Best Women’s Bikes Review

We review four great women’s bikes that will serve as triathlon training or racing steeds.

The latest of our triathlon bike reviews focuses on four brilliant women’s bikes.

Women’s specific bikes have evolved from a stumpy version of what was on the peg already – think shorter stem, shorter top tube, and shorter cranks – to something more refined. As sales of female-focussed bikes have soared, manufacturers have started to analyse exactly what women riders need and want. Female adaptations include smaller components, shorter cranks and lower gear ratios. Shorter top tubes reduce the reach, which addresses the issue of the shorter female body. But by buying a women’s-specific bike are you getting value for money, or simply paying for an expensive moniker and a splash of pink on the frame?

A true racing bike needs to be quick, responsive, and light. It should hug corners and fly downhill. If you’re going to ride fast, in a bunch, sucking up sudden changes of pace, the groupset and wheels need to match the frame in terms of efficiency and performance. We’ve ridden four women-specific bikes from £1,500 to £2,800 to find out which strike the best balance.