Best hybrid bikes: how to choose the right model for you
In search of the ideal hybrid for your needs? We've chosen a selection of models to meets differing needs and budgets
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As the name suggests, a hybrid bike is a blend, in this case between a mountain bike and a road bike. It makes the best hybrid bikes inherently versatile and, for some cyclists, a do-it-all solution.
Pairing flat handlebars with a relaxed, upright geometry and wide tyres means they are adaptable across a range of terrain and for a variety of uses. In towns and cities these attributes make them adept at navigating traffic, and it's little wonder that many chose to take their daily commute aboard one of the best hybrid bikes. Equally, these features mean they are at home on towpaths and trails. Add in the fact that most hybrids come with mounts for fenders and rear racks, and you have a bike that’s as practical as it is comfortable.
You’ll find plenty of hybrids equipped with electric motors, too, enhancing their versatility and widening their appeal. While we’ve a dedicated guide to the best electric bikes, we do feature a favored model here.
With build options offering fenders and a rack, the Hybrid is AL e is ready to roll, while the Ebikemotion system delivers plenty of assistance and range.
The Gates belt drive makes for a low maintenance ride, aided by fenders coming as standard. The rear hub motor features a torque sensor to match the power to your pedalling.
With front and rear Dynamo lights and fenders as standard, the Continuum Onyx is loaded with features. Add in the Gates belt drive and you have a solid commuter-friendly option.
With a Shimano drivechain, disc brakes and a carbon fork, the RC 500 delivers great value for money, while the fender and rack mounts add to its versatility.
While the frame's look may divide opinion it's design and carbon construction make for low-weight and plush ride. The FutureShock front suspension adds to this, reducing fatigue.
A 10-speed Shimano groupset with a single chain ring, hydraulic disc brakes and carbon forks add up to a great value build. There are mounts for both fenders and a rear rack.
Ribble Hybrid AL e demonstrates how subtle the electric power is on the bike
Our expert review:
We test rode the electric version of the Ribble Hybrid AL - the Ribble Hybrid AL e - and loved it so much we gave it a Cycling Weekly Editor's Choice Award as it's one of the best hybrid electric bike's we've seen.
Offering a smooth level of assistance from the Ebikemotion system, coupled with decent range and a fully loaded spec the Ribble Hybrid AL e can handle the daily commute as well as anything. But being both capable and rewarding, it's certainly not restricted to A to B rides and could take you on many adventures.
The aluminum frame features elegantly shaped tubing profiles including pencil-thin, dropped seatstays for added compliance and a distinctive dropped driveside chainstay design. There's a step-through frame option as well as a frame with a crossbar if you prefer a bike that's easier to mount and dismount.
Ribble has specced a full carbon fork on the Hybrid AL e to help keep weight down whilst still retaining a good level of steering stiffness and much needed vibration damping.
The Ribble Hybrid AL e is really quite a joy to ride in most respects. It has an engaging handling feel and a build quality that turn it into a bike you look forward to riding rather than a dead and dreary commuter.
At this price point you get a fully loaded electric bike with a superb frame, quality motor system and really decent parts the Ribble Hybrid AL e certainly offers almost unbeatable value when compared to its rivals.
If you want a non-assisted bike, the Ribble Hybrid AL is available in a range of pre-built specs, many of which come with mudguards and a rear rack. Ribble provides advice via video link to its showroom if you want a walkthrough of the bike's features or more buying info.
Read more: Ribble Hybrid AL e full review
Tenways integrates the motor and battery neatly into the CGO600 electric bike
Our expert review:
The Tenways CGO600 Pro has an alloy frame and fork with a slender battery enclosed in the downtube. It's a low maintenance design with a lubricant-free Gates belt drive that Tenways says should go up to 19,000 miles without servicing. Tenways says that the bike is weatherproof, but should not be stored outdoors regularly.
Assistance comes from a 350W (in the US) rear hub motor, which gives a 53 mile claimed range and includes a torque sensor that helps ensure that the power output matches your pedalling input. The battery locks into place, but can be removed for easier charging. The on-bike LCD display gives plenty of data and allows you to switch between the four assist modes and there's an app which lets you log trip distance and other data.
The CGO600 Pro has Tektro hydraulic disc brakes. It's kitted out with grippy tires, mudguards and an integrated front light, although there are no water bottle cage mounting points.
