The Hybrid Bicycle
The hybrid bicycle combines features of a road bicycle and a mountain bicycle. The hybrid bicycle retains most of the features of mountain bicycles, but is not a mountain bicycle. The use of mountain bike gears to make riding in hilly environments easier, slightly upturned handlebars to provide for a more upright seating, and use of tires slightly wider than a road bicycle, yet thinner and smoother than those of a mountain bicycle, make the hybrid very suitable for urban use.
The hybrid comes in many configurations. Some hybrids have a frame similar to a racing or touring bicycle, with 700C-size wheels with slick or semi-slick tires between 32 and 40 mm wide [1] . The wider width is intended to provide more stability on rough surfaces such as road pavement, hard packed sand, shallow mud, bike paths, and gravel. These are conditions typical of urban use.
Most hybrid bicycles are based on a modified mountain frame. Features include a taller head tube providing a more upright riding posture, and 26-inch wheels with semi-slick tires around 1.95 inches (5 cm) wide. Most hybrids include features such as front suspension forks, seat post suspension and angle-adjustable stems to provide more comfort for the rider. Hub gears are sometimes used on hybrids rather than derailleur gears. The hybrid bicycle is very well suited for leisure road and trail riding, and at the same time can be ridden on moderately rough terrain.
The “comfort bicycle” is a variation of the “hybrid bicycle” with many of the same features. Often a bicycle is called “hybrid” if they have 700C size wheels, and “comfort” if they have the 26 inch size wheels. The main difference is usually more one of marketing focus than specification, and similar features are generally provided on both the hybrid and comfort bicycles to enhance the comfort of the rider.
