion are fantastic when hydraulic, and less so when mechanical (cable- actuated), so don't be immediately put off rim / caliper brakes for the sake of any disc options.

Best women's gravel bikes

If you are sold on the idea of owning a bike that fits your gender best, but want to hit the rough stuff, you might find that our guide on best women's gravel bikes a great help.

There's a lot of variation between cyclocross, adventure road and gravel bikes. They're all designed for riding on and off road - just to different degrees. gravel bikes bikes are one of the most versatile, suited to both road and trails, with higher bottom brackets to help you avoid roots and rocks, with more space for tyre clearance. Adventure road are similar, but closer to an endurance road bike, while a cyclocross bike will be designed purely for being nimble on rough terrain.

Best women's hybrid bikes

If you are looking for the best wheels for both rough and smooth, then our page on the best women's hybrid bikes is the one for you.

For city slickers who want flat bars and the option of hopping onto rough park tracks and canal paths, then a wider tyre hybrid with disc brakes like the Trek FX Disc Women's or Carrera Subway could be the thing. These will have flat handlebars, and offer a great deal of stability, though handling won't be quite as nippy as a road bike.

Electric women's road bikes

You might find that added vavavoom from one of the best women's electric bikes is what you've been missing on your rides.

If you would benefit from an extra boost up the difficult climbs or so you don't get so sweaty on your commute into the city, there are electric versions of road bikes. These will vary from ones with a hub-based or frame-mounted motor—and can offer different levels of assistance and range of battery life.

You don't have to use the electric assistance on these bikes at all times but it is always there for when you want it. But bear in mind, the e-bikes with the more powerful motors (and best assistance) are often heavier which can make cycling harder than usual when switched off. Therefore, keeping an eye on your battery levels and choosing a bike which has a big enough battery capacity for your riding is essential.

Women's road bike size chart

Road bikes are generally sold in sizes along the lines of 48cm, 50cm, 52cm and so on - though some brands choose instead to go for 'Small', 'Medium' and 'Large'.

There's no real standardisation in road bike sizing - which means one road bike brand's 48cm might suit a rider on a 50cm frame from one of their competitors. Not only that, but the same brand might call a unisex frame a 50cm, whilst the same rider might fit a 52cm frame in their women's range. Confusing, right?

The first option for many is to start by using the brand's designated sizing chart, dictating the ideal height range for each frame size.

Women's bike size chart is shown here with bike sizes vertically down the far left and right of the table, rider height in centimeters at the top, and inches at the bottom, In the middle the coloured blocks give a ball park size guide for the right sized bike

This table is a quick reference women's bike size chart depending on height of rider. A bike shouldn't be purchased on this information alone.

Above is an example of a what sized women's bike you would need depending on your height. However, this is just to give you a rough idea of where to start your search.

Ideally you need a test ride before making any decisions. A rider with a shorter torso will generally go for a smaller frame than a rider with a long torso, even if they're the same height, as most of their length is in the leg (saddle height is much more adjustable than reach). Getting the right size is down to personal preference rather than black-and-white measurements.

We've got lots of hints and tips on how to find exactly the right sized women's bike for you on our road bike size guide , which can actually be applied to all styles of bikes.

Tips for choosing an ideal women's road bike for you

Once you know what sort of bike you're after, shop around online, and produce a list of bikes you're interested in. Most brands frame families will come available in a range of models, with different levels of specification.

More expensive groupsets will be lighter and longer lasting - and it is generally considered that it is better to spend at the top end of your budget to avoid further expenditure through upgrades.

With a few choice models selected, ask for test rides, using the experience to help you decide what you like. Remember when testing unisex bikes that wider handlebars and a less-than-perfect saddle might be altering the ride quality.

How we test

Our team of experienced reviewers put in the hard miles, riding in all conditions and on varying terrain. Key points of consideration relate to the geometry: how the bikes handle in twisting corners, on fast descents and on steep climbs when hauling out of the saddle - does it feel twitchy or stable? Lively or dull? Beyond that, there's the specced components: how light and responsive are the wheels? Are the tires fast, robust or neither? How comfortable is the finishing kit? Does the gearing suit the intended riding? Taking all this (and much more) together - and factoring in the price - we reach a conclusion on the relative performance of the bikes we test.

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Michelle Arthurs-Brennan the Editor of Cycling Weekly website. An NCTJ qualified traditional journalist by trade, Michelle began her career working for local newspapers. She's worked within the cycling industry since 2012, and joined the Cycling Weekly team in 2017, having previously been Editor at Total Women's Cycling. Prior to welcoming her daughter in 2022, Michelle raced on the road, track, and in time trials, and still rides as much as she can - albeit a fair proportion indoors, for now.

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The Best Bikes for Women

Author: Ashley Mateo, certified running coach

The products featured in this article have been independently reviewed. When you buy something through the retail links on this page, we may earn commission at no cost to you, the reader. The Sports Illustrated editorial team is not involved in the creation of this content. Learn more here.

