11+1 Best Gravel Bikes for Women – Gravel Grinding for All Budgets

Last Updated on 27 September 2024 by Cycloscope

The 11+1 best gravel bikes for women
Women gravel bikes for all budgets from cheap to top
Gravel grinding for short and tall females in 2024

What’s the best women’s gravel bike? Well, most likely it won’t differ much from the best for guys. The era of women-specific bikes is kinda over.

Although we’ll list some female-specific gravel bike models in this article, most bicycle brands just offer extra-small-size frames for short ladies plus customization options to suit the shorter torso and arms and comparatively longer legs often found in women’s anatomy.

Here we present you what we consider to be the best gravel bikes for women in 2024, on a scale from cheap, through affordable to the very top gravel bikes for ladies.

In the bottom section, we’ll discuss the main characteristics a woman should look out for when buying a gravel bike, plus some components and accessories that could be upgraded or swapped for comfort.

Check also

> Gravel Bike Touring – The Why and the 6 Best Gravel Bikes for Touring and Bikepacking
> 11 Best Road Bikes for Ladies [from Cheap to Top, from Beginner to Pro]
> 11 Top Gravel Bikes for Less Than 1000/1500$ – Reviewed
> Gravel Wheelsets: 11 Best Wheels for Gravel Rides and Bikepacking
>Cheap Bikes! The Best Budget Bicycles in All Categories

12 Best Women Gravel Bikes in A Nutshell

• 1. Fuji Jari 2.3 Gravel Bike
  • Best budget ladies’ gravel bike
• 2. Cube Nuroad Gravel Bike
  • Best affordable gravel bike for ladies
• 3. Giant Revolt 2
  • Affordable entry-level gravel bike for ladies
• 4. Cannondale Topstone 2 Alloy Women
  • Best budget woman gravel bike under $1,500
• 5. Trek Domane AL 5 Disc
  • Best Women’s Gravel bike born as a Road bike
• 6. Ribble Gravel AL
  • Best adventure-gravel for woman
• 7. Trek Checkpoint ALR 5
  • Best value gravel bike for women
• 8. Liv Brava Advanced Pro 2
  • Best mid-range woman-specific gravel bike
• 9. RIDLEY Kanzo Fast Rival 1 Gravel Bike
  • Fastest woman gravel bike
• 10. Evil Chamois Hagar
• Best Gravel bike for women used to mountain biking
• 11. Cervelo Aspero
  • Best ladies Gravel for Speed and beauty
• 12. Niner MCR
  • full-suspension gravel bike for lady riders

5 Beginners/Entry-Level Gravel Bikes For Women
Under $2,000
[cheap/budget/affordable]

1. Fuji Jari 2.3 Gravel Bike

Best budget ladies’ gravel bike

frame material	Aluminum
weight	12kg / 26.4 lbs
max tire clearance	40mm
tire size	WTB Riddler, 700 x 37c,
drivetrain	2×9 Shimano Sora 46/30 x 11-34t
brakes	Tektro Mira mechanical disc
smallest available size	52 cm
price	$1,040

The cheapest gravel bike for women on this list is the Fuji Jari 2.3. As you can expect at this price point, it does not weigh the least, nor does it come with fancy gadgets or gizmos. However, as an introduction to the joys of gravel biking, it is worth every cent, probably the best budget ladies’ gravel bike. 

The Fuji Jari comes with the relatively rudimentary Shimano Sora groupset. While a little clunky, it is reliable and does not slip off the ring, even when going over the bumpiest part of the track. Thanks to the frame geometry and carbon fork, you get an optimized riding experience for performance and utility. 

This bike comes with all the mounts you need to load up for a weekend adventure. Despite its thin-looking frame, it is surprisingly stable and dependable both off and on-road. The WTB Riddler 37c tires are grippy and comfortable on and off the beaten track. 

We do not know the exact weight, but many reviews note that the Fuji Jari 2.3 is on the heavy side of an aluminum gravel bike. At this price, you should not get too hooked up on that. 

