Why Choose A Hybrid Bike?
What is it that makes hybrid bikes so popular? In essence, a hybrid takes the best characteristics of road- and mountain bikes. Many people do not need the off-road capability of a true MTB, and find that the heavy weight and wide tyres make riding on the road too much like hard work. At the same time, the uncompromising riding position of a road bike is too uncomfortable for leisure cycling and the narrow tyres make it impossible to explore the tracks and trails.
So how are these problems resolved in a hybrid?
- All have flat handlebars. Far better for the leisure cyclist than the drop bars fitted to road bikes. You can change hand position regularly and thick padded grips smooth out vibration.
- Semi-slick tyres, with a thickness somewhere between road and mountain bike tyres. These produce a great combination of low resistance for road speed, together with enough grip for ventures off the beaten track. The wheels are customarily road size, 700mm, instead of the 26″ rims fitted to mountain bikes.
- Either a beefed-up road frame, or an extended MTB frame, depending on what the designer wants to achieve. The most widely used frame material is aluminium. Top-of-the-range bikes are often of carbon fibre. Suspension forks feature on many models. There is often a choice of mens or womens geometry.
- The gears are designed with low ratios for hillclimbing together with high ratios for covering the miles on the road.
However, no compromise is perfect for everyone, so there is a choice to be made depending on the style of riding you will be doing most, and also on your personal taste.
There are those who like a more MTB style as they anticipate doing more off-road riding than average. They could well appreciate a range such as the Cannondale Bad Boy. With MTB-style frames they will love being away from the beaten track. There are disc brakes and 26” wheels on most models as well.
For more road-oriented cycling (commuting to work or out in the country lanes at the weekend), the Scott Sportster or Kona Dew ranges might suit better. Narrower tyres, 700mm rims and more road-bike components are noticeable features of these bikes. These are ideal if you want to cover serious distance on the blacktop.
So the ideal bike is probably there for you – just choose carefully. There’s little doubt that a hybrid bike is the best option for those who just want to get out cycling.
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