The best entry-level road bikes

The Razor W features a sporty aluminium frame and carbon fork with comfortable geometry, and it is equipped with superb components and a stylish finishing kit. Vitus fitted it with a Shimano Claris 2x8-Speed groupset and powerful disc brakes. It rolls upon alloy Vitus wheels wrapped in high-grip Kenda Kwick Roller Sport tyres. Ideal for road racing, long-distance endurance events and general fitness cycling, the Razor W is dependable and fun.

Whether stepping over your first road bike or pulling away from lights on a regular commute, the Vitus Razor W delivers that same sensation of speed and freedom. And it never gets old.

Boardman has really stepped up the game in terms of offering quality bikes at low prices. Made from 6061 aluminium, the welds are hidden, which is something of a novelty around this price. It gives the bike a lovely clean look and makes it seem much more expensive than it is. Little things make the difference.
Rim brakes help keep the price low, too.

The aluminium Superlite frame and carbon forks make an aggressive bicycle perfect for racing, training and leisure cycling. The Axial WS is tailor-made for women, and the geometry complements that.
Mechanical disc brakes offer superior stopping power over rim brakes with internal cabling keeping the bikes clean lines.

Okay - it's not women's specific, but that doesn't mean women cannot ride it. If you're a little taller, this bike could be perfect. The geometry on this bike is quite balanced, allowing for comfortable riding positions while also being capable of getting up climbs and sprinting to the cafe stop while also having reliable handling.

Female-specific brand Liv offers up this, which is currently on sale, so grab yourself a bargain. With an ALUXX-Grade Aluminium frame and Advance-Grade Composite forks with D-fuse seatpost this has been designed for comfort over all terrains. wide 32c tyres will offer up more grip, cushion and stability if you fancy yourself some light gravel riding. Designed to be super smooth over tarmac and help cut the bumps on gravel down, this is a smart all-around bike.

Yes, okay, you've got us again. Not a specific women's bike, but it's at great value, and this unisex bike will be fantastic for a taller female. Full internal cabling keeps the cockpit looking sharp and clean. Mechanical disc brakes offer up smart stopping power, while a triple-butted aluminium frame keeps weight down and performance up. Shimano Claris gears give you reliable gear changes time after time.

If you want a cheap road bike that will get you about, you'd do a lot worse than buying this Fuji Sportif. At just under £400, it'll give you all you could ask for, and you'd still be able to do some pretty serious riding on it, too. Sure, it has mechanical rim brakes, but it still utilises the Shimano Claris drivetrain, and you'll be getting reliable gearing for miles and miles of riding.

At this price point, you will struggle to find a bike with a better paint and weld finish than this. Boardman has increased the quality of their product here, and you'll be riding around on a bike that looks more expensive.
A 6061 aluminium frame with carbon forks equipped with Shimano Claris gears will give you a taste of road cycling, and this bike will allow you to kick on to sportives.

You might be scratching your head thinking, 'why is this bike more expensive than the recognised brand Boardman? Vitus are a Wiggle brand, right?' Well, yes, they are but note that this has Sora after its name, meaning that it's running the Shimano Sora groupset, an upgrade on the Claris. It also has disc brakes and some internal cabling, which add a few more pound signs to your bill.

So, if you were scratching your head before and understood why things were more expensive on the Vitus, then look at this Cannondale with its alloy frame and rim brakes. You may be even more confused as to why this one is more. Cannondale is a very well-respected brand with bikes in the professional peloton, but this one uses a Shimano Tiagra groupset. Meaning that it's a further step up on the Sora used on the Vitus above.

The AL in the title lets you know that this is an aluminium bike, but there's more to it than that. The IsoSpeed Carbon fork will help to remove buzz from the road, fatiguing your hands and arms less. Shimano Sora gears will give you durable, reliable gear shifts time after time. Mudguard mounts and space for 38mm tyres provide practicality as well as comfort.

The Specialized Allez brings affordability and high levels of performance to an E5 aluminium frameset with full carbon forks. As with most bikes around this price point, the geometry is neutral and very accommodating. Integrated mudguard and luggage rack mounts make this a versatile commuter.

The Contend AR from Giant could be the perfect bike for weekday commuting and weekend riding. It's a balanced geometry that offers a fairly neutral riding position, meaning you can factor it either way. The D-Fuse seatpost offers comfort over canal paths, and mechanical disc brakes give you powerful modulated stopping power in all conditions.