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The Best Hybrid Bike

By Christine Ryan

Christine Ryan is an editor overseeing coverage of travel and outdoors gear, which has entailed testing down-filled vests in Iceland in June.

If you’re seeking a bike for your daily commute and your weekend exercise, a fitness hybrid—that is, a road bike with flat handlebars—may be the right choice.

Over the past seven years, we’ve spent 60 hours sifting through nearly 75 options, test-ridden more than a dozen bikes, and concluded that the Marin Fairfax 1 is the best hybrid for most people.

It provides a stable, comfortable ride on city streets, and it’s a better value now than when we first tested it.

Everything we recommend

Marin Fairfax 1

Our favorite hybrid bike.

This fun-to-ride and capable commuter bike is equally comfortable on longer weekend outings—and it offers far better value than its competitors.

Buying Options

Jamis Coda S2

Still the smooth one.

This steel-framed bike provides a vibration-dampening ride and some nice extras—brand-name tires and sturdy pedals. But the trade-off is less maneuverability and a steepish uptick in price.

Upgrade pick

Priority Continuum Onyx

For the neatnik diyer.

A belt-drive bike that has an easy-to-use internally geared rear hub means less maintenance and no grease on your work clothes. You have to assemble it yourself though (or pay someone else to).

We looked for...

This means a frame designed to be comfortable on a long(ish) ride: if it forces you to sit upright, you’ll be fighting the wind.

If you’re planning to schlep any cargo, you’ll be able to use panniers instead of a backpack. (Better balance, no sweaty back.)

Fixies may seem cool, but they’re no fun on hills or when you’re riding into the wind. You’ll want gears to help you out.

Some entry-level hybrids come with front shocks, but they’re pretty crummy. Big tires will give you all the cushion you need.

Our top pick, the Marin Fairfax 1 , ticks most of the boxes on our hybrid-bike checklist: durable-enough components, a chrome-moly steel fork that’s forgiving on potholes and rough city streets (and of higher quality than the high-tensile steel forks used on many other, pricier bikes), rack and fender mounts, and hill-friendly gearing (including a rear cassette, rather than a cheaper and outdated freewheel cogset).

In our testing, this bike stood out for its well-designed aluminum frame, which provided more-agile handling and zippier acceleration than the competition while remaining stable. We wish it still came with the above-average-in-quality tires that we originally liked. However, given the growing price difference between the Fairfax 1 ($500, the same as it’s been for the past few years) and similarly equipped bikes from other companies, we believe it’s still the best option. (The Fairfax 1 is available in a step-through option at the same price.)

The Jamis Coda S2 is a very good option if you’re looking for the comfort of a steel frame (steel does a much better job than aluminum at dampening the vibrations caused by rough pavement) without the weight penalty that lower-priced steel frames often impose. (Such frames are often made with heavier high-tensile steel, rather than the chrome-moly that the Coda S2 has in both its frame and fork.) That means an easy time carrying this bike up stairs and lifting it onto bus- or car-mounted bike racks.

The Coda S2 comes with well-rated Vittoria Randonneur tires—that is, tires from a “real” tire company that you can buy in a bike shop, and now in a wider and cushier size—and steel-wrapped resin pedals. (This bike is also available in a women's version , which essentially means smaller sizing and a women’s-specific saddle.) The main drawbacks with this model are maneuverability—it’s not quite as nimble as the other bikes we tested, which could be a function of its geometry (more on that in How we picked and tested )—and price. In 2018, its predecessor cost $530; now, the Coda S2, which has very similar components, is $630 (on sale).

For commuters, belt-drive systems make a lot of sense. The belts don’t wear out as quickly as chains, and they don’t need to be oiled, so there’s less bike grease in your life and on your clothes. And the internally geared rear hubs let you change gears when you’re standing still (like at a traffic light). The downside is the cost: Reliable internally geared hubs are expensive, and that makes bikes with belt drives pricier than our other picks.

But the aluminum Priority Continuum Onyx is a bargain for this category, especially considering that it comes with hydraulic disc brakes, the well-respected Gates Carbon Drive belt, and an Enviolo continuous gearing rear hub, plus upgrades, such as internal gear cable routing and dynamo-charged front and rear lights. This bike does not, however, come in a step-through version, and it’s not available in bike shops, which means dealing with assembly yourself.

The research

Why you should trust me, who this is for, how we picked and tested, our pick: marin fairfax 1, also great: jamis coda s2, upgrade pick: priority continuum onyx, the competition.

I’ve overseen Wirecutter’s cycling-gear coverage for seven years. In a previous life, I commuted on an eight-speed hybrid from San Francisco’s Bernal Heights to my downtown office, and later used the sturdy little bike as my townie bike.

• For the original 2017 version of this review, I interviewed mechanics and proprietors at shops specializing in commuter bikes all over the country—Boston, New Orleans, Chicago, Minneapolis, San Francisco, and Washington, DC—who repair bikes ridden in all kinds of conditions.
• I talked to bike manufacturers and component suppliers, spent multiple days surveying every booth at bike trade shows over the past seven years, and interviewed everyday riders, including members of San Francisco’s local bike coalition.
• I’ve continued to test new iterations of our picks, to make sure they’ve retained the features we liked, and I’ve researched new models from other manufacturers, testing those that seemed promising.

If you’d like to start regularly riding to work or school, and your ride will last half an hour or more, you’ll probably want what’s often called a fitness hybrid bike, or a performance hybrid. That term gets you what is basically a road bike with flat, mountain-bike-style handlebars.

A bike like this will be agile enough to maneuver around the potholes you see, tough enough to weather the ones you don’t, and speedy enough that you can roll it out on the weekend to get some exercise with the family, or even join a charity ride. But it’s not as twitchy, in terms of handling, as a drop-bar road bike would be.

And should you get to the point where you are snagging all the local KOMs or QOMs (translation: you’ve bought a fancy road bike) or shredding the singletrack gnar (translation: you’ve bought a fancy mountain bike), you can still use your trusty hybrid as your townie bike—the one you can load down with groceries (hurray, rack mounts!) or lock up outside without too much fear of theft (hurray, lower price!).

Performance hybrid bikes don’t attract the kind of enthusiasts who keep endless threads going on road-bike or mountain-bike forums, debating the merits and flaws of different brands and models. Still, we dug up what reviews we could find, looking for praise and dings.

The sweet spot for a starter bike like this used to be $500. Drop much lower, and you were stuck with outmoded or truly poorly made parts that might be hard to replace once they wear out; spend more, and you can get a nicer bike, with lighter components, but that defeats the purpose of a starter bike. However, many of the $500 bikes we looked at a few years back have gone up in price, some by as much as 35%.

After seeing what’s available now and consulting commuters, bike-shop owners, and mechanics, we settled on what we’d like to see now in the ideal basic hybrid-fitness bike.

Fitness-appropriate geometry: When bike people talk about “geometry,” they’re talking about the angles at which the tubes that make up the bike’s frame meet. Change the degrees of the angles, and you change the way the bike handles on corners and going up and down hills. If the bike is too responsive, it could feel squirrelly and unstable. For efficiency’s sake, the design of your hybrid’s frame should be closer to that of a road bike than to that of a beach cruiser. You don’t want to sit straight up, especially on a longer weekend ride, because you’ll have to fight the wind more.

Flat handlebars: These are more user-friendly than the drop bars you see on a road bike, and since you will be more upright, your field of vision will be broader—a plus in city traffic.

Safe, strong brakes: Mechanical (or cable-actuated) disc brakes have just about replaced traditional V brakes on even low-priced hybrids. This isn’t necessarily a good thing: As Loren Copsey , co-owner of The Daily Rider in Washington, DC, said, “On these bikes you’re going to get entry-level disc brakes, which are hard to set up and hard to keep adjusted, and lower-quality pads—and they’re not necessarily even more powerful than rim brakes.” Also, bikes with disc brakes are almost always heavier than comparable bikes with rim brakes. However, it’s now unusual to find a hybrid equipped with V brakes that doesn’t have serious flaws elsewhere.

Fender and rack mounts: Using panniers attached to a rear rack, instead of a backpack, to carry your gear lowers your center of gravity, which is a good thing. Also, no sweaty back. Fenders will keep you (and your riding companions) somewhat drier when you’re riding in the rain—or on wet roads, after the rain has ended.

Gearing appropriate for your terrain: By this we mean, for the most part, that the bike should have gears and not be a single-speed. Single speeds do have their place. In flat parts of the country that have vicious winters—hello, Minnesota!—the fewer moving parts in a drivetrain, the better. But for most of us, gears will come in handy. Most fitness hybrids come with three chainrings in front and seven or eight cogs in the back, for a total of 21 or 24 gears, which would give you enough options for pretty much anywhere you’ll be riding. Something we’ve seen more of lately are hybrids with just a single chainring up front. Having one fewer shifter to deal with is appealing, but to get the equivalent range of gears, you need a big—and expensive and heavy—cassette in the rear. So we eliminated such hybrids.

A sturdy yet reasonably lightweight frame: You do want to be able to carry your bike up steps or down into the subway, or be able to lift it onto a bus or a bike rack. But you also want it to withstand being knocked around a little. So you’ll probably be looking at an aluminum frame. Aluminum’s a third of the weight of steel, and it doesn’t cost nearly as much as carbon; the ride can be a bit jarring, though. Steel provides a cushier ride, but a good-quality, lightweight steel frame will not be cheap. Almost all of the bikes we looked at, though, do have steel-bladed forks; the slight increase in weight that they add is worth the vibration dampening they provide. (Of these forks, we preferred those made from chrome-moly , a type of steel that’s stronger than high-tensile steel , which you tend to see in very cheap bikes.)

Decent-quality components: Here, it’s a matter of finding the right balance of price, quality, and durability. One thing we would avoid, though, are bikes that come with old-fashioned freewheel cogsets on the rear wheel, instead of the more modern cassettes. A common complaint on the few hybrid user threads we’d found was being stuck with a wheel whose hub was compatible only with freewheel cogs, which are becoming hard to find, especially high-level ones. What you really don’t want to buy is a bike with a freewheel and disc brakes—and we’re seeing more and more of them. If that rear wheel gets stolen or destroyed, good luck replacing it, said Copsey: “You just can’t find those two things on an off-the-shelf wheel.”

Wide rims: The wider the rims on the wheels, the wider the tire you can use, and the lower the air pressure you need, which gives you a more comfortable ride. “A big fat tire is the poor man’s suspension,” said Michael Ferrand, owner of Bicycle Michael’s , in New Orleans. The norm for these bikes’ rims is 32 mm—you’ll want at least that. (One welcome trend is the increasing number of hybrids being sold with wider tires: Instead of the usual 35s, they’re coming with 38 mm tires and even 40 mm.) Speaking of suspension, none of our experts would recommend getting a $500 bike with front suspension, no matter how bad your roads are. As Emily Thibodeau, owner of Hub Bicycle (now closed), in Cambridge, Massachusetts, put it, “The shocks you’d get are really heavy and can’t be adjusted—it’s like having a glorified pogo stick on the front of your bike.”

When we first compiled this guide, in 2017, we started with a master list of 45 bikes and filtered it down to 16 to test. In subsequent years, we dove deep into the latest specs for all the bikes we’d ever looked at, as well as those of our picks, and of any new bikes on the scene. When necessary, we called in models that had undergone any substantial changes.

Next came the test-riding stage. The highlight was what I like to call the Supermarket Slalom: riding up and down a steep driveway leading to my local Safeway, while weaving through a line of soft-hit poles, to test the bikes’ handling. San Francisco even obliged with a few rainstorms, which made the abundant broken glass in the parking lot even more appealing to tires and the pedestrian walkway’s plastic surface even more slippery.

Here are two things to remember when you’re shopping. First, you should try to test-ride any bike you’re considering buying—how a bike feels to you and how your body feels while riding it are intensely personal.

The second thing is that bikes don’t often change that much—or at all—from one model year to the next. If the bike you like isn’t available anymore but the dealer says that next year’s model is arriving soon, ask if it’s a “carry-forward” model. If it is, nothing will be changing.

After a redesign for 2022, the Marin Fairfax 1 remains at the top of our list. For those riders who prefer a step-through or low-rise frame, Marin makes a version of the Fairfax 1 called the Fairfax 1 ST ; it’s identical to the Fairfax, apart from having a lower top tube.

It’s designed to be agile, yet stable. When I got on the 2022 model and pedaled off down the street, the bike felt quick—not in a nervous, edgy way, but in a sprightly way. (We tested a step-through version, which is the bike shown in the photos above and below.) Accelerating felt easy. When I looked at the bike’s chainstays (the parts of the frame that connect the rear wheel to the bottom bracket), I saw that they’re flattened (a design meant to increase stiffness; that is, more of your pedaling power makes it to the rear wheel), and the seat stays (the parts of the frame that connect the rear wheel to the seat tube) join the seat tube at a relatively low point, tightening the rear triangle, which also increases the bike’s responsiveness.

It’s an excellent value. At a time when prices for similarly equipped hybrids from the big companies (Cannondale, Fuji, Giant, Specialized, Trek) hover around $600, the 2024 Fairfax still costs only $500. Even so, it uses the same frame and the same components as last year’s model.

Its gearing is good for hills.  The cassette on the pre-2019 Fairfax had eight gears ranging from 11 to 32 teeth; the cassette on the currrent one has seven gears ranging from 11 to 34 teeth. This means that although you have fewer gear choices, the gearing range actually increased. That’d be a good thing—especially if you’re facing a steep hill and will be needing that extra-easy big gear in the back—except that the bigger jumps between fewer gears might make the shifting feel rough. This isn’t something we noticed with the Fairfax, though. As for the front gearing, it’s the same as all the bikes we tested, apart from the belt-drive ones: a Shimano Tourney triple set of chainrings with 48, 38, and 28 teeth.

Its components are upgraded where it counts. Having only seven gears in back is common among the other hybrids we saw in the Fairfax’s price range; what makes the Fairfax stand out is that Marin is using a true seven-speed cassette, not a freewheel cogset (see our criteria in the How we picked and tested section). None of the other 21-speed bikes we considered come with a cassette. In fact, we’ve seen bikes costing as much as $650—such as the 2022 Giant Escape 3 Disc —fitted with a freewheel cogset. The Fairfax also has a shock-dampening chrome-moly steel fork instead of the cheaper, stiffer hi-tensile steel forks that many of its competitors use. The remaining components—mechanical disc brakes, derailleurs, shifters, handlebars, wheels, rack and fender mounts—are par for what you’d see on entry-level hybrids: no better, but no worse. (This goes for the saddle, pedals, and handlebar grips, too.)

The most recent redesign added a couple of nice extras. First, the shifter cables are routed internally, as they once were, and now the brake cables are as well—an unexpectedly high-end touch in an entry-level bike. Running the shifter or brake cables inside the frame tubes protects the cables from damage in much the same way that cable housing does, only better. (Grit can work its way in between the cable and the housing and make your bike’s shifting slow or ragged.) Second, the frame now has clearance for bigger tires, which means that if you so choose, you can replace the 35 mm tires that come stock on the bike with cushier 38s or even 40s (I checked and they’ll fit).

Flaws but not dealbreakers

• When we first tested this bike, in 2017, it came with Schwalbe Road Cruisers—made by one of the most respected tire makers in the business, they have a protective layer of Kevlar fiber. In 2019, Marin substituted a private-label tire with no claim of flat protection. The 2024 Fairfax 1 still comes with the private-label tire.

If your daily routine takes you on rough pavement or potholed city streets, we recommend the Jamis Coda S2 . (Jamis does make a “women’s” version of the Coda S2 ; it comes in one smaller size, different colors, and with a slightly wider saddle.)

Its steel frame provides a smooth ride. The version of the Coda S2 currently available is very similar to the 2017 that we tested (though back then, it was called the Coda Sport. This model has the same Shimano Tourney front derailleur and triple crankset (with 48, 38, and 28 teeth), Acera rear derailleur and eight-cog, 11-32-tooth cassette, and Tektro V brakes, as well as steel-wrapped resin pedals. The heart of the Coda S2, though, remains the relatively lightweight (27 pounds for the 19-inch size) chrome-moly steel frame and fork, which quiets the road chatter you might otherwise feel while riding on rough pavement.

Steel is also easily repaired. Another advantage steel offers is that if it bends, it can be bent back. So if the hanger that attaches the rear derailleur to the frame gets bent—as can happen if the bike is in a crash or even, say, jostled roughly on a train—it can be straightened again without risk that it will snap. With aluminum, sometimes such an operation is successful and sometimes … not. (Most aluminum frames—such as our top pick’s—do use replaceable hangers, but they come in a wide array of sizes, and not all bike shops carry all of them.)

It comes with name-brand, and cushier, tires. After a brief downgrade, three years back, the Coda S2 once again sports Vittoria Randonneur tires, from a venerable manufacturer. And now those Randonneurs are 40mm wide—they used to be 32s—which will undoubtedly make your ride even smoother.

• In the years since we first tested this bike, its specs haven’t changed in any substantive way, but the price has steadily marched upward, from $520 in 2017 to $530 to $580 to $700 in 2021 to $770. It is currently discounted to $630, but even so, that’s quite a trajectory.
• We found this bike not quite as maneuverable as our top pick in terms of acceleration and handling.
• The Coda’s V brakes worked fine in our testing. But if you plan on commuting during foul weather or spend a lot of time riding on dirt roads, you might want to consider a bike with disc brakes, which maintain their stopping power in the rain (they also don’t get clogged up with mud or slush the way V brakes can).

