The 9 Best Women’s Road Bikes Right Now (2024)

From entry-level frames—that can take you from first pedal stroke to first century ride—to high-end builds designed for QOMs and national championships, there are more bike options than ever for women who want to go fast on pavement. We’ve narrowed down the best of the best through a rigorous testing process that requires riding thousands of miles on the scenic, winding roads outside our offices (we swear it’s hard work).

Check out quick info below on five of the top road bikes, then scroll down for longer reviews of these and other high-performing options, plus buying advice.

“Women’s” Geometry vs. Unisex

When you hear the term “women’s road bike,” you might picture a compact frame with a shortened, sloping top tube—a design that rose to popularity in the past 20 years and came to be known as “women-specific geometry.” That bike style, seen today in many women’s frames, remains in use for its endurance-oriented comfort and ability to meet the needs of some women’s tendency to have longer legs and shorter torsos than men. In the past few years, however, “unisex” geometry has also made a comeback on women’s bikes, resulting in somewhat racier frames that put the rider in a more aggressive position, with a few women-specific features added on, like shorter cranks and cutout saddles. Not all of us need women-specific geometry (heck, not all women need or want a “women’s bike”), but you might prefer it if you tend to feel too stretched out on a unisex frame. Of course, some men might also prefer a women’s bike. It’s all about finding the right bike for you. Speaking of which...

The Right Bike for You

Before buying your next dream bike, start by asking yourself what kind of riding you plan to do and then narrow down based on your budget. If you’re interested in long road rides with more comfort, endurance-oriented bikes will likely be the better choice than aero race bikes. But if you’re looking to get into racing—or just love to ride fast—the bike’s weight, component level, and aero features will all become a bit more important. Of course, the frame material will also be a factor: The bikes listed here are carbon (generally the lightest, stiffest, and most expensive) or aluminum alloy (still relatively lightweight, stiff, and sturdy). You’ll also get to choose between rim brakes and disc brakes, though both options are available for many models. Hydraulic disc brakes tend to provide better stopping power but also cost more. There are so many options now, which is just one of the many things that makes being a woman who loves bikes in 2020 so great. If you’re unsure of what you’re looking for, visit your local shop and take a bike out for a test ride to determine if it’s right for you before deciding on one.

How We Tested These Bikes

Every bike in this list has been ridden miles and miles by our team of female test editors. Of the stacks of bikes we tested and evaluated, we chose these based on their value, quality of parts, performance, ride quality, and how the overall package meets the needs of the intended buyer. We commuted on them, took them out for long solo days, and used them to join fast group rides. We’ve researched the market, surveyed user reviews, spoken with product managers and engineers, and used our own experience charging up climbs, bombing down descents, and racing on wide-ranging terrain to determine the best road bikes for women. Here are nine so good they’ve got us dreaming of #NewBikeDay.

―BEST BUDGET ENDURANCE―

Diamondback Arden 2

The Arden is a solid aluminum bike for women who are just getting into road riding—or anyone who wants to ride more miles for fewer dollars. The relaxed-geometry frame is available in sizes down to XXS, with women-specific touch points like the HED Tour Flat Top Drop Bar handlebar and a women’s saddle. With components that find the balance between affordable and reliable, the bike has nine-speed Shimano Sora for smooth shifting, Tektro Lyra flat-mount mechanical disc brakes for all-weather stopping power, and a high-end alloy aluminum fork. It all adds up to a perky, exciting ride that gives the impression of a far more expensive bike—ideal for your first fondo or MS150 ride.
Full Review More Images

―BEST ALUMINUM―

Specialized Allez Sprint Comp Disc

Proof that an aluminum alloy bike can deliver as fast and punchy of a ride as carbon, the Allez Sprint Comp Disc has a standout ride befitting a far higher price tag. Specialized designed the bike from the ground up with strength and stiffness in mind: The frame was built using a proprietary tube-forming and joining process to preserve stiffness at the joint, and the bottom bracket was brazed to mimic the strong and stiff shape of bottom brackets used in carbon bikes. A full carbon fork and seat post and Shimano 105 hydraulic disc brakes round out the package.
Full Review More Images

—BEST FOR RACING—

Fuji Supreme 1.1

This badass-looking race bike is super stiff, aero, and designed just for women. The geometry of the carbon fiber frame was refined using years of fit data from over 150 athletes on Fuji’s women’s pro race teams, resulting in a shorter reach and a more linear progression of stack and reach ratios between sizes, which go from large to a diminutive XXS (44cm) frame to fit riders under five feet tall. The frame and fork also utilize D-shaped tubes for better performance in varying wind directions for when you’re leading out the sprint train. The snappy-shifting electronic SRAM Red eTap drivetrain comes with an 11-28 tooth cassette, better suited to fast, flat circuits than hilly road races.
Read Full Review More Images

