It is important to remember that women-specific road bikes have features different from unisex bikes. These bikes have tailored frame geometry and lightweight components that are a better fit for female riders. These also often feature super-compact cranksets and a wide ratio of gears that require lesser power to peddle the bike forward.
The best women’s road bikes for beginners are the SAVADECK Carbon Road Bike and the HILAND 700c Road Bike. The SAVADECK Carbon Features Shimano speed control and large Michelin 25c tires. The HILAND 700c is a pocket-friendly bike with a durable double-butted aluminum frame.
In this article, I will take you through the road bike options tailored for women and feature adjustable or ergonomically designed brake levers and shifters.
Best Women’s Beginners’ Road Bikes
- Schwinn Phocus Adult Road Bicycle (High End)
- Sixthreezero Reach Your Destination Women’s Road Bike
- HILAND 700c Road Bike (Budget Buy)
- AVASTA Neptune Road Hybrid Bike
- Schwinn Fastback Adult Road Bike
- Schwinn Volare Hybrid Road Bike
- SAVADECK Carbon Road Bike (Top Pick)
Compare Top Starter Road Bikes for Women
| Product | Overall Score | Bottom Line | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 Schwinn Phocus Adult Road Bike | 81 |  Available in two options to choose from | Check Out On Amazon |
 Sixthreezero Reach Your Destination | 78 | Includes matching fenders and rear rack | Check Out On Amazon |
 HILAND 700c Road Bike | 83 |  Comes with installation tools and pedals | Check Out On Amazon |
 AVASTA Neptune Road Hybrid Bike | 80 | Features Shimano crankset and shifters | Check Out On Amazon |
 Schwinn Fastback Adult | 78 | Has a triple-butted aluminum frame and fork | Check Out On Amazon |
 Schwinn Volare Hybrid Sports Road | 79 | Arrives partially assembled | Check Out On Amazon |
 SAVADECK Carbon Road Bike | 84 |  Features large Michelin 25c tires | Check Out On Amazon |
Detailed Analysis of the Best Women’s Road Bikes for Beginners
As you can imagine, there’s a huge variety of beginner bikes for women. While each brand has its unique pros and cons, there’s no doubt that some do stand out more than others.
Well, we did some research for you and came up with some of the best entry level women’s road bikes for beginners.
1. Schwinn Phocus Adult Road Bicycle
Overall Score: 81
The Schwinn Phocus is available in two options – 1400 and 1600. Although these bikes are mostly classified as women bikes, they can also be used by men.
Phocus is designed by a reputable brand that has a century-old history of producing top of the line women bikes. They offer proper handling, a durable sturdy design, and an incredibly stylish look.
If you’re looking for the best entry-level bike for women, you won’t find a better option than these.
Nonetheless, some users believe that the 1600 option is better but it all comes down to your personal choice. A majority of women do, however, choose 1400.
Advantages
- Perfect entry-level bikes for women.
- Available in two options to choose from.
- Extremely stylish design with superior aesthetics.
- Durable and high-quality build for extra longevity.
Disadvantages
- Short brake cables.
2. Sixthreezero Reach Your Destination Women’s Road Bike
Overall Score: 78
The Sixthreezero City Bike is as minimalist as they get. It looks plain and simple but don’t let this fool you. It’s still a solid road bike that you can use to cruise all around the city and to run errands.
The bike offers a smooth and comfortable ride in city terrain and has often been ranked as one of the best road bikes for female beginner in recent years.
You also get a super-strong aluminum frame and innovative handlebar design for outstanding comfort.
And in case you’d like to carry some groceries while cruising the city, there’s a special rack at the back for this.
The only downside with the Sixthreezero city bike is the fact that it may appear boring to some people.
Advantages
- Super strong aluminum frame design.
- Lightweight for excellent speed and handling.
- Features a tapered saddle that protects sensitive parts of the bike.
- A rack in the back is included.