This shouldn’t have to be said in 2024 (and, yet, here we are), but women’s bikes are not just smaller, pinker versions of men’s bikes.

Sure, men may still be the dominant gender in cycling, but of the 103 million people who rode a bike in 2022, 27 percent were female and about 40 percent were male, according to a recent survey conducted by the PeopleforBikes Foundation —which means women are starting to close the gap. And all women deserve bikes that are specifically designed to support female anatomy and biomechanics, whether they’re riding to work, cruising around town or competing in an endurance race.

Of course, finding the right bike depends on your personal preferences: road or mountain biking, cruiser or electric bike . And while nailing down the perfect fit may take a little more effort than scrolling the internet—like visiting a local bike shop for a proper fitting and testing out different models—this list of the best bikes for women, along with insights on what types are available and what features to consider, can help get you up to speed.

Our Picks for the Best Bikes for Women:

Best hybrid bike for women: diamondback division 1 urban bike, best e-bike for women: aventon level.2 commuter e-bike.

Best Cruiser Bike for Women: Electra Townie 7D 24 Step-Thru

Best Mountain Bike for Women: Trek Top Fuel 7

Best road bike for women: specialized tarmac sl6.

Best E-Mountain Bike for Women: Trek Powerfly 4

Best Step-Thru Bike for Women: Public Bikes C1

Best rail trail bike for women: trek dual sport 1 gen 5.

Performance Bike

Key Features:

Price: $835
Bike type: Urban/commuter bike
Sizes: Small, medium, large, extra large
Weight: Not listed
Frame material: Aluminum
Drivetrain: 1x, rear derailleur

City riding can be notoriously difficult on your bike—and body, as anyone who’s ever ridden full-speed over a pothole knows. The Diamondback Division 1 Urban Bike was designed for commutes, running errands, or just riding around, with 27.5-inch tubeless tires that promise traction while absorbing the impact generated by most obstacles (they’re also very unlikely to pop a flat). And thanks to the lightweight aluminum frame, you’ll have no problem hoisting this bike up any number of stairs.

Tires are especially grippy in wet conditions
1 x 8 speed drivetrain is easy to maintain
Features high-quality Shimano drivetrain and Tektro mechanical disc brakes
Disc brakes are more difficult to maintain
Shifting components don’t quite match the price point

Price: $1,799
Bike type: Commuter e-bike
Sizes: Regular, large
Weight: 54 pounds
Drivetrain: Hub

If you don’t want to work up a sweat while commuting to and from the office, Aventon’s Level.2 Commuter E-Bike packs a lot of power into a design that mimics the look of a traditional city cruiser. It even feels like a more traditional bike, thanks to the integration of a torque sensor that allows for more efficient battery use (translation: the bike can sense how hard you’re pedaling and deliver additional power via the 500W motor as needed). With 27.5-inch tires that eat up the road—a full charge gives you a range of 60 miles—you can push this bike up to 28 miles per hour using pedal assist (using just the throttle, you’ll top out at 20 miles per hour).

Torque sensor creates a more natural riding experience
Available in four color options
Comes with preinstalled fenders and a rear rack
This version isn’t as powerful as the first in the name of preserving battery power
Not meant to be ridden in prolonged rain

Best Cruiser Bike for Women: Electra Townie 7D EQ Step-Thru

Price: $729.99
Bike type: Step-thru/recreational
Sizes: 26-inch wheel
Weight: 31 pounds
Frame material: aluminum
Drivetrain: derailleur

It doesn’t get more classic than the Electra Townie 7D EQ Step-Thru, which is the best-selling bike in the U.S. It’s also a great beginner option, allowing you to sit upright and flat-footed—with the pedals positioned farther forward—so you can easily step off the pedals and onto the ground if needed. The nearly two-inch wide tires also ensure stability and security while on the road (and can even handle gentle trails). Despite the retro look, the Townie is built with modern components like Shimano Revo shifters and a Shimano Tourney drivetrain, puncture-resistant Bontrager tires, and an ergonomic saddle.

Very safe and comfortable for newer riders
Fully charges in under five hours
Can easily attach a rear rack and baby seat
Has a longer frame than a standard town bike, which makes it bulkier
Upright position makes standing tough, which can be challenging for uphills
Maximum weight capacity is only 250 pounds

Price: $3,629.99
Bike type: Mountain bike
Sizes: S, M, M/L, L, XL
Weight: 32.7 pounds
Drivetrain: Derailleur

If you’re serious about mountain biking, the Trek Top Fuel 7 is the kind of machine that moves with you—fast—as you tackle the toughest terrain. The full suspension system was designed to react to acceleration and braking forces independently, so you have more control over the bike as a whole, while the hydraulic disc brakes allow you to be more precise with your braking power. For even better handling, Trek’s Mino Link feature allows you to make small adjustments to the frame geometry, depending on the terrain; for example, a steeper angle at the front of the bike allows for quicker steering, which is great at slower speeds, but a slacker angle is more stable at high speeds.

