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What Is a Hybrid Bike? (A Beginners Guide)

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You may be a road cyclist, mountain biker, non-participant or somebody just getting into the sport of cycling. But whoever you are, it’s not at all uncommon to have posed the question upon visiting your local sporting goods store, “What is a hybrid bike?”

You may have had the experience of being one of those poor souls entering into a bike shop for the first time. It is then that you were encountered by an enthusiastic young salesman asking what kind of rig you might be in the market for.

Road? 

Mountain? 

Commuter? 

Touring? 

City? 

Hybrid? 

It can be a bit overwhelming…

Hearing the word hybrid no doubt implies the combination of some such things…all of which you know absolutely nothing about!

Well, we’ve today endeavoured to mitigate this experience to the best of our ability, by teaching you a little bit about what this style of bicycle entails, its uses, and who it might be best suited for out there in the vast landscape of buying possibilities. We hope that by the end you’re able to approach the matter in a way that makes you a little more comfortable, especially for those out there getting into cycling for the first time.

Sales associate helps a woman pick out a bike at a bike shop.

torwaiphoto/Adobe Stock

What Does “Hybrid Bike” Mean?

Hybrids are basically a blend of the two major cycling disciplines, road biking and mountain biking. They are a composite that seeks to address some of the major components of both types of bike in one, so as to create a machine that is versatile enough to accommodate activity performed on the road and on the trails.

Some of these components include the following:

Handlebars –  Hybrids typically have flat handlebars, like those of a mountain bike, as opposed to dropped handlebars like you would see on a road bike. This contributes to a more upright riding position.

Tires – Modern hybrid bikes can be fitted with several sizes and types of tires that you’ll find on both road and mountain bikes. 26” used to be the standard, but it is now common to see 27.5” and 29” as well.

Suspension – Typically hybrid bikes are limited in suspension, and some don’t have any at all. It’s not uncommon though to see front suspension forks that offer some relief if you were to head out on some light-medium duty trails.

Gears – Some hybrid bikes have only one speed (and are aptly named “single speed bikes”). Others can have a wide range of gears, which is something you’ll want to pay attention to. Less gears means less variability in intensity, which for a beginner rider can be overwhelming.

The term hybrid bikes can mean a lot of things. In general, yes, it means the combination of a road and mountain bike in one. But depending on the brand, style, etc. that hybrid bike could lean more towards a road bike or more towards a mountain bike. Let’s look at the pros and cons of this bike category to better determine if it’s going to be the right choice for you.

Hybrid bike on a trail

MarekPhotoDesign/Adobe Stock

Pros of Hybrid Bikes

If you’re someone who is just getting into bike riding (or haven’t done it in a long time), a hybrid bike is a good way to start acclimatizing your body to the sport. The more specialized you get with a bike into a particular discipline, the more aggressive the positions you’re going to be in on the bike. Different parts of your body are going to be subject to more load and intensity, and it’s going to vary depending on the specialty of your machine. 

A hybrid bike keeps you in a more upright position, which lessens the load on your hands, wrists, shoulders and lower back. Your body needs time to adapt to spending time on the bicycle, and if you eventually decide to get into road cycling, for example, your body will appreciate the time it had to strengthen itself on a hybrid before dropping into a more loaded, aerodynamic position.

The cost of a hybrid bike is another excellent benefit, and is reflective of its more generalized nature. If you were looking for the tip of the spear in terms of performance, parts and quality…you wouldn’t be buying a hybrid bike. That’s not to say they aren’t well-built and dependable pieces of technology. But it is to say that they will only take you so far in any such direction…

…which takes us to the cons.

Cons of Hybrid Bikes

By far the biggest con of a hybrid bike is going to be its limited performance. If you start to become more serious about a particular type of biking, a hybrid bike is going to quickly fail you as soon as the demands exceed its capabilities. A hybrid bike rapidly becomes just a bad road or mountain bike as soon as you venture further into one discipline or the other.

If you want to become a competitive triathlete, you better be able to ride a road bike – fast – and maybe for hours on end. If you want to rip down gnarly mountain terrain – tackling tight turns, huge drops and acute changes in speed – you better be able to harness the unique feel and frame of a high-end mountain bike. A hybrid bike just won’t cut it either way.

This can also have a troubling psychological effect, particularly on people who are getting further and further into mountain biking (which is what hybrids are often marketed for). Not knowing the potential performance metrics of your bike can be catastrophic when trying out new terrain that is more difficult than you’re used to. These types of bikes have to be treated with caution, and the trails you’re on have to always be respected for their level of difficulty.

Is a Hybrid Bike Right for You?

Hybrid bikes are perfect for people who want to cycle recreationally and on different types of terrain. They’re great for commuting and weekend rides with the family. They allow you to get into the sport at perhaps a slightly lower price point, and at the same time experience all the diversity of the outdoors, which is a major part of what makes cycling so engaging and attractive to its participants.

They help your body mold to the bike without putting it into positions that can lead to injury. This helps prepare the body for more aggressive postures that might need to be sustained in things like road racing somewhere down the line. But being more upright and taking things slow is always a good approach. The hybrid bike allows for that.