- Large wheels with double-walled rims for comfort and stability in every ride.
Disadvantages
- Requires a lot of work to assemble.
- You won’t find it in a wide range of bold colors.
3. HILAND 700c Road Bike
Overall Score: 83
The HILAND 700c is the ultimate commuter bike and the best bike for women beginner. You can use it to run daily errands, including commuting from home to work every day.
It’s super durable thanks to the 6061 double-butted aluminum frame. You’ll also get to choose between a wide range of sizes and heights.
This makes it easier for you to find a bicycle that perfectly responds to your physique. Besides, the HILAND 700c is very pocket friendly, especially when you consider its features.
Nonetheless, you’ll need to do some small assembling and tuning to get this bike road-ready. But it will be so worth it.
Advantages
- Sturdy double-butted aluminum frame.
- Very pocket-friendly price.
- Large 700c double-walled CNC alloy machined sides.
- Quality alloy caliper brakes are also included.
Disadvantages
- The bike doesn’t come with an air pump.
4. AVASTA Neptune Road Hybrid Bike
Overall Score: 80
The AVASTA Neptune Road Hybrid Bike is a higher-end option featuring an aluminum frame and a stylish look.
But it’s not among the list of cheap women’s road bikes. It’s relatively expensive compared to other units in the category with its high-tech frame design and luxurious appeal.
But it will give you excellent value for money.
The bike also features a mid-range Shimano crankset and top of the line Shimano shifters and brakes to fit its luxurious stature. You will enjoy riding this bicycle thanks to its exemplary comfort and handling too.
Advantages
- Features a high-tech aluminum frame that can help reduce fatigue in each ride.
- Available in two sizes.
- The frame is hand-built to ensure excellent build quality.
- Responsive shifter that offers ease of speed and climbing.
Disadvantages
- Despite the light carbon frame, the bike feels heavy.
- It may also be out of the budget of most people.
5. Schwinn Fastback Adult Road Bike
Overall Score: 78
One of the key selling points of the Schwinn Fastback Adult Road Bike is the price. It sells for relatively less compared to most road bikes for women for sale in its category but it offers so much more.
The bike is constructed from a lightweight aluminum frame and comes with a quick and responsive 16-speed shifter. It’s important to note that the Schwinn Fastback offers both a male and female version.
Although the female version is largely modeled after the popular male option, it’s specifically designed to give women better handling and comfort with every ride.
Before you buy, make sure you’re specifically choosing the women’s option.
Advantages
- Super lightweight aluminum frame.
- Nimble and lightweight at just 25 pounds only.
- 16-speed responsive shifter for easy navigation.
- Excellent handling on city roads.
Disadvantages
- The bike feels very uncomfortable riding over longer distances.
6. Schwinn Volare Hybrid Road Bike
Overall Score: 79
The Schwinn Volare features a lightweight and nimble design, making it a good starter bicycle for female. It comes with large 700c wheels for a comfortable and stable ride on various terrains.
It also features sturdy metal construction with excellent durability and longevity. Each wheel is fitted with a strong alloy double-wall rim for extra support.
You’ll also love that the Schwinn Volare has a smooth and responsive 14-speed gear. The bike combines a strong solid construction, easy maneuverability, and outstanding aesthetics.
Advantages
- High-quality construction that will last for ages.
- Lightweight and nimble of easy maneuverability.
- Comfortable ride.
- Large 700c wheels to glide through any terrain.
Disadvantages
- The seat feels a bit hard which can be uncomfortable to some people.
7. SAVADECK Carbon Road Bike
Overall Score: 84
As the name suggests, the SAVADECK Carbon Road Bike comes with a super lightweight but equally strong carbon fiber frame.
The seat post and the fork are also constructed from carbon fiber. The bike offers responsive shifting and weighs just 9.8 kg. It also comes already pre assembled so that you can begin riding it right away.