Smaller sizes have a top tube that dips down for a lower standover height, which accommodates shorter riders
Has internal storage for tools
Very expensive
120mm of suspensive travel can be jarring

Specialized

Price: $2,700
Bike type: Road
Sizes: 44, 49, 52, 54, 56, 58, 61
Weight: 16.6, 16.82, or 18.36 pounds
Frame material: Carbon

The Tarmac was designed to go fast—like, really fast (it’s used by pro racing teams). Not only can you lift the lightweight carbon frame with a single hand, it’s actually 20 percent lighter than the previous iteration, a drop in weight that translates to speeds 30 seconds faster over the course of 25 miles. Plus, Specialized works with Retül, a company that collects and analyzes data to inform bike fit, a partnership that allowed the brand to build seven different size options—in a unisex fit—that each use specific measurements to ensure you’ll feel 100 percent comfortable in the saddle, no matter how long you’re riding.

Enough clearance for tires up to 30mm if riding on rougher terrain
Power saddle is very comfortable
Very responsive
Carbon frame can be easily damaged

Best E-Mountain Bike for Women: Trek Powerfly 4 Gen 4

Price: $3,649.99
Bike type: Electric mountain bike
Sizes: XS, S, M, L
Weight: 51.53 pounds

If you want to get out in the wilderness but don’t want to rely on your own leg power to tackle the gnarliest climbs, an affordable electric mountain bike like Trek’s Powerfly 4 can help you cover more terrain without wearing yourself out. This one is equipped with a removable Bosch PowerTube 500Wh battery; Bosch high-performance CX 250W motor; and a smooth-shifting Shimano drivetrain, all of which help you reach speeds of up to 20 miles per hour on the trails. Plus, the bike’s intelligent eMTB mode automatically adjusts the amount of assist it gives you based on the terrain—without you having to do a thing.

Compatible with different rack mounts
Battery is encased for protection
Battery lasts a little as 15 miles in Turbo mode, depending on circumstances

Public Bikes

Price: $550
Bike type: Step-thru/cruiser
Sizes: S/M, M/L
Weight: 30 pounds
Frame material: Steel
Drivetrain: Single speed

How cute is this city cruiser? Little design details go a long way, like fenders, a chain guard and painted rims that match the high-quality steel frame. The upright geometry is similar to that of the Electra Townie, complete with the same step-thru design that makes getting on and off super easy—features that beginner and casual riders alike will appreciate. Cruisers have a reputation of veering toward the heavier end of the weight spectrum, but at 30 pounds, this one isn’t a pain to push or lift if need be.

Available in five colors
Front and rear rack mounts are standard
Affordably priced
Single-speed drivetrain can make riding uphill more challenging
Not as durable as more expensive options

Price: $749.99
Bike type: Hybrid
Sizes: S, M, L, XL
Weight: 30.61 pounds
Drivetrain: 2 x 8

Trek’s Dual Sport 1 falls somewhere between a road and trail bike, which makes it a versatile option for riders—both on the weekdays, for commuting, and the weekends, when you’re out for fitness or recreation. With a lightweight aluminum frame and light gravel tires, you’ll be able to pick up the pace on pavement while the 27.5-inch tires are wide enough that you’ll feel more in control when navigating potholes or easy trails; wherever you are, there’s a wide range of gearing options so you're never spinning your wheels or working too hard.

Frame is compatible with racks, a kickstand, fenders, lights and more
New mounting points pair with Bontrager Adventure Bags to secure bags without straps and bungees
Wider tires offer good grip on multiple types of terrain
Mechanical disc brakes aren’t as high-performing as hydraulic disc brakes
No built-in accessories

The Benefits of Biking

Cycling is a versatile form of cardiovascular exercise. Varying the intensity at which you ride can temporarily increase your metabolism, which allows you to burn more calories, including while at rest , according to a 2020 study in Movement and Sports Sciences . At the same time, it helps build strength in your lower body, 2017 research in Physiological Reports confirmed—without adding impact to your joints, like running. It also improves flexibility and helps with coordination and balance , says the Cleveland Clinic.

It can even help prevent heart issues such as stroke, heart attack, and high blood pressure, and—if done consistently over at least five years— decrease your mortality rate by 35 percent, 2021 research published in JAMA Intern Medicine reported.

Beyond the physical benefits, cycling improved cognitive functioning and well-being and lowered stress levels in a 2019 study published in PLoS One . And as a commuter option, biking decreases your carbon footprint by 67 percent compared to taking a car, according to 2021 research published in Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment .

How Are Women’s Bikes Different from Men’s Bikes?

