As keen cyclists will know, there are many types of hybrid bikes now available on the market. Hybrid bikes combine the advantages of a mountain bike with those of a road bike. If you ride a mountain bike, you’ll know that using it on the road is hard work because of its wide tires and small frame. On the other hand, the narrow tires on a road bike mean that it’s not really suitable for mountain biking.
So how do the different types of hybrid bikes combine the advantages of road bikes and mountain bikes?
All types of hybrid bikes have flat handlebars, as these are more suitable for everyday cycling than the drop handlebars normally found on road bikes. You can also swap hand position frequently and the thick padded grips reduce vibration. Most types of hybrid bikes also have semi-slick tires that have a thickness somewhere between the tires on a road and mountain bike. These combine reduced resistance for road speed with enough grip for mountain biking. The wheels on hybrid bikes are normally the same size as those on road bikes, 700mm instead of the 26″ rims usually fitted to mountain bikes.
Many types of hybrid bikes use a larger than normal road bike frame, or an extended mountain bike frame. The most widely used material in the frames of all types of hybrid bikes is aluminum although some of the more expensive models use carbon fiber.
Some types of hybrid bikes have suspension forks that are good for bumpier roads. The gears allow a low ratio for hill-climbing and a high ratio for cycling for miles on the road.
The main difference between types of hybrid bikes is that some lean towards road-biking and some towards mountain biking. The types of hybrid bikes that people choose is therefore largely determined by whether they cycle more on the road or off road. On some types of hybrid bikes, a slim frame and relatively narrow tires make for extra speed on the road while on others the suspension forks and wider tires are more appropriate for mountain biking.