Buying a Hybrid Bike

I work in a bike shop in Southern California. Increasingly, people around Los Angeles are rebuking the region's predominant car culture in favor of a bicycle. From what I gather, this phenomenon is not exclusive to the LA area. Around North America, people are turning to bikes to move to and fro. A popular--and wise--choice for utilitarian bicycling is the hybrid bike, also known as a commuter bike or fitness bike or flat-bar road bike.

Hybrid bikes got their name for a simple reason--they are a mix between a drop-handlebar style racing bike and a mountain bike. Hybrids do not have drop handlebars, rather they use a flat-bar, which allows the ride to assume a more upright position, similar to how you set up on a mountain bike. And while the tires on a hybrid are narrow and designed for the road, they are not quite as narrow as the tires on a race bike. Relative to mountain bike tires, hybrid tires are not knobby. Some have minimal or no tread at all. They are also, in most cases, much narrower than race bike tires. 

When you look to buy a hybrid bike, you will likely need to spend something in the $500 to $700 range for a good bike. For commuting and/or fitness purposes, there is no reason to go for anything other than an aluminium frame. Still somewhat rare, carbon-framed hybrid bikes are likely a bit too extravagant for most people's purposes.

Tire size is a major consideration. I am not as concerned with diameter, as I am width. While a 700C tire ought to roll quicker than a 26-inch tire, I tend to prefer going as narrow as possible. It is a misconception that a narrow tire with no or little tread will slide more on wet pavement. A narrow tire makes your bike move faster. What you give up for the extra performance is the comfort a wider tire provides. The wider the tire, the slower the ride, but there is more rubber meeting the ground and absorbing the shock of bumps and other common obstacles of the road. My hybrid of choice is the Giant Rapid 3 (reviewed here). I swapped out the standard 700 X 28C tires for race-style 700 X 23C's and could not be happier. It made the bike faster. Of course, dropping some weight off of your body is another sure-fire way to increase your speed.

Other than tire size, I think the second biggest consideration is the drive train. In practical terms, look for a bike that shifts smoothly. The only way to figure out which ones move from gear to gear like butter is to ride a few bikes. Generally--and you might need to ask your local bike shop sales person to advise you on this--hybrid bikes with road-oriented components provide smoother shifting than ones with mountain components. For instance, you are likely better off with a Shimano Tiagra or 105 rear derailleur (both road parts) over the mountain bike equivalent--Shimano Deore.

Depending upon how much you have ridden going into the purchase of a new hybrid bike, plan to spend a few dollars more on accessories. Accessories are key for comfort and safety. It stinks that the roads are not safe enough to go helmet-less, but the reality is that cars dominate and most cities do a woeful job providing equitable roadways. Therefore, you really need to wear a helmet on every ride.

Some jurisdictions require lights if you ride your bike at night. Regardless of the law, it makes sense to use a front and rear light when you ride. A bell can come in handy, though I choose to use my voice to call out offending drivers. Though not a necessity, a pair of padded cycling shorts--spandex or baggy--can make your cycling experience a lot more comfortable.

Buying a hybrid does not have to be a long, drawn out, excessively expensive and intimidating process. Don't let anyone--including a bike shop employee--make it so. Do some research. Ride a couple bikes. Ask a couple good questions (about tire size and drive train) and you should walk away with a trusty bike and the accessories you need for less than $1,000. This might sound like a lot, but you need reliability. Plus, consider this cost relative to the ball and chain of a car. It's a mere spit in the bucket.