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BUYER'S GUIDE

Best hybrid bikes 2024 — the affordable bike genre that offers both comfort and versatility

Explore a wide range of hybrid bikes recommended by road.cc reviewers to help you get around in comfort and commute to work hassle-free

This article contains links to retailers. Purchases made after clicking on those links may help support road.cc by earning us a commission but all of our reviews are fully independent. Find out more about road.cc buyer's guides.

The humble hybrid is the most popular type of bike in the UK, and many other places too. The best hybrid bikes will put you in an upright riding position to make them ideal for the office run or leisurely cruising the lanes, and in this guide you'll find plenty of options to choose from if you're looking to invest. 


Usually considered a sub-genre of commuter bikes, hybrids are midway between road and mountain bikes. The best hybrid bikes are inexpensive transport par excellence, paying for themselves in just a few months if you live in a major city. If you live somewhere less bustling, hybrids are ideal for cruising the lanes or popping to the shops without having to worry too much about the terrain underneath you, as most hybrids will come with pretty robust tyres. 

This scope for choice is what makes hybrids such a popular option amongst commuters and leisure riders. Regardless of where your route will take you, you can rest easy knowing your bike won’t hold you back. 

Though hybrids are very versatile, it's perhaps the minimal looks and city slicker reputation that means many hybrids don't come with practicalities like mudguards and pannier racks; but wherever you're riding, these accessories can turn your hybrid into a super practical machine, so we'd recommend budgeting an extra £80-£100 to get these fitted when you buy the bike. You'll be glad you did.

Time for our top picks, which gives you a diverse selection within this broad genre to choose from at various different price points. If you live somewhere hilly or would prefer your hybrid with some assistance, be sure to check out our guide to the best electric bikes instead to turbo-charge your ride... 

The best hybrid bikes

Specialized Sirrus X 3.0

Specialized Sirrus X 3.0

8
Best hybrid bike overall
Buy now for £848.99 from Rutland Cycling
Capable on the gravel and road
Good spread of gears
Excellent hydraulic brakes
Reflective detailing is eye-catching
Flat bar makes filtering through urban traffic trickier

The Specialized Sirrus has been a very popular hybrid for many years now, and for good reason too. It's reliable, comfortable, looks good and rides very well.

The X 3.0 model is no exception to this. It’s a really brilliant do-it-all hybrid that is just as happy around town as it is on the byways according to our reviewer, therefore making it a worthy taker of our best overall hybrid bike. 

While riding along the road or other tarmac surfaces, the Sirrus X cruises along well. Even though this particular model features a single chainring on the front, the lower gears that the casette produce help you to accelerate with ease, making nipping away from traffic lights or junctions easy. Moreso, the quick handling allows for effortless change of direction, such as when manoeuvring around street furniture or traffic. Not to mention that the brakes this bike is built with are also fantastic, which if used while riding to work or around unpredictable road/bike path users, is definitely worth having.

Altogether, the Specialized Sirrus X 3.0 really is a great hybrid for those wanting something that can do it all, be it the ride to work, riding with your family at the weekend or exploring the countryside. A great versatile hybrid from a big name like Specialized, for a very reasonable price.

Read our review:
Canyon Commuter 5

Canyon Commuter 5

8
Best high-end hybrid
Buy now for £1149 from Canyon
Fast & fun to ride
Hub gearing
A little stiff
No rear rack mounts

The Canyon Commuter 5 is a fast urban bike that is undoubtedly good fun to ride, providing all the performance that you’d expect of a hybrid costing upwards of £1,000. While that would be at the cheaper end of road bikes it's quite a bit to drop on a hybrid, so it takes the spot as our best high-end hybrid. 

Often ride quality usually comes at the expense of speed and vice versa; however, the Commuter 5 really goes above and beyond with both comfort and stiffness, allowing for speedy riding without any issues. This particular model is very stiff, therefore if you were looking for out and out comfort, it may not be your first choice, but for those wanting a high end hybrid that delivers on both performance and speed, this is your answer.

All in all, the Commuter 5 is a really fantastic high end pick for anyone wanting a snazzy commuter, it provides all the thrills while also coming with a hub gear, similar to that of the Cube Editor. Making it nice and low maintenance, so all you have to worry about is riding the bike and getting to work.