The main difference between women’s and men’s bikes is the fit, which shows up in the geometry of the frame. Women are generally shorter than men, so women’s bikes often have shorter stack heights, AKA how tall the front of the bike is; women also generally have shorter torsos than men, so women’s bikes have shorter reach lengths, AKA the distance between the saddle and the handlebars. A few other features to keep in mind for a women’s bike: A shorter stem (the part of the bike that connects your handlebars to the frame), a shorter but wider saddle, shorter crank arms (the levers attached to the pedals), more accessible brake levers, a narrower handlebar and an adjusted suspension system to handle lighter weight.

Of course, the best bike for you is the one that best fits your body—whether it’s designed for a specific gender or not. Getting properly fit at a bike store can go a long way in helping you find the right bike for you; the bike store can also make adjustments and swap out components if need be after you’ve purchased a bike.

What Types of Women’s Bikes Are There?

There’s a wide variety of bikes for women. You’ll find road bikes, which are designed for speed; mountain bikes, built for off-road riding; hybrid bikes , which can handle multiple types of terrain; electric bikes, which use a motor for more power; and cruisers, for comfortable, recreational riding; all designed to accommodate female riders.

What to Consider When Choosing the Best Women’s Bike for You

Intended use.

How you’re going to use a bike is probably the most important thing to keep in mind when researching options. If you’re mostly using it for fitness, think about where you’ll use it: Riding on the road is easiest and fastest with a bike like Specialized Tarmac SL6, while trail riding necessitates a mountain bike like the Trek Top Fuel 7. If you just want to cruise around town, a bike like the Public Bikes C1 or Electra Townie 7D EQ Step-Thru will suffice. If you’re a commuter, opting for an electric bike like the Aventon Level.2 Commuter E-Bike can help you maximize your time.

Frame shape and material

A bike’s shape, or geometry, will affect your position on the bike and how you can handle it. On a road racing bike, for example, you’ll be in a longer, lower position that’s more aerodynamic. On the opposite end of the spectrum, a cruiser puts you in an upright position, almost like you’re pedaling while seated in a chair, to help you feel safe and in control. A bike can also have a step-over frame, which has a straight top tube (the part of your bike frame which sits between your legs) that you literally step over in order to mount the bike, or a step-thru frame, which eliminates that feature to make mounting and dismounting easier.

Bike frames can be made from a number of different materials. Steel is durable and affordable, but aluminum has become more popular due to its light weight and stiffness. Carbon and titanium are even lighter, but those materials are generally reserved for high-end road and mountain bikes; they’re strong and stiff, but can be damaged more easily (titanium is the more durable of the two). The material a bike is made of plays a big role in how expensive a bike is, but the added cost of a higher-end material may be worth it for performance purposes.

Electric assistance

The e-bike market is expected to grow by over 10 percent between 2022 and 2027, according to market reports . With more options available, more and more people are using e-bikes as a commuting option or just a way to get around town. For what it’s worth, e-bikes don’t do all the work—most offer pedal-assist modes that allow you to still burn calories but cover more ground (without getting quite as sweaty). If you’re in the market for an e-bike, consider these specific features: watts (the higher the number, the longer you can go on the battery charge); voltage (a higher voltage battery is more efficient); and battery (most batteries are removable for charging, and the more assistance you need, the more battery power you’ll use up).

Wheel size and tires

For general riding, all you need to know is that most bike wheels are measured in inches, and a 26-inch wheel has long been the standard wheel size for most American bikes. It’s an especially popular size in mountain biking, as it’s wide enough to support the bike on uneven terrain. A 27.5-inch wheel, like you’ll find on the Diamondback Division 1 Urban Bike or the Trek Dual Sport 1 Gen 5, can provide a little more stability, while a 29-inch wheel is standard for most modern road bikes (however, that size is called 700c when it’s on a road bike).

The size of the wheel generally doesn’t matter for more casual riders, but you may need to pay more attention to the width of the tires. Tire widths range from very narrow (less than 20 millimeters) to very wide (over 4 inches), but the most common widths for road bikes are between 23mm and 32mm, while mountain bikes typically have wider tires ranging from 2.0 to 2.5 inches. Generally, the narrower the tires, the faster you’ll be able to go—which is why they’re great for road bikes—but the less traction you’ll have on the ground; wider tires, on the flip side, provide more grip, especially on rougher surfaces, but also generate more resistance, which can slow you down.

If you’re buying your own tires, make sure to check whether the width is compatible with your bike's rims and brakes. And if you’re totally confused by all of this, talk to someone at your local bike shop.

There are a couple of different types of bike brakes available. Rim brakes are the most common, and work by pressing rubber brake pads against the rim of the wheel. Disc brakes are another popular option, especially on mountain bikes, and work by pressing brake pads against a rotor attached to the wheel hub. Coaster brakes are commonly found on cruisers, and work by pedaling backward, which engages a brake inside the hub of the rear wheel.

A bike's gears allow you to change your cadence, or pedaling rate, on different terrains. For example, low gears are used when climbing hills while high gears are used on flat ground or speeding downhill. These gears are controlled by shifters on the handlebars, and a bike can have anywhere from a single gear to over 30 gears. The drivetrain on a bike will affect the way the gears work, and some common options are a derailleur system (which uses a front and rear derailleur to move the chain between different gears), an internal gear hub (which houses the gears inside the rear wheel) and a belt drive system (which uses a carbon-fiber belt instead of a traditional chain).

