So you’ve decided to take up cycling, (great news!) but you’re not sure what you’re looking for. Mountain bike, fitness or road racing, it’s easy to get stuck at the first hurdle of there being so much choice. These days, new cycling disciplines are popping up seemingly on an annual basis, so to take the stress out of the process, we’ve simplified things a little.
In anticipation of our ‘Where It Begins’ women’s events happening in Concept Stores all over the country next month, we’ve put together a shortlist of different types of bikes to give you a strong start on two wheels.
Jynx Comp 650b
This entry-level hardtail mountain bike provides a comfortable ride and promises to inspire confidence on all terrains. Built around a lightweight frame constructed from A1 Premium Aluminium, with a women’s specific geometry. The Jynx Comp comes equipped with a Custom SR Suntour fork complete with dampening technology and coil-sprung suspension to smooth out any bumps in the trails you choose to ride, and clean and clear shifting is provided by Shimano Deore. Durable, comfortable and agile, the Jynx is a bike perfect for the curious rider, eager to explore.
Vita Elite
The Specialized Vita range is all about riding for fitness, so the bikes within it should be more than capable of handling either road or mountain adventures – just don’t go too extreme in either! Complete with rack and fender mounts and a relaxed geometry, these bikes are hugely popular for commuting, but are also equally well-suited to weekends on gravel trails or bridleways.
The Vita Elite is constructed from E5 Premium Aluminium with a women-specific geometry for maximum efficiency and comfort. The frame is equipped with a responsive and compliant FACT carbon fibre fork featuring road-dampening Zertz inserts. Shimano hydraulic disc brakes (for excellent, confident stopping power) and Sora gearing complete a bike that will have you hooked from day one.
Dolce EVO
If you’re after a comfortable and reliable introduction to the world of road cycling, then the Dolce EVO is the bike for you. Perfectly-suited to rides both long and short, the EVO boasts optimum comfort, women-specific endurance geometry and a smooth stable ride. The lightweight aluminium construction of the frame is complemented by a carbon fork featuring Zertz inserts – which work like shock absorbers to remove some of the ‘feedback’ from bumpier surfaces –as well as crisp Shimano Tiagra gearing and disc brakes for maximum stopping power. This bike is one incredible package, but beware, once you buy a road bike, there’s no going back.
Ruby Elite
If you’ve already got the road cycling bug and are looking for a performance edge but don’t want to sacrifice comfort, then the Ruby Elite is your answer. The Ruby Elite frame is constructed from the superlative FACT 10r carbon fibre with efficient women’s specific geometry, and features the revolutionary Future Shock suspension in the head tube for unparalleled comfort over rough terrain. It is wrapped in fantastic and reliable components from Shimano 105 shifting to hassle-free mechanical disc brakes and women’s specific finishing kit. If nothing else, the Ruby Elite will electrify your confidence, performance and motivation.
Now you’ve chosen your bike, have you booked your place on one of our ‘Where it begins’ events?