The Women's Road Bike and Its History
The history of women's cycling is almost as old as that of men's cycling. Women were already taking part in cycling races at the end of the 19th century, even if they had to deal with reservations for a lengthy period of time. Official cycling races for women did not exist until the 1950s. The German Cyclists' Association (BDR) did not even officially include women's cycling in its program until the late 1960s. Even though men's cycling is still much more present in the sporting world today, women have now caught up considerably: Current market research assumes that women make up between 25 and 30 percent of the total number of racing cyclists - and the trend is rising.
It is therefore no surprise that the bicycle industry has also reacted to this development. For a lengthy period of time, women rode exclusively on classic road bikes. In recent years, however, more and more manufacturers have launched specific models on the market that focus on the different needs of female and male road cyclists.
Ladies Road Bike - What Properties Are Important?
On average, women are slightly smaller than men and tend to have a wider pelvis and narrower shoulders. In addition, the ratio between upper body length and leg length is different: on average, women have a shorter upper body and longer legs than men of the same height. Although these differences are only in the centimeter or millimeter range, they ensure that not every woman feels comfortable on a men's model with a small frame.
Special road bikes for women therefore focus first and foremost on smaller frame sizes. The same applies to many road bike brands. However, if the frame is correctly adapted to the female anatomy, then the shorter upper body and longer legs compared to men are compensated for by a shorter top tube. Some manufacturers also follow a different design approach: due to the lower average weight of women, it may be possible to dispense with one or two layers of carbon on a high-end ladies road bike and thus save frame weight.
There are also significant differences between a women's electric road bike and a men's model when it comes to the choice of components. Due to their wider pelvis, women also need a saddle that takes these anatomical requirements into account. Some women also find it more comfortable to ride a saddle with cut-outs. This can help to improve blood circulation when sitting and thus increase comfort on lengthy rides.
There are also differences when it comes to handlebars and stems. Road bikes for women tend to be equipped with narrower handlebars to accommodate the narrower shoulder width. The stem also tends to be shorter. The reason: This takes into account the shorter upper body length and you sit more upright with a shorter stem.
Last but not least, specific road bikes for women differ in terms of the crank. Famale road bikes tend to have shorter cranks - with a length of 170 millimetres, for example. For men, on the other hand, 172.5 millimeter or 175 millimeter long crankarms are common.
From Unisex to Women's Road Bike With the Right Parts
Do women even need special road bike geometries? Despite the numerous arguments in favor of specific women's road bikes, this question is often asked. As everyone is built differently, there are indeed women who get along very well with unisex frames. In this case, it is often sufficient to equip them with women-specific components such as the right road bike saddle or the right road bike handlebar. You will of course find the right components in our range.
What Variants of Women's Electric Road Bikes Are Available?
Even though the market for women's road bikes is still comparatively young, road bikes for women are now offered in almost the same wide range of variants as men's models. In addition to classic road bikes, there are also all-road road bikes, gravel bikes, endurance bikes, triathlon bikes and time trial bikes for women. The difference between the models lies in the equipment, which is why we will focus on the various equipment options below.
Entry-level Road Bikes for Women - Perfect for Your First Season
There are a number of sensible road bikes in the entry-level segment that are ideal for getting to know the sport of road biking. So if you've been dreaming of owning your first road bike for a lengthy period of time or want to try out the sport without investing half a fortune, you'll find solid bikes in the €1000 to €2000 price range to get you started in road cycling. The road bikes in this price segment offer you a robust aluminum frame, a carbon fork, aluminium wheels and, as a rule, disc brakes.
All in all, the entry-level women's road bicycles impress with an affordable price and robust components that promise simple and cost-effective maintenance. The aluminum frame can easily withstand the occasional fall and offers you a great deal of freedom in terms of adjustment. From a comfortable comfort position to a sporty set-up. When it comes to shifting, the bikes are all fitted with modern groupsets. In addition, disc brakes ensure good braking power and the greatest possible safety in all conditions. The mechanical shifting, and in some cases the mechanical brakes, are easy to adjust and spare parts for maintenance are inexpensive.
Women's Mid-range Road Bikes - for Established Road Bike Riders
If you already know exactly what equipment you want on your bike and are sure that road cycling is exactly your thing, then you are sure to find what you are looking for in the mid-range segment up to 5,000 euros. Modern full carbon road bikes for women with high-quality equipment combine performance with maximum riding comfort: aerodynamic high-profile carbon wheels with a tubeless setup, a higher-class shifting system and hydraulic disc brakes are all part of the package. Within the price range, the question of mechanical vs. electronic shifting makes the biggest price difference: Whether you opt for an established mechanical groupset or an innovative, electronic shifting system is up to you and your wallet.
The surcharge of the mid-range models compared to the entry-level models can be clearly measured in terms of weight and handling: Full carbon wheels are lighter and stiffer, the carbon fiber high-profile rims offer improved aerodynamics and the high-quality shifting and braking components are not only lighter, but also ensure a precise, direct shifting experience.
The upper mid-range segment around €5,000 also includes triathlon bikes. These bikes are optimized for aerodynamics from A to Z. With streamlined carbon frames, an integrated cockpit consisting of time trial handlebars with brake levers and a time trial attachment with shifters, these special bikes offer a lot of performance for their price. The riding position can be fine-tuned on the saddle and the integrated hydration system also ensures that you are well supplied during lengthy triathlon competitions. In short: a road bike designed for all-round performance.
Premium Class Women's Road Bikes - for Ambitious Female Road Cyclists
Whether entry-level racer, mid-range racer or high-end machine - we have numerous models for a wide variety of purposes in our range. To help you with your purchase decision, we have summarized the most important facts about women's road bikes below.
- Women's road bikes are bikes that are specially tailored to the female anatomy in terms of equipment and/or frame geometry.
- In most cases, these are road bikes with unisex frames in small sizes that are equipped with specific saddles and handlebars for women. However, there are also manufacturers who offer specific road bike frames for women whose geometry is optimized for the female anatomy.
- Road bikes for women are available in the same variety of types as men's road bikes. In addition to classic racing bikes, there are also gravel bikes for women.
- Which model is right for you depends first and foremost on the intended use. There are also major differences in terms of equipment.