Read our review:
Merida Crossway 300

Merida Crossway 300

8
Best hybrid with front and rear suspension
Buy now for £885 from Tredz
Comfy thanks to suspension post & fork
Huge gear range
Decent hydraulic disc brakes
Great colour
No rack, mudguards etc
Triple chainset could be confusing
Heavy

The Crossway 300 from Merida has a suspension fork and seatpost, plus a triple crankset with a huge gearing range. It's not exactly light at 14kg, but if you want something practical and comfortable for nipping about town it's well worth your consideration. 

Our reviewer said that while this isn't the most 'fun' bike, it is solid, reassuring, wholesome, and friendly – exactly what you want it to be. The riding position is quite upright, and if you want to make it more or less so you can even alter the angle of the stem. The deep-treader tyres are most at home on tarmac but are also ripe for light trails, too. 

The Crossway 300 doesn't come equipped with practical extras such as mudguards, lights and racks, but there are plenty of mounting points to fit your own; there's even a mounting point under the top tube for a Dutch-style lock. Go for this if you want an attractive town bike that you can add accessories to yourself. 

Read our review:
Carrera Subway All Weather Edition Men’s Hybrid Bike

Carrera Subway All Weather Edition Men’s Hybrid Bike

9
Best value for money hybrid
Buy now for £410 from Halfords
Ready-to-go commuter bike
Heated grips fight the winter chill
Wide gear range
Very good hydraulic disc brakes
Mudguards and lights are quite basic

As some of you may be aware, the ever popular Carrera Subway has been in the Halfords range for years now as a mountain bike-styled urban warrior that has been known for always offering a lot of bike for not much money. The All Weather Edition model is no exception to this: it comes with useful winter-riding accessories such as mudguards, basic LED lights and heated bar-grips. All this for less than 500 quid at RRP, which is why we feel it rightfully deserves to be the best value for money hybrid. 

The Carrera Subway All Weather Edition is an excellent hybrid for round-town riding as well as recreational riding. This model also benefits from some great features such as a wide, low gear range and very good brakes. The handling is quick which makes it good for manoeuvrability in traffic, but be mindful of this as it does mean on off-road trails it can be a bit of a handful on fast descents. In general the ride quality is rigid which is due to the steel forks, making it a solid option for those commuting on the road or on bike paths.

Riding this hybrid will definitely help to keep you going through the cold and wet months and for far less than the vast majority of its competitors.

Read our review:
Oxford Bike Works Model 1E

Oxford Bike Works Model 1E

8
Best handmade hybrid
Buy now for £1379 from
Quality steel frameset handmade in Coventry
Simple high-quality drivetrain
Surprisingly good V-brakes
Slightly limited gear range
Not that light

If the best handmade hybrid is what you are looking for, then look no further. The Model 1E from Oxford Bike Works is a handbuilt steel hybrid which is made from a full personalised fitting service at its headquarters in Coventry. This bike offers high quality componentry on a very high quality frame with added accessories such as mudguards. Not to mention, this hybrid also looks very quirky and somewhat vintage. It really would make the perfect shopper or hybrid to commute into work on, at your own leisurely pace. 

The most obvious quality of the 1E is that it's comfortable. The ride this bike produces is both smooth and forgiving regardless of the terrain you happen to be riding over. Be it tarmac, rough country roads or even canal towpaths, discomfort is no issue. The bike is more than 13kg, which isn’t particularly light but given the level of comfort offered, the weight isn't an issue. It’s still smooth to ride along the flat and a confident descender, offering grip from the tyres coupled with decent braking abilities.

All in all, the Oxford Bike Works Model 1E is a really excellent handmade bike that offers personalisation with regards to geometry and very high levels of comfort thanks to the steel it is made from. It may seem a little pricier, but for something handmade and steel, the pricing is actually rather reasonable. This would therefore make a great leisure bike to go out and explore on, or a quirky commuter.

Read our review:
Decathlon B’Twin Riverside 920 hybrid bike

Decathlon B’Twin Riverside 920 hybrid bike

9
Best hybrid with suspension forks
Buy now for £699.99 from Decathlon
Fantastic and fun ride experience
Excellent value for money package
Superb wheelset
Brakes are a bit weak

If you were wanting a hybrid bike more geared towards gravel road fun and byway exploring, then our best hybrid with suspension forks, the B’Twin Riverside 920 hybrid from Decathlon is a solid option for you to consider. This bike combines all the desired practicalities of a hybrid, with a fun and enthusiastic ride quality. The potential really is unlimited with this one. Not to mention that it’s also rather affordable. 

