With a winning combination of comfort, lively ride feel, stability and excellent value for money, the Canyon Endurace WMN AL 6.0 is our choice for Women’s Budget Road Bike of the Year.
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This year BikeRadar partnered with Cycling Plus, Britain's leading road cycling magazine, also published by Immediate Media, which means you’ll be able to get the lowdown on the test, the results, the highlights and all the trends in an upcoming copy coming to a newsstand near you soon!
It’s versatile, confidence-inspiring, planted and stable on descents but lively and maneuverable when you want it to be
At the budget end of the spectrum there were plenty of bikes to choose from, with many offering a great ride experience whether you’re in the market for a bike that’s perfect for long road miles or looking for something nippier for racing. For the purposes of this test, we looked at bike between £700 - £999 / $980 - $1250 - AU$1300 - AU$1600. It's worth noting that not all of the models tested are available in all regions, though there are similar models with both pricier and more budget parts.
It’s good to see that the overall women’s bikes are on a par with their unisex/men’s equivalents in terms of spec and price. Most of the bikes tested have women’s specific geometry designed to suit female riders according the data and design philosophies of the various brands.
Announcing the winner
Standing out head and shoulders above the competition for its all-round performance is the Canyon Endurace WMN AL 6.0.
While it might have an aluminium frame, it’s actually one of the lightest budget bikes in our test, thanks in part to the full Shimano 105 groupset, carbon seatpost and Mavic Aksium wheelset with Continental Grand Prix tyres.
“Overall, it’s hard to quibble with the Canyon Endurace. The parts have been well chosen not just in terms of value for money, but strategically to provide the most comfort and performance possible for a bike at this price point.”
“It’s versatile, confidence-inspiring, planted and stable on descents but lively and maneuverable when you want it to be. Comfortable over long distances, it makes for a fun ride that encourages you to go out more often, further and for longer.”
How we tested
In addition to extensive testing by BikeRadar staff, the budget bikes were also ridden and tested by the BikeRadar reader test panel.
This panel of six women put all the shortlisted bikes through their paces over several test days in the Mendip Hills in the South West of England, taking in the iconic Cheddar Gorge climb and descent as part of the test loop.
Their feedback and observations were incorporated into our individual bike reviews, and the overall judging.
- [Clockwise from top left]
- Katherine Moore
- Gill Chantler
- Rebecca Smith
- Janine Doggett
- Eleanor Jakowska
- Jordan Guilfoy-Richards
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