![]() If you are using your bike in an area with moderate elevation, eight speeds will probably serve you well. Gearing for hybrids must be ample for the needs of your riding area. ![]() This includes the chainring/s, chain, derailleur/s, cassette and cogs. If you see manufacturers mentioning the ‘drivetrain’ of their bikes, they are referring to all the elements that contribute to gearing. Mountain bikes need a higher bottom bracket to allow clearance for obstacles, while hybrids must be lower to allow for frequent stopping and starting in traffic, which requires the rider to regularly put their feet on the ground. However, they are less relaxed than a mountain bike and have a lower bottom bracket. Hybrid bikes are designed with a more relaxed / less aggressive geometry than road bikes. Visibility: Flat bars allow the rider to sit upright and maintain visibility through traffic.Comfort: The rider does not have to assume the ‘hunched’ posture of the road cyclist. ![]() Features of Hybrid Bikesįlat bars – for comfort and visibility HandlebarsĪlmost all hybrid bikes feature flat handlebars to allow the rider to remain upright. With this in mind, let’s take a closer look at the characteristic features and components of hybrid bikes. This happy medium gives them optimum traction and comfort, making them suited to varied terrain and weather conditions.Ĭomponents must be tough enough to withstand everyday use and wear in urban conditions. Tires are wider than those found on road and touring bikes, but narrower and less knobbly than on mountain bikes. Mounts for racks, bottles and mudguards are also useful for hybrid users. Touring bikes have influenced the design of modern hybrids, more than any other kind of bike. This is the reason that most bicycle messengers use them. They allow the rider to maintain an upright position and clear visibility when riding through traffic. In comparison, hybrid bikes are lighter and more efficient, to aid commuting.įlat bars are a standard feature on most hybrids. Mountain bikes have wide, knobbly tires and sturdy frames designed to absorb impact, which makes them too heavy for roads. For singletrack and rutted paths with obstacles, a mountain bike is recommended. Most hybrid owners would also like their bike to hold up to the occasional gravel track or dirt road. They are more resilient than road bikes, which feature lighter and more delicate frames intended for high speeds.Ī good hybrid is built to manage city roads of varying conditions, including the occasional pothole. Hybrids are suited to commuting or leisurely riding on weekends, holidays or with the family. They are sometimes also known as ‘cross’ or ‘fitness’ bikes. These elements made them excessively heavy, leading to certain features of mountain bikes being combined with narrower tires and lighter frames to create the ‘hybrid’ bike. However, over-sized frames and wide, knobbly tires proved to be overkill for use on roads. Some folk just rode a mountain bike as their everyday ride or commuter. There were features of mountain bikes that recreational and commuter cyclists wanted to incorporate into their everyday rides. In the 1990s, mountain-biking experienced huge growth in popularity and was exploding into public consciousness as an exciting and accessible sport. ‘Hybrid’ bikes were originally a fusion of a mountain bike and a road bike.
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