The Best Recreational Women's Bicycle

The term "best," when used to describe a product like a recreational bicycle, is generally reserved for an item that embodies the highest quality for the lowest price possible. There are, however, other aspects of a recreational bike that create a higher or "best" value. It's important to consider the terrain, distance and speed of the type of cycling the bike is intended for. Many road bikes have superior distance and speed capabilities, but their versatility for different terrains is less than that of a mountain bike. Cross bicycles are somewhat of a hybrid between a mountain bike and a road bike, making them ideal for a wide range of recreational riding.

  1. Cross or Sport?

    • Cross or sport bikes are ideal for a few reasons. Compared to road bikes, they have thicker tires with more tread to accommodate rocky or slick conditions. They're designed with a sleek and lighter frame than a mountain bike, allowing for greater speed on road surfaces. Both cross and sport bikes allow for a trail-riding experience comparable to that of a mountain bike with a fraction of the weight from hefty mountain bike parts and tires. Long-distance riding on a cross bike is slightly different than on a regular road bike. It's unlikely that you'll win in a long road race, but there is minimal comfort loss when riding longer distances on a cross bike.

    Frame Height

    • Determine the appropriate frame size based on your height and inseam. Frame height is the most important aspect to consider. A bike that is too small or large can injure your knees. Inseam is the distance from the bottom of the feet to your groin. With cross and road bikes, a proper frame size should allow 1 to 2 inches of clearance between the rider and the top tube of the frame while he stands over the bike. A traditional women's sport bike will have a downward sloping top tube from the head tube to the seat tube, so the sizing will depend more on the "reach," the distance from the saddle to the handlebars you are seated on the bike with both feet on the pedals.

    Reach

    • A proper reach will provide you with optimal comfort and control while on the bike. You should reach the handlebars with a slight bend in the elbows and should have a blocked view of the front wheel hub. The reach size can often be adjusted by changing the stem length shorter or longer. The stem is the piece that secures the handle bars to the steering tube and head set.

    Cost and Value

    • In most product pricing situations, the higher quality of item is accompanied by a higher price. There are some exceptions in the biking world, however. Less established, or less popular, brands continue to emerge on the market. Brands like Giant or Schwinn have a longstanding position among the top sellers. A brand like Surly, on the other hand, has a shorter history but is nonetheless considered top tier quality by members of the riding community. Top seller brands, such as Giant or Schwinn, will ask more for their high-performance cross and sport bikes, in the $1,000 to $2,000 range. Surly's Cross-Check is a highly rated, high-performance bike that prices at about $600.