People who commute in nice clothes, who find numbered gears confounding, or who simply don’t want to deal with much bike maintenance might want to consider the Priority Continuum Onyx .

Instead of a chain, a carbon-fiber belt drives the bike’s gears and wheels. Because carbon belts don’t need lubrication, unlike chains, they don’t pick up dirt the way chain lube does. (No bike grease on your pant leg. And no need to remember to lube your chain.) However, belt-drive hybrids cost a lot more than traditional hybrids, because they require an internally geared rear hub, which can run anywhere from about $100 to $1,500. (Compare this with $45 for the Shimano eight-speed cassette and hubs that are on most of the bikes we looked at.)

Changing gears is extremely simple. The Continuum Onyx comes with an Enviolo continuous internally geared rear hub drive (instead of the cassette-and-derailleur system on our other picks). Rather than changing gears one by one, with an audible click, you twist the grip shifter of the Continuum Onyx smoothly in one direction to make the pedals easier to turn (and the bike easier to ride up hills), and in the other direction to make the pedals harder to turn (which will make the bike go faster on flat ground). The workings of ordinary internally geared hubs are difficult enough to grasp—picture something like the inside of an old, expensive watch —and when you add in the concept of continuous gearing, it seems like magic. The hub does have upper and lower limits in terms of ease and difficulty: According to Enviolo, the range of “gears” is broader than that of another popular internally geared hub, the Shimano Nexus eight-speed hub.

It’s a good price for what you get. Although the aluminum-framed Continuum Onyx retails (as of this writing) at $1,300—a little over two and a half times the cost of the Marin Fairfax 1 —it’s inexpensive for a belt-drive hybrid. The Continuum comes with hydraulic disc brakes, an aluminum fork, and a Gates Carbon Drive belt (Gates being the most well-made option from a high-quality manufacturer).

You don’t have to charge its lights. The Continuum Onyx we tested came with a headlight that’s powered by the front wheel’s dynamo hub, so you don’t need to plug it in to recharge it, and a removable, rechargeable (by USB) rear light; the Onyxes now shipping, however, are equipped with a rear light that’s wired to the front hub’s dynamo as well. The headlight on our test bike was strong enough for city use—I’d supplement it with our commuter headlight pick if I were taking it on dark suburban bike paths—but it had a strobe-y effect that I found distracting.

• The bike doesn’t come in a step-through version, which makes it hard to use with a child’s seat on a rear rack.
• The bike is available only through the Priority website, not in bike shops. This means you can’t test-ride the bike ahead of time to make sure you like it and that it fits you.
• Once the bike arrives, you have to finish putting it together. This was the case when we tested this Continuum Onyx, as well as its predecessor, the first Continuum. Though you don’t have to fiddle with derailleurs, you do still need to make sure your brakes are set up correctly and your bike is bolted together properly.Since our testing, Priority has created a workaround: Priority ships your bike to a bike shop near you, and the shop assembles it for a fee of $130.
• If you do choose to have the bike shipped directly to you (this costs $30), we recommend that you have a bike shop assemble your bike for you or at least check your work. You should expect to pay the shop its standard service rate and maybe even a “corkage” fee—a small fee for bringing in a bike you bought online instead of purchasing one at the shop. (If there is a fee, pay it, and don’t be a jerk about it. As Michael Ferrard points out, bringing in a bike you’ve bought online for them to put together is like “driving your meat to McDonald’s and asking them to fry it up and put some porcini and portobello mushrooms on it.”)

The Trek FX 2 Disc  and the Trek FX 2 Disc Stagger step-through , which both come with hydraulic brakes, now list at a cool $800 each, a $70 increase from 2021 and a $260 increase over 2019. Trek’s entry-level FX, the FX 1 , is available for $700 (currently, it’s discounted on Trek’s site to $600). The FX 1 now comes with a cassette, not the freewheel cogset that we initially dismissed it for. However, even on sale, it’s still pricier than our top pick

Giant’s Escape 3 series of bikes come with high-tensile steel forks, which we like less than chrome-moly forks, and in rim-brake and mechanical-disc versions; the rim-brake one uses a freewheel cogset—a dealbreaker, as we said above . The 2024 version of the disc Escape 3 Disc now has a cassette, instead of 2022’s freewheel, but beware: The Giant website still lists the 2022 freewheel incarnation as well, and both cost $650—$150 more than our top pick.

In a laudable commitment to women’s cycling, Giant has an entire women-specific brand, Liv. The Liv equivalent to the Escape line is called Alight; the Alight 3 comes in rim-brake and mechanical-disc models, also with (dealbreaking) freewheel cogsets.

The Specialized Sirrus 1.0 has a double chainring in front, in place of the triple it once had. This reduced the number of gearing options to 14, as the rear cassette remains a seven-speed, and those gears span a narrower range (12 to 32) than the Marin Fairfax’s 11 to 34. (The bike also has rim brakes and a high-tensile steel fork.) As of spring 2024, the price is $550 (discounted from $650).

Cannondale’s Quick range of fitness hybrids now starts with the Quick 6, which has V brakes, triple chainrings, and a seven-speed cassette. The price was $660 for the men’s and the women’s versions; they are identical apart from the range of sizes and colors available, and the fact that the women’s version has a step-through frame. Currently, last year’s stock is discounted on Cannondale’s site to $530—if you prefer V brakes, you might consider this bike, if you can find it in your size.

Fuji’s Absolute line is available again, after a period of corporate turmoil. However, the Absolute 2.1 , which is the closest in price and features to our top pick, comes with a freewheel rather than a cassette.

We dismissed Batch Bicycles’ Fitness Bicycle because it uses a freewheel cogset rather than a cassette. We had been planning to test the steel Roebling , from Brooklyn Bicycle Co., but it now comes with a single chainring up front instead of the original triple chainring, which we still consider a dealbreaker.

M. Loren Copsey, co-owner of The Daily Rider, Washington, DC , phone interview , September 29, 2016

Kevin Womac, owner of Boulevard Bikes, Chicago , phone interview , September 29, 2016

Michael Ferrand, owner of Bicycle Michael’s, New Orleans , phone interview , September 29, 2016

Emily Thibodeau, former owner of Hub Bicycle, Cambridge, Massachusetts , phone interview , September 29, 2016

Gene Oberpriller, owner of One on One Bicycle Studio, Minneapolis , phone interview , September 29, 2016

S.B. Phillips, then mechanic, The New Wheel, San Francisco , interview , October 1, 2016

Meet your guide

Christine Ryan

Christine Ryan is a senior editor at Wirecutter overseeing the teams that cover travel, outdoors gear, beds and linens, home decor, and more. (She also edits and writes about cycling equipment, which gives her an excuse to sneak away from her desk and go for a ride.) Previously, she was an editor at European Travel & Life, Gourmet, and Sunset.

Further reading

The Best Bike Helmet for Commuters

by Lindsay Warner

In our ninth year of testing bike helmets, we now recommend the Met Downtown Mips for most commuters. We also have other picks for other needs.

The Best Bike Storage Ideas

by Christine Ryan

After 30-plus hours of research and testing, we think the Delta Cycle Michelangelo Gravity Stand  is the best bike rack for storing bikes in limited-space homes.

The Best Kids Bike Seats

by Caitlin Giddings

A kids seat mounted to your bike is a good way to begin to nurture your child’s own love of riding for transportation—or just for fun.

The Best Bike Panniers

by Eve O'Neill

After spending four years testing dozens of panniers, we’ve chosen six that’ll be great for daily duty no matter what you’re toting or where you’re going.

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2022 Trek FX 3 Review

• by Riding With Ryan (Official)
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This 2022 Trek FX 3 review covers everything you need to know about the best hybrid bike for 2022. The 2022 Trek FX 3 checks all the boxes: disc brakes, 1X drivetrain, tubeless ready wheels and more! Its a fitness hybrid, which means you can ride it like a flat bar road bike while staying comfortable, or use it to commute around town.

The FX 3 is the best value in the FX series. The FX 1 is heavy because it comes with a steel fork. There are some models of FX 1 that still have rim brakes. The Trek FX 2 has a similar price point to the FX 3, but the upgrades on the 3 are worthwhile. (We dive into those upgrades below!) Regarding the front fork, the FX 2 comes with an aluminum fork, while the FX 3 has a carbon fork. Carbon reduces vibrations, meaning the 2022 FX 3 will provide a more comfortable ride.

Trek FX vs Trek Dual Sport vs Trek Verve

The three most common hybrid bikes in Trek’s arsenal are the FX, Dual Sport, and Verve. Depending on how and where you ride, each model offers a unique set of features. The Trek FX is the Five-Star General for several reasons.

First, in a weight comparison the Trek FX is the lightest bike of these three hybrid models. The Dual Sport comes with a front fork suspension adding a lot of weight. That front fork isn’t good enough to classify the Dual Sport as a mountain bike because it has limited travel. There is more room for wider tires on the Dual Sport than the FX, but again, you aren’t going to fit a set of 2.6″ Maxxis DHF or DHR tires to make a full mountain bike conversion. At best, the Dual Sport is an over-equipped gravel bike.

The Trek Verve is also a heavier bike than the FX, and it doesn’t come with suspension. It still has a similar weight to the Dual Sport. Depending on frame size you can expect your Dual Sport or Verve to weigh in approximately 31-33 lbs, depending on frame size. The FX 3 weighs just 25 lbs, which means climbing hills and going fast will be a lot easier on the FX.

Trek FX 3 Maximum Tire Clearance

Speaking of tire clearance, the Trek FX 3 maximum tire size is listed at 38mm per Trek. Trek believes you need 6mm of clearance on each side of the tire. I run gravel tires that are 40mm wide on my FX 3 during the winter and when I know I will be riding a lot of gravel trails. They provide plenty of traction in all riding conditions, and adding an even wider tire would simply add unnecessary weight to the bike.

All three models come with rack and fender mounts. The only area the Trek Verve has the advantage is in adjustability. The stem is adjustable to an upright position, and dropped for riding aggressively. The adjustment is made with an Allen wrench. On both the Dual Sport and FX, you need to flip your stem for any adjustability. Even then you aren’t getting the same amount of adjustment range offered by the Verve.

Trek FX 3 Upgrades

There are a few upgrades covered in this 2022 Trek FX 3 review that you need to make before leaving your bike shop. The three main touchpoints almost always need an upgrade with any new bike. They are grips, pedals and saddle. This is the first new bike I’ve purchased that I am not upgrading the grips. The 2022 Trek FX 3 comes with Bontrager Satellite IsoZone Plus grips that are lock-on and ergonomic. IsoZone is a vibration dampening technology and simply put… it works.

2022 Trek FX 3 Touchpoint Upgrades

When it comes to pedals, I am an advocate for clipping-in. Clipless pedals are a must have, but even cyclists that ride flats will want to upgrade pedals on their Trek FX 3. The Bontrager City pedals do not have a lot of grip, and they are cheap plastic that isn’t durable enough for even a casual rider. I don’t believe one clipless pedal manufacturer has an advantage over the other. You should use the pedals that are easiest to get in and out of. Most bike shops will let you test a few options to help you decide.

The saddle on this bike is nice. Most beginner cyclists will complain it is too hard, but the firmness of the saddle provides increased efficiency. Also, soft saddles become more uncomfortable on longer rides, and once you buy a Trek FX 3 you will go on some long adventures. Rather than upgrading the saddle, try a pair of cycling shorts. If your concerned about the look, you can always throw a pair of casual shorts over top. The built in chamois cycling shorts offer is the number one way to increase comfort on your bike. My personal favorite is the Escape Quest short from Pearl iZUMi. Its a durable cycling short that costs $50 or less. ( Check Current Price on Amazon Here ).

2022 Trek FX 3 Tire Upgrades

As I mentioned previously, a good set of winter tires is a must for this bike if you plan on riding in all weather conditions. I really love the 700×40 Donnelly Gravel Tires. If you plan on riding a lot of gravel I highly recommend a tan sidewall. They hide the dust better than all black tires, and they look great. ( Check Current Price on Amazon Here ). The FX 3 comes with tubeless ready wheels, and the Donnelly tires are tubeless compatible.

Tubeless wheels and tires allow you to run a lower tire pressure without having to worry about getting a flat. Tubeless setups are also lighter than running tubes, so you cut weight off the bike which adds to your efficiency. Converting to tubeless is something I recommend doing before you leave the bike shop.

2022 Trek FX 3 Drive Train

Another reason I upgraded from my 2020 FX 2 to this 2022 FX 3 is the drive train. Like it or not, the biking industry is moving to simplified drive trains. That means getting rid of your front derailleur. Your rear cassette is manufactured with enough range that 2X and 3X drivetrains are obsolete.

The 2022 FX 3 comes with a 1X10 Shimano Deore drivetrain. Shifting is incredibly smooth, and there is plenty of range for climbing mountains in Colorado. With the high end drive train, carbon fork, and thoughtful upgrades the price is $150 more than the FX 2 (Read: Trek FX 2 Review ), but the upgrades make the FX 3 an incredible value. The carbon fork alone is enough to justify the added expense, and the upgraded drivetrain makes the FX 3 a no brainer.

With the upgraded drivetrain you need to be able to stop faster too. Stopping is no issue with this bike thanks to the hydraulic disc brakes from Shimano. Disc brakes make stopping easier and faster in all weather conditions. There is no debate on the better brake, because disc brakes work better than rim brakes in every scenario.

If you enjoyed this 2022 Trek FX 3 review, consider reading:

• 10 Ways To Make Your Bike Lighter
• Best Road Bike For Beginners

56 thoughts on “2022 Trek FX 3 Review”

Hello, I’m very interested in the FX 3 before I buy can I get the handlebars up a few inches with an adjustment or replacing the stem with a longer one. Btw Your video was great I will go tubeless as u recommend. Thank you , Charles

Yes there are stems available that sit higher, but if you want a gain of a few inches you will be better off replacing the bars. The amount of gain you get from adjusting the stock bars is only a centimeter or two.

Loved your review and ended you getting the bike, same color, thank you. Quick question, could you provide info on the water bottle holders? I love how they complement the FX3, both black and blue.

I went with the Bontrager Elite bottle cages because I knew the colors would match. I can’t remember the name of the blue, I just know it was NOT the Waterloo Blue.

The color is alpine blue.

Yes! Thank you!

Hi Ryan, Thanks for the review. I’m debating between FX2 and 3 (or even Dual Sport). Most of my rides will be on city roads, but my commute does have a few hills (yikes San Francisco!) and I do plan to ride on light trails and gravels occasionally. What would you recommend for this riding situation?

Thanks, Abota

I definitely recommend the FX 3. The Carbon fork on the 3 will be a big advantage over the FX 2 when you hit that occasional gravel, and the weight savings over the Dual Sport will serve you much, much, much, mmmmuuucccchhhh better than the Dual Sport on those hills. If you are worried about the comfort of the rigid frame you can always put a higher volume tire on the FX to get you more comfort.

Is this bike comfortable for uphill riding with stock tires ?

Yes, it definitely is.

Do you ever use fenders? I’m curious if fenders still fit with your 40mm tires, which Trek says is already above the max of 38mm without fenders. Thanks!

I don’t use fenders on my FX. I think with fenders it’s best to stick with treks recommendation because there isn’t as much extra clearance. I’m going off memory but I think with fenders max tire width is 35mm.

Hello Ryan, I am thinking of upgrading my 2022 Trek FX3 Disc to a 2x system. What are your thoughts?

To each their own. If you feel like your ride is less enjoyable because you don’t have enough gearing for your terrain, then it’s a good idea. I would challenge you to go for a ride and tell yourself before hand that you will enjoy your ride even if that means working a little harder or going a little slower. I think you will find after a handful of rides the 1x is pretty good.

Hello again Ryan, I got a bit of a paint chip on the top tube in the aqua blue part of my 2022 FX 3 Disc. Can this easily be fixed on your own or should I take it to a bike shop?

It depends on how you want it to look. Its really hard to color match and blend it yourself. If you take it somewhere it will probably cost a small fortune.

Ryan, I’m looking at doing my first solo cross-country back-packing trip this coming season, starting in San Francisco and ending in Hilton Head. Because of carpel tunnel, drop bars/road bikes are not an option because of weight and angle it puts the riders wrists at. This limitation is what brought me to test ride the 2022 Trek FX Sport 4 Carbon & 2022 Sport 3 at my local bike shop. Question, do you think either of these are capable of making the trip and if so which one? I’m 6’1″and 215 lbs. Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

For a trip like that the carbon sport model will be better.

Correction on the second bike, I meant the 2022 FX 3 Disc.

Hello Ryan, two questions. Are you still using the stock seat or did you upgrade? Also, if you wanted to put a 12 cog rear cassette on, would there be enough room and what other parts would you likely have to change out. Thanks.

I use the stock seat. With cycling shorts on I’ve found I am comfortable on any saddle.

Very helpful review. After years riding and loving a road bike I decided to make a switch (I’m 68). I read your review, talked to my local, trusted LBS and purchased a FX3. Now for a twist…I also bought a Giant Escape 1. So far so good, and it’s too early to compare and contrast, but I’ll be back shortly after a few more rides.

I am 65 and just started biking. I bought the FX 3 and love it. You can ride nice and easy or make the ride challenging.

Ryan, any idea if the 2022 Trek FX Disc 3 can accommodate a 11 or 12 speed rear cassette?

It can be modified for sure, but in addition to a new cassette you would need new shift levers too. I think it’s a bigger project than it’s worth for a bike in this price range.