Tenways sells its range of commuter bikes part-assembled, so there's a little work to get everything set up, with some tasks a little tricky. The bike is supplied with some useful extras like a mini pump. The handlebar grips were a little uncomfortable with bare hands, but they're easy to swap out and a pair of cycling mitts would solve this.
Read more: Tenways CGO600 Pro e-bike full review
The Priority Bicycles Continuum Onyx has a belt drive and variable ratio transmission
Our expert review:
The Priority Bicycles Continuum Onyx includes front and rear lights, fenders, and uses a Gates Carbon belt drive system with a continuously variable rear hub. It's unlike most anything on the market and offers the advantage of reduced maintenance and no chance of grease on your clothes.
If you want a bike that feels at home in the urban jungle the Priority Continuum Onyx might be the perfect solution.
Both the frame and the fork are made from aluminium - a material common at this price point. It's light but stiff and easy to work with.
But what's really unique is the continuously variable NuVinci N380 CVT drivetrain. What you get is roughly the same gear range as a common 7-speed chain driven bike but without distinct gears. Shifting happens with a grip shift and there is a smooth progression from easy to difficult.
It has a carbon belt instead of a chain and all the shifting components live in the rear hub. The system is silent and requires no real maintenance, which is why it suits as one of the best commuter bikes as well.
With the Priority Continuum Onyx there is no real point of comparison on the market. It's possible to get other hybrid bikes in the same price range with a focus on different features. It's also possible to find cheaper bikes but if you want something with this unique mix of features, this is it. There's simply nothing else out there that's quite the same.
Read more: Priority Continuum Onyx full review
Decathlon offers excellent value with the Triban RC500
Our expert review:
The Triban RC500 is a speedy hybrid bike that's more tarmac than off-road orientated and will suit those riding mostly on the road. The carbon fork supplies phenomenal value and adds an enormous amount of comfort to the ride.
The bike's head tube puts you in an upright position from the off. Out on the roads you're left feeling in control of the bike but also comfortable, with the aluminium frame absorbing a good amount of the road's lumps and bumps.
Just because it has a focus on comfort doesn't mean the RC500 is slow to respond. We were impressed by the bike's fast acceleration and how well it holds its speed. Newer riders will certainly be impressed by its turn of pace.
It's a great price for a great bike; the mechanical disc brakes are OK, but worth a hydraulic upgrade if you see a good deal. There's a compact 50/34 chainset boasting a rear cassette replete with a wide spread of gears that will see you up and over most hills, without sacrificing flat speed.
The tyres warrant a special mention, having proven their robustness over the course of commutes (and many more shards of glass). The tyres and the wheels (another Decathlon in-house product) form a fine partnership and can even be set up tubeless should you want the extra security.
If you are looking for the best hybrid bike at this sort of price point, and are after plenty of versatility and dependability then look no further than the Triban RC500 flat bar.
Read more: Triban RC500 flat bar full review
The Specialized Sirrus X has a unique design that adds a lot of comfort to its ride
Our expert review:
The eye-catching carbon frame design of the Sirrus X stands out and, along with the Future Shock 1.5 headset, adds plenty of comfort. You can fit tires up to 42mm wide too. Reflective paint ups your road presence when riding after dark.
The combination of a 38 tooth chainring with an 11-50 tooth 12-speed cassette gives a wide gear range, although we found the SRAM Eagle NX shifting a little unrefined and that it lacked the top-end ratios for higher speeds on tarmac. There's a more road-going spec available if you do want higher gearing and skinnier tires.
The Sirrus X 5.0 feels light, fast and very comfortable on road and in its element on bumpy off-road, when its built-in compliance features make it very smooth, even with tires at higher than ideal pressure, to avoid pinch flats. The wheels and tires are both tubeless-ready, allowing you to lower pressure and add even greater comfort and grip.
The price is high for a hybrid, but the Sirrus X isn't your normal hybrid and its clever design will up your riding enjoyment no end, even is the component spec is underwhelming for the price.
Read more: Specialized Sirrus X 5.0 full review
The Boardman HYB offers a women's-specific fit
Our expert review:
The Boardman HYB 8.8 has a carbon fork paired with its alloy frame - the fork being a nice extra to improve comfort over an alloy or steel number. The bike's geometry is quite racy, so you're not sitting as upright as on many hybrids.
There's a smart-looking one piece bar and stem, which gives the Boardman Hyb 8.8 a stylish air, although it makes for fewer adjustment options than a more conventional separate bar and stem.