Features and accessories

Many of the bikes on the list include features like fenders, which cover your tires and protect your back from wet or muddy streaks; integrated lights for visibility; reflective features so other cars and riders can see you in low-light conditions; and racks for storage or mounts that allow you to attach your own mounts. You can also invest in your own accessories, like bike bags, a bike rack for transporting your bike, a bike computer and, of course, a good helmet .

There’s a huge range in bike prices, but you should expect to spend somewhere between $500 and $1,000 for a quality entry-level or casual use bike. The more specialized a bike, the higher the price will be, and e-bikes generally start between $1,500 and $2,500. You can absolutely find bikes at lower prices, but you may be sacrificing quality and longevity if you go for the cheapest option on the market.

Compatibility with child seats and trailers

If you’re planning on toting a kid or trailer behind you, it’s super important to make sure your bike's frame is compatible with the type of child seat or trailer you plan to use. For example, Trek’s Dual Sport 1’s included rack is not compatible with a child’s bike seat, but it is compatible with a bike trailer. There are also multiple ways to attach child seats and trailers, so check that the attachment method of your chosen child seat or trailer is compatible with your bike's frame and components. Finally, make sure to check the weight limit of your bike and the child seat or trailer you plan to use; exceeding that can cause safety issues or damage your bike.

How We Chose the Best Bikes for Women

Not only did we review dozens of bikes from reputable brands, we leaned on nearly a decade’s worth of personal testing experience to create a diverse list of bikes with a number of different features to suit various needs. We also compared features like weight, materials, style, technology, gears, tires and more to narrow down our picks for the best women’s bikes.

How to Tell What Bike Size You Need

If you’re not sure what size bike you need, the best thing you can do is go into a local bike shop for a fitting. Then, you can consult a bike company’s sizing chart. The most important measurement to start with is your inseam; that number corresponds with a bike’s standover height. The standover height is the distance from the ground to the top of the top tube, which is essentially where you would stand over (get it?) the bike when mounting or dismounting. If you’re actually straddling a bike, your feet should be flat on the floor and there should be one to two-plus inches of clearance between your body and the top tube.

In the saddle, you should have a slight bend in your legs when each foot is at the bottom of the pedal stroke. You can generally adjust the height of the saddle via the seatpost. While pedaling, your knee should be aligned over your forefoot when your foot is at a three o’clock position and your shin will be tilted slightly forward. As for your upper body, there should be a 45-degree angle between your torso and your hips, and a 90-degree angle in your arms on a road bike, while other bikes allow for a more upright and relaxed position.

What’s the difference between men’s and women’s bikes?

Because men are generally larger than women, women’s bikes tend to have a slightly different frame geometry that accommodates a smaller, lighter size. However, some women may feel better on a men’s bike or a unisex one; finding the proper fit regardless of gender is important.

How much should I spend on a women’s bike?

A good-quality bike usually starts between $500 and $1,000, while e-bikes start between $1,500 and $2,500. But how much you spend on a bike really comes down to your personal budget and what kind of cycling you intend to do.

What type of bike is easiest for women to ride?

There's no easy answer for this, because the right bike for you will depend on what type of riding you prefer as well as your physical proportions. However, step-through bikes are designed for easy mounting and dismounting, which makes them a little more accessible.

Final Thoughts

There are so many benefits to cycling, whether you’re riding for fitness, using two wheels to explore new places, or investing in an e-bike as a more sustainable travel option. No matter what type of bike you’re looking for, there are plenty of options to choose from that can fit your budget and fitness goals. And if you’re not sure where to start, heading into your local bike store to try some options and get advice from the pros can help you narrow down your online search.

Prices are accurate and items in stock as of publish time.

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Green Deals

Radexpand 5 folding e-bike with extra battery now $1,299 ($2,098 value), electric bike co. bundles from $1,899, and more.

Today’s green deals are here to get you off the couch and back outdoors now that spring has officially arrived, headlined by Rad Power’s flash sale that is taking $300 off the RadExpand 5 Folding e-bike and includes a free extra battery, all for $1,299 . It is joined by a collection of discounted e-bike bundles from Electric Bike Co. that includes a free anti-theft alarm starting from $1,899 , as well as the EGO Power+ 21-inch 56V Cordless Electric Self-Propelled Lawn Mower that just hit a new $419 low . Plus, you’ll find all of the other day’s other best Green Deals below.

Head below for other New Green Deals we’ve found today and, of course, Electrek ’s best EV buying and leasing deals . Also, check out the new Electrek Tesla Shop for the best deals on Tesla accessories .

