One of the most common questions I get from newbies is some version of: “I think I want to get into road cycling (or triathlon); what bike should I buy?” Usually followed by: “And I don’t want to spend a fortune.”
Fair enough. You shouldn’t have to drop $3,000 to find out if you love riding on the road. But I also don’t want to send you home with a bike that’s going to frustrate you or fall apart in year two, because that’s what happens with really cheap bikes.
The good news is there are some really solid, entry-level road bikes in the $1,000 to $1,500 range these days. You’ll notice these are from the big bike brands who are able to offer lower prices because they produce and buy components on a large scale. These aren’t necessarily the lightest or fanciest road bicycles on the market, but they do provide the best bang for your buck.
So while I can recommend the following bikes with a good conscience, I also want to say: buy the best bike you can afford. If you think you might really get into this, spend a little more now rather than upgrading in a year. A better bike makes you a more confident rider faster, and you’ll enjoy the sport more from the start.
One more thing: you can also make small, inexpensive upgrades to any budget bike that make a BIG difference. Swap the stock saddle for a women’s-specific saddle. Add some colorful handlebar tape. These little touches make the bike feel like yours, and they cost a fraction of what stepping up to the next model would.
Now, let’s get you on a bike. Beginner women, get ready to rock and ROLL!
Our Top Picks
| Bike | What We Like | Price | |
| 1 | Specialized Allez | BCarbon fork, disc brakes, great value | $1,299 |
| 2 | Trek Domane AL 2 | Smooth ride, tubeless-ready, versatile | $1,199 |
| 3 | Liv Avail AR 3 | Women’s-specific, on/off road capable | $1,450 |
| 4 | Canyon Endurace AllRoad | Hydraulic disc brakes, incredible value | $1,399 |
| 5 | Polygon Strattos S4 Disc | Hydraulic brakes + Tiagra drivetrain | $1,299 |
Specialized Allez
Price: $1,299
Specialized is one of the largest bicycle manufacturers in the world. This economy of scale means they can buy components in bulk and pass down the savings to their customer’s. For nice bikes at a decent price, I always recommend Specialized.
The Specialized Allez is no exception. The fork, for instance, is made of carbon. It’s difficult to find carbon on bikes at this price point, and it makes a real difference in ride quality. Carbon dampens road vibration in a way that aluminum simply doesn’t, so your hands and arms won’t be as fatigued on longer rides.
The geometry is more upright than a lot of road bikes, which is a great thing for beginners. It’s stable, not twitchy, and easy to handle whether you’re climbing or descending. The Allez won’t feel like a punishment on a long day in the saddle.
Because the geometry is more upright than many road bikes, this also happens to be a great bicycle for beginners. It provides easy handling and isn’t too twitchy when climbing or descending. If you plan on doing some long days in the saddle, this is a comfortable bicycle to do it on.
The Allez now comes with mechanical disc brakes (Tektro), which is a significant upgrade from the old caliper brakes on earlier models. More stopping power in all conditions, including wet pavement.
The drivetrain is Shimano Claris, which is entry-level but perfectly functional. You’ll have 16 speeds to work with, and if you decide to upgrade the drivetrain down the road, the frame can handle it.
The smallest frame size is 44cm, which fits riders down to about 5’0″.
Trek Domane AL 2
Price: $1,199
Trek is another brand that consistently delivers quality at entry-level price points, and the Domane AL 2 is no exception.
The aluminum frame is solid and well-shaped, and like the Allez, it comes with a carbon fork for a smoother feel up front. What sets the Domane apart is Trek’s IsoSpeed decoupler technology — a feature that lets the seat tube flex slightly to absorb road vibration. It’s a big-bike feature that trickles down into this affordable model, and you’ll notice it on rougher pavement or longer rides.
The Gen 4 version comes with mechanical disc brakes (Tektro C550), and the wheels are tubeless-ready — which none of the other bikes at this price point can say. Tubeless means fewer flats and a more comfortable ride at lower pressures. It also has a 12mm thru-axle, which is the more modern and stable wheel standard.
Gearing is Shimano Claris 2×8, the same as the Allez. The frame has fender mounts, rack mounts, and a top tube mount for a bag — which means this bike works well beyond just road rides. Take it on a rail trail, commute with it, or throw a small bag on for a bikepacking-lite adventure.
The Domane AL 2 comes in sizes starting at 44cm (for riders around 5’0″)
Liv Avail AR 3
Price: $1,450
The Liv Avail AR 3 is a good all-rounder. This women’s-specific road bike works well on pavement, but can wander off road as well. This makes it a great choice for women who would like to hit up both paved and rail trails.
Liv is the women’s-specific branch of Giant Bicycles, and they do women’s bike design the right way. The Avail AR 3 wasn’t designed by putting a “women’s” sticker on a men’s bike. It was built using female-specific body data, with geometry, contact points, and tube shapes dialed in for the way women ride.