Two final questions Ryan. Can you recommend a pair of bike shorts that are not spandex? What kind of bike gloves do you wear while riding the FX3? I have a pair of Specialized gloves with padding on the inside and they don’t feel right with the ergonomic handlebars. Thanks again.

I love the Lycra shorts from Pearl Izumi. If you don’t like that skin tight feel try a pair of mountain biking shorts. My favorite are made by Zoic.

I go back and forth on gloves. With ergonomic grips I feel like I don’t need the gloves, but when I do wear them I wear either Pearl iZUMi or if I want full finger I wear Giro.

Is there a FX3 step through model?

Not a true step through or low step. They call it a stagger. The stagger has a much lower top tube but it won’t be as low as a true step through.

What’s the depth of the wheels rims if you know?

No clue on depth. I’ve always been more concerned with width. Looking at them I would guess internal is maybe 10mm. Seems to be about half the width anyway.

Bought my FX3 in August of this year to help get back into shape. At 60, with beat up knees, running wasn’t working for me. I love this bike and feel great after a few months of long rides. My only complaint was the non- adjustable handle bars as I was feeling too much pressure on my hands. I purchased Surly Sunrise handlebars and installed them at max height and rolled them back a bit to get more upright and haven’t had any issues yet. The extra weight doesn’t seem noticeable to me. Love this bike. Great article BTW. Thanks,

Hey Ryan, Great article. I am currently in the market for a new bike. I’ve only ever ridden mountain bikes and I’ve done what little I can to my full suspension Diamond Back to make it a smoother commute to work on city streets. I found an FX3 on offerup for a great deal, but im hesitant to pull the trigger. Can you advise as to what I would expect with that transition if I were to buy the FX3?

It will feel a lot faster, but it’s rigid so expect to feel more bumps.

Hi Ryan, I’m on the fence between this Trek FX3 and the Specialized Sirrus 3.0. The Sirrus has an aluminum fork and 1×9 Microshif. The brakes are Tektro. The advantage for the Sirrus is that is comes with 42mm tires and can run 45mm if you wanted to. Which bike would you pick? And do you think 42mm tires on the Trek would be possible for added comfort? Or perhaps the front tire could be 42mm and the back one 40mm? Thank you

42mm tires are definitely too big for the Trek. Both bikes are great. Trek will have more speed, specialized more comfort.

Having the ability to use a 2.1 tire is great I chose the DS3 2022, your statement about the narrow tires being faster is correct unless you hit a lot of sand like we have here in Florida then the narrow tires are going to let you down. Having the ability to mount wider tires or narrower and a carbon fork that can take up too a 2.0 700c on the DS3 makes it right on par with the FX but better because of having the option for running wider tires and something you can’t do on the FX.

Hi Ryan. I picked up the same bike last year (another n+1 added to the collection!) and for the most it’s great! Ended up upgrading pedals, grips , stem and tires (the LBS squeezed 42s on , so the bike essentially doubles as my gravel grinder). Question I have is if you have experienced any issues with the braking system? Particularly the rear brake stutters a fair bit with high speed braking or when I have my child in the Thule seat? I’ve read that it’s a bit common with the Promax brakes Trek substituted for the shimanos. Thought I would ask your experience this far. Cheers, Mike

I personally have not had any issues, but I know other commenters have reached out with complaints about Promax brakes. In this price range, I think the Promax brakes get the job done, but maybe I’ve just been lucky.

I have been riding a Trek FX 7500 for 20 years and now I am thinking about a new bike…I love my Treks I am thinking about a FX3 or a Verve 3. I am 74 years old and I am thinking about a more upright ride. What do you think? FX3 or Verve3?

Thanks Brian

I’m not a fan of the Verve, personally. The Verve 3 will definitely be more upright thanks to the adjustable stem, but you can replace the stem on an FX3 for the same result, it will just cost a little more. I think I would pay a few extra bucks on accessories that make the FX3 work versus buying the verve. The Verve is such a heavy bike weighing six pounds more than the FX.

I have a Verve 3 which is great for upright posture (which I need at 75); but I do not care for the drivetrain and weight. Can you specify how I could set up an FX3 to achieve the same posture and comfort? OTOH could I change the Verve 3 to a Deore or other drivetrain from Alevio/Acera?

Replace the stem and handlebars with something more upright. You might be able to get away with just a new stem too.

Hi Ryan. Am 54 not in great shape. Thinking of picking up cycling again to get in shape. Am from Malaysia and there seems to be a shortage of good bikes you see on internet. Now am suddenly faced with a choice of Specialized Sirrus 2 (gloss black) with Microshift set, Giant Escape 2 (cement) with the Altus set and Trek FX 3 with Deore set (matte black). The Trek is a thousand more in our currency making it the most expensive at MYR 3,899 (US 860) whereas the Giant and Specialized are around MYR 2,700. (US 650) we don’t even hv much color choices. Which of the 3 would you pick ?

The Trek. They all make a great bike but the Deore group set is the best in that bunch, by far.

Ok Ryan. Tqvm. Really good of you to reply. Decided am not going to do anything until I get your reply. Take care and all the best.

Hey, Great review.. Does the 1×10 drivetrain pick up as much speed as the 2×9 in the Fx2? I ride mostly flat trails and not much climbing. Thanks!

No, I’d say is the equivalent to having every other gear, so you are spending a little more time in each instead of ramping up quickly with multiple gears.

I found that I spinned out with the gearing and didn’t need the easier gears where I live… I replaced the crack with a 105 hollowteck .. the BB is compatible and got a 52t chainring … Of course you need a longer chain

Hello Ryan. What do you think of the FX3 for just riding down the highway on flat terrain?

Their are probably better bikes to do it more efficiently, specifically a road bike, but for just a casual rider strolling paved flat terrain the FX lineup is definitely sufficient.

Hi ryan About the FX3, 2023, with a 1×10, Would it be possible to maintain a good speed, let’s say 50 km/h, on a paved road without having to pedal like a crazy? Is the gearing low enough on a 1×10 compared to a 2×9 for example for fast riding?

Id say the 1×10 is going to feel lacking for maintaining fast speeds. It will feel like you’re missing that one extra gear.

Hi Ryan. Glad I found your page. For reference, I’m 73, 6’1″, 250 lbs working to drop 25 lbs, 1 knee replacement last Oct and the orher seems OK…for now Been out of cycling for about 10 years but wanting back in. Hoping to do both roads and solid trails…nothing to technical or extreme. I’ve been to all the local LBS and looked at most of the familiar mfrs offering. Now I’m down to the Trex FX3 and the Giant Fastroad AR. Not sure I need a 2x gearset here in SE Pennsylvania (Bucks Cnty) but I like the fatter tires on the AR. The FX is more comfortable for my tired old body. Your thoughts? TIA.

The gearset is a bummer really. Shimano 4100 Deore 10-speed A Shimano 5100 11-speed or 6100 12 speed would be a different league. agree?

It’s all relative. The group set is great for a beginner comparing their bike to one from a big box retailer. If you’ve riding high end bikes, it’s a lot harder to appreciate the quality and value of the FX.

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Giro d'Italia stage 8 Live - A summit battle for the maglia rosa

Best hybrid bikes - Fast bikes for leisure and commuting

The best hybrid bikes will get you around town fast and keep going into the countryside when it's time to relax

What to look for in a hybrid bike

The best hybrid bikes are designed for a relaxed, upright riding position, that still maintains handling and lets you ride fast.

Sometimes called fitness bikes, hybrid bikes make some of the best commuter bikes . Their upright position helps you to see and be seen as you ride and makes it easy to stop as well as mount and dismount. 

The flat bars, brakes and trigger gear shifters on a hybrid bike are easy to use, while most models will allow you to fit mudguards for protection in wet weather riding and a rack to help carry luggage.

Often there are multiple frame shape options, so you can find a bike to suit your riding style and preferences. 

That makes the best hybrid bikes super-versatile, but if you plan to use public transport, the best folding bikes may be easier to use. We've also covered the best women's hybrid bikes as well as the best hybrid bikes under £500 if you're looking for more choices.

Here's our pick of the best hybrid bikes, while towards the bottom of this page is our buyer's guide to what to look for in a hybrid bike.

Best hybrid bikes available today

You can trust Cyclingnews Our experts spend countless hours testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

1. Cannondale Quick 4

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

With a respectable lightweight aluminium frame, every decal and logo on the Cannondale Quick is reflective, so it lights up a Christmas tree to help you be seen in low-light conditions.

The frame itself has rack and fender mounts, and the rear end has flex tuned into the stays to keep you comfortable as you ride — Cannondale call this SAVE Micro-Suspension. Cannondale has specced a Shimano Altus / Acera 1x9-speed drivetrain, complete with a wide range 11-42T cassette and a 38T narrow-wide chainring on the Quick 4. Not only does this simplify shifting while still providing a wide gear range but it also helps make dropped chains a thing of the past. Other specs get a double chainring for a wider range of gears.

We rated the Quick's lively, comfortable ride and responsive handling, while the 35mm tyres provide some extra comfort on potholed roads and the hydraulic disc brakes provide confidence-inspiring stopping power.

Like the Cannondale Treadwell, which we've also reviewed, there's Cannondale's wheel-mounted sensor that lets you record ride data on the Cannondale app and you can mount your phone to the bars to use it as a cycling computer . 

There's a specific women's model as well as the unisex Quick, giving you lots of size range.

You can read more in our full review of the Cannondale Quick hybrid bike.

2. Cannondale Treadwell 3

Cannondale's Treadwell features a sloping top tube to create a low standover height and has what the brand classes as an 'easy geometry,' with either a kinked or dropped top tube making for quick on and off mounts and dismounts. 

With BMX-inspired flat bars and an aluminium frame, the bike features urban armour bumpers to protect the tubing from dings when you lean your bike against a pole or rack. As with the Quick, Cannondale also specs its speed and cadence sensor and an intellimount stem which will securely hold any SP connect compatible phone case, so you can track your rides through the Cannondale App. You're even reminded when the bike is due for a service. 

The Treadwell's big 47mm tyres and 13kg weight make it sluggish to get up to speed, but if you're after a bike for easy rides around town and short weekend excursions, it fits the bill without breaking the bank and its simple mechanical components should be low maintenance. 

You can read more in our full review of the Cannondale Treadwell 3 .

3. Trek FX 2 Disc (Equipped)

Coming out of the big red barn in Waterloo Wisconsin, the FX range makes up Trek's hybrid bikes. The FX 2 Disc is available in two options: Standard or Equipped, the latter of which comes equipped with a pannier rack, mudguards, lights and a kickstand as standard. The frame is made from Trek's Alpha Gold aluminium and features internal cable routing and mounts galore. 

The FX 2 Disc isn't a particularly flashy bike, nor is it particularly lightweight for its price point, but despite this, the ride is responsive and enjoyable, making us look for errands to run just so we could ride it again. 

Trek opted for hydraulic flat-mount disc brakes on the FX 2 Disc, so braking will always be confident, and with little to no maintenance required. For those seeking more of a fitness bike, the standard (non-equipped) FX 2 Disc is a good option, but it would possibly benefit from an upgrade from the Acera groupset. The next step up - the FX 3 Disc - comes with a 2x10 Shimano Deore, which is a big step up if you can stretch the budget. 

4. Cube Hyde Pro

Cube's Hyde Pro is built around a lightweight, robust aluminium frame and fork. Unlike our other recommendations, it sees a Gates Belt drive so no need to worry about regular maintenance. The belt drive does away with a regular chain and sprockets and uses a belt and toothed cogs for a quiet, low-maintenance transmission. Flat-mount Shimano MT200 hydraulic brakes paired with 160mm rotors, mean the Hyde can stop on a dime and should stay that way with little additional attention. 

The Schwalbe Big Apple tyres are well armoured to prevent punctures - they are also tubeless. So, should you roll through a patch of broken glass, you won't be left stuck on the side of the road faffing with tyre levers. What's more, at 55mm wide, there's a huge amount of cushioning to keep you comfortable for your entire ride, so uneven roads and potholed surfaces needn't worry you.

5. Ribble Hybrid AL

Our favourite thing about Ribble Bikes is that its bike builder area of the website allows you to customise your ride to meet your exact specifications. Want 650b wheels and tyres instead of 700c? No problem. How about a parcel rack and mudguards? For sure. Do you think that the front derailleur should be put to bed once and for all? No worries, you can have a 1x drivetrain. 

The Hybrid all-rounder is designed for speed and efficiency but with the ability to customise the components, Ribble has used a versatile geometry that allows it to be adapted for your intended use. With rack and fender mounts, front and rear, the bike uses thru-axles and sees dropped seat stays for added levels of compliance. 

You don't have to customise it though, there are well-considered off-the-shelf packages available too. There's an electric version, the Ribble Hybrid AL e, that we rate among the best electric bikes for commuting .

6. Ridgeback Speed

Ridgeback's hybrid bikes are an excellent and popular gateway into urban cycling for many. They're practical and comfortable, often come with a full set of mudguards and a rear rack already fitted, and can be an excellent choice for someone who just wants to get going the moment it's built.

It features a 3x7 Shimano Tourney drivetrain, and Promax V-brakes which, while they're not disc brakes, are very easy to maintain at home, replacement pads are also cheap. It comes stock with cushy 42mm tyres that will soak up many of the bumps on the road and maintain grip when the weather takes a turn.

As a brand, Ridgeback offers a huge range of hybrid bikes, starting as low as £299 and increasing in price by £50 increments, with only one or two prominent changes to the build. This means that if the Speed isn't quite up to scratch for your needs, it's incredibly easy to find a Ridgeback hybrid bike that has what you need at a price point you're comfortable with.

7. Vitus Mach 3 VRS

Well specced for the price, the Vitus Mach 3 VRS is the mid-spec bike from a three-model line-up. It comes with 2x9-speed Shimano Sora shifting, although the combination of a 50/34T chainset and 11-28T cassette means that the available gear range is a bit less than many other hybrid bike options. This marks it out as a slightly more speed-orientated hybrid, and Sora is a road-gearing groupset. It's easily upgradable to a cassette with a 32-tooth largest sprocket though, if you do want more range for hillier rides.

The 38mm wide tyres are lightly treaded and give plenty of grip without sacrificing rolling speed, so the Mach 3 would serve for both faster city riding and a trip out onto tracks and trails. With rack and mudguard mounts, it's a bike that's easy to weatherproof too. 

At 10kg claimed weight for the size medium bike, the Vitus Mach 3 isn't too onerous to carry up stairs and over obstacles either, while the sloping geometry and one-piece bar and stem give the bike a modern, sporty look.

8. Marin Larkspur 2 2021

Whether you're looking for something that prioritises comfort and mobility, or you just want something a bit different, take a closer look at the Marin Larkspur. This unique-looking bike takes the step-through concept and turns it into some modernised goofy fun, adding in a dropper post for easy remounting in traffic, as well as chunky 650b x 2.35in tyres. 

The Larkspur is at home on paved roads and gravel paths alike, cushioning the blows from uneven surfaces and leaving you to float over potholes without care. The swooped handlebars put the rider in an upright position that makes it possible to see further ahead in traffic, the step-through frame makes mounting and dismounting a breeze, and extremely low gearing will make hill-climbing light work for most. It also makes the Larkspur a solid option for anyone with mobility or joint issues.

9. Tern Eclipse X22

Not everybody has room to store a stable of bikes, but that doesn't mean that two-wheeled transport is out of reach. Tern's Eclipse X22 finds the right balance between folding capability and riding efficiency. With 26in wheels and tyres, the bike is vastly more energy efficient over long distances than its smaller wheeled folding cousins but still compactly folds down to 38 x 90 x 81cm.

The geometry is also considerably more aggressive than many folders, and it boasts a 2x11 Ultegra drivetrain and Shimano SLX hydraulic disc brakes - quality components that help to justify the Tern's bigger price tag than the majority of hybrids here. 

10. Giant ToughRoad SLR 2

The ToughRoad, as the name suggests, is designed to keep you going regardless of whether you're riding on glass-smooth tarmac, rough gravel or bone-rattling cobblestones. Made from the brand's ALUXX SLR aluminium, the ToughRoad also has a carbon fork to reduce weight and absorb some of the vibrations coming through the front end. To keep your rear end sitting pretty, Giant has opted to use its D-fuse seatpost for improved compliance, 50mm Giant Sycamore tyres for grip, and plenty of damping too.

The flat-bar geometry keeps the rider in a comfortable position that finds the right balance between comfort and pedalling efficiency, and the frame sees heaps of mounts, as well as an integrated fender on the down tube. With a mix of Shimano Acera, Alivio and Altus components, the bike has a 9-speed, 11-36T cassette and 44/28T chainrings. 

11. Specialized Sirrus 2.0

Made from Specialized's A1 alloy, the Sirrus 2.0 features internal cable routing and plug-and-play fender and rack mounts front and rear. The dropped chainstays at the rear promote a bit of flex at the seat cluster to take the edge off of square hits which combined with the 32C tyres provide for a smooth rider — there is room for 42C rubber should you want a higher volume tyre.

Hydraulic disc brakes provide heaps of power and modulation regardless of the weather and should stay that way for years to come with maintenance. The 2x8 Shimano Acera/Tourney drivetrain with an 11-32 cassette and 46/30T chainrings allow for plenty of range to get you through that hilly commute, without sweating through your shirt. 