The most noticeable aspect of the B'Twin Riverside 920 is just how reactive it is. For a large and relatively heavy bike at 13,150g, you can quite effortlessly get it up to speed with ease. The Riverside 920 is also impressive when racing with traffic and street furniture, weaving in and around these obstacles, it is both exciting and direct. Even if it isn't necessarily quicker than other hybrids in our list, such as the Canyon Commuter 5,  it at least feels lively and willing.

All in all, this is a really rewarding bike to ride, with the added comfort of the front forks it easily lands itself in our best hybrid with suspension forks. Its ability to go from busy town commuter to a countryside leisure bike proves its versatility. It really is a great bike for the price and one to definitely consider if you were wanting a hybrid with the added benefit of a suspension fork.

Read our review:

Merida Speeder 200

Merida Speeder 200

Merida Speeder 200

8
Best lightweight hybrid
Buy now for £625 from Tredz
Great all-round ride
Good spec for the money
Excellent hydraulic braking
The tyres and wet roads don't form a confidence-inspiring combination
No thru-axles

The Merida Speeder 200 is a flat-barred road bike that's claimed to be sporty and fast, but also comfortable. It offers good specification for the money, coming fitted with hydraulic disc brakes on a stiff and well-finished aluminium frame with tapered carbon forks. Only weighing a very impressive 10,570g, this bike is light for a hybrid, thus it gets to take the title of the best lightweight hybrid.

Offering a dynamic, controlled ride, the Speeder 200 is without a doubt at home on fleet-footed fitness rides and urban or suburban commutes. Riding along flat terrain with total ease, regardless of the pace you choose, and tackling hills confidently. This bike performs while both ascending and descending. Although not a full blown road bike, you can still hit sweeping bends while descending at speed with pinpoint steering accuracy thanks to the stiff frameset. 

Overall, this hybrid is a really great lightweight option. It’s not posh road bike light but as far as hybrids go, this is impressive, especially for the price. Therefore, if you were wanting a hybrid that is lightweight and more geared towards riding on tarmac, this is undoubtedly a superb option. 

Read our review:
Giant Escape 0 Disc

Giant Escape 0 Disc

8
Best hybrid with a carbon fibre fork
Buy now for £899 from Avon Valley Cyclery
Quality frameset
Accurate gear shifting
Light-action brakes
Great comfort
Versatility and practicality
Single chainring limits top gear

The Giant Escape 0 Disc is a very versatile hybrid that consists of an aluminium frame with a full carbon fibre fork that weighs in at only 10,500g, which is very impressive for a hybrid. All of this can be had for under a grand, making it a very good value option; and in our opinion, the best hybrid with a carbon fibre fork in our list.

The Escape 0 Disc is a really high quality frameset that is comfortable to ride, even on the roughest of roads and it will also cope with a variety of unsurfaced routes without any complaint. Gripping particularly well on loose and dusty surfaces. The Escape also coped well on tarmac on longer days out, making it a really great option for those wanting versatility in a hybrid that can handle both on and off road riding.

All in all, the Giant Escape 0 Disc is a really great option for anyone wanting a lightweight hybrid bike that also comes with a full carbon fibre fork for under £1000. This bike can handle well on a range of different surfaces and would therefore make a really great leisure bike or commuter.

Read our review:
Dawes Discovery 201

Dawes Discovery 201

8
Best budget hybrid
Buy now for £299.99 from Leisure Outlet
Excellent ride quality
1x drivetrain is swift and secure
Surprisingly comfortable
Adjustable stem is a bit low-rent
Rim brakes suffer in wet weather
Gearing range is limited

The Dawes Discovery 201 is a very affordable and comfortable hybrid. It combines a lively compact aluminium frame with a user-friendly single Shimano chainring at the front to create what we're calling the best budget hybrid. 

