First road bike - 6ft female

[Spiderweb]

I don’t think leg length is that important when sizing, top tube length and reach is key to a good fit. It is always best to sit on a bike and try for size. My friends daughter is 6ft tall and she’s just purchased a 56cm Specialized Allez (not a female specific bike) she thinks it’s perfect.
I don’t know if you are anywhere near Sheffield but Planet X is worth looking at, this well specced bike, Shimano 105/FSA Gossamer, is at the top of your budget but an excellent buy. I’m sure PX would supply narrower bars and a female specific saddle should you require it.
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/EBPXRT58V25800/planet-x-rt-58-v2-alloy-shimano-105-5800-road-bike

 

[vickster]

Wow, thank you all for the extremely useful insight. I will collate all the comments before I go to a store this week.

Measured my inside leg - it's 35.5 inch (90cm)... I think that places me in the 58 range? Or would 56 fit?

I agree that it would be best to try out several bikes but I am super impatient and itching to ride (sister just moved to London and is using my hybrid for her commute).

Second hand bike is also an option but would need an experienced eye to assess the condition of the bike. If anyone London based is keen to help, coffee is on me )

Cube Axial looks great but unsure if it goes up to 58. Largest I've seen is 56.

A 56 should work if you’re long legged and short torsoed? If you’re in London, you should be able to find plenty of bike shops to peruse including Decathlon

 

[vickster]

View attachment 452223 I don’t think leg length is that important when sizing, top tube length and reach is key to a good fit. It is always best to sit on a bike and try for size. My friends daughter is 6ft tall and she’s just purchased a 56cm Specialized Allez (not a female specific bike) she thinks it’s perfect.
I don’t know if you are anywhere near Sheffield but Planet X is worth looking at, this well specced bike, Shimano 105/FSA Gossamer, is at the top of your budget but an excellent buy. I’m sure PX would supply narrower bars and a female specific saddle should you require it.
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/EBPXRT58V25800/planet-x-rt-58-v2-alloy-shimano-105-5800-road-bike

She says she’s in London

 

[12boy]

Good luck on finding the perfect bike, by which I mean fits perfectly. I second the idea of looking at saddles designed for women, especially if you are uncomfortable on a mens saddle. 56 or 58 would be a good place to start, I would think.

 

[Proto]

Good luck on finding the perfect bike, by which I mean fits perfectly. I second the idea of looking at saddles designed for women, especially if you are uncomfortable on a mens saddle.

Don’t discount men’s saddles. Plenty of women riders I know ride men’s saddles, but get a saddle of the right width. Daughter recently completed a 220km ride sitting on a Specialised Toupe, 143mm wide.

BTW she’s 5’ 8”, never had a ‘women specific’ bike (currently rides a Cervelo R5, previously Trek Emonda and Madone, both H1 race geometry), but she makes sure it fits properly. Usually a slightly longer stem and narrower bars than those fitted as standard.

 

[slowmotion]

Wow, thank you all for the extremely useful insight. I will collate all the comments before I go to a store this week.

Measured my inside leg - it's 35.5 inch (90cm)... I think that places me in the 58 range? Or would 56 fit?

I agree that it would be best to try out several bikes but I am super impatient and itching to ride (sister just moved to London and is using my hybrid for her commute).

Second hand bike is also an option but would need an experienced eye to assess the condition of the bike. If anyone London based is keen to help, coffee is on me )

Cube Axial looks great but unsure if it goes up to 58. Largest I've seen is 56.

If it's your first road bike, I'd look at a 56cm frame, even though you have long legs. It takes a while to get used to the riding position after riding a hybrid and smaller frames seemed more comfortable to me. I started with a 58cm frame and went to a 56cm after a couple of years. It was much more fun.
Anyway, you really must try the bike before you buy it. A couple of miles at least. They all feel completely different.

Good luck.