12. Orbea Vector 15

If you need a workhorse that can do pretty much everything you want, from commuting to work to carrying the shopping home, but you can't be bothered to figure out all the additional accessories you need to go with it, then you're in luck. The Orbea Vector 15 is ready to roll, complete with front and rear mudguards, a rear pannier rack and front and rear dynamo lights. All you need to do is don your helmet, grab your best bike lock and start riding to the office.

What's more, the Vector is built around Orbea's Body Sport Geometry, which prioritises comfort, placing the rider in a relaxed and more upright position so that you can see clearly in traffic and ride for as long as you need to without feeling discomfort.

Chances are, if you're on the lookout for a hybrid, you may be about to buy your first bike as an adult. If that's the case, there's a lot of choice out there and it can be easy to feel overwhelmed by all the options. To make life easier for you, we've listed some of the key considerations for choosing the right hybrid bike for your needs.

What is a hybrid bike?

A hybrid bike, as per the definition of the word hybrid; is "a thing made by combining two different elements" and is a combination of road and mountain bikes. 

For example, flat handlebars are usually seen as a defining feature of a mountain bike or fitness bike. This is not only because the wider width makes for manageable steering and an upright riding position, but also because hybrids typically have a geometry with a longer reach than a traditional road bike.

The wheels are typically 700c in size - the same as road bikes - with slick or semi-slick tyres that are somewhere between the two when it comes to the width. The handlebars are more akin to a mountain bike style, being flat in shape, as opposed to the drop bar shape found on a road bike. The geometry sits in the middle of the two, putting you in a fast position, but still one that's upright enough to remain comfortable and safe in traffic. 

If you're more interested in riding off-road and gaining a bit of speed, check out our Gravel bike vs hybrid bike feature.

Are disc brakes worth it on a hybrid bike?

There is no question that disc brakes provide better performance than rim brakes. They offer superior power and modulation, and performance is much less affected by wet weather. Depending on the price, hybrid bikes will either come with hydraulic or cable-actuated discs. While they cost a bit more, hydraulic discs require less maintenance and less force at the lever to achieve more braking power, because more leverage can be engineered into the system. In general, try to look for hydraulic disc brakes if you are shopping for a new hybrid bike. 

What gearing do I need?

When we talk about gearing, what we're really referring to is the bike's drivetrain.

The main drivetrain choices for hybrid bikes are belt-driven drivetrains and or internally geared ones. 1x (one-by), 2x (two-by) or a triple chainset which uses regular chains and sprockets. Belt drive systems replace a metal chain for a belt and internally geared drivetrains package all of the gears inside the rear hub, meaning they require very little maintenance. And all the shifting is done with a single lever. The downside is they are anything but light and the total gear range is usually less broad than a derailleur-geared system. 

1x, 2x and triple systems are the traditional chain and derailleur-operated drivetrains, with the difference being the number of chainrings at the front. 

A 1x drivetrain can offer the same, or even a wider gear range than a 2x system, and will feature a clutched rear derailleur to handle chain slack and a narrow-wide chainring which will prevent your chain from falling off the chainring. Shifting is operated with a single lever. The downside is they are a bit more expensive, and sometimes the jumps between the gears can be pretty big.

A 2x drivetrain is usually more budget-friendly, and will generally offer the widest spread of gears, but with extra components comes extra maintenance, which can also complicate shifting for beginners. 

Some bikes even offer a 3x system, but these are few and far between nowadays as the need for the smallest inner chainring was replaced by larger cassettes (the sprocket at the back) offering the same low gears. 

What other features should I look for in a hybrid bike?

Hybrid bikes are often used in all weather conditions and most frames will have mounting points for mudguards , even if the bike is not fitted with them.

A rear rack can be useful for carrying stuff. Again, look out for the mounting points at the rear, both on the dropouts where the wheel's hub fits into the frame and higher up on the seat stays.

Lights are also a useful addition for safety and essential if riding at night. Again, some hybrids will have these fitted, while you may need to budget for them as an extra if not.

Many hybrid bikes will come fitted with a bell, which can be useful when riding in town. This may be a basic number though. For something altogether more flashy, check out our guide to the best bike bells .

A kickstand is another option which may or may not be present, but can be useful, particularly for urban riders.

Do I need a suspension fork?

Lots of hybrid bikes come with suspension forks, but we believe that these should largely be avoided. Not only are they heavier and more expensive than a rigid fork, but those fitted to hybrid bikes are often very cheap and don't provide much in the way of efficient shock absorption. Low-end forks like this usually ride like a bouncy mess, and over time are likely to seize anyway. If you are worried about riding comfort, prioritise a bike with lots of tyre clearance, wide tyres and possibly 650b wheels, which allow even wider tyres. 

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Mildred joined as Reviews Writer for Cyclingnews and BikePerfect in December 2020. She loves all forms of cycling from long-distance audax to daily errand-running by bike, and does almost everything on two wheels, including moving house, and started out her cycling career working in a bike shop. For the past five years she's volunteered at The Bristol Bike Project as a mechanic and session coordinator, and now sits on its board of directors.

Since then she's gone on to write for a multitude of cycling publications, including Bikeradar, Cycling Plus, Singletrack, Red Bull, Cycling UK and Total Women's Cycling. She's dedicated to providing more coverage of women's specific cycling tech, elevating under-represented voices in the sport, and making cycling more accessible overall. 

Height: 156cm (5'2")

Weight: 75kg

Rides: Stayer Groadinger UG, Triban RC520 Women's Disc, Genesis Flyer, Marin Larkspur, Cotic BFe 26, Clandestine custom bike

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Trek Dual Sport 2 Equipped Gen 5 review

Fully equipped Euro-style trekking bike that’ll tackle rough-road commuting

Joe Branston / Our Media

Simon Withers

Comfort; comprehensive kit; great brakes

Heavy; dedicated cable routing

The name might be a bit of a mouthful and Trek’s Dual Sport range is confusing to navigate your way around – 24 models including step-through frames, suspension forks and women’s bikes. However, Trek gives you a lot of bike, and kit, for a quite modest outlay here.

Apart from the full complement of kit, the other thing you notice about the Trek is it’s a weighty beast. We're talking a hefty 14kg.

So, is that a problem? Not really, no.

If your daily cycle to work takes you up the Tourmalet or the Rosedale Chimney, this might not be your bike of choice, but for flatter and even rolling routes it’s much less of an issue.

You’re not going to be bombing up those climbs out of the saddle either, but sit in the saddle and spin the very low, back- and knee-friendly bottom gears and you’ll get to your destination comfortably, if not quickly.

Trek Dual Sport 2 Equipped Gen 5 specification

Part of the extra weight is down to the fact it comes with all the touring extras that are just as handy for day-to-day duties.

The rear rack has a healthy 25kg carrying capacity, but at first glance the rack is only mounted to the frame by a single fixing point. So, what’s going on?

Well, look closer and the rack is also fixed to the rear – and apparently plastic – SKS mudguard. Examine the fender more closely still and you’ll find it has metal reinforcements. It's neat, strong and a very elegant solution.

The kickstand, a rare sight on British bikes, is very handy and the Trek also comes with front and rear lights .

These are quite modest affairs – the front rechargeable light putting out 35 lumens, but it’s a nice white beam that’s bright enough for being seen on city streets.

The rear LED requires two AA batteries. Further up the Dual Sport range, you’ll find bright, higher-spec dynamo lights , but for the price of this model, I’m really not complaining.

Your money is also getting you some well-chosen drivetrain components and high-quality hydraulic disc brakes – the latter is something you won’t find on a road bike at this price.

Trek Dual Sport 2 Equipped Gen 5 geometry

Trek dual sport 2 equipped gen 5 ride impressions.

The 9-speed gearing comes courtesy of Shimano Altus shifters and rear derailleur with an Acera front.

The sub-compact 46/30 chainset is paired with a wide-ranging 11-36 cassette. This delivers a very welcome and low bottom gear you’re unlikely to spin out on, even on steep climbs.

Gear changes are crisp and accurate, if not as smooth as with higher-level setups.

But perhaps the real highlight of the componentry is the braking. The Tektro R280 brakes may lack the maximum power needed for mountain biking, but they're more than sufficient on a commuter bike . They performed admirably on my local 30mph-plus descents and the short 11 per cent section on my commute.

One thing I wasn’t quite so keen on is how the cabling is routed directly into a cutaway at the front of the dedicated headset’s top cap.

It seems harsh to complain, because it’s a super-neat setup more at home on an aero road bike , but I’m not sure it’ll make home maintenance any easier.

The Trek Dual Sport doesn't lack comfort. The compact frame leaves a lot of seatpost exposed, and I was very impressed by the Bontrager Sport saddle.

It may be a modestly priced product, but it has a full-length pressure-relief groove and I found it extremely comfortable for the sort of upright riding position you’re likely to be in on the Trek.

The wide, 50mm tyres – provided by Trek-owned brand Bontrager, of course – also make a pleasing contribution to comfort.

These combine a smooth centre strip for reduced rolling resistance on tarmac with greater grip on the shoulders for light gravel riding .

They were good for the canal towpath and local unsurfaced routes, and thanks to the mudguards I didn’t end up covered in mud and grime.

Trek Dual Sport 2 Equipped Gen 5 bottom line

You’re not going to ride any PBs or shatter a Strava segment record on the Trek Dual Sport.

However, your commute will be comfortable regardless of the riding surface.

This is a competitively priced bike with excellent brakes and a dependable spec list. It'll even enable you to load up for some light touring or leisure rides with the family come the weekend.

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Best women's hybrid bikes 2024 and how to choose between them

Our top picks of the best women's hybrid bikes, with lots of helpful advice on how to find your ideal bicycle for mixed terrain riding

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The Quick List

Best all-rounder, best for commuting, best for fitness, best on a budget, best for casual rides, best for comfort, urban focused, do-it-all versatility, how to choose a women's hybrid bike.

Best Women's Hybrid Bikes 2024: Jump Menu

The list in brief ↴

1. Best all-rounder 2. Best for commuting 3. Best for fitness 4. Best on a budget 5. Best for casual rides 6. Best for comfort

How to choose a hybrid bike

Capable of tackling tarmac or heading off piste, the best women's hybrid bikes take their influence from both road and off road bikes. They are a great option for anyone who is looking for two wheeled adventures, but who doesn't want to be committed to just one style of riding. 

Choosing a women’s specific bike is not for every female rider, and cycling brands have even flip-flopped over the years in their manufacturing of them. Our guide includes genuine hand picked options that we think make ideal women's specific hybrid bikes, as well as lots of helpful hints and tips on how to find your perfect match. 

Just because a bike isn’t labelled as a 'women’s bike’ doesn’t mean it can’t be ridden by a woman, we've even got a whole page on Is ‘women’s specific geometry’ still relevant? However, there are certainly benefits to be gained from purchasing a women’s specific bike. It's likely to have features like a women's specific saddle , shorter cranks or narrower handlebars for more comfortable riding.

As well as this, certain models will adjust the geometry of the bike so that it is more suited to the shape of the average woman. That includes, for instance, shortening the top tube, as traditionally bikes have been manufactured with long top tubes to accommodate men’s proportionally longer arms compared to their legs.

A wide gear range, mounts for fenders and a rack alongside clearance for wide tires make this a versatile hybrid indeed.

Read more below

Equipped with a front dynamo light, fenders and a rack it's ready for the daily grind. With reliable hub gears and belt drive.

Read more below  

Light, sporty and with a 10-speed drivechain, it's ideally suited for fitness pursuits - but has fender and rack mounts too.

A lower price point but still features an 8-speed Shimano drivechain and disc brakes. A tad heavy though.

With its cruiser styling and 650b wheels it's designed for comfort but also has 9 gears, disc brakes and mounts, too.

Wide tire clearance alongside a compliant seatpost, grips and pressure-relieving saddle make this a comfort focussed option.

Best women's hybrid bikes 2024: Our picks

1. Specialized Sirrus 2.0 Step-Through

Specifications, reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

Over the years the Sirrus name has become synonymous with sporty yet practical hybrids - and the current 2.0 Step-Thru is just that.

It’s built around a lightweight aluminium frameset that’s uses Specialized's Fitness Geometry. It's been updated to include ‘modern’ standards such as flat-mount disc brakes and internal cable routing but still includes the all-important mounts for fenders and a rear rack. The combination makes for a bike that’s equally at home on the daily commute as it is on weekend fitness rides; its versatility is increased further by clearance for 42mm tires, although the bike comes equipped with 32s.

The gear range, using a 2x Shimano drivechain, is sensible. By matching a 46/30 chainset with an 8-speed 11-32t cassette, you’ll have a better than 1:1 gear for the steeper stuff while still having higher gear for flatter and faster roads - although you’ll find you’ll have to navigate some larger jumps between these gears.

2. Trek District 4 Equipped Stagger

If you’re looking for a commuter-friendly step-through hybrid you can use year round, Trek’s District 4 Equipped Stagger might be hard to beat.

Yes it’s not cheap but as the name suggests it’s a bells and whistles affair, meaning you won’t have to fork out for additional accessories. As standard it comes equipped not only with fenders, a rear rack and a kickstand but also a Herrmans front light, powered by the Shimano Nexus dynamo front hub.

And the bike’s practicality doesn’t stop there. It combines a Shimano Alfine internal 8-speed hub with a Gates CDX belt drive system that should add up to greater reliability and far less maintenance, especially when riding through winter. Add to this the hydraulic disc brakes and puncture resistant tires and you have a four-season ready machine. The potential downside? All this gear means the bike isn’t the lightest around.

3. Boardman HYB 8.8 women’s hybrid bike

Our expert review:

Coming in nearly 1 kilogram lighter than the previous Boardman HYB 8.6 model, the HYB 8.8 boasts lighter and better components to complement its reliable alloy frame and carbon forks. It was one of our Editor's Choice picks in 2021.

The 8.8 model is fitted with Shimano Deore 1 x 10 gears to ensure quick, smooth and reliable gear shifting. With one chainring at the front and a 11-42 tooth cassette at the rear, the drivetrain is lighter with less to go wrong or to maintain. The wide range cassette means there is still ample gearing for most situations.

Boardman have tailored this ride to the needs of females by kitting the bike out with narrower bars, shorter stems and a women’s specific saddle.

Mounts for mudguards and a pannier rack are also included in this model that delivers great versatility. Given that it's one of the lighter bikes here, and combined with the 10-speed drivechain, it's as equally well-suited to faster paced fitness rides as it is the daily commute.

Read more: Boardman HYB 8.8 Women's bike review

4. Carrera Subway 1 women's hybrid bike

For just over £300, this is a value for money option that will give even nervous riders confidence with its predictable handling and the stopping power of its mechanical disc brakes.

The Carrera Subway 1 comes with a subtle frame geometry tweak—a dropped top tube—for the women’s specific build.

With Kenda tyres designed with an extra Kevlar layer for puncture proofness, mudguard and pannier mounts, the Subway 1 is certainly versatile. Complementing this, its 2x8 gear set up is robust and has a broad range. But it is also not as comfortable as other options, so we’d not recommend it if you’re going on long adventures.

Read more: Carrera Subway review

5. Cannondale Treadwell Remixte 2

If your riding is varied but leans towards the more relaxed variety, then Cannondale’s Treadwell Mixte could be a great fit. It’s a bike designed for everyday use, taking the practicality of a regular hybrid and blending it with the comfort and looks of a cruiser. And the result is pretty interesting.

The Remixte frame with its step-through design makes it a good match for city riding, where you might be hopping on and off the bike throughout the day - and it's got mounts for a rack and fenders too.  It’s matched to 27.5” wheels shod in 47mm wide tires, which should translate to plenty of comfort. The stem and bars are noteworthy, too. The former has a mount that works with any SP-Connect compatible smartphone case, turning the stem into a handy dashboard. The latter take their inspiration from BMX riser bars; here it should aid a more upright and comfortable position.

As for the gearing and the brakes you get a wide range, easy-to-use 1x 9-speed Microshift drivechain and Tektro hydraulic brakes. Together they should make the bike pretty versatile across a variety of terrain.

6. Liv Alight 2 Disc

Liv is dedicated solely to making bikes for women. It’s Alight range is aimed at commuters and fitness riders, who want an agile yet comfortable and practical hybrid.

The Alight 2 appears to have all those bases covered. The aluminium frameset has integrated mounts for fenders, a rear rack, and a kickstand. Combine this with the hydraulic brakes it’s ready for the rigors of the daily commute.

It’s also equipped with a D-fuse seatpost that has built in compliance, shock-absorbing grips and a pressure-relieving saddle. The updated fork also means there’s clearance for 42mm tires should you wish to spec something a little more rugged in tread or voluminous for added comfort.

The Shimano 2x8 gearing, like several bikes featured in this guide, offers plenty of range for a variety of riding, but does mean you’ll experience some larger jumps between gears. 

7. Cannondale Quick Women's 4 Hybrid Bike

Staying true to its name, the Quick range are Cannondale ’s machines for speed and confidence when commuting and leisure riding.

Sitting in the middle is the Quick 4, which is equipped with hydraulic disc brakes and a 9 speed drivetrain.

Fitted with a chromoly fork, this bike is designed to withstand the demands of city riding by reducing road vibrations. While the alloy frame has Cannondale’s OutFront Steering Geometry to provide added stability for sweeping your way across town.

The Quick 4, like all other Quick models, features bright 360° reflective components as an important safety measure. This model has also flat handlebars for a comfortable and stable upright riding position, which is useful when keeping an eye on traffic.

