Cycling is now one of the most popular trends in the world. People are realizing that riding a bike isn’t only fun but an easy and practical way to get around. There are of course many types of bicycles, each designed for specific roles. But if you’re a woman and you want a bike that can do anything, you’d be better off going for the best women’s cyclocross bikes.
Whether you want to ride a rugged trail in the wild, commute to work on the flawless tarmac, or just take a leisurely ride around the neighborhood, these are the kinds of bicycles to go for.
Best Cyclocross Bicycles for Women
Getting a cyclocross bike that works for you may take time and effort. But as long as you have all the information you need, it should be easy to spot and buy some of the best women’s cyclocross bikes. This is why we’re here.
Our team did a comprehensive research on cyclocross bikes out there and came up with several options that are perfectly suited for women.
1. Raleigh Bikes RXC Cyclocross Bike
The Raleigh Bikes RXC is an extremely versatile cyclocross bicycle that should appeal to both experienced and beginner riders.
It’s designed to glide through several different trains with utter ease. It features a low bottom bracket and well-designed tube angles that should deliver impeccable stability.
The bike is also super light at just 17.8 pounds. It’s fitted with an SRAM Force 1X and also comes with a 42t chainring and a 32t bailout cog. The frame is also available in different colors and sizes. You can go for either a white frame or a black one with beautiful sky-blue accents all through.
The frame size is available from as low as 48 centimeters and as high as 62 centimeters. Let’s not forget this is a Raleigh product so there’s that bit of reliability and quality. But based on these features alone, you’ll agree that this is one of the best cyclocross bikes for women.
2. Giordano Trieste Gravel Bike
The Giordano Trieste Gravel is a quality bike that comes in three main sizes; small, medium, and large. The bike should be adequate for people ranging from 5’4” to 6’4” in height. Besides, it comes at an affordable price and offers good value for money.
You’ll also love to know that the bike ships already assembled. This is especially important for beginners who may not have the handyman skills needed to do some assembly.
The Giordano model features reliable mechanical disc brakes and a highly responsive Shimano Claris STI shifter that works great in any terrain.
You get a super-strong Chromoly steel frame and fork and large 700c tires for superb handling and stability. The bike also offers durable 32-hole double-walled alloy rims for that smooth ride.
3. Raleigh Bikes Willard 1 Gravel Adventure Road Bike
We all know that Raleigh Bikes has a very good reputation for offering high-quality women’s cyclocross bikes. Although there are many options we can go for, no doubt the Raleigh Bikes Willard 1 ranks quite high as far as cyclocross bicycles go. Even most women’s cyclocross bike reviews put this bike up there with the best and for some good reasons.
First, the bike features TRP cable disc brakes and offers impeccable acceleration even in bumpy terrains. It’s also fitted with a 72-degree head tube angle and large MXP tires that should offer excellent stability and handling on the road. Raleigh Bikes has done well to lighten up the frame on this bicycle. Just to put this into perspective, the entire bike weighs about 21 pounds, making it one of the lightest cyclocross bikes you can buy.
Despite this, the frame is super sturdy. It’s constructed from reliable aluminum and comes fitted with two bottle cages, a fender, and a rack for excellent practicality. The great news is that you pick between several frame sizes to suit your physique. Raleigh Bikes Willard offers frames ranging from as low as 52 centimeters to as high as 62 centimeters.
This bike is also super affordable and offers way more value for your money compared to other competitors in its category. Nonetheless, it would have been great if the manufacturer had routed the chain internally to avoid mud buildup. But other than that, there’s no doubt this is one of the best women’s cyclocross bike models.
4. Raleigh Bikes RXW Women’s Cyclocross Bike
The Raleigh Bikes RXW is one of the major cyclocross bikes customized fully for women. The bicycle features several innovative features designed to enhance comfort and handling for women.
It also has a lightweight and sturdy design and comes with a long-lasting carbon-alloy disc brake fork. The RXW is manufactured by Raleigh Bikes, one of the most reputable bike companies in the world.
The company has been producing bikes for the last 135 years and with that kind of pedigree, you can be sure you’re getting a highly reliable product. The bike is also fitted with a standard SRAM Rival 1 x 11 shifter and effective mechanical disk brakes for extra safety.