As soon as you start to become more specialized, it’s time to start looking at more specialized bikes. Not only will a more specific rig be more functional, efficient and durable for the tasks it is designed to do – it will be safer and more dependable as well. 


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Best of Both Worlds: The Best Hybrid Bikes

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A hybrid bike is just what it sounds like – a cross between a road and a mountain bike. Versatile in nature, the best hybrid bikes can be used over a variety of terrain and are popular with commuters and casual cyclists. The flat handlebars on a hybrid bike offer a more upright position that can minimize the strain that can come from the more aerodynamic position on a road bike.

Not all hybrid bikes are created equal, and there is a lot of variety within the hybrid category. Some are designed more as a road / cruiser hybrid, whereas other are mountain / touring hybrids. So, you need to define what kind of riding you’re looking to do, and decide the best hybrid for your needs from there.

The Best Hybrid Bikes

The Benefits of a Hybrid Bike

  • More terrain – Most hybrids are suited to go off or on road, so this gives you more options for your weekend adventure or daily commute.
  • Wide tires – A hybrid can have a selection of fairly wide tires, which aids comfort and allows for various levels of off-road riding.
  • Comfortable fit – A hybrid’s horizontal bars provide a more relaxed, upright, and comfortable riding posture.
  • More gears – Hybrids typically have gears similar to a mountain bike, so riding hills shouldn’t be a struggle.
  • Easy to customize for commuters – Most standard hybrids are fitted for racks and mudguards, making it a popular choice for commuters.
  • Overall flexibility – Hybrids package quality and a variety of features at an affordable price. For a cyclist who rides slightly rough trails, flat city roads, bike paths, and the occasional sidewalk, the hybrid meets most purposes halfway.

The Best Hybrid Bikes

Mountain / Touring Hybrid

Specialized – CrossTrail Elite Alloy

The Best Hybrid Bikes

Price: $1000

The CrossTrail features an aluminum frame, plenty of tire clearance, a 60mm travel suspension fork, hydraulic disk brakes, and wheels and tires that are on the heavy-duty end of the road spectrum. It’s a perfect fit for commuting, light touring, urban and rural riding, and even light trail riding. Although the fork may not be on par with the average mountain bike, it certainly takes the edge off on rough terrain.

Cannondale Quick CX 3

The Best Hybrid Bikes

Price: $870

Built for pavement one day and dirt the next, the Cannondale Quick series features tough frames and quality components. The CX 3 is the middle of the road option, with a 50mm fork with lockout. Overall it handles well and is durable, but is quite heavy for the commuter or urban adventurer.

Diamondback Haanjo

The Best Hybrid Bikes

Price: $899

Part mountain bike, part road bike, the Haanjo is designed to leave to choice up to you. Although it may not be ready to hit any technical trails, the Gravel Disc alloy fork will have you easily tackling gravel roads and dirt paths. The Haanjo features butted and formed aluminum tubing to bring together a combination of light weight, strength, and durability. The mechanical disc brakes offer some serious stopping power, and the big tires will have you rolling through the rough patches.

Road / Commuter Hybrid

Bianchi Strada

The Best Hybrid Bikes

Price: $800

Based off the popular steel frame cyclocross bike, The Volpe, the Bianchi Strada is one of the smoothest hybrids out there. With a classic design and all steel frame, there is tire clearance for a up to a 38c tire (a great option for bad weather riding). The Strada has cantilever brakes which are less powerful than disc brakes, but are much easier to maintain. Like most hybrids, there are mounts for racks and fenders, but there are also mounts for front panniers.

Trek FX 3

The Best Hybrid Bikes

Price: $819

The Trek FX brings together the speed of a road bike with the comfort of a city commuter. Also known as a fitness bike, the FX is lightweight, fast, fun, and agile. The aluminum frame comes rack and fender ready, with the added DuoTrap S, which integrates a Bluetooth sensor into the frame. You can easily log routes and track your progress with a computer or smartphone, with no external sensor.

Diamondback Insight 1

The Best Hybrid Bikes

Price: $449

Uncomplicated comfort and easy on the budget, the Insight series is a perfect entry in the hybrid world. The aluminum frame is lightweight and durable, and will hold up on winding urban streets and rougher roads alike.

Carbon Hybrids

Felt Verza

The Best Hybrid Bikes

Price: $1599

With a lightweight carbon frame inspired by Felt’s line of road racing bikes, the Verza Speed 3 comes complete with Shimano’s Metrea group for smooth shifting and modern aesthetics. It is capable as a commuter, a weekend cruiser, or a workhorse for group rides, giving you the freedom to define what kind of rider you want to be.

Fuji Absolute Carbon

The Best Hybrid Bikes

Price: $1699

This C5 carbon frame provides incredible light weight and efficiency with VRTech built in to reduce road vibration. Its full-carbon fork keeps you on locked on track and includes hidden fender mounts, while the aluminum wheels keep the rolling weight low and easily handle rough roads. You pay the price for the carbon frame, but it could be worth it if you are a serious cyclist looking for something a bit more flexible than your road racing bike.