With regards to power transfer, the Discovery 201 does not compromise, offering a positive power delivery to make commuting much more effortless and enjoyable; even on a budget. It's also happy at a cruising pace, offering excellent comfort and a great overall ride quality. The direct front end also combines well with good overall balance to help ensure handling is easy, even in wet conditions. Weaving through traffic is also no issue for the Dawes.

Overall the Dawes Discovery 201 is a nice all-round option for leisure riding and commuting that is very wallet-friendly in price with an RRP of only £369.99. This hybrid really does just prove that price isn't always an indication of performance.

Read our review:
Cube Editor

Cube Editor

8
Best hybrid for very low maintenance
Buy now for £1749 from Tredz
Comfy ride
User-friendly belt-drive and hub gears
Over-geared
Handlebar a tad wide

A couple of years back, we reviewed the 2020 version of the Cube Editor which we were very impressed with. Now, Cube have bought out a new version which is very similar to the Editor that we previously reviewed, just with newer componentry and a slight weight reduction.

This bike retains the Shimano hub gearing and belt drive system, which means if you want a bike that's almost fuss-free, this is a solid choice. The belt drive means no having to oil a chain, and hub gears are much easier to maintain with no derailleurs to adjust. The fact that the Editor is also a friendly and appealing ride as well, according to our reviewer, just happens to be the icing on the cake.

Overall the Cube Editor is a great town bike, that makes the perfect weekend cruiser for anyone wanting a light weight (11.5kg) hybrid that is both speedy and comfortable. 

Read our review of the 2020 version below:

Goldhawk Rodax

Goldhawk Rodax

Goldhawk Rodax

10
Best steel hybrid
Buy now for £1495 from Goldhawk Bikes
Fast
Exciting and comfortable ride
Perfect spec
580mm handlebar is just a tad narrow
32mm tyres might be better than the 28s fitted

Although this bike got a 10/10 from our reviewer who was utterly blown away at the time, we've come to realise that the unique Goldhawk Rodax is a rather rare beast, and perhaps not everyone would share the same amount of love for it. Even so, it had to make our list because we still agree that it does what it is good at very well indeed!

What you do get for your £1,495 is "a perfect handmade urban speed machine", so said our very impressed reviewer. It's a very simple and fun urban hybrid that would be a joyous ride for anyone looking for a speedy bike that is fairly straightforward to maintain. 

Steel bikes might not be as instantly reactive in comparison to aluminium, but for a versatile bike that you ride on a daily basis, it's hard to beat. In this case, the insulating qualities that are offered by the steel frame deal very effectively with lumps and bumps in the road, according to our reviewer. 

The Rodax was also found to be very responsive under power, making stop start commutes due to traffic lights all the more easier. While 1500 big ones for a commuter that won't really be suitable for riding off-road might be a little steep for a lot of us, it's one to consider if you're after a fast commuter to whip through the traffic.

Read our review:

How to choose from the best hybrid bikes

faq-icon
What is a hybrid bike?

While we hope you've got the idea from the intro and our eclectic mix of recommended hybrids, let's go into a bit more detail! 

As the name suggests, hybrids have aspects of road bikes and mountain bikes. From the road comes a lightweight frame and fast-rolling 700C wheels (they're usually 700c anyway), while mountain bikes contribute flat bars, disc or V-brakes and wide-range gears. The tyres are usually an intermediate width and tread to provide enough cushioning and grip that rough surfaces like forest roads and tow paths are no obstacle,

There are many variations under the hybrid umbrella. At one end, flat-bar road bikes are great for zipping around the lanes and even some light touring, but with skinny tyres might not be as much fun on potholed city streets. At the other end of the range are fully-equipped European-style city bikes, with mudguards, rack and even built-in dynamo lights or a rear-wheel lock.

The best hybrid bikes are great transport. You can pick a perfectly functional one up for less than £150 if you go second-hand, and by the time you get up the price range to £500-£600 there are some really very nice bikes.

faq-icon
What is the best type of hybrid to buy?

You might have already guessed, but there's no hard and fast answer to this because it will depend on what your needs are as a rider. This is because the type of riding that you will want to use your hybrid for will ultimately dictate what style you should be looking at and that will suit your needs without limiting you or being overkill. For example, if you are just riding to and from work within an urban area, riding mainly on roads and tarmac bike paths, then a faster more 'roadie' type of hybrid such as the Merida Speeder will be a decent option for you as it is fast, has rigid forks and has been designed to suit road-style riding. 