The bike comes with a single chainring 10-speed Shimano Deore groupset. That's a good combination, lowering complexity by eliminating the front derailleur. The wide range cassette still gives lots of gear range, although it does result in quite large jumps between ratios.
We reviewed the women's HYB 8.8, but there's a men's/unisex version too, which differs only in its size range and contact points: saddle and bar width. It's well specced for its price and comfortable and fast to ride, although we'd have liked wider tyres for more off-road adventures.
Have a look too at our review of the Boardman HYB 8.6, a lower priced alternative to the HYB 8.8.
Read more: Boardman HYB 8.8 hybrid bike full review
We have a dedicated team of testers here at Cycling Weekly, whose job is to review a whole range of cycling products and to write objective reviews of their experience of using them day in day out in a whole range of conditions.
With huge experience, they're really well placed to compare products, identify their strengths and weaknesses and bring you an honest, unbiased assessment of how they perform.
To test hybrid bikes we undertake rides of varying lengths and conditions. Typically these will include town and city commutes as well as longer leisure rides. Our testers assess the performance each bike across a number of factors, including comfort and handling and the bike's suitability for commuting (for example, how well it is equipped to carry panniers and other luggage) as well as the quality of the build, the durability of the components and the bike's overall value for money.
The sheer number of different models available can make finding the right hybrid bike for you somewhat overwhelming. Certainly you’re likely to be spoilt for choice and might need a little help in narrowing down your search. With this in mind, we’ve listed a few key considerations before you buy.
Usage
The first consideration is what you’ll be using the bike for as this will determine a few of the choices discussed below. The attraction of a hybrid is their inherent versatility and, if you need a bike to occasionally commute to work on as well as undertake longer leisure rides at the weekend, then you should have little trouble finding a model that can handle both duties well. However, if you have a single use in mind, say you’re commuting every day, year round, looking to do a spot of touring, or using the bike as part of your fitness regime, then you can pay attention to certain details to find a bike that’s better suited for your needs. Starting with…
Frame material
The best hybrid bikes are offered in three main materials: aluminium, steel and carbon.
Typically aluminium bikes will be the cheapest, and offer a balance of weight, ride quality and durability. Paired with a carbon fork, a sensible frame design and wide tyres they can be comfortable enough and make a good choice for those shopping on a budget or who require a bike to be adaptable for a number of tasks.
A steel bike will likely be heavier than both an aluminum or carbon offering but can make for a smoother and more nuanced ride. This ride quality coupled with steel’s durability makes it a sound choice for those who will be riding longer distances, perhaps using it as a tourer, as well as those who will put a substantial amount of miles on the bike over the years.
There are less hybrids that use carbon as the frame material, but if you’re looking for a lighter option, it’s a solid choice. The lower weight makes it well-suited to hilly or undulating terrain as well for those who are planning to use their hybrid for some moderate to intense training.
Gearing
Hybrids are available with both 1x and 2x drivechains.
A single chainring, a 1x, is a sound option for those who appreciate the simplicity of this system, while a 2x, in some cases, will offer a greater gear range as well smaller jumps between each gear.
However, 1x systems have come a long way and the ‘dinner plate’ cassettes that were once the preserve of mountain bikes now mean that truly wide gear ranges can be enjoyed even with a single chainring.
Hydraulic or mechanical brakes
Disc brakes have long been standard on hybrid bikes but the choice between hydraulic and mechanical operation still exists. Largely this comes down to cost: cheaper hybrids may use cable operated disc brakes, while more expensive machines will be equipped with hydraulic brakes.
Electric motor?
E-bikes are a great match for those who want to cycle more, and for longer distances, but need a little assistance to do so. If you’re coming back to the bike after years away, or perhaps you need to carry a heavy load into work, then the added power boost can make all the difference, especially when tackling hills. You’ll need to consider the electric hybrids weigh more than their regular counterparts as well as, by and large, being more expensive to buy.
Cost
We’ve touched on it in each of the previous categories and it’s the driver for many of the decisions you’ll need to make. If money is no object you can opt for a high-quality steel or carbon frame with quality components, including hydraulic disc brakes. If you’re constrained via a budget then you’ll need to make some compromises. We’d suggest that getting the best frameset you can makes sense as you can always upgrade components as and when you can afford it.