8. Pinnacle Lithium 3 women’s hybrid bike

The Lithium 3 can handle any terrain you dare to ride with ease, as a do it all hybrid. Pinnacle, the in-house brand at Evans Cycles, has combined a rigid 29er mountain bike with 40c tyres for ample rolling ability on tarmac. This bike provides controllability over rough terrain and speed down the streets.

With wide clearance and space for 2.2” MTB tyres, the Lithium is built with versatility in mind and can be easily adapted to explore local trails, fields and forests.

Coming in at 12.5kg, the Lithium’s alloy frame and steel fork doesn’t make for the lightest of bikes. But, equipped with Shimano Acera triple chainset (44-32-22) and a 11-32 tooth cassette, you shouldn’t struggle up the hills. The only noteworthy issue with weight comes when trying to carry the bike.

Read more: Pinnacle Lithium 4 women’s hybrid bike

At first glance, the sheer range and variety of hybrid bikes can seem overwhelming but they do have many features in common.

Key features to expect in a hybrid bike are listed below. In the women's specific models, you'll expect a women's saddle, and narrower handlebars as well as a spread of sizes more suited to shorter riders.

Mounting points for panniers and mudguards

Carrying weight on the bike is more pleasant than on your back as it takes the weight off your shoulders and lowers your centre of gravity. Using panniers also saves getting all sweaty from where the backpack touches your skin. However do bear in mind, backpacks are more versatile and can prove useful if your journey involves sections which are not done on the bike.

Mudguards are important in helping to keep you drier when it’s raining as you won’t be flicking additional water onto yourself. But significantly, and often overlooked, they also keep you dry when it’s not raining and there’s still water on the roads.

You will find points for mounting the panniers and mudguards by the front and rear axles, at the top of the seat stays and at the crown of the fork.

Clearance for wider tyres for comfort

As your only direct contact point with the ground, tyre choice has a large effect on the comfort of your ride and the terrain you can ride on. Wider tyres provide more grip and don’t sink into soft surfaces—like mud and gravel—to the same extent as narrower tyres. In having a greater volume of air over narrower tyres, they also are better able to absorb bumps and potholes and provide greater comfort.

A good starting point is to look for a tyre that is at least 35mm wide, although you can get tyres that are up to 60mm wide on some machines, although they tend to be better for off-road use and may slow you down on tarmac due to higher rolling resistance. 

Upright position for comfort and better view in and around traffic

A more upright position puts less pressure on your hands, as your weight is transferred to your sit bones instead. It can be more comfortable to be more upright if you have a backpack, as when you are bent over with a backpack it can be quite unstable and flop from side to side.

Another benefit of a more upright position is that it provides you with a better view of the traffic, helping you to safely navigate around the cars on your commute.

Flat handlebars for control, comfort and price point

With flat handlebars the shifting and braking are straightforward, which is especially useful if you are not used to a road bike set up.

There is the added benefit that the brakes and shifters are significantly cheaper for flat handlebars than the integrated brakes and shifters of road bikes. This keeps down the initial cost of these bikes and saves you money on any future repairs.

Wide range of gears

Gears are the way that your pedal strokes are converted into efficient forward motion. Given that there is a relatively narrow range of cadences that are comfortable to ride in (70-100rpm), but the speeds that we commonly travel at can range from 10kph to 60kph, it’s important to have a large range of gears so that we can ride at our preferred cadence, whatever the speed.

But absolute range is not the only consideration. Small and even gaps between the gears help us to fine-tune the gear we are riding in and prevent us from being stuck between two gears, one too big and one too small.

A triple crankset with an 8 speed cassette, for example, provides an affordable way of getting enough absolute range whilst still having acceptable jumps between the gears. While a double with a wide range 10 speed cassette is pricier, it is also lighter weight and provides a similar range with similar jumps to the 3x8.

If you are only riding on the flat and not carrying heavier loads, you will be able to do with a smaller range of gears, which will simplify riding and maintenance and save a little weight.

Disc brakes for controlled and reliable braking

Disc brakes provide greater power than rims brakes, and the price of this increase in braking performance is dropping all the time—so we are seeing far more hybrid bikes at all price points coming with disc brakes. Where disc brakes particularly excel is stopping in the wet. This is an important aspect for a hybrid that is being used for commuting as it is likely going to be needed in all weather conditions.

Hydraulic disc brakes also provide better modulation and have a significantly lighter lever action, so they are far easier to use than other braking mechanisms and they're a sealed system so there should be less maintenance needed.

Rugged tyres for fewer punctures

The last thing you want to be doing when commuting or on a leisurely cycle is to be having to change an inner tube. Although the more rugged tyres don’t roll as fast and are a little heavier, these are small trade-offs for the inconvenience of a puncture.

Many hybrid bikes are now coming with tubeless ready wheels and tyres, which help to lower the risk of being stopped by a puncture.

High spoke count for robust wheels

If you want to carry heavy loads, a high spoke count will help with that as less tension is put through each of the spokes, leading to a more robust, durable wheel.

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Hannah is Cycling Weekly’s longest-serving tech writer, having started with the magazine back in 2011. She has covered all things technical for both print and digital over multiple seasons representing CW at spring Classics, and Grand Tours and all races in between.

Hannah was a successful road and track racer herself, competing in UCI races all over Europe as well as in China, Pakistan and New Zealand.

For fun, she's ridden LEJOG unaided, a lap of Majorca in a day, won a 24-hour mountain bike race and tackled famous mountain passes in the French Alps, Pyrenees, Dolomites and Himalayas. 

She lives just outside the Peak District National Park near Manchester UK with her partner, daughter and a small but beautifully formed bike collection. 

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Could the sprinters have one final opportunity before the first rest day?

By Joseph Lycett Last updated 12 May 24

Counting down the days to the sprint finals at the Olympics, Emma Finucane and Sophie Capewell tell Tom Davidson about their final push to find that decisive tenth of a second

By Tom Davidson Published 12 May 24

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Best Hybrid Bikes in 2024: Top Models for Leisure, Commuting and Fitness

Hybrid bikes are known as the champions of versatility, making them a great choice for anyone who loves cycling on different types of terrain.

They blend the best parts of road and mountain bikes, which helps them perform equally well on smooth roads, busy city streets, and on country trails.

The best hybrid bikes are designed to promote a relaxed upright riding position that balances comfort and handling with speed and acceleration. 

Hybrid bikes are super versatile and ideal for a wide range of riders and uses.

Our buying guide below is your ticket to discovering the 13 best hybrid bike models of the year, whether you’re riding to work or going on a weekend adventure.

If you’re on a tight budget, we recommend also reading our buying guide on the best hybrid bikes under $1,000 . We’ve also written guides on the best hybrid bikes for women and the best electric hybrid bikes  if you want to explore even more options.

Key Factors in Choosing the Best Hybrid Bike

Choosing the best hybrid bike for your needs requires understanding the main aspects that impact performance, comfort, and practicality.

Here are some key factors to keep in mind, but consider reading our full guide to hybrid bikes as well to learn more.

Gearing Options and Belt Drives

Hybrid bikes are available with diverse gearing options, from single-speed to multi-gear drivetrains that cater to different needs and riding conditions. 

Many models also come with internal gear hubs that feature a sealed low-maintenance mechanism, ideal for daily exploitation in various weather.

Higher-end models might feature belt drive systems, an alternative to traditional chains, that provide a clean, quiet, and low-maintenance ride. Though the technology is slowly trickling down and belt drive bikes are becoming more affordable over time. 

Each of these setups can be right for you, depending on your needs. When choosing, consider the typical terrain you’ll ride on and the amount of maintenance you’re comfortable with.

Bike Fit and Comfort

Hybrid bikes are typically designed to prioritize comfort over performance, so it’s crucial to get a model that fits you well. 

Make sure to study the geometry and size chart well and choose a frame size that fits your body dimensions such as height and inseam length. 

You should also keep in mind that some hybrid bikes have a relaxed, upright riding position, whereas others favor a more aggressive, forward-leaning position. 

Therefore, choosing the right frame type for your style of riding is critical to ensure you feel comfortable and the bike meets your needs perfectly.

Recommended reading:

• Bike Size Charts: How to Choose the Right Bicycle Size
• Easy DIY Bike Fit: Tips for a More Comfortable Ride

Disc Brakes

Disc brakes used to be available on mountain bikes only until a few years ago—now the best hybrid bikes have them as well. 

They are a superior choice compared to traditional rim brakes as they offer more braking power and perform consistently no matter the weather conditions. They especially shine on rainy days and on muddy rides.

Disc brakes are available in two types—mechanical and hydraulic. The former are cheaper but require manual adjusting, whereas the latter are slightly more expensive but brake better and require less frequent adjustment. 

Whenever possible, we recommend choosing hydraulic disc brakes. But, if your budget doesn’t allow it, mechanical discs and rim brakes can also be a good choice, especially if you typically ride in dry conditions.

The weight of a hybrid bike is not as important as the weight of a road bike, but it does affect a few important daily aspects, such as handling and portability. 

Hybrids are generally not considered to be lightweight, especially if they come with features like an internal gear hub, hydraulic disc brakes, multiple add-ons, and wide tires. 

However, choosing a lighter model can be beneficial, especially if you need to lift the bike often, carry it up and down the stairs, or take it on public transportation. 

If you want to ensure you get a lightweight hybrid bike, look for a model with a carbon frameset or a high-grade aluminum frame and carbon fork. They may cost more, but they’ll be easier to handle and a joy to ride.

If this doesn’t fit your budget, don’t obsess over it—generally speaking, weight is of secondary importance when riding a hybrid.

Accessories and Customization Options

The best hybrid bikes we’ve chosen below may or may not come with preinstalled accessories, such as fenders and racks. However, most hybrid bikes offer mounts for customization options, so you can include these add-ons on your own.

Unless you’re planning to use your hybrid bike for performance-focused fitness riding, accessories like racks and panniers can be handy for carrying goods, whereas fenders will allow you to ride in wet conditions. 

We also recommend investing in getting a set of bright lights and reflectors for visibility, as well as mounts for water bottles. A kickstand can also be handy if you make a lot of frequent stops, as it will prevent you from chipping the frame paint by having to lean your bike on posts and walls. 

Best Hybrid Bikes in 2024

• Specialized Sirrus 6.0
• Co-op Cycles CTY 2.1
• Priority Bicycles Continuum Onyx
• Trek Dual Sport+ 2
• Cannondale Quick Disc 4
• Tommaso La Forma
• Giant FastRoad AR Advanced 1
• Diamondback Division 2
• Public Bikes V9 Aluminum
• Cannondale Bad Boy 1
• LIV Alight 2 Disc
• Marin DSX 2
• Rondo Booz ST

1. Specialized Sirrus 6.0

High-End Hybrid Performance

• MSRP: $3,000
• Frame: FACT 9r carbon w/ Compliance Junction
• Suspension : Future Shock 1.5
• Gears: SRAM GX Eagle Lunar 1×12
• Brakes: SRAM Level TLM hydraulic

Reasons to buy:

• Compliance Junction carbon frame technology
• Headtube-hidden Future Shock 1.5 suspension
• High-end SRAM components
• Rack and Fenders compatible
• Tubeless-ready tires

Reasons to avoid:

A single glance is enough to see that the Specialized Sirrus 6.0 is a unique bike that aims to redefine hybrid cycling, blending high speed, comfort, and technology. Its lightweight carbon frame is a standout feature, boasting the Compliance Junction that provides flexibility in the frame for a smooth ride without losing efficiency.

The carbon frame is paired with the Future Shock 1.5 suspension in the headtube to reduce road vibrations and enhance comfort on various terrains. Therefore, the Sirrus 6.0 is an outstanding choice for city streets, as well as for gravel and dirt roads.

The Specialized Sirrus 6.0 is pricey, there’s no doubt about that, but the attention to detail is evident in its high-quality build and components. It comes with a reliable SRAM GX Eagle Lunar 1×12 drivetrain and powerful SRAM Level TLM hydraulic disc brakes, ensuring easy pedaling and reliable braking no matter the conditions.

But where the Sirrus’ versatility truly shines is its ability to accommodate up to 42c wide tires and its compatibility with racks and fenders, which is not often seen with carbon frames.

So whether you need a hybrid bike for fitness, commuting, or exploring, the Specialized Sirrus 6.0 can adapt seamlessly to your needs on a day-to-day basis.

Buy from Specialized.com

2. Co-op Cycles CTY 2.1

Affordable Commuter Choice

• Frame: Aluminum
• Suspension : SR Suntour Nex DS, 63 mm
• Gears: Shimano Altus 2×8
• Brakes: Tektro HD-M275 hydraulic disc brakes
• Lightweight and efficient 2x drivetrain
• Top tube bag mount
• Reflective tire sidewalls improve visibility
• Powerful hydraulic brakes
• 300 lb weight limit
• A bit heavy at 32 lb

The Co-op Cycles CTY 2.1 is a budget hybrid bike that’s comfortable, reasonably fast, and perfect for commuting thanks to its upright riding position.

With 63mm of travel in the front and 700c x 40mm tires, the CTY 2.1 is capable of navigating city streets and hardpacked gravel roads equally well. 

Related:  Co-op Cycles CTY Series Review

This bike also features a Shimano Altus 2×8-speed drivetrain and Tektro hydraulic disc brakes. The previous version of this model had a 3x drivetrain, which is overly complex and heavy, so the 2x is an improvement. It’s paired up with a wide-range 11-34T cassette, which is good news if you live somewhere hilly. 

With a step-through frame, the CTY 2.1 is incredibly practical and easy to get on a off. The frame does not come with any accessories, but there are multiple mounts to retrofit them if you decide that you need any. 

To sum up, the Co-op Cycles CTY 2.1 is one of the best hybrid bikes for recreational riders and those shopping on a tight budget.

Buy on REI.com

3. Priority Bicycles Continuum Onyx

Low-Maintenance Commuting Star

• MSRP: $1,299
• Frame: 6061 T6 Aluminum
• Suspension :  None, rigid aluminum fork
• Gears: Enviolo CVT hub, 380%
• Brakes: Tektro hydraulic disc brakes
• Sealed Enviolo CVT rear hub
• Gates belt drive
• Dynamo-powered lights
• Maintenance-free hydraulic brakes
• Excellent accessories
• Weighs 31 lb

The Priority Continuum Onyx is the best low-maintenance hybrid bike on this list and possibly one of the best ones on the market. If you’re looking for a bike that requires minimal adjustment and easy upkeep, you should stop your search here. 

The Continuum Onyx comes with an Enviolo CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) hub with no predefined gears and a 380% gear range. You simply turn the twist shifter to the ideal resistance point and enjoy riding. Plus, all parts are sealed in, so you won’t need to do any maintenance or adjustments. 

In addition to that, the Onyx also comes with a belt drive that requires no lubrication or cleaning and lasts multiple times more than a traditional chain. The low-maintenance build is rounded up with Tektro hydraulic disc brakes that also need minimal upkeep. 

Priority Bicycles also equipped this hybrid bike with a front-wheel dynamo that powers the lights, front and rear fenders, a kickstand, and puncture-resistant 700c x 32mm tires. In other words, they pretty much thought about everything so that you don’t need to.

Check out the rest of the Priority Bicycles’ range as well, as their bikes start from as low as $599.

Buy from PriorityBicycles.com

4. Trek Dual Sport+ 2

Best Electric Hybrid Bike

• MSRP: $2,400
• Frame: Alpha Gold Aluminum
• Suspension : None, rigid alloy fork
• Gears:  Shimano Altus, 9-speed
• Brakes: Shimano MT200 hydraulic discs
• Powerful motor and battery kit
• Bright front and rear lights
• Low weight despite the electronics
• Versatile 650 x 50mm tires
• Hydraulic disc brakes
• No fenders or rear rack

The Dual Sport+ 2 is Trek’s most affordable electric hybrid bike and one of the best choices on this list. This is a fast and nimble hybrid e-bike with a sleek integrated motor and battery that will make your commute faster and easier than before.

The Hyena G2 rear hub motor has 40 Nm of torque and provides assistance for up to 20 mph, whereas the 250 Wh battery is integrated into the down tube and provides a 35-mile range.

That’s a decent setup for everyday riding and climbing, especially when you consider the 9-speed Shimano Altus rear derailleur and Shimano’s MT200 hydraulic disc brakes. Even though these are entry-level components, they are reliable and durable and get the job done. 

Finally, the Dual Sport+ 2 also comes with bright front and rear lights, so you can ride it day and night, but sadly doesn’t feature fenders or a rear rack. Though you can easily retrofit these accessories, as Trek has included all the necessary mounting points.

We recommend getting it if you want a minimalistic hybrid electric bike that will allow you to ride further and faster than before.

Buy from Trek Bikes

5. Cannondale Quick Disc 4

Fitness and Commute Ready

• Frame: SmartForm C3 alloy
• Suspension : None, rigid chromoly fork
• Gears:  microSHIFT Advent, 9-speed
• Brakes: Tektro hydro disc
• Lightweight at 25 lb
• Cannondale’s integrated wheel sensor
• SP Connect–compatible smartphone case mount
• 360° reflective details
• Mounts to add accessories
• Chromoly fork

The Cannondale Quick Disc 4 is part of Cannondale’s Quick Series , which includes several fitness bikes with rigid forks and balanced geometries, ideal for speedy city commutes and workouts.

The Quick Disc 4 build offers excellent value and a decent set of components to satisfy the needs of a recreational cyclist or urban commuter. It’s equipped with a microShift Advent 9-speed rear derailleur and decent Tektro hydraulic disc brakes.