On the other hand, if you're wanting to ride on byways and gravelly tracks, so are looking for a hybrid bike that has been designed with comfort at the forefront, with added features such as suspension forks to help support a more comfortable ride quality, then something like the B’Twin Riverside would be more up your street. All in all, it really just depends on what type of riding you will predominantly be doing. Any hybrid in full working order should be just about fine in all the scenarios we've mentioned, it's just that some are more suitable for tarmac and vice versa.

faq-icon
What is the most reliable hybrid?

The most reliable hybrid for most of us would be one that is simple and straightforward in its design. The reason for this being, if there are less parts that make up the bicycle then there are less parts to go wrong or fail. Therefore, from our best hybrid bike picks, any that feature a single chainring on the front and rigid (as oppose to suspension) forks on the front, would probably keep going for longer if you're not a fan of maintenance and/or making trips to the bike shop. Such bikes in our list include the Specialized Sirrus X 3.0,  Goldhawk RodaxCube Editor 2022 and Oxford Bike Works Model 1E, and you could also look at bikes with belt drive options and hub gears for the ultimate in low drivetrain faff. 

However, with that being said, reliability does also come down to the quality of the components used to build the bike as well as wear and tear. The lower quality the componentry often the less reliable. With regards to working parts, on any bike they will need to be checked regularly for wear as well as damaged and then replaced once the part is no longer doing its job efficiently or safely. But all in all, a general rule of thumb is, the less parts to the bike, the more reliable as the less there is to go wrong. 

faq-icon
What is the best hybrid on the market at the moment?

In this guide at least, we've given our top hybrid gong to the Specialized Sirrus X 3.0. We feel the versatility and reasonable price makes it a cut above most hybrids, and that's why it got a road.cc Recommends award.

faq-icon
What hybrid will last the longest?

Any hybrid can last a long time in theory, because these bikes are built to last. Hybrids have been designed to be low maintenance and are often built up with components that are slightly cheaper, but more robust, reliable and straightforward, in comparison to high-end road bikes that need a lot more attention.

Nevertheless, even though these bikes are reliable and require less support, they won't be reliable if neglected. Unfortunately a completely maintenance-free bike doesn't really exist, so you'll have to be prepared to show it a bit of love! At the very least, make sure you know how to properly clean your bike and clean and lube your chain. Beyond this and fixing a puncture whenever you're unlucky enough for that to happen, you can probably get away with a service every six months to take care of everything else if you're really not a tinkerer. 

faq-icon
Is it still worth buying a hybrid?

A hybrid bike is without a doubt a fantastic versatile flat handlebar option to consider buying if you are looking for a relatively cheap bike that is easy and affordable to maintain as well as comfortable to ride. They are a particuarly solid option for anyone who is looking to ride to work, ride to the shops or for leisure purposes due to their straightforward design and comfy upright riding positon. 

It's also worth noting that hybrids are also much better at taking on British bike paths and gravel paths in comparison to other popular options such as road bikes. With that being said, if you feel that a bike that is built for faster speeds may be more suited to you, then we would highly recommend redirecting yourself to our best road bikes guide to help you find the perfect drop bar bike for you.

 

Having learnt to ride a bike in order to race age 4, Charlotte is no stranger to life on two wheels. Racing across multiple disciplines over the years, she now focuses her time on road racing. Racing at the UCI continental level with her British based team. Not only that, but Charlotte has many years experience working within the cycling industry alongside her racing endeavours. Therefore, it’s fair to say that anything with two wheels is right up her street.

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13 comments

Avatar
a1white | 1 year ago
0 likes

Hybrids are great. Even if you use high end road bikes, it's useful to have a nice comfier, pracitical bike you can use for going to the shops, pubs etc.  The Carrera is fantastic value, even at the higher price that it appears to be now. So good to see they've put thought into supplying it with practical addtions for a winter commute. The Dawes is also a bargain, shame it doesn't have a double chain ring though, the gearing looks a bit limited on it, for hills.