Rad Power’s RadExpand 5 Folding e-bike comes with an extra battery for $1,299

Rad Power has launched a flash sale on its RadExpand 5 Folding e-bike for $1,299 shipped , with the inclusion of a free extra battery that is valued at $499 , through April 17. Fetching $1,599 since Rad Power lowered prices across its entire e-bike lineup, we saw plenty of short-lived flash sales and bigger holiday discounts alike on this particular e-bike model. Before the new year, this e-bike was priced at $1,649, often being brought down in price somewhere between $1,599 and the former $1,299 low. Since the new year began, we’ve seen one previous flash sale that brought costs down to the new $1,249 low, though it didn’t include the free extra battery. Today’s deal comes in as a solid $300 markdown off the new going rate that lands at the second-lowest price we have tracked, a total value worth $2,098. You can learn more about this e-bike by heading below or checking out our hands-on review .

The RadExpand 5 Folding e-bike comes equipped with a 750W brushless geared hub motor and a 672Wh battery that tops out at 20 MPH and can travel up to 45+ miles on a single charge (doubled with the extra battery), depending on conditions. It features four levels of low-profile cadence sensing pedal assist, as well as a water-resistant wiring harness, a standard LED headlight, an integrated taillight with a brake light indicator functionality, an integrated rear storage rack, fenders for both tires, and a simple LED display that provides pedal assist controls and battery charge levels. Its main claim to fame amongst Rad Power’s e-bikes is its space-saving folding frame, with the mechanism located at its center for fast and easy storage or transport when it’s not in use.

Electric Bike Company e-bike bundles up to $200 off with free anti-theft alarm starting from $1,899

Electric Bike Company has taken up to $200 off a collection of e-bike bundles that have been decked out in various accessories like cargo racks, storage baskets, pannier bags, and more. While all the models are technically set at affordable prices, considering the company’s high quality parts, the cheapest offering among the bunch is the Model J – Desert Rover for $1,899 shipped . Down from its usual $2,081 price tag, we’ve seen it go for $100 less in some past sales – particularly during Black Friday and Christmas sales. Today it comes in as a solid $182 markdown that lands it at the second-lowest price we have tracked. Plus, you’ll get extra savings thanks to the company’s limited-time offer that gives you a complimentary anti-theft alarm valued at $129, just use the promo code ALARM at checkout .

Sporting a golden-tan, metallic Venice-beach moped design with a banana seat, the Model J: Desert Rover e-bike comes equipped with a 750W motor as well as a 14Ah battery that reaches 20 to 28 MPH speeds with a 60-mile range. It also has five levels of pedal assistance, with a choice for a 12 mag cadence sensor or a torque sensor along with a variety of accessories and features: a rear-mountable cargo rack, a front-mountable rack, a Basil MIK crate, a Basil trunk bag, 3-inch puncture-resistant tires, integrated front and rear safety lights, hand stitched vegan leather grips around BMX handlebars, and an LCD color display with a USB charging port. As part of the package, you’ll also receive a color-matched helmet as well.

Other Electric Bike Co. bundle discounts:

Model E – Rock-a-bye Roller: $2,399 (Reg. $2,593)
Model R – Cargo Conquest: $2,499 (Reg. $2,628)
Model A – Camo Cruiser: $2,500 (Reg. $2,601)
Model S – Floral Chopper: $3,099 (Reg. $3,207)
Model Y – Amethyst Lullaby: $3,099 (Reg. $3,250)
Model C – Blue Warrior: $3,199 (Reg. $3,343)

The greatest feature about any of the e-bikes under this brand though, is the customizable options. Most of the parts have two to three options for customization – even the paint job – with plenty more accessories you can add-on as well, allowing you to truly build a ride that fits your preferences and expresses your individuality. And don’t forget to use the promo code ALARM at checkout for your free anti-theft alarm!

EGO Power+ 21-inch 56V Cordless Electric Self-Propelled Lawn Mower hits new $419 low

Amazon is offering the EGO Power+ 21-Inch 56V Cordless Electric Self-Propelled Lawn Mower for $419 shipped . Normally fetching $649, it spent the late half of 2023 riding along its MSRP and occasionally rising and falling in small increments, the biggest of which brought costs down to $549. Since the new year began, we’ve seen a few repeat discounts down to the former $454 low, with today’s deal coming in to take things further as a 35% markdown off the going rate, beating our previous mention by $35 and landing at a new all-time low.

Powered by just the 7.5Ah ARC battery, this cordless electric lawn mower tackles your small to medium-sized yards with up to 60 minutes of runtime on a single charge. Its 21-inch cutting deck allows for easy maneuvering through your yard more efficiently while offering a six-position height adjustment with a cutting range between 1.5 inches to 4 inches. It features a three-in-one function of mulching, rear-bagging, or side-discharge, and starts with the press of a button – no gas, no oil priming, no pull string. Head below to learn more.

Spring e-bike deals!