You get a tapered head tube that significantly strengthens torsion rigidity.
This ultimately gives the bike excellent handling on the road. The SAVADECK model is perfectly suited for both beginner and enthusiastic cyclists. It’s by far one of the best women’s road bikes for beginners.
Advantages
- Durable carbon fiber design.
- Large Michelin 25c tires.
- Responsible Shimano speed control.
- Lightweight.
- Easy handling and maneuverability.
Disadvantages
- The carbon fiber frame makes the bike relatively expensive.
How to Find the Best Women’s Road Bikes for Beginners
Now that we have given you a list of some of the best women’s road bike models, it’s time to highlight some of the things you’d need to consider before buying any bicycle.
Remember, at the end of the day, you need to decide how much money you’re willing to spend and choose a bicycle that offers the best value for every buck.
Here are some of the most important considerations you must keep in mind before making any purchase:
Frame
When you’re shopping for a budget road bike, two things you cannot afford to ignore are the frames and the forks.
This is the skeleton of the bicycle and will determine how the bike works, how it handles, and of course how long it will last.
Besides, while it’s possible to upgrade most of the parts, you can never upgrade the frame. So, once you buy, you’re stuck with it forever.
There are many frame materials out there. Carbon fiber frames tend to be higher-end options. They are super light and strong but will cost you more.
However, most budget-friendly road bikes for women beginners will likely feature an aluminum frame and fork.
Aluminum is preferred by manufacturers for its unique combination of lightweight and durability.
You can check out my article on the best women’s road bikes under $500 for budget-friendly options with ergonomic designs and efficient gear systems, making them perfect for daily commuting.
Drivetrain
There isn’t too much difference in road bicycles when it comes to drivetrains. You’ll notice that the best entry-level women’s road bikes tend to have the same drivetrain all through.
However, in case you want something a little different and perhaps modern, you can consider picking bikes with the Shimano Soris drivetrain. The great news is that the drivetrain is upgradable.
If your budget is too tight for the moment, you can consider a low-end drivetrain and upgrade later when you have the budget to do so.
Brakes
There are two main categories when it comes to brakes. The first one is the more traditional caliper style brake and the other is the more modern disc brake.
Now, each of these braking options has its pros and cons. However, a huge percentage of road bikes out there still have the traditional brake calipers.
Disc brakes tend to be common in high-end bikes. They are of course much more superior compared to caliper brakes and would be great in tough terrains and weather.
But even with this superior performance, disc brakes are relatively heavy. They’re likely going to add a few extra pounds onto your bicycle that you don’t need.
Saddle
Saddle comfort, especially for women that ride women’s mountain bikes, is very important. Traditionally, women’s bikes are designed to have a wide saddle to support the hips.
However, it’s all about finding a bicycle that works for you. Comfort is after all a subjective thing. For this reason, always test drive a bike before you buy just to be sure how comfortable it feels for you.
Wheels
There’s nothing more annoying for a bike owner than having to change flat tires all the time. Well, you won’t have to deal with this when you have tubeless tires.
As the name suggests, tubeless tires don’t have tubes and they are probably the best innovation in the bike industry.
The sad part is that tubeless tires aren’t standard so most bikes under $1,000 may not have them. But it doesn’t hurt to look a bit harder and see if you can find tubeless bikes that fit your budget.
You can check out my article on the best road bicycle wheelset to learn more about wheelset options that are durable and offer impressive acceleration abilities.
Weight
The weight of your bicycle will significantly affect handling and maneuverability. It will also determine how fast you can go on various terrains.
Traditionally, light bikes tend to cost relatively more money. This is why girl road bikes under $1,000 will be much heavier compared to higher-end brands.
Nonetheless, this doesn’t necessarily mean that the bikes are too heavy to ride.
If you don’t intend to spend more than $1,000 on a road bike, you can still find nimble and lightweight options.