This is a very affordable and surprisingly sleek-looking gravel bike. It is both stable and fun enough to help build up your confidence in preparation to invest in one of the lighter, more agile ladies’ gravel bikes next time around. 

2. Cube Nuroad Gravel Bike

Best affordable gravel bike for ladies

frame material	6061 Aluminium Superlite frame
weight	10.8g
max tire clearance	700C x 45mm
tire size	Schwalbe G-One Allround, 40-622 (700c)
drivetrain	2×8 Shimano Claris 50-34T x 11-34T
brakes	Disk – Tektro MD-C51
smallest available size	XS (50cm)
price	$1,299

If you are on a budget, the Cube Nuroad Gravel Bike is the best ladies’ gravel bike for you. The beautiful deep teal color and the streamlined gravel bike geometry of the frame make this bike look a lot more expensive than it is. 

At this price range, you have to accept an aluminum frame. However, with the addition of the carbon forks, the Cube Nuroad gravel bike is light enough while also dampening the vibrations on the more bumpy trails. 

Straight out of the box, the Cube Nuroad comes with 40mm wide Schwalbe G-One Allround tires, which prove to be grippy even on even surfaces. It is a nice touch that you can ‘upgrade’ to 45mm width tires if you use your ladies’ gravel bike offroad and feel like you want more control. 

The frame comes with all the versatility you need from your next partner in adventure, with holes to attach mudguards, racks, and a kickstand. So although the gearing ratio leans more towards a road bike setup, this pretty little gravel bike is more than up to the challenge of an off-road cycling adventure. 

If you are on a budget but want a lot of bikes for your buck, then the Cube Nuroad Gravel Bike is a wise investment. 

3. Giant Revolt 2

Affordable entry-level gravel bike for ladies

Frame	ALUXX-Grade Aluminum, rack mount / Carbon fork
Drivetrain	SHIMANO Sora, 2×10 48/32t x 11-34t
Brakes	Tektro MD-C550 mechanical, 160mm
Tires	Giant CrossCut AT 2, tubeless, 700x38c
Tire Clearance	max 53c / 38c standard
Weight	23.1 lbs/10.4kg
Price	$1,400

The Revolt 2 by Giant is a real bang for the buck and a great gravel bike for beginners or ladies on a budget.

While being a super speedy bike with a max speed of 61km/h, the forgiving and cushioned feeling makes for a comfy and super stable ride sure to convey a sense of satisfaction also to inexperienced riders.

The angles and the distances between key contact points on the Giant Revolt family draw heavily on road-endurance bike models. Giant took no chances in designing the geometry.

The front end is traditional, inspired by road cycles. The compliance of the frame is enhanced by dropping the seat stay, shortening the seat tube, and using a D-shaped seat post.

The 430mm chain-stay allows the bike to rip on rough descents and to track the way noticeably better.

With a monster tire clearance of up to 55c and supporting fenders and rack mounts, The Giant Revolt 2 is also suitable for commuting and a great gravel bike for short touring.

The XS size fits riders as short as 155 cm / 5’1” and it’s ideal for small ladies with a big passion for adventure.

Giant Revolt 2 [2022] is an entry-level gravel bike optimized to enjoy back roads and uneven pavements

Read our
> Review! Giant Revolt 2: Comfort for All Butts and Pockets

4. Cannondale Topstone 2 Alloy Women

Best budget woman gravel bike under $1,500

Frame	SmartForm C2 Alloy, internal cable routing, multiple gear/bottle mounts
Drivetrain	SHIMANO GRX 400, 2×10 46/30t x 11-34t
Brakes	Shimano GRX 400, hydraulic disc, 160/160 mm
Tires	WTB Riddler TCS Light, 700c x 37 mm, tubeless ready
Size	XS, S, M, L
Weight	9.98 kg / 22lbs
Price	$1,700

Here’s one of our favorites. The Cannondale Topstone is a highly versatile bicycle that sits firmly in the gravel category.