The result is a bike that fits. The saddle is women’s-specific. The handlebar positioning suits a narrower shoulder width.
It’s an endurance bike which means the geometry is a little more relaxed and stable (great for beginners). The tires are a bit wider than normal road bikes as well which also help with stability.
The carbon fork and D-Fuse seatpost (a composite post that flexes to absorb vibration) work together to make this one of the smoothest-riding bikes on this list. If you’ve ever ridden a cheap aluminum bike with a rigid aluminum seatpost and come home with a sore back and numb hands, the Avail AR 3 is the antidote..
Gearing is Shimano Sora (or CUES depending on the model year), which is a step up from the Claris you get on the Allez and Domane. More range, smoother shifts.
The Avail AR 3 comes in sizes from XS to XL, starting at 43cm, and that extra small centimeter compared to the Specialized and Trek is meaningful if you’re a smaller lady.
Canyon Endurace AllRoad
Price: $1,399
The Canyon Endurance All Road punches well above its price class. The biggest differentiator: hydraulic disc brakes. All the bikes listed above have mechanical disc brakes. The Canyon comes with Shimano CUES hydraulic discs, which offer noticeably better braking feel and modulation.
Canyon manages to be price competitive by being a direct-to-consumer brand. This means you buy online and the bike ships to your door partially assembled. There’s no local bike shop in the loop.
The aluminum frame pairs with a carbon fork, and the CUES 2×10 drivetrain gives you 10 speeds in the back–more range than the Claris-equipped bikes. Tire clearance is 40mm, the most of any bike on this list, which means you can run wider tires for extra comfort or even light gravel use.
Seven sizes are available (XXS through XXL), fitting riders from 5’3″ to 6’8″. This is a unisex bike, not women’s-specific, and unfortunately runs a little bigger than the other bikes I’ve listed.
Polygon Strattos S4 Disc
Price: $1,199
Polygon is a smaller brand that doesn’t get as much press as Trek or Specialized, but they’ve been building quality bikes for over 30 years and they consistently spec above what the price tag suggests. The Strattos S4 Disc is a perfect example of that.
Like Canyon, Polygon sells direct-to-consumer, and in the US as distributed via Bikes Online.
For $1,199 you get a Shimano Tiagra 2×10 drivetrain, a step up from the Claris groupset you’ll find on the Allez and Domane at the same price. More gears mean more range for climbing and cruising, and Tiagra shifts noticeably crisper than Claris.
Like the Canyon, the Polygon comes with hydraulic disc brakes. Hydraulic brakes feel better, modulate better, and require less hand strength, which is not nothing if you’re descending a long hill.
The geometry is endurance-oriented (upright, stable, comfortable), which is exactly what a beginner road cyclist wants. Thru-axles front and rear round out the spec nicely.
This is a unisex bike and comes in SM, MD, LG, and XL — roughly fitting riders from 5’3″ to 6’2″. No women’s-specific fit, and unfortunately, like the Canyon, it’s not going to be a great fit for the shortest riders.
Comparison Chart: Entry-Level Road Bikes for Women
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| Bike | Price | Weight | Drivetrain | Brakes | Thru-axle | Women’s | Tubeless |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Specialized Allez | $1,199 | ~21 lbs | Shimano Claris 2×8 | Mechanical disc | QR | No | No |
| Trek Domane AL 2 | $1,199 | ~23 lbs | Shimano Claris 2×8 | Mechanical disc | Yes | No | Yes |
| Liv Avail AR 3 | $1,299 | N/A | Shimano Sora 2×9 | Mechanical disc | Yes | Yes | No |
| Polygon Strattos S4 Disc | $1,199 | ~21 lbs | Shimano Tiagra 2×10 | Hydraulic disc | Yes | No | No |
| Canyon Endurace AllRoad | $1,399 | N/A | Shimano CUES 2×10 | Hydraulic disc | Yes | No | Up to 40mm |
How to Choose Your First Road Bike
Not sure what you should be looking for in a road bike? Here are some tips to help you choose the right bike within your budget.
Women’s-Specific Bikes Versus Unisex Bikes
Just because a bike isn’t marketed as a “women’s” bike doesn’t mean that you should automatically discount it. In fact, the best bike for you might be a unisex bike.
That said, there are plenty of reasons you might want to opt for a women’s-specific bike. If you’re on the smaller side, a women’s-specific bike might fit better. They often come in smaller frame sizes (the Liv Avail AR 3 starts at 43cm, for example) and with other components better suited to smaller riders, such as shorter crank arms and a shorter stem.
The other “nice to have” item on women’s-specific road bikes are women’s bike saddles. If you end up choosing a unisex bike, you can always upgrade the saddle later on.
To learn even more on this topic, and decide whether a women’s-specific bike or a unisex bike makes the best sense for you read our article on women’s vs unisex bikes.
