What's a Hybrid Bike?
If you're searching for a new bike that you can use riding to work but also at the weekend with your family around the park then you might be looking for a hybrid bike. These awesome all-rounders balance the best bits of a road bike and mountain bike, creating a high-performance bike that’s capable of tackling (almost) anything.
If you’re looking for a capable commuter, tourer and leisure bike that’s happy on the road and off it, then a hybrid could be perfect for you.
In our hybrid bike’s buyers guide, we talk you through what makes a hybrid bike special and walk you through the essential information you’ll need when buying one.
What is a Hybrid Bike?
Hybrid bikes feature all the best bits of a road bike and a mountain bike! Most feature relaxed frame geometry and flat handlebars, which provide a comfortable upright riding position that provides extra visibility, essential for riding through traffic. Add to that a sturdy frame, a great selection of gears and performance brakes, and it’s easy to see why hybrids are an ideal bike choice for commuters.
Hybrid bikes can be broken into two categories: urban hybrids and leisure hybrids.
Hybrid bikes are hardwearing and built for miles of enjoyment. Urban hybrids are suitable for city commuting, with an upright riding position, lightweight frames, narrow tyres and a wide selection of gears.
Leisure hybrids are more laid back, focusing on comfort rather than carrying capacity and speed.
Hybrid bikes offer a single solution for many riders. The upright riding position, sturdy frames and high-quality components make them highly capable commuters. When the working week is done, they’re perfect for leisure riding and even light touring.
There’s a wide range of hybrid bikes available, including hybrids that look more like road bikes and those that resemble mountain bikes. A good way to tell the difference is to check the wheel size and the forks. Hybrids with 700cc wheels and rigid forks are better suited to road riding. Those with 26” or 27.5” wheels and suspension forks can cope with some light off-roading on gravel tracks, bridleways and paths.
Even if you have a mountain bike and a road bike in the garage or shed, the benefits of a hybrid bike are so strong, it may be worth trying to find a little more room to squeeze one in.
Suspension forks vs Rigid forks
Front suspension is pretty much essential on a mountain bike but optional on a hybrid.
Hybrid forks can be made from metal, alloy or carbon, which offer some dampening from the roads, and are reliable and simple. However, there are some hybrids that come with suspension front forks that reduce vibrations from any lumps and bumps in the terrain.
If you’re going to be spending most of your time riding on the roads, go for a r’re planning on riding more off-road routes (such as towpaths or shared used cycle paths, for example) a suspension fork may be more suitable.
Urban riding vs leisure riding
If you’re planning on cutting down on your car use and commuting through city streets, you’ll want a hybrid that’s up to the job. Urban hybrids come with high-quality groupsets (gearing), performance brakes and tough frames that will give years of use.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for a leisure bike for short trips or light touring, you’ll want a hybrid that’s built for comfort, not a speedy commute.
Before shopping for a new hybrid bike, consider the type of riding you’ll be doing and where you’ll be doing it. These two choices will help you narrow down your search and enable you to set a realistic budget.
Essential hybrid bike features
Handlebars
Flat handlebars fitted to many hybrids make you ride in a more upright position, delivering a more comfortable ride. A more upright riding position gives you greater visibility of the road, essential when commuting.
Remember that components such as the handlebars, seat, stem and more can all be swapped out simply and quickly. So, if you prefer road bars but your bike of choice doesn’t have them, then you can replace them.
Gears and groupset
Unless your commute is pan flat, you’ll find yourself changing gears as you’re riding. You’ll find hybrid bikes with a wide range of gears that are suitable for all types of terrain.
The gears are part of what’s called the groupset, which includes all the essential mechanical parts, including the brakes. Brand names you may come across include Shimano and SRAM.
While you get what you pay for with a groupset, even entry-level hybrid bikes at Halfords come with smooth-running gears that will quietly click into place each and every time. It’s because our bike technicians build and set up every new bike we sell for over £250, ensuring they’re ready to ride.
Frame
Hybrid bike frames borrow elements from both road and mountain bikes. Hybrid bike frames are often made from hardwearing alloy, aluminium or even mild steel, not the lightweight carbon so popular for road bikes.
Metals and alloys can be more durable but can be heavier so factor this into your decision making.
Hybrid bikes are built for racking up the miles comfortably, not quickly so the frames feature a more relaxed geometry.
Wheels and tyres
Hybrid bike tyres are often slightly thicker than road bike tyres, and thinner than mountain bike tyres.
If you're planning on riding on grass, trails or just a muddy country road, then you'll need to consider the tread on your hybrid tyre. Commuters who spend most of their time in cycle lanes may wish to opt for a more road-style slick tyre for performance on the flat. Those who do a bit of light off-road riding may want an all-purpose tyre, with thicker tread for extra grip
When shopping, check the minimum and maximum tyre sizes the rim can cope with. Swapping tyres is a standard upgrade that can transform the riding experience, so save some cash in your bike budget for new tyres if you can.
Brakes
You’ll find a selection of brake types on hybrid bikes, including V-brakes and disc brakes. Which is best? It really depends on your budget.
Disc brakes are increasingly popular, providing superb stopping power with minimal maintenance. There are two types of disc brakes, hydraulic brakes and mechanical brakes. Hydraulic brakes use fluid to transfer stopping power from the lever, mechanical disc brakes use cables. Hydraulic disc brakes feel smoother and more progressive at the lever and on the road.
V-brakes are tried and tested technology that will perform well, but like all brakes, you’ll need to regularly service them to keep them working properly (something we can help with at Halfords!)
The more expensive your bike, the better the brakes with disc brakes appearing as standard on most top-of-the-range hybrids.
Panniers and Accessories
If you're going to be using your hybrid for commuting, you’ll want to carry some essentials such as a laptop or a spare set of clothes. Sure, you can sling on a backpack, but a set of panniers makes carrying luggage safer and simpler. When selecting a hybrid, check if it’s got the mounting points required to fit a pannier rack (or buy a bike with one already in place).
Mudguards stop water, gunk and junk from the road from flying up and hitting you and anyone behind you, so they’re an ideal add-on to an urban commuter. Again, you’ll need to buy a hybrid with the fittings in place or buy a bike with mudguards already in place.
Other essential extras include a bottle cage or two, a pump and a lock. Factor these into your decision-making process and ask for help from a Halford technician if you need it.