Its svelte lines make an impression of elegance seasoned with a pinch of adventure and are clearly meant to convey tremendously enjoyable riding in all kinds of road and weather conditions.

Since it’s designed to be the ultimate combination of road racing and cyclocross bicycles, it can be considered a mixed-surface tourer as well as a 4 seasons commute bike. At any time, with only a few adjustments, you can set up your rig for a camping bike trip, or join the group of your roadie friends.

The big tire clearance allows plenty of room for tires up to 42mm wide for comfortable grip and adventurous capability.

Although the front fork does not support any eyelets for cages on either side, it is a beautiful piece of carbon fiber, with a longer-than-usual rake (55mm) for stability and hidden full-fender mounts. It is a light and performing fork, rare on a bike at this price range.

With mounts for three water bottles plus mounts for top tube storage Topstone is ready to go long. Multiple bottle cage positions on the downtube mount let you configure for big frame bags.

Read our
> Cannondale Topstone Sora Full Review

5. Trek Domane AL 5 Disc – $2,000

Best Women’s Gravel bike born as a Road bike

frame material	Aluminium
weight	56 – 9.85 kg / 21.72 lbs
max tire clearance	35c without fenders, 32c with fenders
tire size	Bontrager R1 Hard-Case Lite, wire bead, 60 tpi, 700x32mm
drivetrain	Shimano 105 R7120, 12 speed
brakes	Shimano 105 hydraulic disc, flat mount
smallest available size	49 cm
price	$2,000

The Trek Domane AL 5 Disk is a great introduction to gravel bikes for ladies used to riding on the tarmac. Taking the popular road bike design of the Domane AL, Trek has made some important upgrades to make this beauty handle its own across different types of terrain.

Thanks to Trek’s precision-engineered Endurance riding position and capacity for wide tires (by road bike standards), the Domane AL 5 leaves you in full control, even when the track starts getting hairy. Although you can only get 35c width tires, which is the thinnest of the bunch, they are grippy enough on lighter trails.

The carbon forks work with you to dampen the vibrations from the trail, leaving you to enjoy the view as you career through the wilderness. This is essentially a road bike built for long-haul comfort, a great combination when you are looking for a reliable ladies’ gravel bike. 

Finally, the Domain AL 5 Disk comes with all the mounts you need for fenders and racks, both front and rear, despite its sleek design. This makes it the perfect transition for any roadies who want to be able to take their bike for a more adventurous ride.

Learn more about
> All The Trek Domane AL Versions Compared – From $,1029!

3 Midrange Gravel Bikes for Females

6. Ribble Gravel AL

Best adventure-gravel for woman

Frame	6061-T6 Aluminium, Heat-Treated, Seamless Welds
Fork	Level 3 Carbon Monocoque
Drivetrain	SHIMANO GRX RX 800, 1×11 40t x 11-42T
Brakes	Shimano GRX RX810 Hydraulic
Tires	Halo GXC Gravel, 650bx47mm
Tire Clearance	max 47c
Weight	23 lbs/10.3kg
Price	$2,300

From British manufacturer Ribble here comes an attractive aluminum gravel bike with adventure-ready geometry and great value for money.

A tire clearance for up to 700c x 45mm or 650b x 47mm tires, a sloping top tube, and a high bottom bracket make it a more off-road-oriented gravel rig.

Built from 6061 T6 aluminum, the frame is a work of art, with smooth welds and fascinating tube sections shapes, but is not just about aesthetics, utility is also paramount.

Multiple frame mounts are enough even for the most loaded bikepacking setups. Two sets of water bottle mounts in the usual places plus an extra set underneath the downtube and along the top tube.

The carbon fork and seat post are lightweight LEVEL 3 Inline Carbon Monocoque. The front fork features Carryall braze-ons that allow the attachment of bikepacking cargo cages for items such as sleeping bags, camping mats, bikepacking tents, and such – although no rear rack mount is present.

