Raleigh

RXW Complete Cyclocross Bike - 2017

While Raleigh bills its 2017 RXW Complete Cyclocross Bike as a "women's specific" option, we like to think of it more as a bike for smaller statured humans who want to get in on the Raleigh cyclocross fun. Its light and durable aluminum frame paired with a one-by SRAM Rival drivetrain and TRP Spyre mechanical disc brakes make it a race-worthy, long-mile conquering steed in a value-priced package. Compared to its RX 2.0 counterpart, which doesn't have any options recommended for riders under 5-feet, 4-inches tall, the RXW boasts options for those of us who tip the ruler starting at just 5-feet even and with a stand over height that may expand the smallest size's versatility to riders even smaller.

The RXW's sizing ranges from 48 to 56 cm in comparison to the RX 2.0's 52 to 62cm size run. Where the sizes do cross over, we see proof of a few slight geometry tweaks between the two models. The RXW boasts a lower stand over height across the board, which opens up the versatility of sizing and accommodates riders with a range of body proportions. The RXW's head tube is taller and has an ever so slackened angle, which combine for a slightly less aggressive stance and a comfortable yet responsive ride. For the crossover sizes, these tweaks provide welcome options for riders with varying levels of flexibility and positioning preferences.

It's worth noting that both the RX 2.0 and the RXW enjoy nearly identical build spec, which means choosing between the two comes down to your stature, geometry preferences, and ride style, with no penalty in componentry on either side of the scale. The RXW features touch points scaled to match its smaller sized leanings, with proportionally narrower bars and shorter stems for the smallest sizes. The main difference in the spec sheets is the chainring—where the RX 2.0 gets a somewhat power heavy and race-specific 42-tooth ring, the RXW gets a 38-tooth option, which makes it a versatile option to tackle everything from local cyclocross races to never ending gravel in a wide range of terrain and elevation changes.