Updated: 24th January 2024
Gravel bikes are currently taking the cycling world by storm and for all the right reasons. They brilliantly blend versatility with comfort, making them the ideal choice for almost any terrain. This aspect particularly resonates with women who embrace their adventurous spirit, seeking a bike that can effortlessly conquer diverse landscapes.
Whether your journey takes you on extended rides along winding roads or challenges you with rugged trails and off-road paths, the finest women’s gravel bikes are up to the task. With their carefully considered frame materials, varying wheel sizes, and versatile drivetrains, these bikes are meticulously crafted to empower women riders. They ensure that you can navigate any terrain with ease, poise, and unwavering confidence.
So, if you’re eager to elevate your riding experience and explore new horizons, these top-tier women’s gravel bikes are your perfect companions. They’re not just bikes; they’re enablers of adventure, gateways to new experiences, and tools for achieving your cycling aspirations. Embrace the journey ahead with the best women’s gravel bikes, and discover where your wheels can take you.
Should I get a female-specific gravel bike?
The decision to opt for a female-specific gravel bike largely depends on your body type rather than gender alone. While it’s true that body types often align with gender lines, this isn’t always the case. Particularly if you are of smaller stature, finding a bike that fits well can be challenging.
Female-specific bikes are indeed designed with the average woman’s body in mind, taking into account factors like height, torso length, and shoulder width. These design considerations can result in a more comfortable and efficient ride for those who fit these average measurements.
However, it’s essential to note that a women’s specific gravel bike isn’t the only option for achieving the right fit. Many cyclists, regardless of gender, find that unisex bikes or even models designed for men provide an equally comfortable and effective riding experience. The key is to focus on the individual fit rather than the label.
When selecting a gravel bike, consider factors like the height of the frame (standover height), the distance from the seat to the handlebars (reach), and the width of the handlebars. These dimensions are crucial in ensuring a bike that not only fits but also feels good to ride.
It’s highly recommended to test-ride various models – both women-specific and unisex – to gauge what feels most natural and comfortable for your body. Remember, the best bike for you is one that suits your individual needs, provides comfort on long rides, and aligns with your cycling goals. In the end, the right bike feels like an extension of yourself, allowing you to enjoy the ride to its fullest.
What’s the difference between women’s and men’s gravel bikes?
Understanding the Evolution and Current Trends:
- Historical Context: Initially, women’s bikes were less equipped than men’s, featuring lower quality and versatility. This gap has significantly narrowed, with women’s bikes now closely matching men’s in terms of specifications and performance.
- Aesthetic Approach: Women’s bikes often showcase more feminine designs, reflecting a blend of performance and style.
Geometry and Design Differences:
- Tailored Geometry: Women’s gravel bikes are designed considering the average female body type, resulting in shorter stack heights, standover heights, and reach lengths. This caters to the general trend of women having shorter torsos and heights than men.
- Unisex Options: The growing prevalence of unisex bikes offers versatile options for all riders, blurring the traditional gender lines in bike design.
Component Variations:
- Handlebars and Grips: Women’s bikes typically feature narrower handlebars and grips designed for smaller hands, enhancing control and comfort.
- Wheel Size Considerations: Smaller framed women’s bikes often utilize 650B or 26” wheels to prevent toe overlap and improve handling, especially for 700c wheels which might be too large.
Frame Design:
- Step-Through Frames: Once common for easier mounting, especially in dresses or skirts, modern adventure bikes seldom use step-through designs. However, contemporary models might include slight bends in the frame for easier access.
Saddle Design:
- Gender-Specific Comfort: Women’s saddles are generally wider to accommodate wider hips, while men’s are narrower. The choice of saddle is a personal decision, greatly influenced by individual comfort and body type.
Bike Fit and Comfort:
- Personalized Fit: While women-specific bikes are designed for average female body proportions, they are not necessary for all women. Some women may find a better or equivalent fit on men’s bikes. Ultimately, the right bike fit transcends gender, focusing on individual body size and proportions.
Practical Considerations and Choices:
- Testing Different Models: It’s essential to test various bikes, both men’s and women’s, to find what feels right. The ideal bike should fit your body best, regardless of whether it is labeled as a men’s or women’s bike.
- Weight Factor: Women’s bikes might be slightly lighter due to their smaller size, a factor that can be advantageous in certain bikepacking scenarios.
- Component Differences: Women’s bikes might feature short-reach shifters and lighter components like rims to enhance the riding experience.
