Choosing a new road bike can be tricky – but it’s worth investing some time in the decision. After all, the bike you eventually wheel away will hopefully be your faithful companion for years to come.
When you’re spending between £1,500 and £2,000 you can expect to pick up a quality, lightweight frame with components that will last the test of time – usually Shimano 105 or similar at the lower end and Shimano Ultegra or similar at the top end.
A 105 set is often seen as functional and effective – it will be sharp and crisp to shift, with firm, reliable braking. The jump to Ultegra just sees a drop in weight and slightly quicker responses and that does make a difference – it’s often said that Ultegra and top end Dura Ace are very close in performance despite the major price hike.
You won’t be getting the added extras of a model over £2k, but by now much of the technology on these bikes has trickled down to less expensive models and you’ll often get an identical frame.
At this popular price point, there’s a wide range of options to choose from – each with merits that lend themselves to individual needs – sportive riders will probably put comfort first, whilst those planning to ride in all weathers could want disc brakes and a rider with racing in mind will want a more aggressive cockpit.
Here’s a round up of some of the best models in the price range. We’ve focused on female specific bikes, because we value the brands making an effort to spec bikes with components women won’t need to change on purchase. However, do remember that not everyone needs a women’s bike and some brands (HOY and Storck for example) will change the handlebars and saddle for you free of charge – so don’t let the ‘WSD’ logo limit your search if these aren’t for you!
Read more:
Do Women Need Female Specific Bikes
Fitting a Female Body to a Unisex Frame
Felt ZW5 Womens 2016 Road Bike – £1,450
It’s not often we add in a bike that’s just UNDER budget – but this Felt features a performance carbon frame that’s been built around a women’s specific geometry, as well as a Shimano 105 groupset which will provide shifting and braking you can rely upon.
Felt’s ‘Fit Woman’ range focuses on keeping weight down so smaller women don’t pay a penalty for their lower weight – you can see this in touches such as the SuperLite stem and handlebars. They’ve also used their own ‘Felt Fit Woman’ wheels – but we’ve yet to test these to discover what’s female specific about them!
A bit of an all rounder, this isn’t a race focused model or an all-day adventure sportiver specifically – though the compact chainset and 11-32 cassette means you’ve got a wide range of gears to choose from which could be handy if you’re planning alpine adventures.