As a fitness hybrid bike, the Quick Disc 4 does not come with any accessories, but you can add racks or fenders to the bike to make it even more versatile. It doesn’t even come with a kickstand, but you can install one easily. 

This bike also comes with Cannondale’s integrated wheel sensor that helps track your activities, a mount on the stem that holds any SP Connect–compatible smartphone case, and 360° reflective details that increase visibility at all times.

All in all, the Cannondale Quick Disc 4 hybrid bike is definitely a model that should be at the top of your list if you’re looking for a fast and simple workhorse.

6. Tommaso La Forma

Best Urban Speedster

• Frame: 6061 Alloy aluminum frame
• Suspension : None, rigid carbon fork
• Gears: Shimano Acera, 3×9-speed
• Brakes: Rim brakes
• Lightweight carbon fork
• Fast 700x32c tires
• Attractive design
• Wide gear range for steep climbs
• Comfortable compact frame
• No internal cable routing

Tommaso La Forma is a budget-friendly urban bike equipped to tackle city roads as a commuting companion or a swift fitness bike.

The La Forma has a high-quality Aluminum frame combined with a lightweight carbon fork, which is a nice surprise in this price range.

This bike is designed for fast workouts and speedy commutes, which is reflected in its 700x32C tires which help you zip around the city. The 3×9 Shimano Acera drivetrain is a bit heavy, but you get 27 gears to tackle any gradient you encounter.

The only disadvantage is the fact La Forma comes with rim brakes instead of disc brakes, but this is understandable as Tommaso’s goal was to create a flat bar hybrid bike that’s as close to a road bike as possible. 

Finally, this bike also comes with mounts for fenders and a pannier rack which will allow you to turn it into the perfect commuter bike.

Buy from TommasoCycling.com

7. Giant FastRoad AR Advanced 1 

Performance Oriented Versatility

• MSRP: $2,100
• Frame: Carbon fiber frame
• Gears: Shimano 105, 2×11
• Brakes: Tektro HD-R280, 160mm rotors
• Lightweight carbon frameset
• Versatile 700x40c tubeless tires
• Road-specific Shimano 105 drivetrain
• Stiff bottom bracket for power transfer
• Fork mounts
• D-shaped seat post limits upgrade options

The Giant FastRoad is the best hybrid bike for someone who needs a two-wheeler that can do it all. It may seem costly, but it’s the only bike you need, and here’s why.

The FastRoad AR Advanced 1 is built around a super stiff and lightweight carbon frameset that you can see on Giant’s road bikes. That makes it fast, agile, and responsive, which is ideal for fast commutes and fitness rides. 

Moreover, it boasts a road-specific Shimano 105 2×11 drivetrain that can be seen on many best road bikes , combined with Tektro’s powerful hydraulic disc brakes. 

The Giant Gavia Fondo AR 700x40c tubeless tires are perfect for tackling bumpy backroads with speed, comfort and control, but are also great for city streets and smooth tarmac. If you prefer gravel riding, there’s clearance for up to 42mm wide tires. 

In conclusion, the Giant FastRoad AR Advanced 1 is a versatile, high-performance hybrid bike that excellently balances speed, agility, and comfort, making it an outstanding choice for both urban commuting and adventurous backroad cycling.

Buy on Mikesbikes.com

8. Diamondback Division 2

All-Around Recreational Hybrid

• Frame: 6061 Heat-Treated Aluminum
• Suspension :  None, rigid alloy fork
• Gears: Shimano Alivio/Acera 9-speed
• Brakes: Tektro HD-T275 Hydraulic
• Attractive tan-wall tires
• Excellent components for the price
• Four sizes fit 5’7″ to 6’4″
• Comfortable grips and saddle
• Versatile 650b x 47 mm tires
• Cables not fully internal
• One water bottle cage mount

The Division 2 is Diamondback’s vision of a one-bike-to-rule-them-all that’s built on an attractive aluminum frame that features relaxed geometry perfect for urban rides.

It’s equipped with above-average components for the price, which is generally the case with all Diamondback bikes—they offer good bang for the buck. Plus, the Division 2 rolls on versatile 650b x 47mm tires that are suitable for different uses, such as fitness riding, commuting, and light gravel adventures.

The drivetrain is comprised of a Shimano Alivio rear derailleur and a Shimano Acera shifter and gives you nine versatile speeds for easy-going recreational rides. Another positive surprise is the Tektro hydraulic disc brakes, which are always a positive sight on hybrid bikes under $1,000.

The only drawback is the fact that the cables are not fully internally routed and that there are mounts for only one water bottle. But, other than that, the Diamondback Division 2 is a well-thought-out package.

All in all, this is one of the best hybrid bikes you can use to travel to work, enjoy a fun afternoon spin with friends, or explore gravel trails!

Buy from Diamondback.com

9. Public Bikes V9 Aluminum

Simple and Efficient Commuter

• MSRP: $650 ( Public Bikes / Mike’s Bikes )
• Frame:  PUBLIC premium aluminum tubing
• Suspension :  None, rigid steel fork
• Gears:  Shimano Altus 9-speed
• Brakes: Alloy dual-pivot calipers
• Retro aluminum frame and steel fork
• Mounts for fenders and racks
• Vegan leather grips
• Fast and comfortable
• No disc brakes

The Public V9 Aluminum is a retro-styled hybrid commuter that keeps things simple to get the job done with minimal fuss. Need a bike to get from point A to point B without overthinking it too much? The V9 Aluminum is the right choice for you.

This hybrid bike is built around a classic diamond-shaped premium aluminum frame with a high-tensile steel fork for maximum comfort. It includes mounts for fenders and racks, so you can personalize it to your liking. 

The V9 is called this way because it sports a Shimano Altus 9-speed rear derailleur, which is a wide range of gears for recreational riders and commuters. To keep things light and simple, this bike has dual-caliper rim brakes instead of disc brakes, which is the same type you see on many road bikes, so they will provide enough stopping power. 

The Public V9 Aluminum weighs just 25 lb, which is 20% lighter than Public’s similar steel frame bikes. These weight savings will make a huge difference whenever you’re lifting or carrying the bike up and down stairs. 

Buy from PublicBikes.com     Buy from MikesBikes.com

10. Cannondale Bad Boy 1

Stylish Urban Explorer

• MSRP: $2,325
• Frame: SmartForm C1 alloy
• Suspension : Lefty LightPipe rigid
• Gears:  Shimano Alfine Rapidfire, 8-speed
• Brakes: Shimano MT400 hydraulic
• Sealed low-maintenance gearbox
• Durable gates carbon belt drive
• Integrated LED lights
• Integrated Urban Armor bumper
• Multi-surface 650b x 40mm tires

The Cannondale Bad Boy 1 is a hybrid bike with the look of a hardtail but the versatility of a city bike. 

At first glance, the feature that stands out the most is the Lefty rigid fork that reduces overall weight without sacrificing strength. Cannondale built this bike around its premium SmartForm C1 aluminum frame, which is a high-performance alloy with excellent ride characteristics and a low weight.

The frame has in-built top tube protection for leaning and locking the bike when out and about, as well as integrated LED lights in the Lefty LightPipe fork and seat post that will make you more visible on night rides.

The Bad Boy 1 also boasts an 8-speed internal Shimano Alfine gearbox with a belt drive to minimize maintenance and simplify shifting. The build also includes premium Shimano MT400 hydraulic disc brakes and multifunctional WTB Byway, 650b x 40mm tires. 

Therefore, this combination gives the Bad Boy 1 mixed-terrain capability and plenty of traction in wet urban conditions. 

In our opinion, you should not miss out on the Cannondale Bad Boy 1 if you want an affordable, versatile, and stylish city bike with the reliability of a big-name brand. 

11. Liv Alight 2 Disc

Best Women’s Beginner-Friendly Hybrid

• Frame: ALUXX-Grade aluminum
• Gears: Shimano Tourney/Altus 2×8
• Brakes: Tektro HD-R280 hydraulic
• Women-specific design
• Versatile puncture-resistant tires
• Mounts for multiple accessories
• Internal cable routing
• Ergonomic touchpoints
• Low-tier drivetrain components

The Liv Alight 2 Disc is a stylish women’s hybrid bike with plenty of versatility for mixed-terrain riding. As an entry-level model, it comes with several low-tier components, which makes it a good choice for beginners and recreational riders. 

Namely, the Alight 2 Disc is equipped with Shimano Tourney and Altus 2×8 derailleurs, which are the cheapest options you can get from this brand. They work well, but they’re not great for aggressive use. 

What we particularly like is the addition of Tektro hydraulic disc brakes, despite the low $750 price tag, which is a nice surprise and a highlight of this build. You also get 700 x 38c tires that balance speed, grip, and versatility well. 

The Liv Alight 2 Disc also has all the accessory mounts you need, so you can retrofit it with front and rear fenders and racks, a kickstand, and two water bottle cages. 

So if you want one of the best women’s hybrid bikes that costs little and comes with a well-balanced build, the Liv Alight 2 Disc won’t disappoint you.

12. Marin DSX 2

Gravel-Ready Adventurer

• MSRP: $1,349
• Frame: Series 3 6061 Aluminum
• Gears:  Shimano Deore 12-Speed
• Brakes: Shimano MT201 hydraulic
• High-quality Shimano components
• Gravel-ready tires
• Stable, slack geometry
• Great for light-duty touring
• Wheels and tires not tubeless-ready
• Reinforced seat tube results in a harsher ride

The Marin DSX 2 is a highly versatile and capable rigid hybrid slash gravel bike. If you can afford only one bike but your riding style requires multiple different types, the Marin DSX 2 should meet most of your needs.

The DSX 2 comes with an aluminum frame with a long wheelbase and slack geometry, which makes it stable at higher speeds and on rough surfaces. It also boasts a stiff carbon fork that improves comfort and lowers the total weight of this gravel hybrid bike.

The Marin DSX 2 features the latest Shimano Deore 12-speed rear derailleur, along with the MT201 hydraulic disc brakes, so it is definitely suitable for proper weekend adventures when the weekday commutes are over. 

The bike rolls on WTB Riddler 700 x 45mm, which is the widest you can go and the main reason why this bike is classified as a flat-bar gravel hybrid. 

If you love bikepacking, the DSX 2 can do that as well, you just need to add fenders and racks, or fit frame bags on it. 

Overall, this is the best hybrid bike for cyclists who love riding gravel or have a mixed-terrain commuting route to tackle each morning.

Buy on JensonUSA.com

Other Types of Urban Bikes to Consider

If you haven’t found exactly what you were looking for on this page, we recommend checking out our other urban-bike-related buying guides for more options!

• Best Commuter bikes : Excellent, fully-equipped bikes for everyday use. Designed to get around in urban areas.
• City bikes : Basic bikes for grocery runs, or for school/work commutes.
• Fitness bikes : Fast and sporty hybrid bicycles designed for fast commutes and workouts.
• Used Hybrid Bikes from The Pro’s Closet : A selection of used and new hybrid bikes for all types of riders.

Additional Things to Consider When Buying a Hybrid Bike

Types of hybrid bikes.

Hybrid bikes blend characteristics of road and mountain bikes, but they come in several different types, each of which caters to different needs. 

• City hybrid bikes are intended for urban commuting, boasting accessories like fenders and racks and a comfortable upright riding position. 
• Cross hybrids typically come with a suspension fork and wider tires and are able to handle gravel roads and off-road paths, in addition to paved roads.
• Comfort hybrids are similar to comfort and cruiser bikes, with a more relaxed geometry, wide saddles, and slightly swept-back handlebars. They are commonly used for leisure rides and shorter commutes. 
• Fitness hybrids are essentially sportive road bikes with flat bars and narrow tires that can be used for workouts, urban commutes, or recreational cycling. 

The choice between these four main types depends on your intended use, such as fitness, commuting, lesiure, or a combination of these activities.

Hybrid Bike Wheel and Tire Sizes

Traditional hybrid bikes usually come with a 700c wheel size, which is commonly associated with road bikes and city bikes. They often have tires that are between 28mm and 40mm wide, with 35-38mm being the sweet spot. 

However, more and more modern hybrid bikes are available with smaller 650b wheels and slightly wider tires (40mm+) that are similar to the best gravel bike tires . This makes them more versatile and suitable for tackling paved and unpaved roads. 

Related:  A Complete Guide to Bike Wheel Sizes

If you’re looking for the best hybrid bike for speed and efficiency, choose one with narrower tires (28-32mm). But if you want a multi-functional model that provides enough grip on different types of terrains, choose a model with 35mm tires and above.

Suspension Fork: Yes or No?

As you can see from our selection of the best hybrid bikes above, a suspension fork can be an important feature of this type of bike. 

However, whether it’s going to be a game-changer or an unnecessary addition for you, depends on what kinds of terrains you intend to ride. 

For smooth roads and city streets, a suspension fork may be overkill, adding unnecessary weight and complicating maintenance. But, if your routes include gravel roads, bumpy trails, or rough broken asphalt, front suspension can be a godsend, improving comfort and handling. 

Cost and Budget

Hybrid bikes are suitable for all types of riders because their cost varies widely.

Entry-level models start from around $500 or slightly under and are suitable for casual riding and shorter commutes. However, they may not be as durable or reliable as more expensive models. 

Mid-range hybrid bikes cost between $700 and $1,200 and offer higher quality components, better materials, and lower weight. They are suitable for more frequent riding and longer commutes, as well as light workouts. 

Finally, high-end hybrids cost anywhere between $1,500 and $3,000 and often come with a lightweight carbon frame, high-quality brakes and drivetrain, and features like a belt drive, dynamo lights, or internal gearing.

In our opinion, your budget should reflect how often you plan to ride and the features you prioritize, balancing cost with the quality and longevity of the bike.

Do you ride a hybrid bike? Is there another model you’d like us to review and include on our list? Let us know in the comments below!

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About the Author

Sam Millers

10 thoughts on “ best hybrid bikes in 2024: top models for leisure, commuting and fitness ”.

Best bike for exercise and riding around the neighborhood? I have a trek fx 7.6 (model 2016) for females however it’s not the most comfortable. Also I have neck and back problems.

Look for comfort bikes that have a more comfortable entry & upright riding position.

They have no large or xlarge co-op in stock at Columbus Ohio stores, kinda hard to test ride one before you buy

Why there is no mentioning of the Trek verve and the Dual Sport?

The link to Verve-series review can be found after the last model.

Hola! I’ve been reading your blog for a long time now and finally got the bravery to go ahead and give you a shout out from Dallas Tx! Just wanted to mention keep up the good job!

Who are these reviews for? REI? Surely not the public. So I’m guessing you are an affiliate with these companies.

We are indeed partnered up with REI and many other stores. This is also clearly stated at the top menu . The reason why we have chosen so many bikes from REI is that they have a great selection of bikes on offer, and a trustworthy feedback & rating platform as well.

Feel free to add a bike store in the comments which has a better selection of great value hybrid bikes that can also be ordered online :).

WHAT ARE YOUR COMMENTS ON COMFORTABLE SADDLES

We might release an article about saddles soon.

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Trek 7200 Hybrid Bike: Our In-Depth Review

Looking for a versatile and reliable bike that can handle both smooth roads and rocky terrains? You should consider the Trek 7200.

Trek 7200 is a versatile and powerful bike that can handle a variety of terrains, making it a great choice for commuting and casual riders. 

In this review, we’ll be examining the bike’s features, design, and performance to help you determine if it is the right fit for your cycling needs. 

So, let’s dive into the Trek 7200 hybrid bike review!

Trek 7200 At A Glance

The Trek 7200 hybrid bike is a versatile and comfortable bike that performs well on both smooth and rough terrain. 

It features a soft and comfortable seat, a lightweight frame that can withstand any terrain, and a reliable fork that offers stability. With a wide gear range and powerful brakes, this bike is perfect for tackling any terrain. 

It also comes with high-quality components that make for a smooth and enjoyable ride. If you’re looking for a bike that can handle anything and still be comfortable, the Trek 7200 is an excellent choice.

• Lightweight aluminum frame
• High-quality components
• Budget-friendly price tag
• Comfy saddle for long rides
• Wide gear range
• Plastic pedals are not durable
• Saddle may be too soft

Related Post: 15 Best Hybrid Bikes Under $500 in 2023 + Buying Guide

Trek 7200 Review: Features and Specifications

Frame and fork.

When it comes to biking, having a sturdy and reliable frame is key. This is no surprise since the frame is the backbone of the bike and can make a huge difference in terms of stability and control while you’re riding.

For the Trek 7200, you get a solid hybrid bike frame. This bike is made with Trek’s Alpha aluminum, which is known for its lightweight and durability. You’ll feel the difference as soon as you start pedaling, it’s that light!

What’s really cool about the Trek 7200 is its slightly steeper head tube angle of 71.5°. This makes it perfect for climbing hills and gives riders more confidence and balance on fast descents. You’ll be able to handle any terrain with ease!

And for the fork, the Trek 7200 is equipped with an RST CT-COM C5 fork with 50 mm of travel. For a hybrid bike like this, that’s more than enough. 

While suspension isn’t usually a top priority for hybrid bikes, the suspension on the Trek 7200 is designed to absorb the bumps of trails and potholes with ease.

Finally, let’s not forget about comfort! As a hybrid bike, the main focus of the Trek 7200 is on providing comfortable rides. 

You’ll appreciate the suspension and enjoy smooth rides even on rough terrain, and you’ll feel like you’re gliding on air on paved roads and smooth city streets.

