A Buyers Guide to Hybrid Bikes

​If you are shopping for a new bike, you may have heard about  hybrid bikes, but what exactly is a hybrid?  The hybrid bike came on the scene in the mid-1980s as a cross between a road and a mountain bike collecting the best features of each into what is intended to be the perfect general purpose bike.  A hybrid is a good choice to accommodate the wide range of riding conditions you find in an urban environment both city streets and recreational trails. But within the category called hybrid bikes there has come to be a further differentiation:  comfort and fitness hybrid bikes.  If you are in the market for a new hybrid bike, it helps to understand the different features that are found with comfort and fitness styles so you can determine which is best for you.

---

When to choose a Hybrid Bike
People choose cycling for many reasons but the two most popular are recreation and transportation.  If you are looking to increase the time you spend outdoors, increase exercise, spend time with family and friends, use a bike for running errands, and getting to and from work, a hybrid bike might be for you.  This style of bike has become popular in the past 40 years because it takes the best features of other popular styles of bikes and combines them into a single vehicle optimized for recreational riding, commuting, or running errands.  If you only want to buy one bike, a hybrid would provide you with the flexibility for the most riding conditions.  But before selecting one, you should think a little about your cycling goals and what type of biking you plan to do.
​
Different types of Hybrid Bikes
You only need to visit any bike shop to know that there are many categories of bikes and ebikes and a lot of crossover between categories.  Some of the bike styles that might be considered within the hybrid family are those described as trail, touring, city, commuter, town, cruiser, gravel, and hybrid ebikes.  But each of these can be grouped as either comfort or fitness.  The comfort hybrid and fitness hybrid each were designed for a specific type of rider and each have some unique features.

What is a Comfort Hybrid Bike
Comfort hybrids bikes are designed for the casual recreational rider and emphasize comfort over efficiency.  They are built mainly for leisurely and fun riding or errands that are short distance trips on bike paths or paved roads with flat terrain although they can be ridden on well packed dirt or crushed limestone trails. Some features of comfort hybrids are:

Riding position – A comfort hybrid is designed for an upright riding position.  Most of the rider weight is designed to be on the saddle and the handlebars are higher than the saddle.  The rider is able to easily look around. 

Tires – Comfort hybrids often come with 26 inch wheels with tires about 2 inches or more wide as is found on a mountain bike, but the tire thread is smooth as would be suitable for pavement, not rocky dirt paths.  The high air volume in these tires results in a smooth, comfortable ride that is resistant to small rocks and potholes. 

Suspension – A light weight shock absorber is often included in the front fork and on the seat post to make the ride comfortable.  The light elastomer and spring in the shock absorber protects from impacts from bumps, cracks, ruts, and debris and insulates the rider from jolts for a smoother ride.  The shock absorber helps you maintain control of the bike even on rough surfaces.  The lightweight shock is not designed for jumping over logs and extremely uneven terrain as you would find on an off road mountain bike trail, only to absorb uneven pavement to make the ride smoother.

Saddle – Gel or foam is usually incorporated in a wide shaped saddle to cushion the rider since most of the rider weight rests on the saddle. 
​
Handlebar – Handlebars are usually in a swept-up shape that is higher than the saddle to support an upright riding position that is easy on the back and neck.  The handlebars are attached to a stem that is often adjustable so it can be raised higher or lower based on rider preference.

aWhat is a Fitness Hybrid Bike
Fitness hybrids are designed for hitting the pavement with speed or for a long cycling workout.  Frame materials and components are selected for efficiency and to reduce weight of the bike to enable the rider to accelerate quickly and travel with less effort.  Their ergonomics allows for a more aggressive riding position and the ability to tackle hilly terrain and some light off road use. 

Riding Position – A fitness hybrid has a balanced riding position where the rider weight is balanced between the saddle, handlebars, and pedals.  Spreading the weight around all the contact points of the bicycle allows for more comfort and efficiency when in the saddle for long rides.

Tires – Wheels with a 700c circumstance that are typical of road bikes, a medium width and high pressure 80-100 pounds per inch (psi) are common on fitness hybrids.  The high pressure and narrow width means less rubber to contact the road resulting in less tire resistance and more speed with less effort.

Suspension – There is usually none on a fitness hybrid in order to reduce weight.  This also enables less moving parts for more accurate and stiffer steering.  Some higher end fitness hybrid bikes have a carbon fiber fork instead of a  shock absorber which helps absorb vibration without adding additional weight to the bike.   

Saddle – Shape of the saddle will be medium size with light padding of gel or foam.  With a balanced riding position, a lot of padding in a saddle is not needed or helpful. 
​
Handlebar – Style of handlebar is primarily flat, maybe a slight sweep up, and the threadless stem component usually allows only a very little adjustability in the raising or lowering of the handlebar height without swapping out with new components.  

What Comfort and Fitness Bikes Have in Common
In spite of their differences, the two types of hybrids have the same options for some features:   

Frame materials – you can find both types of hybrids with frames made from steel, aluminum, and carbon fiber. 
Brakes – Rim brakes and disc brakes can be found on both comfort and fitness hybrids.
Motors and batteries – Bikes with motors, batteries and a display for assistance can be found in both comfort and fitness hybrid styles.
Gears – Both comfort and fitness bikes come with gears ranging from 1 to 24 speeds or more.    
Accessories – You can customize most hybrids with accessories such as racks, fenders, lights, cell phone holders, water bottle holders, locks and bike bags.
​Price range – Materials, workmanship, and style can impact the price so both styles can be found in entry level price points up to very high end. 
 
Finding the Right Bike for You
There are plenty of comfort hybrids on the market that have a larger circumstance 700c wheel and no shock absorber in the fork or seat post just as there are fitness hybrids with adjustable stems and low pressure tires.  Some tweaks can be made to a bike after the sale, such as adding or removing a suspension seat post, swapping out the tires for ones with a smoother or more aggressive thread, and replacing the saddle with one that better suites your anatomy.  Before changing out parts, it is a good idea to collaborate with a bike shop if you want to make changes to a bike you already own to determine if it is possible or advisable. 

Whether a comfort hybrid or fitness hybrid is best for you will depend on what type of riding you plan to do and where you are planning to ride.  Whichever you choose, riding a bike will help reduce stress, get exercise, spend time along with family and friends, run errands,  and help you enjoy a life outdoors.