Weight
Sub-$1,500 bicycles are going to be heavier than their more expensive counterparts. That said, it’s still wise to look for the lightest bicycle within your budget.
The lighter a road bike is the faster it is, the longer it will take you to get worn out, and the easier it is to maneuver. Road cyclists tend to be big weight weenies, and there’s a good reason for it.
You can use the comparison chart above to compare weights. Make sure if you look at other bikes that aren’t on this list to get their weights too.
Brakes
Today, virtually every road bike on the market comes with disc brakes, even at this price point. Rim brakes (the kind that squeeze the wheel itself) are essentially gone from new bikes under $1,500. That’s a good thing. Disc brakes stop better in all conditions, especially when it’s wet.
But not all disc brakes are equal. The difference you’ll encounter at this price point is mechanical disc brakes vs. hydraulic disc brakes.
Mechanical disc brakes use a cable (like your old rim brakes) to actuate a caliper that squeezes a rotor. They work well, are easy to adjust and service at any bike shop, and are what you’ll find on most bikes in this price range.
Hydraulic disc brakes use fluid pressure instead of a cable. The feel is noticeably better. They are more responsive, more consistent, and cause less hand fatigue on long descents. They’re also more “set it and forget it” in terms of maintenance.
Until recently, you had to spend $2,000+ to get hydraulic disc brakes on a road bike. The Canyon Endurace AllRoad and Polygon are notable because they both come with hydraulic discs at under $1,500.
The bike on the left has mechanical disc brakes, while the bike on the right has hydraulic disc brakes.
Drivetrain
Nearly all the bikes on the list come up with the same entry-level drivetrain components, so there’s not much differentiation here. Shimano Soris is a step up from the Shimano Claris drivetrain.
If you can afford it later, you can always upgrade when it is time to replace drivetrain components. And by drivetrain components, we’re talking about the chainring, cassette, shifters, and chain.
- Read: A Guide to Bicycle Gears
Frame and Fork
The frame and fork are perhaps the most important thing to look at when buying a budget road bike. Why? Because nearly everything else on the bike can be upgraded and replaced over time if you get more serious about road biking.
Carbon is generally the most comfortable and lightest frame material, but you won’t find any full-carbon frames at this price point. Still, you can look for bikes that offer a carbon or composite fork as you’ll still get some of the benefits of a smoother more comfortable ride.
Quick-Release Skewers Versus Thru-Axles
Most bikes at this pricepoint used to have traditional quick-release skewers on the wheels. Today we are seeing a tickle down effect, with more budget bikes borrowing thru-axles from more modern, higher-end bikes.
Thru-axles provide a more stable ride and are a bit safer. (You don’t have to worry about your quick-release coming loose mid-ride). I wouldn’t worry too much about this feature, but it is nice to know that you’re bike has the latest technology.
Most of the bikes on this list now come with thru-axles. The Trek Domane AL 2, Liv Avail AR 3, Polygon Strattos S4 Disc, and Canyon Endurace AllRoad all use them. The Specialized Allez is the exception, still running quick-release.
Tubeless-Compatible Wheels
Tubeless wheels are one of the best things to ever happen to bicycles. Don’t like changing flat tires? Who does.
Tubeless tires are exactly what they sound like–they have no inside tubes to pinch or get punctured. This greatly reduces the number of flats you’ll get.
While not many bikes at this price point have tubeless wheels, if you really hate changing flats, you might want to look for bikes that have tubeless-compatible wheels. Many of these won’t actually be set up tubeless, but they are easy to set up–especially if you ask your local bike shop to do it.
More Stuff To Get You Started
- 9 Best Women’s Road Bike Helmets
- 9 Best Padded Bike Shorts (Cycling Shorts) For Women
- Cycling For Beginners: Everything You Need To Know
About The Author
Kristen Bonkoski is a USA cycling and NICA coach, bike educator, and founder of Femme Cyclist.
She’s also the host of the Femme Cyclist podcast and runs Rascal Rides, a website about biking with kids.
She’s been riding bikes for more than two decades and is passionate about empowering women on the bike.
IG: @femme_cyclist
Thank you so much!!!! Just got online to gather some information about road bike features to better be able to choose the right bike & good decisions when I buy a new bike this winter to be ready for spring rides! LOVE this information & you have simply & clearly covered all the important items for selecting a bike.
I really appreciate this article, big time! I’m looking to purchase a nice road bike for this summer and being that I’ve always had a Walmart bike or an old vintage bike with a frame that’s way too big for my body. I am excited to actually invest in a nice bike that will fit my size, being 5’2” is a little challenging finding a small frame that fits. But I know there are other women shorter than me that ride so there’s no excuse not to be able to find one for me. I made a lot of notes from this page to look at when I shop, being that I live in a rural area it’s likely ill have to purchase online.