Super73 RX Electric Motorbike: $2,999 (Reg. $3695)
Lynx All-Terrain e-bike: $2,999 (Reg. $3,999)
Juiced’s HyperScrambler 2: $1,999 (Reg. $3,499)
Aventon Aventure.2 All-Terrain e-bike with free extra battery: $1,799 ($2,499 value)
Aventon Abound Cargo e-bike with $372 in free accessories: $1,799 (Reg. $2,199)
Heybike Brawn Fat-Tire e-bike: $1,449 (Reg. $1,800)
Electric Bike Co. Model J e-bike: $1,299 (Reg. $1,499)
Velotric Discover 1 e-bike: $1,099 (Reg. $1,599)

Man riding a Lectric XPedition Cargo e-bike that is hauling a lot of cargo down a dirt trail. Included in post for Rad Power's RadExpand 5 Folding e-bike

Other new Green Deals landing this week

The savings this week are also continuing to a collection of other markdowns. To the same tune as the offers above, these all help you take a more energy-conscious approach to your routine. Winter means you can lock in even better off-season price cuts on electric tools for the lawn while saving on EVs and tons of other gear.

Lectric’s XPedition dual-battery cargo e-bike hits $1,599 with extra $306 in free gear ($2,311 value)
EcoSmart’s 3.5kW electric tankless under-sink water heater falls to $161 (Reg. $200)
Take the OKAI Ranger e-bike off-road with 45-mile range at 20 MPH for $1,400 (Reg. $2,000)
Save $1,378 on Hover-1’s blue Altai Pro R500 e-bike with 60-mile range at new $922 low
Z GRILLS’ latest 450A Pro wood pellet grill covers your backyard cookouts for $368 (Reg. $499)
ALLPOWERS R600 BEIGE 299Wh power station offers 7 ports and wireless charger for $199 low
Pit Boss 440 Deluxe wood pellet grill offers 518-square inch cook space for $360 (Reg. $450)
Bosch Tronic 6100 electric tankless water heater covers sinks and appliances for $559 (Reg. $749)
Prepare for BBQ season with Z GRILLS’ 2023 450E pellet grill and smoker at $399 (Reg. $599)

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

IMAGES

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COMMENTS

Lightweight road bikes
Trek's lightweight road bikes are engineered for extraordinary lightness, sensational ride quality, and a finely tuned balance for superior handling. Whether you're climbing in the Alps or looking for the lightweight advantage on home roads, these models elevate ride performance to a whole new level. Customize Émonda, our lightest ...
Trek road bikes: range, details, pricing and specifications
Weight: 61.5kg. Rides: Cannondale SuperSlice Disc Di2 TT, Cannondale Supersix Evo Dura-Ace Rim, Cannondale Supersix Evo Ultegra Di2 Disc, Trek Procaliber 9.9 MTB. With contributions from. Josh ...
Trek Road Bikes
Trek Road Bikes. 187 results. Trek is renowned worldwide for its exceptional attention to detail and a seamless integration throughout all of their products to produce exceptionally well performing road bicycles. Combining innovative materials and construction with the best components available on the market, Trek has as a refined range ...
Trek 1000: Unveiling The Ultimate Road Bike Experience
When it comes to speed, the Trek 1000 road bike does not disappoint. The skinny tires and 14-speed configuration make for a nimble and fast ride. Furthermore, the carbon fiber components add to the bike's overall lightweight, allowing riders to pick up speed and easily tackle various terrains. Component. Benefit.
Trek SL1000 review
Trek SL1000 review - BikeRadar. Half a grand is a lot of money for a lot of people - luckily it can get you a lot of bike.
Best budget road bikes 2024
Head to our roundup of Trek road bikes if you want to know a bit more about the whole range. (Image credit: Courtesy) 8. Fuji Sportif 2.3. The best budget road bike for smaller budgets.
Trek Road Bike Bikes for sale
Get the best deals on Trek Road Bike Bikes when you shop the largest online selection at eBay.com. Free shipping on many items | Browse your ... Trek 5000 OCLV Bike USA made sub 20 goodness mild use ready for summer SMALL. $325.00. $160.00 shipping. 2021 Trek Domane SL 4 Carbon Fiber Road Race Bike Disc Brakes Shimano Low miles. $2,300.00. or ...
Trek's Seventh Generation Madone
The entry-level build for the 2023 Madone SLR 6 (with Shimano 105 Di2) comes in at $8,000. That is a $1,100 increase over the 2021 Madone SLR 6 equipped with mechanical-shifting Shimano Ultegra ...
Best road bikes: A bike for every budget
Along with the Hutchinson Fusion 5 25mm tyres, they're ready for tubeless running. At 7.7kg claimed weight, it's a bike that's light without breaking the bank. The Wilier Zero SLR comes close to ...
Trek 5000 Road Bike user reviews : 4 out of 5
RATING. 5. ★★★★★. ★★★★★. Strength: Exellent and I have one for sale 619) 634-5904. Weakness: None I have an extra one for sale. Am located in rancho bernardo am a student and I have a trek 5000 for sale exellent condition 1000 for it thanks will mail it u pay the cost thank you.
Trek Bikes & Framesets For Sale
Visit us at our Louisville, Colorado Bike Store to see our full Trek collection in person. Choose from our wide selection of used & new Trek road bikes and mountain bikes, like the Domane, Madone, Remedy, and more. Find bike info, specs, and reviews. Enjoy 30-day returns and an 18-month buyback guarantee sets us apart in the bike industry.
Road Bikes for Sale
Road Bikes. 916 results. Road bikes are suitable for every rider, from the weekend warrior to the professional racer. Featuring skinny tyres and manufactured from lightweight materials, the road bike is designed to go fast! Scroll down for more information on road bikes at BikeExchange. Read more.
Best road bikes 2024: top reviewed bikes from our testing
RBOTY 2023: Best value. 5. Giant Propel Advanced SL. Check Amazon. Best value superbike. Giant typically delivers lots of bike for your money, and the latest Propel is no different, especially on ...
Road Bike Size Chart: A Simple (But Complete) Guide
The road bikes are generally used for commuting, racing, and touring. Whilst styles differ, the main approach to road bike sizing does remain the same that is using the rider's leg length and height to determine proper frame size. There is a road bike calculator that recommends the road bike frame size, depending on the measurements that you ...
Gravel and Touring Bikes for Smaller Cyclists: XXS, XS, 38cm, 42cm
XS Gravel Bikes (Light Touring) By Standover Height. Salsa makes two of the smallest gravel bikes available - this is the 49.5cm Salsa Vaya. Knolly Cache 49.5cm: Reach 385mm / Stack 559mm - Standover 646mm. Salsa Journeyman XS (650B): Reach 364mm / Stack 528mm - Standover 658mm. Salsa Vaya 49.5cm: Reach 355mm / Stack 543mm - Standover ...
Best women's road bikes 2024: the ideal bikes for female riders
The Trek Domane is an example of an endurance road bike. Race focused women's road bikes. Race bikes are created to offer nippy handling and a lower, more aero position - usually with a longer ...
How to shift gears on a road bike
By pushing the whole left hand lever inward, the derailleur will push the chain up to a bigger chain ring—a harder gear. A harder gear takes more effort to pedal, but you'll move farther with each pedal stroke. Pushing only the small inner lever inward will pull the chain down to a smaller chain ring—an easier gear.
The 8 Best Bikes for Women in 2024
Best Mountain Bike for Women: Trek Top Fuel 7; Best Road Bike for Women: Specialized Tarmac SL6; ... Trek's Mino Link feature allows you to make small adjustments to the frame geometry ...
RadExpand 5 e-bike comes with extra battery for $1,299, and more
Save $300 on Rad Power's RadExpand 5 folding e-bike with a free extra battery for $1,299, Electric Bike Co. bundles start from $1,899, more