Avatar
wtjs | 1 year ago
0 likes

One problem with hybrids in a psycho bus driver and cyclist-hostile police road environment is that the bars are too wide. I know that if a vehicle catches that sticky rubber grip sticking out beyond my shoulders I'll be straight under the wheels with the police issuing the routine 'our hearts go out to his family' monumentally-insincere-o-statement in no time. Cable discs made a reversion to narrower road bars possible

Image: 
Avatar
a1white | 1 year ago
1 like

Heated handgrips?! seriously, if they work that's a fantastic idea on a winter commuter.

Avatar
ejocs | 1 year ago
2 likes

A friendly note to road.cc staff: "Simplistic" means excessively and problematically oversimplified, and it has a strictly negative connotation. You keep using it to mean uncomplicated and straightforward, in a positive sense, when the word you really want is just "simple".

Also, that Goldhawk review is totally bonkers.😬😬

Avatar
Jack Sexty replied to ejocs | 1 year ago
2 likes

That'll be our simplistic approach to sub-editing, apologies for that...

Re the Goldhawk... the chap loved the bike, who were we to judge!

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NOtotheEU | 1 year ago
0 likes

Thanks for this, it's nice to read an article about bikes that fat 51 year old me likes (commute on a Subway) instead of the usual bikes that 18 year old me lusted after but could only dream of being able to afford.

If I had fitted mudguards that badly though when I worked part time at Halfords in 1990-ish the full time bike mechanic would have never let me forget it. 

Avatar
Freddy56 | 1 year ago
1 like

Think I will retire with a Giant Escape. It looks fantastic.

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mattw | 1 year ago
0 likes

Good piece.

My only ride is a tuned Boardman Hybrid (touring triple and all the necessary accessories etc), and the worst thing about it on arrival was the 50/34 chainset with a 11-30 cassette too narrow to make up for it.

That Subway AWE looks like a superb inexpensive option for N+1 for visitors to ride. Just perhaps needs a bit lopping off the bars, a kickstand and horns fitting. Then it's ready to go. Great to see that Halfords have evolved their approcah, and are continuing to use Mountain Bike insights in their hybrid range.

Back in 2015 when I bought my 2014 model the frame was iirc essentially the same between the hybrid and the cyclocross bikes, with different gubbins.

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OnYerBike | 1 year ago
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All seem like good hybrids, but the "categories" seem a bit shoe horned in. The "Best high-end hybrid" is only the 4th most expensive on the list, and given several of the bikes on the list have carbon forks (including the "Best overall") it's not quite clear what the category of "Best hybrid with carbon fibre forks" is meant to indicate.

Slightly suprised not to see any of the Boardman Urb/Hyb range on the list - I've been toying with the idea of a hybrid as my town bike and they are on my shortlist.

(My problem with trying to pick a "town bike" is I keep thinking of things that would be nice to have - a belt drive, hub gears, dynamo lights etc., and before long I've specced a bike that costs more than my "nice" bike!)

Avatar
KDee replied to OnYerBike | 1 year ago
0 likes

I'm waiting on delivery to the LBS of a new Stevens City Flight Luxe. It'll be my new commuter. Rack, guards, dynamo, belt drive...1300 euros.

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OnYerBike replied to KDee | 1 year ago
0 likes

Does look like a nice bike, and good value for the equipment provided. But still more money than I'm comfortable spending on a bike that I might want to leave at the station for a weekend! (Also Stevens aren't readily available in the UK)

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KDee replied to OnYerBike | 1 year ago
0 likes

Seems that between 1100 and 1400 euros is the going rate for similar bikes with a gates carbon drive and all the accessories here in NL. The prices just seem to vary depending on whether you get a 7 or 8 speed Nexus hub, and if they fit a pair of cheap crap suspension forks that will rust solid after a couple years. Just need to source a decent locking skewer for the front wheel...no idea why but a QR front wheel seems to be normal on these here too. 

Avatar
twowheelsbetter_uk replied to OnYerBike | 1 year ago
0 likes

Agree re boardman not getting a mention, or v similar Pinnancle from Evans.  I've bought 2 of these for my youngest https://www.evanscycles.com/brand/pinnacle/lithium-3-hybrid-bike-939173#... First was a Medium, now on an XL!  40mm tyres + mudguards perfect for school ... plenty of room in the frame for 2.1" tyres for tackling proper off road and bikepacking.  Very versatile, tough enough for most things and cheap enough to not worry about (with good Dlock) at school or in town.  Definition of a hybrid to me.