A choice of Shimano GRX RX800 1×11 or SRAM Rival AXSXPLR 1×12 for the drive train is the standard for the Gravel AL, although Ribble offers almost any customizable option imaginable. The equipped Mavic Allroad Disc 650b is among the best midrange gravel wheelsets out there.

The Ribble Gravel AL is also available in a light electric version, with a lightweight and almost unnoticeable Mahle X35+ e-bike system.

A budget woman gravel bike with all the characteristics of a top rig

7. Trek Checkpoint ALR 5 $1,999

Best value gravel bike for women

frame material	Aluminum
weight	56 – 9.75 kg / 21.5 lbs
max tire clearance	700x45c / 650×2.1″
tire size	Bontrager GR1 Team Issue, Tubeless Ready, Inner Strength casing, aramid bead, 120 tpi, 700x40c
drivetrain	2×11 Shimano GRX RX600 46/30 x 11-34t
brakes	Shimano SM-RT70 Disk Brake, centerlock
smallest available size	49 cm
price	$1,999

The Trek Checkpoint ALR 5 is a great value, versatile, and adaptable gravel bike for women. The quality of the finish and the special touches make this a great all-rounder adventure bicycle without breaking the bank. 

This gravel bike lets you build up speed on the tarmac and leaves you in complete control when you hit the dirt track. The geometry of the frame makes this feel like a very nimble and agile machine, making easy work of carving a route around potholes and rocks. 

Naturally, to have made the list, the Checkpoint ALR 5 comes with tons of mounts for frame bags and fenders. Thanks to the small starting size of 49cm is a super comfortable gravel bike for women. 

Coming with 40c Bontrager GR1 tires, you will have plenty of grip off-road, but you also can upgrade to massive 45c width tires if you would rather sacrifice some speed on the tarmac for control off the road.  

This is a perfect gravel bike for women who want the best value for their money and are looking for a nimble bike that can be comfortable on longer rides and over different types of terrain.

8. Liv Brava Advanced Pro 2

Best mid-range woman-specific gravel bike

Frame	Advanced-Grade Composite Carbon, 12mm thru-axle, disc
Drivetrain	SHIMANO GRX R600, 1×11 40t x 11-34t
Brakes	Shimano GRX RX-400 hydraulic, Giant MPH rotors [F]160mm, [R]140mm
Tire Clearance	Maxxis All-Terrene, 700x33c, tubeless up to 45mm
Size	OverDrive 2 steerer combined with D-Fuse seatpost
Weight	8.5 kg /19.5 lbs
Price	$3,000

From Giant’s women-specific brand Liv, the Brava Advanced Pro 2 is a great bang for the buck with high-end components and an affordable price tag.

A woman-specific gravel bike, designed to customers’ requirements, this bike will let you ride down the hill as quickly as going up the mountain. 

The Liv Brava carbon gravel bike does the job with its minimum weight, combined with an Overdriver 2 steerer and a D-fuse Seatpost, enabling you to enjoy the ride with maximum comfort and minimum adjustment.

The tire clearance up to 45mm lets you put on beefy tires for more gravel grinding, of course, rims are tubeless-ready, so you do not have to go through the hassle of constant puncture and changing tubes.

The Advanced-Grade Composite, 12mm thru-axle frame allows the bicycle to be of minimum weight and float through the rough patches like a feather while the OverDrive 2 steering accompanies the ride in the tightest corners, making the bike nimble and swift.

The brakes are Shimano GRX 400 Hydraulic, giving you ultimate control over your rig under challenging routes. The seat is adjusted using Giant D-Fuse SL, which provides adjustments up to 16 mm.

The drivetrain and shifters are Shimano GRX RX-600, 1×11, allowing you to adjust the effort on the pedal as per your requirement, not the fastest gearing option though, with a max speed of 50 km/h.