A lot of bicycle sellers have easy-to-read charts showcasing the weights of the different bikes available. Make sure you use these charts carefully so that ultimately you pick a weight that works for you.
Quick-Release Skewers vs. Thru-Axles
The best women’s road bikes for beginners will traditionally come fitted with quick-release skewers around the wheels.
This is a bit surprising though because it’s the kind of feature you normally find in higher-end brands. But even then, it’s not uncommon to find bicycles that have thru-axles.
Both of these options are perfectly okay. But most people will agree that thru-axles offer better stability and speed when you ride.
It’s very hard to notice the difference though so it’s not something you should worry about.
Women-Specific Bikes vs. Unisex Bicycles
The biggest question for most women is whether to pick a bicycle specially made for women or just go for a unisex option.
Well, this can be a very tricky dilemma because both bikes are perfectly adequate. But to help you make this decision, let’s take a deeper look at the difference between these two bikes:
Size
Bike manufacturers have been making unisex bikes for many years. But at the beginning of the millennium, they realized that women have very different needs.
Even bike frames designed for a unisex market would have trouble satisfying the comfort and physique of many women. This is when these bike makers started to make women-specific bikes.
Although we are still yet to get a specific frame geometry perfectly suited for women, manufacturers are spending a lot of time and money experimenting with various designs.
And it seems they are getting close because each year, you realize that women-specific bikes have unique features that are completely different from unisex ones.
Nonetheless, women bikes tend to have a shorter reach and a higher stack. The bicycles are also relatively smaller compared to unisex ones.
Gears
Generally, it’s believed that men produce much more power with every paddle than women. This is why the gear ratios between men and women bikes tend to differ greatly.
Most women bikes tend to have a super-compact crankset and a wide ratio of gears. This ensures that you don’t need a lot of power to peddle the bike forward.
Components
It’s also possible to tell the difference between a unisex bike and a women-specific bike just by looking at the components of the frame.
First, as we have explained above, the frame in a women’s bike tends to have a different geometry and size. However, that’s not all.
The frames are also tailored for women’s bodies and would often have narrower handlebars to cater to the often narrower shoulders in women.
You’ll also notice that the saddle is wide to accommodate women’s hips and offer easier peddling. Nonetheless, always remember that the saddle of your bicycle isn’t a huge determinant of comfort.
This is because different people have different body types. The most important thing is to seat on the bike you want to buy and just feel it. Only buy a bicycle that feels comfortable to you and you alone.
Additionally, women-specific bikes will also feature shorter crank arms. This is specifically designed to make peddling smoother and less stressful for people with shorter legs.
The Difference Between a Male and the Female Road Bikes
There’s a very big difference between men’s road bikes and women’s road bikes.
For instance, the seat on men’s bicycles is relatively narrow compared to women. This simply means that women’s bikes feel more comfortable to sit on compared to male versions.
Women’s road bikes are also available in an array of different sizes. Common options include 48cm, 50cm, and 52cm, and so on.
You’ll also notice that some brands tend to have a more general classification of size ranging from small, medium, and large.
In most cases, people pick a bike size that adapts to their physique. If you’re a relatively bigger person, you want to go for a relatively bigger bicycle while smaller people should pick smaller bikes.
To learn more about how to pick out your bike size easily, feel free to check out my article on Women’s Bike Sizes: A Really In-Depth Guide
The Narrow Handlebars of Women’s Road Bikes Offer a More Natural and Controlled Grip…
Getting the best beginner road bike for women often seems like an easy thing but it takes a lot of research to find exactly what you need.
The great news is that you don’t have to go through this. While there are several bike brands out there to choose from, the SAVADECK Carbon Road Bike is indeed highly recommended.
They are super sturdy and offer excellent handling for most women. The bikes are versatile too and would be perfect for both commuting and exercise.
You also get a stylish design and a reasonably good pocket-friendly price. If you’re looking for the best women’s road bikes for beginners, these are the brands to go for.