Giant
Giant Bicycles manufactures both the TCR Advanced and the Avail lines, both women's-specific. The Avail line begins at about $800 (MSRP February 2010) and offers aluminum frame construction and Shimano component groups. You'll find better components in the Avail 1 and the Avail Advanced series, with the Advanced series switching from aluminum to carbon fiber frame material. The Advanced series tops out at about $5,000 for the Advanced 0 model.
The TCR Advanced series offers full carbon frame geometry with a choice of either Ultegra or 105 component groups and is priced from $2,500 to $3,500.
giant-bicycles.com
Orbea
Orbea offers both the Dama and the Diva lines in their women's-specific line. The Dama models are, in order from lowest level: Aqua Dama, Onix Dama and Opal Dama.
The Aqua line begins around $800 and frame construction is aluminum. The Onix moves into carbon fiber frame construction, prices beginning around $2,300. The Opal ups the ante and is a true racer's bike, offering component groups from Shimano or SRAM along with full carbon construction. Prices for the Opal line begin at $4,000+.
The Diva line is the top of the tops for Orbea's women's line, utilizing the lightest weight carbon fiber and top component groups available from Shimano and SRAM. Diva pricing begins at around $4,800 and can exceed $10,000 for a complete custom build.
orbea-usa.com
Specialized
Specialized offers their Dolce, Ruby and Amira lines, with the Amira line new for the 2010 season. The Dolce is the entry-level women's road bike line and offers frame construction in aluminum with carbon forks. Pricing for the Dolce line runs from $800 to $1,200. The Ruby is Specialized's longstanding signature women's line, upgrading frames and fork construction to full carbon fiber and higher component groups. The Ruby line begins at $2,200 for 2010 models and escalates to $7,200 for the S-Works Ruby model with top-of-the-line components and a very lightweight carbon fiber frame. For those seeking the top of the tops in best-selling women's road bikes, the Amira line is the way to go. With full-carbon construction and an oversized head tube for enhanced bike stiffness, the line features nothing less than Shimano 105 components. Pricing for the Amira begins at $2,700 and goes up to $7,200 for the S-Works model featuring full Dura-Ace components and top-of-the-line wheels.
specialized.com
Trek
Trek offers perhaps the most extensive line of women's road bikes. With models ranging from the $600 range up to the $8,000 mark, there's a Trek bike for every woman. For the discerning cyclist, Trek also offers their 5 and 6 Series bikes in full custom build for women. If you have specific needs or are a competitive athlete, it's something to consider.
Lower-end Treks like the Pilot and 1 or 2 Series are constructed with aluminum frames. Lower-priced models feature aluminum forks and the 1.2 Series introduces carbon forks. The Madone series features full-carbon construction of both frame and fork along with better component groups, beginning with Shimano 105 for the lower-end Madones and Shimano Dura-Ace for the 6.9 WSD model.
trekbikes.com/women/
