For most people, a bicycle is nothing more than a frame with a pair of wheels and a chain. Perhaps they think fondly back to their childhood when they would roam around the neighborhood. If they think a little deeper, perhaps they will start to reflect upon the Tour de France and guys like Lance Armstrong.
Most people don’t realize is bikes hold a special place for all of those folks in between. A steady bicycle, one that is made for semi-serious use, can be a blessing to those that need to get around in an athletically inclined way while reducing their carbon emissions.
From mountain bikes to city bikes, there are all sorts of styles out there. Sometimes it is hard to pick the one that is right for us since we never know where we’ll be riding in a year’s time. Fortunately, there are forward-thinking bicycle production companies that have solved this problem. Enter the hybrid road bicycle.
Now that we’ve gotten familiar with hybrid bikes let us look at some of the marketplace’s top options. The bikes listed below were chosen due to the way that their value meets their quality.
Top 6 Best Hybrid Bikes Reviewed
1. Schwinn GTX Comfort Adult Hybrid Bike
2. Dynacraft Alpine Eagle 700C 45CM Aluminum Frame Hybrid Bike
3. sixthreezero Reach Your Destination Women’s Hybrid Bike
4. Schwinn 700c Copeland Men’s Hybrid Bike
5. sixthreezero EVRYjourney Women’s Cruising Hybrid Bike
6. 700c Royce Union RMY Mens 21-Speed Hybrid Comfort Bike
What is the point of a hybrid road bicycle?
A hybrid road bicycle is almost self-explanatory. It is a type of bicycle that blends characteristics from several different sorts of ‘specialized bike’. No longer do you need to have a ‘road’ bike only. It can be mixed with the likes of the ‘touring’ or ‘mountain’ style bicycles.
The goal of hybrid bikes is to give their riders a special blend of abilities that will suit them pretty much regardless of where they are intending to ride, within reason. So if you find yourself needing a bicycle that can handle a blend of different obstacles then perhaps a hybrid is just what you are looking for. Though if you intend to use your bike for specialized circumstances, like explicitly city riding, you may be better off getting a different kind of bike.
With that said, let’s take a brief glance at what makes up a hybrid bike before digging in much deeper.
Hybrid road bicycles at a glance.
While hybrid bikes vary based on the manufacturer and the intended result, they all share some common features. For the most part, you can expect hybrid bicycles to look pretty similar.
Hybrid bikes typically have long and flat handlebars that are straightened to be similar to mountain bikes. They most commonly blend these bars with a sturdy and rigid upright seat. At first glance, you will also notice that the frames tend to be even more lightweight than normal. Some road bikes use extremely light aluminum frames and that is the same, for the most part, with hybrids.
An in-depth analysis of hybrid bicycles.
Alright, so we’ve taken a cursory glance at what comprises a hybrid bike. They are light, have straight handlebars and an upright seat. There is obviously so much more to them than that. We’ll break them down by section, and we’ll start at the bottom.
The Wheels:
When you spend money in life, you always want to invest the most in keeping yourself off the ground. Be that your shoes, car, or bicycle wheels. The wheels take center stage for hybrid bikes as they are a hybrid of road style and mountain bike style.
Hybrid wheels tend to be wider and filled with higher air pressure. This heightened air pressure reduces the resistance that your wheels face on the ground, allowing for a higher traveling speed.
You will sometimes have to deal with cheaper spokes and rims because they aren’t intended for rough off-road usage.
The Pedals:
Hybrid bicycles typically come with basic platform pedals. These pedals are made primarily for riders that tend to have their feet down and at rest. You can upgrade them to clipless pedals if you use cleats, or even the toe clip style pedals that are becoming more popular.
The Gears:
Much different than single speed bikes, hybrids tend to have a range of gears available. The gear range won’t get down to the levels that mountain bike riders are used to, but they’ll still allow for as many as 16 different gear combos. The gear set up for hybrids is most similar to the basic road bike.
The Frame:
The body of your hybrid bike will be made of aluminum or steel, which is sometimes referred to as cro-moly. Your frame will likely be lightweight and durable.
Different kinds of hybrid bikes?
Alright, so we have a pretty competent understanding of what makes up a road bike. Does that mean we understand everything? Not quite.
Even though hybrid bikes tend to defy definition, there are still certain categories that you can look at. Listed below we’ll detail the most popular types of hybrid bikes available and what they can do for you.
Cross
A ‘Cross Bike’ will have a frame similar to a racing bike with the handlebars and riding position of a touring bike. This bike is intended for recreational use and is not meant to be used in extreme circumstances.
You’ll see these bikes most commonly used in and around urban environments as they can capably handle some rough environment but won’t allow the same abuse that mountain hybrids call for.
City
A city hybrid bike is probably the most common one you can get. These bikes tend to be lightweight but sturdy, and they are geared toward crowded urban commuting. Their wheels tend to be around 26 inches, and they are equipped with heavy tires.
The bulk of the bike is built to handle the abuse that a well-traveled city will throw at it. This type of hybrid bike is designed to handle bad weather and sharp turns and cuts as traffic and pedestrian interference will be assumed.
Comfort
Comfort bikes will bring to mind the vintage ‘roadster’ cycles. Comfort bikes are equipped with derailleurs instead of hub gears.
They are made out of mountain bike style frames with an eye on luxury. The seats on these bikes are typically wide and more comfortable, with handlebars intent on easy, casual maneuvering.
Commuter
The commuter hybrid will remind you of the city bike but not as built for distance or durability. Commuter bikes are typically used for short-distance riding. They have 700c wheels and light tires.
As far as accessories go, the commuter bike will also have reflectors built on the front and back of the frame to keep vehicular traffic aware of their existence.
Advantages
Hybrid road bikes are excellent traveling companions for a wide variety of reasons. As we saw above, most hybrid bikes tend to combine the best abilities of their respective categories. Hybrids have light frames, strong tires, and a range of gears. This means that you’ll be able to ride in just about any environment flexibly.
Hybrid bikes also make sure to offer riders the sleekest, streamlined version of a bicycle available. The focus isn’t just on comfort and ability, but efficiency.
Disadvantages
In theory, hybrid bikes should be just about the perfect option for everyone. The problem with hybrids, if you can call it that, is that they are not specialized enough.
While a hybrid city bike will give you flexible road riding, it won’t give you the same special usage that other specific bikes will. For example, you can’t replace a rough and tough mountain bike with a hybrid.
Proper Maintenance
Maintaining a hybrid bike will be one of your biggest challenges, especially your first ever bike. While hybrids don’t have any special requirements, they have more than the typical single usage bike.
Be sure to keep up to date on the latest effective methods for keeping your bike in shape. You will want to keep your eye on tire wear, gear usage, and braking ability.