It’s available in four different sizes to cater to people of different heights. The sizes range from 5’3” to 5’11”. The RXW is often the number one choice for women pro cyclists and it’s not hard to see why. It’s packed with a series of premium features that make it one of the best women’s cross bikes.
How to Buy the Best Women’s Cyclocross Bikes
There are several important factors you need to remember as you start shopping for a cyclocross bike. This will likely make it easier for you to find the best women’s specific cyclocross bike out there.
Here are some of these factors:
Weight
The weight of your bike will also play a very key role in determining maneuverability, speed, acceleration, and handling. The rule of thumb is often to get as much of a lighter bike as you can.
But in most cases, super light bikes tend to cost more. However, even with your budget, consider doing extensive research and get a lightweight bicycle.
Purpose
It’s important to decide the primary purpose of the bike before you buy it. Do you want a racing bike or perhaps you just want something to commute with?
Answering these questions will help you pick a bicycle that’s perfectly suited for your needs. After all, bikes meant for city pavements are less likely to do well in rough trails in the wild.
Tire Type
Cyclocross bikes will either feature tubular tires or clinchers. Tubular tires are sewn closed around a tube. The tires are then glued around the rim to protect the tube.
Fixing a flat on tubular tires is extremely hard. It requires a lot of time and special tools. However, tubular tires tend to be more lightweight. Clincher tires, on the other hand, can either be tubeless or tubed.
However, if you’re going to choose, go for tubeless tires. These tires rarely go flat and when they do, they are easier to fix. The tires can also run under low pressure.
Tire Width
The size of the tires will determine the stability and handling of your bicycle too. Large thick tires tend to do very well in many terrains.
However, they won’t offer the same acceleration as small and thinner tires. You need to decide what you will use the bike for before choosing the tire width.
If you intend to use the bicycle for outdoor wild trails somewhere in the woods, choose thick and large tires. They may not go fast but they will give you outstanding stability on rough roads.
However, in case you want to use your bicycle for racing or for commuting to and from work, go for cyclocross bikes with small and thinner tires. Thinner tires will offer excellent speeds and tend to look more stylish and sleeker.
Tube
Typically, cyclocross bikes tend to have flatter bottoms. This is done specifically to ensure the bikes are easier to carry around your shoulder or put into a Yakima bike carrier. Some trails out there can be rough.
There may be times where you need to carry your bike across a certain patch of land or water. This flat-top tube design makes it easier for you to do so.
Brakes
There’s no arguing that the brakes are indeed the most important safety features of any bike. Brakes come in three main options as far as the best women’s cyclocross bikes are concerned.
The first one is the cantilever brake system which is standard for lower-end bikes. You can also pick mechanical disc brakes which are very reliable or hydraulic ones that are high-end.
Drivetrain
The drivetrain differs greatly from one bike to the other.
However, if you want reliable and affordable cyclocross bikes that can ride on several terrains, you may want to choose a drive train of either 1×10 or 1×11. A single chainring upfront is always easy to handle and maintain.
However, the drivetrain depends on the cost of the bike. Higher-end options will often have higher-end drivetrains.
Cable Routing
It’s always advisable to pick bikes that have internal cable routing. This protects the chain from mud and other debris while you’re out there on the road.
Additionally, bikes with internal chain routing are far easier to carry.
Budget
Finally, you may also need to consider the price of the bicycle before you buy it. But this doesn’t mean you should buy the cheapest bike you can find.
A good rule is to have a clear budget and try to find a bicycle that offers the best possible features for that price. The great news is that there are plenty of high-quality entry-level bikes that you can go for.
Conclusion
Cyclocross bikes work great for several different roles. They are extremely versatile too and there are dozens of options to pick from. However, if you’re looking for a bicycle that delivers outstanding features, then you must go for the Raleigh Bikes RXC.
It’s lightweight and easy to handle too. It comes with a reliable SRAM Force 1x drivetrain and a total of 11 gears to work with.
The bike is highly durable too and is available in a wide range of frame sizes to meet the needs of different people. It’s definitely worth your consideration.