Concluding Thoughts:
- Inclusivity in Choices: While most gravel bikes are women-specific, the increasing number of unisex or adaptable men’s bikes provide ample choices for women, particularly in XS or Small frame sizes. The key is to prioritize a bike that fits well and meets individual riding needs, rather than being confined to traditional gender classifications.
Cannondale Topstone
Entry-level gravel bike for beginners – Ideal for both roaming and exploring or as a commuter bike.
A women’s gravel bike, designed for roaming and exploring or even doubling as a commuter, is an excellent choice for those venturing into gravel riding. It’s the perfect entry-level option for getting acquainted with this style of cycling. Tailored for smaller riders, it offers smaller frame options and female-specific geometry. The XS frame, ideal for heights between 5’0″ to 5’5″, features a reach of 36.8 cm and a standover height of 70.3 cm.
Weighing in at just 22 lbs. 4.8 oz. (10.11 kg), the bike is impressively lightweight and provides a high-performance feel, thanks to its SmartForm C2 Alloy frame and a full carbon fork.
The geometry of this gravel bike strikes a perfect balance. It’s upright enough to ensure comfort and control on long rides and over technical terrain, yet it maintains a low and forward position for efficient speed.
Equipped with 700c x 37 mm wide tires, the bike offers comfort, grip, and the capability to tackle adventurous trails. Additionally, it boasts tire clearance for up to 42mm wide tires, enhancing its versatility. The bike is available in XS, Small, and Medium sizes, catering to a range of cyclists seeking both adventure and efficiency on their rides.
Cannondale Topstone Compared to Other Popular Gravel Bikes
- Cannondale Topstone Vs Specialized Diverge
- Cannondale Topstone Vs Trek Checkpoint
- Cannondale Topstone Vs Giant Revolt
- Cannondale Topstone Vs Canyon Grail
Canyon Grail WMN
An All-Rounder Carbon Gravel Bike
Originally launched in 2018 as a carbon-only model, the Grail has established itself as an all-rounder in the gravel bike world. Today, it’s available in a wide range of builds, from alloy to carbon frames, complete with suspension forks to cater to those eager to tackle more challenging terrains.
The Grail is marketed as a versatile bike suitable for various activities including adventures, long rides, and commuting.
It excels on forest tracks, bridleways, and towpaths, offering the agility of a gravel bike without the heft of a mountain bike. When compared to the Grizl (which is better tailored for gravel bikepacking). More on this bike later.
The Grail stands out as the ideal choice for riders transitioning from a road cycling background. It offers larger tire clearance, allowing you to maintain the performance of a road bike while gaining the comfort and efficiency of a gravel bike.
The true appeal of the Grail lies in its versatility. It’s adept for both bikepacking and road riding. However, there are other bikes, like the Grizl, that specialize more in bikepacking.
If you’re seeking a bike that is a jack of all trades but a master of none, then the Grail is your go-to choice. It may not be the ideal fit for extremely rugged gravel riding or very rough terrains; in such cases, other models like the Canyon Grizl might be more suitable.
Juliana Quincy
A women’s specific, drop bar and aggressive road-inspired gravel bike. An ultralight carbon frame and fork build (8.9kg / 19.62lbs) intended for speed and adventure on routes less traveled. Suiting riders 5’0″ up to 5’9″ and a geometry that perfectly balances confident handling with precision reactivity. The 49 size comes with a reach of 36.5 cm and a standover height of 73 cm
Available with 700c wheels and tire clearance to run both (45mm and 650b x 2.1” respectively). Pleasingly simple single-ring drivetrains come standard, but the frame can also accommodate a dual chainring set-up if desired.
It comes with hydraulic disc brakes and mounts for fenders and three water-bottle cages. It’s a bit of an upgrade compared to the above Cannondale Topstone. Lighter and larger tire clearance, ready for those fast-paced adventures!
The Quincy is spec’d to female-specific owners in mind. This includes the Ergon SR10 women’s saddle and bar widths matched to the frame size.
Liv Devote
A women’s gravel bike suited for bikepacking gravel grinding to adventure rides. When you’re ready to take some time to get off the grid, the Liv Devote has extra mounts for more water bottles, bags, and other gear that will make you wonder what took you so long to discover bike-packing and overnight trips with your bike.
With tire clearance for tires up to 45c, available in XS, Small, and Medium you can find a size that will suit you, with XS suited to riders 4’11” to 5’4″. The XS also comes with a 37.8 cm reach and 67.8 cm standover height, which is the lowest in the list so far.