―GRAVEL SLAYER―

Marin Headlands 2

Get ready to rock the off-road sections on this bike. The vibration-dampening carbon frame and 40mm Schwalbe G-One Performance tires let us bomb over rough trails and gravel sections so much faster than we would on a road bike (and without our teeth chattering). It even holds its own in singletrack, if you dare—the full carbon frame feels lightweight, which made it easy to hop over logs and rocks. An 11-speed Shimano GRX drivetrain performed smoothly and efficiently. The cassette has a cog range from 10 to 42 teeth, ideal for both pushing the pace on flat pavement as well as spinning up gravel climbs. The hydraulic disc brakes are great for riding in messy conditions or mud, since you’ll always grab a handful of control, rather than squealing a pad along a wet rim. If you’re looking into bikepacking or touring, the Headlands 2 is ready for that, too. The removable seat stay brace and tons of bosses on the frame (15 on the front triangle alone) can be decked out with fenders, racks, bottle cages, and frame bags. One thing to note is that the max insertion for the seatpost doesn’t allow you to set it at lower than 66cm, but if you are shorter than that (like our tester was), the dropper post allows you to sink it a bit lower.

Read Full Review More Images

—BEST ALL-ROAD—

Liv Avail Advanced Pro 1 Force

Liv updated its Avail Advanced endurance bike, and the result is a ride that’s more versatile than ever. One of the biggest updates is a switch to 32mm tires—up from the 25mm tires previous iterations were built with—in order to provide more grip and control on dirt and gravel, as well as pavement. Liv dressed the carbon frame (tuned specifically for women) with a no-holds-barred drivetrain: SRAM Force eTap AXS with wireless electronic shifting and hydraulic disc brakes. We rode this bike on paved roads—where it definitely held its own up steep climbs and weaving descents—and on gravel paths, where it truly comes alive. We even took it out for a rip on some tame singletrack, where it was surprisingly lively and nimble.

Read Full Review More Images

―BEST ALL-AROUND―

Specialized Women’s Tarmac Expert

If you’ve long dreamed about getting your feet onto the pedals of an S-Works Tarmac but don’t have the budget to actually put one in your garage, the Tarmac Expert is the next best thing. Built with unisex geometry, the bike’s lightweight carbon frame feels stiff, aggressive, and fast, thanks to aero touches borrowed and updated from Specialized’s original Venge road bike, like a new fork shape, dropped seat stays with new aero tubing, and a D-shaped seat post and seat tube. The bike is an absolute blast during road races or just long rides—and a solid value, considering its nice balance of parts. The alloy Roval SLX 24 Disc wheelset is relatively lightweight and strong without driving up the price of the bike; the same can be said for the Shimano Ultegra groupset and rim brakes.
Full Review More Images

―BEST FOR NEW ROADIES―

Triban RC 520 105

Triban is a house brand of Decathlon, a France-based sporting goods chain known for its accessible pricing. Keeping with that, the RC 520 is a value-priced endurance bike, with a slightly upright position, a longer wheelbase for stability, great tire clearance (up to 36mm), and provisions for attaching racks and fenders. This model has a smooth-shifting Shimano 105 11-speed drivetrain with compact gearing (11-32 cassette with 50/34 chainrings). The disc brakes are TRP’s HY/RD, which is a cable-actuated hydraulic brake that offers impressive performance. Decathlon backs the frame, handlebar, and stem with a lifetime warranty. We found this bike to be not only a great value, it’s a great ride. It’s smooth and versatile, well suited to both paved and mild dirt-road riding. So if you’re new to skinny tires and want to try it all, this bike is ready to come with you.

Full Review More Images

―BEST FOR ENDURANCE RIDES―

Canyon Endurace WMN CF SL Disc 8.0 Di2

Going fast on a bike is awesome. Canyon clearly gets that. But on longer rides, a little comfort goes a long way. This endurance-focused road bike splits the difference between racy and comfortable, giving you a sharp, stiff ride on a frame designed to make you feel good at the end of a long day out. Compared to Canyon’s race bike, the Ultimate, the Endurace has a slightly longer wheelbase, a lower bottom bracket, a higher stack, and shorter reach. But it charges to the top of a climb faster and more aggressively than most endurance-focused bikes we’ve ridden. The carbon frame shares geometry with the men’s model, but women-specific features include a narrower bar, a shorter stem and cranks, and a women’s saddle. The version of the bike we tested came with SRAM eTap, only available in Europe; U.S. bikes come with full Shimano Ultegra Di2 for $4,499. Full Review More Images

―MOST COMFORTABLE―

Felt VR5W

Looking for a comfortable, lightweight carbon bike for high mileage with less back strain? The VR5W has endurance geometry that puts you in a slightly more upright position, without taking away from its smooth, whippy, and nimble ride. An affordable but reliable components package keeps the bike’s overall price down, including 105 hydraulic disc brakes and a 105 11-speed drivetrain and compact crankset. The frame comes in sizes down to 43cm, with short-reach brakes, a narrower handlebar, and other great features to suit smaller riders.