The 4 Very Best Gravel Bikes For Women

9. RIDLEY Kanzo Fast Rival 1 Gravel Bike

Fastest woman gravel bike

Frame	Advanced-Grade Composite, 12mm thru-axle, disc
Drivetrain	SRAM Rival, 42T x 11-42t
Brakes	SRAM Rival 1 Hydraulic Disc Brakes
Tires	WTB Venture 700×40
Size	(undefined)
Weight	8.5 kg size S
Price	$3,510

The Ridley Fast Rival1 is a higher-end gravel bike with great components and an aero frame that looks more road-oriented. Despite the look, it provides a robust, comfortable, and thrilling cycling experience on different terrains, both gravel and tarmacs.

Advanced composite carbon frame and fork are of great quality with a higher stack and a shorter reach, providing efficient fitting and A more organic riding position.

WTB Venture tires allow a robust grip over the land regardless of the weather conditions.

The Kanzo Fast Aero handlebar provides a proper grip and smooth aerodynamics, with hydraulic brakes and an 11-gear single chainset, the Fast Rival 1 by Kanzo allows for a comfortable and speedy ride even on the roughest patches.

The bike comes in plenty of sizes, including an XS size which will fit short women even below 150cm /4,10″.

10. Evil Chamois Hagar

Best Gravel bike for women used to mountain biking

frame material	Carbon fiber
weight	8.71 kg (19.20 lb, small size, without pedals)
max tire clearance	50mm
tire size	700c x 50mm
drivetrain	1×11 Shimano GRX ST-RX810 40t x 11- 46t
brakes	Shimano GRX, Flat Mount, Disk Brake
smallest available size	Small (43cm – 52cm)
price	$5,800

The Evil Chamois Hagar, not only has an epic name, it is also able to deliver an unforgettable riding experience. This bike is the best gravel bike for women who refuse to let go of their mountain bike heritage. 

Somehow Evil Bicycles have managed to create a whole new subcategory of gravel bikes. This is a very striking bike and has a frame that is sure to turn heads both on and offroad, as it looks like it doesn’t quite fit anywhere.

Thanks to the sloping top tube, this is also the smallest bike on the list, so potentially the best fit for the shorter ladies looking for the ride of their life. 

Thanks to the long and low design of the geometry the Chamois Hangar is incredibly fun and agile at high speed, offering excellent handling speed. The only caveat is that for the very same reason, it can feel a little cumbersome at a lower speed. 

There are mounts dotted all over the frame, with enough for 6+ water bottles if you need them. But it really is the unique design and handling of the Evil Bicycles Chamois Hagar creation that sets it apart from the rest of the ladies’ gravel bike competition. 

If you are looking for a lady’s gravel bike that is going to force you to go against the grain and give you the confidence to gain that bit extra speed on the downhill then the Evil Chamois Hagar is a worthy companion. However, be warned you do need to be relatively experienced and brave to be able to bring the best out of this uniquely beautiful bicycle. 

11. Cervelo Aspero

Best ladies Gravel for Speed and beauty

frame material	Carbon Fibre
weight	8.41 kg (56 cm frame)
max tire clearance	700 x 42mm or 650b x 49mm tyres
tire size	Panaracer Gravel King SK, 700c x 38mm
drivetrain	1×11 Shimano GRX 600 42t x 11 – 34t
brakes	Shimano GRX RX810, hydraulic disc
smallest available size	48cm
price	$4,000

The beautiful Cervelo Aspero is an homage to Cervelo’s steeped history of making exquisite road bikes, with a slight sprinkle of the adventurous. The Aspero takes a lot of the features that make their road bike so popular and supercharges it to make it handle off-road riding. 

The handling on the Aspero is similar to that of a road bike, which is perfect if you are used to riding on the tarmac. The snappy handling is caused by the head tube angle being steeper than you usually find on a gravel bike. This is not always good for a ladies’ gravel bike, especially if you are relatively new to riding on uneven surfaces.