What is a Hybrid Bike?

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what is a hybrid bike

It seems that hybrid machines are everywhere. If you’re new to cycling, you may have heard the term “hybrid”, associated with bicycles. But what is a hybrid bike? Is it better than a road or mountain bike? Something to try out for fun? Is it one you might want to add to your growing collection of bikes? It might be.

The All-Purpose Bike

Bike-shop owners face this problem on a daily basis; someone wanders in without a clue as to what type of bike they are looking for. The answer depends on what kind of biking you do — long-distance, trail riding, road riding, cruising or all of them put together. Generally speaking, a hybrid is an all-purpose bike that can do a little bit of everything.

What is a Hybrid Bike

A hybrid bike is a blend of a standard road bike and a mountain bike, taking the bits of both types to create a machine that can adapt to different terrains and surfaces. The hybrid is a casual approach to almost any terrain.

Geometry of a Hybrid Bike

Unlike road bikes with aggressive, strict geometry made for speed, lightness, and aerodynamics, hybrid bikes have a more relaxed design. A hybrid is designed to relieve stress on your shoulders and neck with a more upright position. This means a shorter top tube with a taller head tube to give a more upright riding posture. Some hybrids also feature a top tube that slopes downward from front to rear, which makes it easier to get on and off, no matter what kind of gear you’re wearing.

Handlebar and Shifters

Road bikes have drop bars that make you reach relatively far forward. Hybrid bikes have flat handlebars similar to mountain bikes. This type of handlebar adds to the upright riding position. It also means that hybrids are equipped with mountain-bike style shifters and brake levers, which are easier reach and operate.

Wheel Size

Hybrid bikes often give you a choice in wheel size. Larger 700c size wheels found on road bikes give the hybrid more of a road bike feel. Traditional 26-inch mountain bike wheels offer a lower center of gravity that might be more appropriate for a mountain bike trail. But both sizes can adapt to both disciplines, due in part to the differences in tires.

Tread Design

Hybrid tires are designed with a rough tread on the outside, and a smooth parallel tread on the inside to deal with varying terrain while offering lower rolling resistance.

Tire Width

The most common width for road bike tires is 23mm. A much wider tire between 2.0 to 2.5-inches is typically used for mountain biking, Hybrid bike tires are somewhere in the middle. Hybird tire width typically runs between 28mm on the narrow side, to the much wider 47mm– which is just under 2-inches. Generally speaking, the wider the tire, the cushier the ride. Narrower tires give you less rolling resistance. Wider tires allow for better handling in gravel or dirt and lessen the likelihood of getting a flat. The main disadvantage to wider tires is weight, which most hybrids are not overly concerned about.

Suspension Options

Unlike road bikes, which now almost all come with a carbon fork, the hybrid bike offers choices. Go with a carbon fork for more road applications. Go with a steel or aluminum fork like the rest of the frame for more traditional all-purpose riding. Suspension forks are available if you plan on using the hybrid off-road. The choice is yours.

Gearing Options

Hybrids don’t follow strict guidelines for gearing options. If you primarily want your hybrid for road riding, select a gearing option like a road bike with higher gears in back. If you plan on using your hybrid for gravel paths or the occasional hill climb on dirt, look for lower gearing. If you plan on touring with a heavy pack or panniers low gearing is also a big plus. Hybrid bikes are available with a triple chainring up front for some seriously easy gears for climbing hills, or a compact double like traditional road bikes. Most often, the gearing tends to lean more toward a mountain-bike set-up.

Who Can Benefit From a Hybrid

Aches and pains commonly associated with road bikes can go away on a hybrid. Common complaints such as neck, shoulder, and backache can benefit from the upright position on a hybrid. This makes hybrids a good choice for seniors, those who might have injuries, or other health related issues.

Summing up the Hybrid

Here’s a quick summation to “What is a hybrid bike?” and the benefits of one:

  • A hybrid can go off and on road, expanding your choice of weekend riding and commuting routes.
  • A hybrid can have a selection of fairly wide tires, which aids comfort and allows for various levels of off-road riding.
  • A hybrid’s horizontal bars provide a more upright riding posture.
  • Hybrids typically have gears more similar to a mountain bike, so riding hills shouldn’t be a struggle.
  • A Hybrid’s shifters and brake levers on horizontal bars are easy to reach.
  • Most standard hybrids are fitted for racks and mudguards, making it a popular choice for commuters.
  • Hybrids package quality and a variety of features at an affordable price. For a cyclist who rides slightly rough trails, flat city roads, bike paths, and the occasional sidewalk, the hybrid meets most purposes halfway.

New to Cycling

If you’re new to cycling, and not sure exactly what you want from a bike, a hybrid can help you decide. For the most part they are affordable options to full-on mountain or road bikes and they give you the option of trying out both disciplines. After you’ve ridden for a few months, you’ll likely know what you like, and then you can target your next bike purchase accordingly.

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