Salsa Cutthroat
The Salsa Cutthroat is that bike when you want to go on epic long-distance bikepacking expeditions across countries. They don’t have a women’s specific model, however, the XS frame suits women around 5 feet or 152 cm. With a 35.8 cm reach and 69.7 cm standover height (for the 52 cm frame size)
A drop-bar mountain bike, ultra-endurance mixed surface machine, tour divide inspire, bikepacking rig. The Salsa Cutthroat is your ultimate fast-touring bike! Built with the ability to ride comfortably over huge distances with gear.
It is said that you can fit 2.4″ tires with heaps of clearance for mud. This bike also fits the list to be a bike that can pretty much take you anywhere and also take you there fast! You also get all the mounting options one needs for a bikepacking trip.
Scott Contessa Addict Gravel 15
Faster, more capable, more aggressive, and more fun than ever before. The Scott Contessa Addict is ready to get serious about racing on gravel roads if you are. It’s lightweight (8.69 kg) and featured as one of the lightest gravel bikes you can buy! It breezes through rough terrain, fits chunky tires (tire clearance up to 45 mm tires), and has enough mounts to carry all the gear you need for adventure.
The XS or 49 cm size has a 37.4 cm reach and 75.9 cm standover height. The geometry is freshly optimized for modern aggressive gravel riding. Scott’s goal was to create a well-balanced geometry for controllable and predictive handling in tricky situations on narrow trails.
Canyon Grizl 6 WMN
A women’s gravel bikepacking bike! Ready for adventure with it’s female-specific components, like the Selle Italia X3 XP LADY BOOST seat that delivers fantastic comfort over all kinds of terrain and on the longest rides. This bike gives you the freedom you need to leave the city behind and get further out into nature than ever before.
Everything you need in a gravel bike for your next bikepacking adventure. Available in a 3XS to Medium sizes. The 3XS has a 37.2 cm reach and 70.9 cm standover height.
All Grizl models come equipped with wide 45 mm rubber with clearance to take up to 50 mm. Canyon has done a great job only including a balance with the right number of practical frame and fork mounts you’ll actually use.
Bombtrack Hook WMN
If you are after a gravel bike that is a much more adventure-focused gravel bike with mounting galore and all-around exploring capabilities, this is your bike. XS size has a 36 cm reach and 73.3 cm standover height.
A steel frame with a full carbon disc fork with triple mount. Offering that little extra suppleness over the rough stuff, as well as extra mounting options for all your camping gear.
This bike is equipped for fast-paced riding in adventurous terrain. It is built with contact points and geometry made for women riders. The bike comes in 700c or 650B wheels on the smallest sizes ensuring handling is the same for all users, regardless of height.
TRIBAN Women’s Gravel Bike GRVL 900
Looking for a titanium women’s gravel bike? We have you covered. Titanium gravel bikes are the ultimate gravel adventure machines. To get even niche I was surprised Triban maka a titanium women’s gravel bike. I wasn’t able to find much info on the bike, but you can read more by clicking the link above.
Cervelo Aspero
These last two bikes are fluent in speed and style, the Cervelo Aspero is a podium-chasing gravel race machine. Compatible with both 700c and 650b wheel sizes for speed and comfort. Regardless of wheel size the adjustable Trail in fork keeps geometry true. With max tire clearance for 700c x 42 tires, and 650b x 49
Size 48 cm bikes have a 37 cm reach and 69 cm standover height.
Built to race not roam. A new breed of gravel rider is emerging and this bike is placed to serve that rider. One who is looking to race the trails and go all out pushing their personal limits. Build to perform like a road bike but off-road.
Ridley Kanzo Fast LTD Gravel Bike
Combining gravel-specific geometry, aerodynamic tubing, and wide tire clearance. The Kanzo Fast claims to be “the fastest gravel bike in the world.” It also makes a great women’s gravel bike available in an XS and small size with an epic colorway! Ridley also offers an adventure-specific model. Super lightweight at only 8.92 kg or 19.67 lbs. XS has a 37.2 cm reach and 78.9 cm standover height
Ridley really focused on designing the bike to make the most of all the effective power transfer, helping you convert every single watt into maximum speed. The bike has also been designed to cut through the wind while also keeping you comfortable for long rides.
Each tube has an optimized NACA profile that was extensively tested in Ridley’s wind tunnel. The bike also features lowered seat stays for vertical compliance.
You also get the room for 42mm tires and a rear mudguard mount.
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