A significant upgrade on their tarmac-only predecessors is the Shimano GRX groupset. It offers incredible confidence and provides silky-smooth changes, even over bumpy services.

It also comes with a clutch on the rear derailleur, an essential gadget for bikes that will be used on uneven surfaces. The clutch stops the chain from slapping against the frame and causing the chain to slip or, worse yet, damage the paint on the frame (something you want to avoid on a paint job as beautiful as “Purple Sunset”). 

The Cervloe Aspero is the best gravel bike for women who want a road bike that can do so much more. It is not for the faint-hearted as it was crafted with speed in mind, but if you want a hair-raising adventure on a beautiful bicycle with a paint job that makes it come alive in the sunshine, then look no further.

Compare the models of the Cervelo Aspero here!

12. Niner MCR

full-suspension gravel bike for lady riders

Frame	NINER RDO Carbon Fiber / 50MM CVA Suspension
Drivetrain	SRAM FORCE ETAP AXS 1×12 10-36t
Brakes	SRAM FORCE HRD FM
Tires	Schwalbe G-ONE Allround Evo Superterrain 700 X 38
Size	53CM, 56CM, 59CM
Weight	22.9 lbs / 10.4 kg
Price	$6,000

A full-suspension gravel bike? Is this even a thing? Well, we thought you deserved a surprise for making it to the bottom of the article, let’s have a look at something different.

The Magic Carpet Ride (MCR) by Niner is a dream bike that stands by its name, every ride will feel smooth like on a carpet.

The Niner’s Constantly Varying Arc (CVA) full suspension is a patented design that debuted in 2008, for the 2022 MCR 9 RDO, Niner changed the suspension curve, a performance-oriented adjustment to achieve more power while pedaling from the saddle.

This system makes the bike really fantastic to ride downhill also on rough tracks – able even to withstand washboard corrugation and emerging roots – while the climbing ability is not too seriously affected thanks to the aggressive geometry.

The eleven fixed braze-on mounting points allow outfitting all the bikepacking bags and bottle cages you might need, making this a top-woman gravel bike for bikepacking adventures.

The integrated rear fender and internal cable guide ensure the components are always protected even in the toughest conditions.

A drop-bar adventure bike that’s responsive and efficient, outstandingly comfortable, and freaking fast, with a maximum speed of 58 km/h.

Check all the version and find more buying option on our Niner MCR RDO review article

How To Choose The Right Gravel Bike For Ladies

So how should we girls go about buying the best gravel bike for our needs? What differentiates a female bike from a male one?

As we already mentioned in the introduction, women commonly have short torsos and arms and longer legs, whereas men’s arms and torsos are longer.

For a man and woman of the same height, the woman’s bike will ideally have a shorter top tube, and thus a shorter reach (the distance from the saddle to the handlebar), while the saddle will be lower and closer to the pedals.

The bike doesn’t have to be a female-specific frame, to achieve this – a shorter stem will shorten the reach and the saddle position can be easily adjusted.

Ladies also commonly have smaller hands compared to boys, which can make it hard to fully reach the brake levers on drop bars. Smaller levers could be a thing to look into if your hands are small.

Last but not least is the saddle, women have wider sit bones compared to most men – so the rear of the saddle usually needs to be wider and have a cut-out or lower-pressure chamber for your soft parts.

Components to replace on a women’s gravel bike

Based on what we said, the components you might think about replacing to adapt your gravel bike to your body are:

• shorter stem
• female specific saddle
• narrow handlebar
• shorter reach brake levers

All these things are relative and really depend on your unique body shape and bone structure – this means they are not necessarily true for you.

If you have wide shoulders you won’t need a narrower handlebar, a standard one will do just fine. Same for the short stem for ladies with longer arms.

A woman-specific saddle though might be worth a try. The pelvic bone structure is quite different between males and females, and that’s quite universally true. Women’s saddles are indeed designed to accommodate the peculiar shape of a woman’s pelvis.

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FAQs About Women Gravel Bikes