Never heavy. Always metal.

Trek 1000: Unveiling The Ultimate Road Bike Experience

‍ Trek 1000 Road Bike Overview

The Birth Of Trek 1000

Why You Should Consider The Trek 1000

Technical Specifications Of Trek 1000

Drivetrain And Gearing

Brakes And Safety

Tires And Wheels

The Ultimate Road Bike Experience

Delivering Speed

Enhancing Endurance

Investing In Trek 1000

Maintenance And Durability

Is The Trek 1000 Road Bike Worth Buying?

About THE AUTHOR

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About PedalChef

Trek SL1000 review

Trek’s Seventh Generation Madone Blends Radical Design and Performance

Trek Madone SLR 9 eTap Gen 7

Pricing and Build Options

Ride Impressions

Best road bikes: A bike for every budget

Best road bikes available today

Best road bikes under £1000 / $1500

1. Triban RC 520 Disc

Specifications

Best road bikes under £2000 / $2500

2. Specialized Allez Sport

3. Giant Contend SL Disc 1

4. Trek Émonda ALR 4

Best road bikes under £5000 / $6000

5. Canyon Ultimate CF SL8 Disc Di2

Best all-round race bikes

6. Cannondale SuperSix EVO 4

7. Boardman SLR 8.9

8. Pinarello Dogma F

Best lightweight bikes

9. Van Rysel EDR CF Ultegra Disc

10. Wilier Zero SLR

Best aero bikes

11. Vitus ZX-1 Evo CRS

12. Canyon Aeroad CFR

Best endurance bikes

13. Cannondale Synapse Carbon 1 RLE

14. Cervélo Caledonia

Best electric road bikes

15. Ribble Endurance SL e

16. Specialized Turbo Creo SL Expert

How to choose the best road bike for you

Do I need a road bike?

What sort of road bike do I need?

Which groupset is best?

What other components are important?

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Road Bike Size Chart: A Simple (But Complete) Guide

Road Bike Sizing Guide for men, women & Kids

Road Bike Size Chart for Men

Road Bike Size Chart for Women

Road Bike Size Chart for Kids

What is important to look out for when choosing the right road bike size?

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