Gears and Brakes

Gears are one of the most important components of any bike, as they can make a huge difference in how easy or difficult it is to ride.

Luckily, the Trek 7200 has got you covered with high-quality components from Shimano, SRAM, and Bontrager. These components provide precise shifting and braking, making for smooth and safe rides.

One of the best things about the Trek 7200 is its 8-speed rear gear. This provides a wide gear range that’s perfect for both commuting, riding around your neighborhood or even taking on rough trails. 

You’ll always have the perfect gear to make the ride easy and enjoyable, whether on climbs or descents.

If you’re looking at an earlier model of the Trek 7200, you might find it fitted with 7-speed SRAM MRX Plus shifters and Shimano C102 front derailleur and Shimano Acera rear derailleur. 

But in the later 2010 model, these components were upgraded to SRAM MRX Comp twist shifters, Shimano M191 front derailleur, and Shimano Alivio rear derailleur. 

Either way, you can be sure you’re getting top-notch components that will give you efficient rides.

Now, let’s talk about the brakes. The Trek 7200 comes with Tektro linear-pull alloy brakes. These brakes are powerful and efficient, giving you the stopping power you need to stay safe on any ride. You’ll be able to stop quickly and easily, even when you’re gliding down a steep hill.

Wheels and Tires

Wheels and tires are crucial components of any bike, as they contribute to its overall performance and riding experience.

The Trek 7200 comes with a high-quality set of wheels, including an alloy front hub and a Shimano RM30 rear hub. 

The Bontrager 750 rims have 32 holes and are more than strong enough for most commuters. These wheels are both durable and lightweight, and won’t weigh you down.

Trek 7200 has very solid tires, but depending on which model of the Trek 7200 you have, you may be riding on different tires. 

The earlier models were equipped with Bontrager Invert Puncture Resistant tires, while the later 2010 model has 700x35c Bontrager H2 Plus tires with a puncture-resistant belt.

No matter which tires you have, you can expect good traction on smooth surfaces. However, on rougher terrain, the tires may not perform as well. That being said, the tires are puncture-resistant and should withstand most road hazards.

Saddle and Handlebars

The Trek 7200 comes with a soft and padded Bontrager Boulevard saddle that is perfect for long-distance commutes. What’s even better is that the saddle is attached to an alloy seatpost with adjustable suspension. 

This means that your seatpost is more flexible, reducing the transfer of high-frequency road vibrations from your bike to your body. It also helps dampen the impacts of big hits from the road, making your ride smoother and more comfortable.

Also, the Trek 7200 comes with a Bontrager Approved handlebar made of solid steel and with a 50 mm rise. 

You can always adjust the height of the handlebar to give you a comfortable fit. This means that you can ride for longer without experiencing any discomfort or strain on your back or shoulders.

Size and weight 

When it comes to finding the perfect fit for your ride, the Trek 7200 hybrid bike has many sizes to choose from. With sizes ranging from 15″ to 25″, you’re sure to find the size that fits you just right. 

The frame sizes are precisely 15, 17.5, 20, 22.5, and 25 inches, giving you plenty of options to choose from.

And even with all the high-quality components, the Trek 7200 still manages to keep its weight down. With an average weight of about 26.4 lbs (11.9 kg), this bike is easy to handle and maneuver on the trails. 

It’s not too heavy to carry around when you need to, but it’s still sturdy enough to support riders up to 275 to 300 lbs.

How much is the Trek 7200 Multitrack?

The current Trek 7200 value is estimated to be less than $100, you will most likely find one going from $65 to $110. But, keep in mind that it would be a used bike. 

If you happen to find a brand-new Trek 7200, though this is very unlikely, expect the price to be from $250 to $450. It doesn’t go over $500.

Related Post: 11 Best Commuter Bikes Under $200 in 2023

Best Trek 7200 Alternatives on Amazon

• Schwinn Suburban

Schwinn Suburban is a hybrid bike that offers comfort and versatility with an adjustable seat and handlebars. 

It has a steel frame, 26″ wheels, a reliable drivetrain, and aluminum linear-pull rim brakes for precise braking. 

You’ll also get a suspension fork, 7-speed shifters, and Shimano rear derailleurs. The Suburban is great for commuting and has a plush saddle for a comfortable ride.

• Sixthreezero Around the Block

The SixThreeZero Around the Block has a robust and simple appearance, with a weight limit of 300 lbs and a height range of 5 to 6 feet tall. 

Its 17-inch steel frame and aluminum wheels provide a smooth and comfortable ride with outstanding traction when braking. 

The bike’s foam grips on the handlebars allow for an upright riding position. And the coaster brakes are acceptable for commuting and casual use.

• Schwinn Sanctuary

The Schwinn Sanctuary Bike has a durable steel frame and 2.1-inch wide tires for a smooth ride, and weighs 38.8 lbs with a 225-pound weight limit. 

It features a 7-speed twist shifter, swept back handlebars, front and rear alloy linear pull brakes, and a limited lifetime warranty. 

It’s ideal for riders between 64 and 74 inches tall, it’s suitable for leisurely cycling experiences on paved roads or the beach.

Finally, is Trek 7200 bike a good buy?

Yes, Trek 7200 hybrid bike is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a reliable and versatile bike. It’s perfect for both commuting and light off-road riding. 

Its lightweight frame and reliable components make it a joy to ride, while the comfortable saddle and adjustable suspension help to ensure a smooth and comfortable ride. 

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced rider, the Trek 7200 hybrid bike is definitely worth considering.

Can’t find the Trek 7200? Check out these great alternatives on Amazon

You may also like: 9 Best Commuter Bike Under $300 in 2023

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The 7 Best Hybrid Bikes For Exercise, Commuting and Casual Fun

Hybrid or ‘exercise’ bikes make for a great introduction to cycling.

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. How we test gear.

They’re also great for casual riders and commuters, since they’re fairly stable and designed with an upright riding position. Throw in some feature mounts for fenders and racks, and you have an easy-going bike that’s perfect for getting you places and running errands, then taking the long way home.

The Best Hybrid Bikes

• Best Overall: Cannondale Quick 3
• Best Value: Co-Op CTY
• Best All-Arounder: State 4130 All-Road Flat-Bar
• Best Step-Through: Liv Alight Disc
• Best Commuter: Trek District 4 Equipped Stagger
• Most-Stylish: Cannondale Bad Boy 1
• Best Hybrid Electric: Velotric T1

What to Consider in a Hybrid Bike

Why trust us, how we selected the best hybrid bikes, our hybrid bike reviews, q+a with our experts, flat bar vs. drop bar.

A hybrid bike starts with a traditional road bike platform: fast-rolling 700c wheels and a lightweight, efficient frame. But while a road bike typically comes outfitted with a drop bar, a hybrid bike’s signature feature is a flat handlebar. This provides a wide hand stance for better control, easy brake-lever access, and a more upright position that’s comfortable and conducive to looking over your shoulder in traffic. These are just a few of the reasons why new cyclists and commuters are often drawn to this type of bike.

But a proper fitness bike is more than just a road bike with a flat bar: It’s a bike that’s been specifically designed to be ridden with one. Chad Price, core research and development director at Specialized, says that a fitness bike typically has a longer reach than a road bike, resulting in better handling from a flat bar and shorter stem.

Disc Brakes

One of the best technologies to come to fitness bikes is disc brakes . Although they cost a little more than rim-style brakes, discs offer more control and precision, particularly in wet conditions . They also don’t require as much hand strength to operate, making them a reliable choice for rides with long, winding descents.

Some lower-cost bikes may come with cable-actuated disc brakes, a cheaper alternative that’s not quite as powerful or as low maintenance as a fully hydraulic disc-brake system but that delivers similar all-weather performance and reliability.

The Right Gearing

Most fitness bikes come with two chainrings in the front and between nine and 11 cogs in the rear. Having more gears in the back allows you to fine-tune your shifting so you can keep a steady cadence, no matter the terrain. Bikes with three front chainrings typically cost less, but the third ring can make shifting less precise. A single-ring option simplifies shifting and cuts down on maintenance but may not have the range you need for climbing.

Belt Drives and Internally Geared Hubs

A belt drive (which takes the place of a chain) with an internally geared hub (where all the gearing is packaged inside the rear hub’s shell and sealed from the elements) requires less maintenance than a traditional chain-and-derailleur drivetrain. It’s reliable and clean, says Andrew Lumpkin, CEO of Spot Bikes.

A belt drive is also easy to use (one shifter controls everything) and, perhaps best of all, lets you change gears while sitting still at a stoplight. It’s a great, low-maintenance option if you can afford it, though it adds a small amount of weight.

Bicycling recommends bikes based on the extensive work of its test team, which currently includes Deputy Editor Tara Seplavy, Senior Test Editor Matt Phillips, Test Editor Dan Chabonov, and Maintenance Editor Gabe Ortiz. Together, they have more than 60 years of ride-testing experience and bring that insight to every recommendation they touch.

For our guide to hybrid bikes, Tara Seplavy recommended many of these selections based on the team’s collective testing experience, as well as her extensive knowledge of the category.

Vanessa Nirode has been writing about bikes, adventure travel, and cycling gear for 15 years for a variety of outlets including Bicycling , Time , Adventure Cycling , Fodors , BBC Travel , Next Avenue , and many others. With 20 years of riding experience, she’s owned and pedaled everything from a heavy commuter bike to a carbon racing road bike on her daily commutes and errands.

In addition to ride-testing many of our selections, she surveyed bike commuters and messengers at two of her favorite New York bike shops– Bicycle Roots in Brooklyn and Specialized Long Island City in Queens: They’re great places for cyclists to hang out and hear from riders about their favorite bikes, and learn what works (or doesn’t) work.

Caitlin Giddings tested bikes for Bicycling for over a decade, and has ridden bikes for more than two decades as an everyday commuter cyclist. She’s had the chance to ride nearly a hundred different bikes designed for fitness, recreation, and commuting on varied terrain.

We’ve been asked to recommend a lot of bikes over the years. Anticipating these queries, we’ve made a big effort to test as many hybrids and city bikes as we can—not only because they’re great for commuting, fitness, and fun, but also because they’re the bikes our friends who aren’t bike nerds are most interested in buying.

Our selections were recommended by the Bicycling test team, which has extensive experience testing all kinds of bikes, including hybrids. We’ve performed extensive ride-testing of many hybrid bikes on bike tours, city commutes, long bike path cruises, and bike shop test rides. Lastly, we considered a diverse range of external notes from bike messengers and commuters, as well as customer reviews.

Cannondale Quick 3

If you’re still holding onto the belief that hybrids are sluggish and heavy, the Cannondale Quick will disabuse you of that notion right away. This lightweight bike is a favorite for its fast feel and smooth ride, as well as a comfortable upright riding position that makes it an easy choice for recommending to new riders who may be a bit hesitant about incorporating regular cycling into their routine.

It features reflective accents to boost your visibility, mounts for racks so you can carry stuff (except on the front, as the carbon fork precludes rack mounting), and fenders to keep road spray out of your eyes and off your backside during commutes in questionable weather.

The 2x9-speed drivetrain comes courtesy of Shimano, with a decent range for tackling the hills on your commute. Tektro hydraulic disc brakes give you confident stopping power, while the 35mm Schwalbe tires barrel over urban debris.

If you’re looking to spend a little less, we also like the Quick Disc 4 , which features a steel fork, microSHIFT Advent groupset, and 1x9 gearing. It rides similarly well and costs a bit less, though we ultimately prefer the Quick Disc 3 for its carbon fork and higher gearing, which bring more speed on downhills and flats.

Co-op Cycles CTY 1.1

Keeping in line with REI’s inclusive ideology and the simple goal of getting more people outdoors and (in this case) on bikes, Co-op Cycle’s CTY bike is a capable and affordable hybrid bike that will suit a varied range of riders, especially beginners.

The CTY has wide, flat-resistant, wire-bead 40mm tires with reflective sidewalls so you can easily roll over potholes, dirt, gravel, random road debris and the occasional curb. Its Tektro mechanical disc brakes ensure that you can slow your roll when needed. The Shimano 3x8-speed drivetrain provides 24 gears, enough to get you most anywhere you want to go.

The CTY has an upright riding position (as opposed to the more competitive bent-over posture encouraged by road bikes.) A comfortable memory foam saddle and gel handlebar grips help you complete your commute and/or errands without introducing any soreness or aches into the equation.

State Bicycle 4130 All-Road Flat-Bar

State Bicycle’s All-road flat-bar stands out for its versatility, strong steel frame, and plethora of customizable options that allows you to set it up exactly like you want. Steel bikes have their own dedicated following : Fans love their springy feel. They’re also durable and reliable, which is an important quality in a bike you use to get around every day.

We love how much room there is to tinker with this bike. State offers two extra wheel sets–a 700c with slick 38mm road tires and a 650b with knobby 2.1 inch (53mm) off road tires. These sets, which cost an additional $390 apiece, come with tires, tubes, brake rotors and cassettes for easy switching. You may also want to upgrade to a SRAM drivetrain for an additional $1,000, and hydraulic brakes for another $100 for added reliability, power and smoothness (especially when it comes to changing gears).

The State 4130 is a bike you’ll be able to ride for years. We might even go so far as to say for the foreseeable future. You’ll need to replace the components as the years go by–time comes for us all, even our bike parts–but that steel frame will persist.

Liv Alight Disc 3

Whenever Vanessa leaves her regular bike overnight at her local shop, her mechanic gives her this bike as a loaner. The flat handlebars and upright riding position make it a comfortable and stable bike without compromising speed. It isn’t a ‘fast’ bike by any means, but it’s far more nimble than what you’d expect by just looking at it.

Throw in the included fenders, rear rack, and kickstand, and the Alight emerges as a rather perfect errand bike. The fenders keep road muck from your person, the rack provides a place to hook on a set of panniers, and the kickstand saves you from scouring for a leaning spot when you stop for a much-needed (and deserved) pick-me-up coffee.

Trek District 4 Equipped Stagger

The Trek District 4 Equipped Stagger is built for any kind of weather. It features a front dynamo hub that provides power to your rear and front lights, and an internally geared rear hub with a Gates CDX belt, rather than a chain. The dynamo hub powers your lights, so you’ll never have to worry about remembering to charge them. The geared hub and belt cuts down on chain and derailleur maintenance, so you don’t need to make adjustments after riding through bad weather.

Belts tend to be quieter than chains, so while this adds a level of stealth, make sure to add a bell and alert others when you pass them, which you’ll need to use often as the Stagger doesn’t cramp your speed. Or style.

The powerful hydraulic disc brakes provide great stopping power, and the 700x40mm Bontrager wire bead tires with reflective strips keep you moving no matter what obstacles get thrown in your way. The Stagger includes a kickstand, fenders and rack for a quick and easy commute, or getting a workout in while you get things done.

Cannondale Bad Boy 1

The Cannondale Bad Boy represents some of the latest innovations in bike design, making it a very capable way to get around, no matter where you decide to take it. It’s also just plain fun to ride, dodging and cornering more sharply than other bikes allow when a wayward obstacle ends up in your path.

This is because of perhaps the most significant flourish of its design and legendary urban style; the LightPipe Lefty fork. Unlike most every other fork on the market, the Lefty features a single pipe on–you guessed it–the left side that connects to the front wheel hub. The entire suspension is squeezed into a package that’s effectively half the size (and half the weight) of the standard component. The Lefty (also referred to as an “upside-down fork”) is thicker and stiffer at the headtube where you need the leverage, so it performs exceptionally well when braking and cornering.

The Bad Boy 1 also has a bevy of cool quality-of-life features, including an integrated LED light strip on the fork, an integrated tail light on the seat post, internal geared hub and belt drive for minimal maintenance, and top tube bumpers that protect your frame from scratches and nicks when leaning and locking.

Velotric T1

Powered by Velotric’s new, smart drive system motor, stealthy internal wiring and an integrated battery, the T1 is an electric bike that doesn’t look or feel like an electric bike. Weighing just 36 pounds, you can easily hoist it onto your shoulders and carry it up or down stairs when needed, which is not something you can do with most other e-bikes.

A Class 1 e-bike, the T1 features 5 levels of pedal-assist power. On pedal-assist bikes, the power only kicks in when you’re pedaling. This also means you can take your T1 out on most trails and multi-use paths where Class 2 e-bikes are prohibited.

“With its mix of styling, power, and passive security features, Velotric’s T1 is great for city and around town use, notes Bicycling Test Editor Tara Seplavy. “It has a fingerprint lock to keep someone from turning on the bike when you’re not around and a ‘Find My Bike’ feature in the Velotric app in case you forget where you locked it up. A torque sensor helps provide a smooth ride feel and the motor has plenty of zip, especially in the higher power settings.”

Speaking of power, Velotric designed some of the smallest and lightest electronic components we’ve encountered on an e-bike and housed them all inside the frame, which is part of what gives the T1 its stylish, sleek look. And, the integrated headlight comes on when the sun goes down - just like the street lights do, so you never have to worry if you remembered to charge your lights or not.

As required by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and local laws in some cities , the Discover 1 is UL certified for safety within the Standards for Electrical Systems, so it has been tested and engineered to eliminate accidental battery fires.