Details
Some hybrids feature a wealth of mounting points, while others are a little more stripped back. If you plan on fitting a pannier rack and want to ride year round then make it have the required bosses for guards and racks. If you’re planning on long rides or bikepacking trips then additional mounts for bags and bottle cages will come in handy.
Other important considerations include maximum tyre width and internally or externally routed cables. If you're using your bike on towpaths, forest trails and more then making sure you can fit tyres that are 40mm wide will help with comfort and ride quality. As for the cabling, if you like to do your repairs and adjustments yourself then external cables make these jobs far easier.
A hybrid bike is a cross between a road bike and a mountain bike, incorporating the best bits of both to create a machine that is comfortable over multiple terrains and surfaces.
While the best comfort bikes are ideal for gentler-paced leisure riding and best fitness bikes are designed more for workout goals, the best hybrid bikes give you a lot of versatility, either for commuting or weekend leisure rides.
Each of the best hybrid bikes will have its own unique design. The road and off road capability is blended differently depending on model, with some having a stronger speedy road/urban bias, while others will have a greater preference for gravelly lanes and uneven off-road terrain. If you're unsure what bike is best for your riding then read our article explaining the difference between mountain bikes and hybrid bikes.
Hybrid bikes generally have tyres that are wider than those of a pure road bike, but narrower than mountain bike tyres. Somewhere around 28-32mm is the norm but the more rugged will go up to 50mm
Hybrid bikes will have flat handlebars and a more upright position that allows the rider to sit with a straighter back than on a road bike
You'll often find disc brakes on a hybrid: these provide more powerful stopping and are more reliable in wet weather than rim brakes
If you plan to use your hybrid bike for commuting, look for eyelets for mounting a pannier rack and mudguards - most hybrid bikes will have these and they may have a rack and mudguards already fitted
Yes and no! The most important thing about getting the best hybrid bike for you is fit. Many brands will offer women's hybrid bikes which will come in smaller sizes, including narrower handlebars and women's-specific saddles. Check out the full range of the best women's hybrid bikes on our dedicated page to help you decide.
How do I get the best style of hybrid bike?
The best hybrid bike for someone else might not be the best hybrid bike for you. Think about the sort of riding you're going to be doing. Would you be better suited buying a hybrid bike that is more similar to a road bike, or one that is more similar to a mountain bike?
If you are thinking of riding your bike to work check out our top tips for commuting to work by bike page for all you need to know. In the UK consider the Cycle to Work Scheme to reduce the net cost of your purchase.
If you're doing most of your riding on roads and cycle paths, then the best option is to go for a more road-orientated hybrid. Quite often, these will feature the same frame and fork as found on the manufacturer's sportive road bike, but with a flat bar handlebar for a more upright position. The tyres will also be slick, and not super wide, allowing you to ride fast and keep up with traffic.
However, if you are going to be riding on rough cycle paths and bridleways, then it's better to go for one that will be able to cope with the terrain.
These may come with a suspension fork, and will have slightly wider tyres. With regard to gearing, they will generally have slightly easier gearing than their more road-orientated brethren.
The best tire choice for a hybrid bike will depend on where you're riding. If you only expect to ride on tarmac, narrower tires with less grip will roll faster with less effort - 30-35mm is likely a good width to opt for.
The best hybrid bikes will usually allow you to fit tires that are much wider though. You can choose a wide city tire, but if you plan to take your fitness bike off-road, the best gravel bike tires can add extra grip and versatility, without necessarily affecting your on-road riding experience.
For any riding, whether on road or off, the risk of punctures can be reduced by fitting the best puncture proof tires.
If you're having to carry large or heavy items to work, then it can be uncomfortable to carry a backpack. A better option is to invest in a pair of panniers. Panniers will move the weight from you to the bike. Have a look at our guide to panniers and pannier racks to help you decide.
All of the best hybrid bikes should come with eyelets in the frame for a pannier rack. It is possible to buy adaptor clips that will let you use a pannier rack without having the eyelets. The problem is these won't hold the rack quite as securely as if the frame is specifically designed for the purpose.
If you are pondering the question regarding whether you really need mudguards? The answer is yes!
Look for a hybrid bike that has plenty of clearance between the frame and the tyre. The clearance will be important for fitting mudguards. Even better will be a frame with eyelets so you can fit ones with better coverage, rather than flimsy clip-on ones.
It might seem a shame to spoil the look of your new bike in such a way, but you'll certainly appreciate it when cycling on wet roads.