.css-1f6aja5{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;background-color:#ffffff;border:0;border-bottom:none;border-top:0.0625rem solid #E8E8E8;color:#000;cursor:pointer;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;font-style:inherit;font-weight:inherit;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:flex-start;justify-content:flex-start;padding-bottom:0.3125rem;padding-top:0.3125rem;scroll-margin-top:0rem;text-align:left;width:100%;}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-1f6aja5{scroll-margin-top:3.375rem;}} .css-jtmji2{border-radius:50%;width:1.875rem;border:thin solid #6F6F6F;height:1.875rem;padding:0.4rem;margin-right:0.625rem;} .css-jlx6sx{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;width:0.9375rem;height:0.9375rem;margin-right:0.625rem;-webkit-transform:rotate(90deg);-moz-transform:rotate(90deg);-ms-transform:rotate(90deg);transform:rotate(90deg);-webkit-transition:-webkit-transform 250ms ease-in-out;transition:transform 250ms ease-in-out;} How do I know if a hybrid bike is right for me?

Hybrid bikes are great for riding long distances and casual rides where speed isn’t a top priority. The flat, wide bars provide a better vantage point when you need to quickly look behind you and side-to-side. 

They also offer a more upright riding position that many people find more comfortable when navigating city streets compared with the experience you get with a road bike and their drop handlebars.

A hybrid bike can be a great fit for commuters, running errands, and a solid all-arounder for anyone who likes to get out on their bike and ride for awhile.

What are the benefits of a hybrid bike?

Hybrid bikes are, above all, comfortable and casual. Sitting upright is often a more comfortable riding position, and makes it easy to keep track of your surroundings. They often feature mounts for racks,  fenders  and  lights , so you can add some  accessories  that you may need if you plan to work it into your day-to-day life. Last but not least, hybrid bikes often cost less than a road bike or full-featured mountain bike.

Are there any disadvantages to riding a hybrid bike?

As you’d expect, hybrid bikes occupy a middle ground that’s useful for new and casual riders, but may hold more advanced cyclists back as they take on tougher routes or pursue more competitive challenges. 

They aren’t as capable as mountain bikes in rough off-road conditions. Conversely, most hybrids aren’t as aerodynamic as a great road bike, and will move slower when you pedal at top speed.

Vanessa Nirode is a freelance writer who covers wellness, culture, outdoor adventure and travel for Hearst , HuffPost , PopSci , BBC Travel , and Threads , among others. She’s also a pattern maker and tailor for film and television but most of the time, she’d rather just be riding her bicycle.

As Deputy Editor, Tara Seplavy leads Bicycling’s product test team; after having previously led product development and sourcing for multiple bike brands, run World Championship winning mountain bike teams, wrenched at renowned bicycle shops in Brooklyn, raced everything from criteriums to downhill, and ridden bikes on six different continents (landing herself in hospital emergency rooms in four countries and counting). Based in Easton, Pennsylvania, Tara spends tons of time on the road and trail testing products. A familiar face at cyclocross races, crits, and bike parks in the Mid Atlantic and New England, on weekends she can often be found racing for the New York City-based CRCA/KruisCX team. When not riding a bike, or talking about them, Tara listens to a lot of ska, punk, and emo music, and consumes too much social media.  

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The 8 Best Hybrid Bikes of 2024, According to Experts

Tackle any urban terrain with the most versatile two-wheelers.

Our product picks are editor-tested, expert-approved. We may earn a commission through links on our site. Why Trust Us?

Best Hybrid Bike for Beginners

Specialized sirrus 2.0 hybrid bike.

Best Premium Hybrid Bike

Trek fx sport 6.

Best Hybrid Bike for Commuters

Priority bicycles continuum onyx.

Best Folding Hybrid Bike

Tern verge d9 folding bike.

Most Versatile Hybrid Bike

Giant bicycles toughroad slr 2.

Best Hybrid eBike

Ribble hybrid al e electric bike.

Best Step-Through Hybrid Bike

Co-op cycles cty 2.1 step-through bike.

Best Value Hybrid Bike

Schwinn gtx 2.0 comfort hybrid bike.

For most fitness riders, hybrid bikes—also called “fitness bikes”—are the solution. They’re designed to offer the lightweight design of many road-racing bikes, but with a more comfortable, confident upright riding stance. Most come with wider tires, too, which makes cruising rough, potholed city streets a whole lot more bearable. Plus, the best models are built with premium components like hydraulic disc brakes, battery-free lights, and low- to zero-maintenance drivetrains. These definitely aren’t the kid-friendly Huffy bikes you grew up with.

All of which is to say that bikes, even hybrid bikes , are deceptively complex. Whether you’re just getting started in your cycling journey or are looking to upgrade your current two-wheeler, there’s a perfect model out there for you. But where to start? We’ve done the legwork for you to research and personally test many of the top-rated bikes on the market. Here are our picks for the best hybrid bikes worth riding in 2023

Best Bikes for Men | Best Folding Electric Bikes | Best Electric Bikes | Best Recumbent Exercise Bikes | Best Cycling Shorts

Versatile, comfortable, and affordable—everything that makes Specialized’s wildly popular Sirrus 2.0 a solid buy for just about anyone. The lightweight design couples an aluminum alloy frame with a steel fork that altogether weighs roughly 27 pounds. Its ProMax F1 hydraulic disc brakes provide serious and reliable stopping power on any terrain. The result? The perfect balance of durability with easy, comfortable handling for riders of any skill level. That includes everyone from first-time adult riders to daily commuters.

It’s not the most budget-friendly bike in Specalized’s lineup, nor the most premium. At around $800 (closer to $600 on sale), it’s an incredibly affordable model for anyone looking to step up from an entry-level hybrid but who isn’t quite ready to drop $2,000 or more on a high-end two-wheeler. Of course, when you’re ready to upgrade your upgrade, Specialized’s lineup runs all the way up to the Sirrus 6.0.

What do buyers say? “This is the first Specialized bike. I've had many before but from the other brands. Very impressed. Light enough, smooth gears and stiff. Very well-made bicycle,” said one Specialized.com reviewer.

The all-new FX Sport 6 is the flagship in Trek’s FX lineup with a fitness-focused geometry that’s light, fast, and easy to ride. "Tipping the scales" at just over 20 pounds, the carbon frame is remarkably lightweight. It offers all the same features of a premium road bike—a 400 Series OCLV Carbon frame, carbon wheels, and a Shimano drivetrain—but with a flat handlebar design. It all combines in a hybrid bike that’s damn near-perfect for riders of all stripes, including commuters, newbies, and advanced fitness cyclists. Plus, the slick, blacked-out design looks pretty handsome too.

We’ve been fans of Trek for years and the FX Sport 6 is a standout among the company’s stellar lineup. It’s no surprise, given the nearly $3,000 price tag, which makes it the most expensive in this year’s round-up. But with solid buyer reviews and premium components throughout, we think it’s worth it. Plus, Trek’s 30-day unconditional guarantee means you can return it for any reason (even if it’s just because you changed your mind) for a full refund.

What do buyers say? “My previous Trek 2.6 was all the rage until I purchased this. The FX6 ia so much faster, better handling even with the fatter tires and lower pressure. They are great for the road,” said one TrekBikes.com reviewer.

If you’re looking for an upgrade to your entry-level two-wheeler but aren’t ready or willing to splash out on $3,000 high-end model, we like Priority’s Continuum Onyx. The brand is well-known for some of the best commuter bikes, and this hybrid model is no exception. It features premium components throughout, including a rust-free Gates Carbon belt drive, dynamo-powered (read battery-free) lights, and beefy 700x32mm WTB tires that are extremely flat-resistant. Enviolo CTV shifters guarantee smooth, responsive shifting and high-end Tektro hydraulic disc brakes deliver plenty of stopping power in tight city conditions.

At roughly $1,300, this certainly isn’t a cheap hybrid bike. But it’s built with premium parts from tip to tail, making that midrange price tag seem entirely reasonable. Everything that makes it a near-perfect commuter bike also ensures it’s a good fit for newbies and even more advanced riders.

What do buyers say? “It was very easy to assemble. I love the look and love the feel. Very quiet and solid,” said one PriorityBicycles.com reviewer.

Folding bikes used to be something of a novelty. They were rarely anything you’d actually want to ride (or be seen riding). Not so with Tern’s Verge D9. It’s our go-to pick for this year’s best folding hybrid bike. Proprietary T-Tuned geometry coupled with beefier 37mm tires makes this a more stable and comfortable model than most folders. Shimano hydraulic disc brakes provide solid stopping power on both wet and dry pavement. The saddle seat is also purpose-designed for shoulder-mounted carrying. Plus, we love that the entire bike folds or unfolds in just 10 seconds and is small enough to fit under a desk.

This is no doubt a specialty bike that’s designed with commuters and city dwellers in mind—hence the roughly $1,150 price tag. It’s at least 50% more than a comparably priced standard (non-folding) hybrid bike. But, if you’re looking for one of the most compact, street-friendly hybrid solutions on the market, you’ve found it. What’s more, Tern designed it with easy upgrading in mind.

What do buyers say? “Great choice. So versatile and easy to ride. Smooth ride for my 1.5 miles one way commute,” said one REI reviewer.

True to its name, Giant’s ToughRoad SLR 2 is a hybrid bike that’s built for less-than-ideal riding conditions. That includes smooth city streets, loose gravel bike paths, and everything in between. It’s made possible via a proprietary ALUXX SLR aluminum frame with a lightweight, durable carbon fork—both of which are ultra-durable yet absorb harsh front-end vibrations. Giant’s D-fuse seatpost and extra-grippy tires add an extra degree of comfort and confidence to your ride. Like other hybrid bikes in our roundup, this model features a standard flat-bar design with a more upright position that’s great for a wide variety of terrain and ride lengths.

Like most Giant two-wheelers, this hybrid bike is priced right at just over $1,000. That’s squarely at the midrange of our roundup, making it the perfect upgrade from most entry-level cycles. While it’s not a true mountain bike, it’s the closest hybrid model in our roundup that we’re comfortable taking on light off-road rides.

What do buyers say? “A higher ride position is enjoyable, shifting is smooth and quick, ride is very comfortable on rail bed trail locally,” said one Giant-Bicycles.com reviewer.

Of course, we can’t roundup the best hybrid bikes without throwing in a hybrid electric bike. Ribble’s Hybrid AL E Electric Bike is our favorite hybrid-style eBike of the year. The general framework is purpose-built with speed and efficiency in mind, making it one of the company’s best options for commuters and other city riders. But the geometry is incredibly versatile, allowing for complete customization of almost every component. If you want to add a rear storage rack, mudguards, and fatter tires, for example, all you have to do is ask. That also means you get the exact paint job you’re looking for, from blacked-out to cool blue to eye-popping red.

Under the “hood,” the Hybrid AL E is powered by a 250Wh battery which delivers roughly 60 miles on a single charge. It fast-charges in roughly three hours, too, so you can take it to work and top it up for your ride home. Ribble’s ebikemotion system weighs less than eight pounds and is so compact and perfectly built into the bike’s frame that it’s practically invisible. That only streamlines the look and the aerodynamics, but also makes it less of a target for thieves.

What do buyers say? “If you want to look stylish around town and arrive where you’re going sweat-free, it’s definitely one to consider,” said one RibbleCycles.co.uk reviewer.

For riders who like the convenience of a step-through model, Co-op Cycles’ CTY 2.1 is our favorite hybrid option. The low standover height allows for easy mounting and dismounting, while also ensuring it’s easy to stand with both feet square on the ground. The Shimano Altus 2x8 drivetrain serves up 16 available gear combinations. Coupled with Tektro hydraulic disc brakes, it’s a satisfying ride around town, even over hilly, potholed terrain. The 40-mm-wide tires and shock-absorbing fork also ensure a smooth, bump-free ride.

What we especially love, though, is the price. At roughly $800, it’s on the low-end of our favorite midrange models. Given its excellent reviews and better-than-average components, we think it’s worth the premium for anyone looking to step up from a more entry-level hybrid. Because REI Co-op Cycles are only available to members, be sure to account for the (totally reasonable) $30 lifetime membership fee if you don’t already have one.

What do buyers say? “Great commuter & path bike! Perfect bike for riding around the neighborhood to stay in shape. It handles the gravel and overgrown paths with ease and is just as great on the road/sidewalk,” said one REI.com reviewer.

If $500+ is too rich for your wallet, there are other options. Schwinn’s lineup of entry-level hybrid adult bikes includes the Schwinn GTX Comfort. While it lacks the better components of our favorite premium models, this is a solid alternative for budget-conscious bicyclists. The design relies on an aluminum dual-sport frame and suspension fork that tackles city streets and light trails with aplomb. Like the best hybrid bikes of this year, it features a flat-bar design and a more upright riding position that combine for a comfortable, confident ride.

Schwinn is most synonymous with entry-level bikes that “hardcore” riders might scoff at. But, if you’re looking for a durable, reliable two-wheeler that’s ready to tackle most urban and suburban terrain, this is a solid option. We especially love that it’s available starting at less than $300 (depending on the exact model), which feels like a steal.

What do buyers say? “Great bike for the money. So far this bike has been great, and makes the daily commute to work a lot more fun,” said one Amazon reviewer.

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Like most fitness gear, bikes are entirely personal. The best bike for your neighbor might not be right for you. It’s all a matter of aesthetics, price, weight, gearing, features, and how and where you most often ride. But there are a few key things to consider when shopping for the best hybrid bike for you. Here’s the low-down:

Drop Bar or Flat Bar

Hybrid bikes are similar to traditional road bikes in that they typically boast a lightweight frame that rolls on fast 700c wheels. What sets them apart, however, is that hybrid bikes are almost always built with a flat handlebar, while road bikes use a drop bar. The former uses a wider design for a wider hand stance that makes riding easier to control with better break access and an upright seating position. The result is a more comfortable ride that’s perfect for casual (read non-racing) cyclists and commuters, too. Hybrid bikes can feature a drop bar, too, but they’re specifically designed for a flat handlebar.

It’s All in the Gearing

In general, hybrid/fitness bikes feature two chainrings up front and usually 9-11 cogs at the rear. The latter helps to better dial in your shifts for a smoother, more predictable ride on everything from bike paths to hilly city streets. Budget hybrids sometimes include three front chainrings. It’s a setup that trades performance for price, however.

Modern disc brakes seriously changed the game for cyclists. They’re more expensive than traditional rim-style brakes, but better in every way, offering more precise control in both dry and wet conditions. Beginners and cyclists who love long rides love them, too, because they require less hand strength to operate. More budget-friendly hybrid bikes may be built with cable-actuated disc brakes. These offer similar performance but aren’t as powerful and require a bit more maintenance.

Hybrid bikes, like many of the best bikes, vary widely in price. Decent budget models start around $400, while mid-range models run north of $1,000. For the best hybrid bikes, however, expect to pay as much as a used car (upwards of $4,000 or more). Just know that you don’t have to spend a small fortune to land a decent two-wheeler.

How We Selected the Best Hybrid Bikes of 2023

Over the past year, our fitness-loving writers and editors here at Men’s Health researched and personally tested dozens of top-selling bikes. We compared every spec and feature, from brake technology and frame style to overall aesthetic and price. For this roundup, we’ve also included a few hybrid bikes with overwhelmingly positive reviews on the retailer sites we trust most. The final list above represents our honest picks for the best hybrid bikes worth buying in 2023.

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XL TREK 720 HYBRID 21 SPEED CRUISER IN PRISTINE CONDITION - bicycles...

This is a really nice TREK 720 MULTITRACK 21 SPEED cruiser in an XL frame, that can easilt be converted into a gravel bike these are the frames that are sought out for this! 23" cromoly frame with...

Hybrid bikes fill many functions. They’re great for fitness, commuting, adventuring, recreation, and more. Plus, each bike is designed for a comfortable and fun riding experience. Every Trek Hybrid bike is versatile and can be ridden on a variety of surfaces, but each model has specific strengths. Some are especially fast on pavement and others are especially comfortable on dirt paths and trails. Several Trek Hybrid bikes have electric bike counterparts, which are designated by a “+” symbol after the model name. These e-bikes give you the same comfort and performance, with an extra boost of a power from a Bosch pedal-assist system. To narrow your search when you’re choosing a hybrid bike, you should consider how and where you want to ride.

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What types of hybrid bikes are there?

Electric bikes.

If you want to replace your car... Not all e-bikes are the same, but each one has the extra boost to get you where you’re going in no time. Equipped with intuitive controls and ride-ready accessories, make commutes and errands even more carefree. Leave the traffic jam behind with an e-bike.

Fitness bikes

If you ride for fitness... Features like a rigid fork and skinnier tires will give you a quicker, lighter ride on pavement. They’re fast, fun, and easy to accessorize with fitness and commuting essentials like a computer to track your data. You can also install a rack and fenders.

Comfort & recreation bikes

If you’re all about comfort... A hybrid bike with a more upright geometry is just your speed. These recreational hybrid bikes have wider tires for extra comfort, and some are even equipped with lush features like a suspension seatpost and saddles with extra cushioning. Relaxed in geomotry, comfort bikes put you in a position to see the world around you.

Adventure bikes

If you want to go anywhere... Knobbier tires for better traction, maximum comfort for the long days, and room to roam. Adventure bikes are the perfect choice for getting you out beyond your backyard and even into the backcountry. They even come equipped with space to add gear where you need.

Urban & Commuter bikes

If you want to get from A to B... Built for the best part of the day— when you and your bike are together, looking great. Urban and commuter bikes are designed for life in the city. They’re equipped with flat handlebars for more control, wider tires to soak up the bumps, and powerful disc brakes to stop on a dime. They’re the perfect companion for every urban adventure.

Still searching?

How do you want to ride and where would you like to go? A few questions can go a long way. Our bike finder is here to help you find that dream bike for your dream ride.

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