Bikes July 29, 2019 First Look 1. Best Overall for Women: Schwinn Discover Hybrid Bike at Amazon “Sports a women’s frame made of aluminum…The seat and fork both include suspension elements and the saddle is padded.” 2. Best Men’s Overall: Trek FX1 Hybrid Bike at Trek “Great for training, commuting, and everything in between, Trek’s FX1 is a versatile and fun bicycle.” Related: The Best Road Bikes 2019 for the Money Reviews 3. Best Classic Women’s: sixthreezero Ride in the Park Bike at Amazon “Designed for style as well as function, from its leather saddle and handlebars to the blue frame and white tires.” 4. Best Sporty Men’s: Raleigh Bikes Cadent 3 at Amazon “Including disc brakes, double-walled rims, and an aerodynamic frame, the Cadent 3 is just plain sportier than most hybrid bikes.” Related: The Best Lightweight Road Cycling Shoes Reviews 5. Best Women’s Hybrid Commuter: Critical Beaumont-7 at Walmart “The stylish bike features a retro design with a sloping step-through frame, high handlebars, a kickstand, and even a bell!” 6. Best Classic Men’s: Schwinn Discover Men’s Hybrid at Amazon “The old-school bike features front and rear fenders and a rear rack to create a unique style.” 7. Best Men’s Hybrid Commuter: sixthreezero Men’s Hybrid at Amazon “Has wide 700x38c wheels and simple design. The bicycle sports a rear rack, ready to outfit with panniers and work gear.” Related: 5 The Best Cycling Jerseys Reviews 2019 There are few better ways to get in shape or maintain your fitness than riding a bicycle and you don’t need a high-end road-racing bike to do it. Fitness bikes also known as hybrid bikes offer a balance of lightweight speed and confidence-inspiring and comfortable upright riding position. Other typical features you will find on a fitness bike include wider tires for more comfort on pavement, and the ability to ride gravel surfaces, simpler and maintenance drivetrains, and disc brakes for more control. Here’s what you’ll likely get and what you should look for in a fitness bike. Flat Bar vs. Drop Bar A fitness bike starts with a traditional road bike platform with its faster-rolling 700c wheels and swooping lightweight frames. But while a road bike typically comes outfitted with a curly, or drop, bar a fitness bike’s signature feature is a flat handlebar. This detail provides a wide stance for better control and a shorter, more upright position that’s both comfortable and makes it easy for the rider to look over their shoulder. Disc Brakes One of the best new technologies to come to fitness bikes is disc brakes. Though a little is more expensive than rim-style brakes, they offer more control, especially in wet conditions. And because discs don’t require as much hand strength to operate them, your fingers ache less after a long downhill. Some lower-cost bikes may come with cable-actuated disc brakes, a cheaper alternative that’s not quite as powerful nor as low maintenance as a full-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 to the terrain. Try to avoid bikes with triple front chainrings. They cost less, but the extra ring can make shifting less precise. A single-ring option simplifies shifting, cuts down on maintenance, and works great, but may not have the range for comfortable climbing and descending in for hillier terrain. Belt Drives and Internally Geared Hubs Belt-drives (which take the place of a chain), and internally geared hubs where all the gearing is packaged inside the rear hub’s shell require less maintenance than traditional chain-and-derailleur drivetrains, are incredibly reliable, and very clean, says Andrew Lumpkin, CEO of Spot Bikes. They are also easy to use (one shifter controls all), and maybe best of all: you can change gears on an internally geared hub while sitting at a stoplight. They’re a great option if you can afford them and low-maintenance is often more important than low weight. Our Top Picks 1. Best Overall for Women: Schwinn Discover Women’s Hybrid Bike Inexpensive and well-reviewed, Schwinn’s Discover Women’s Hybrid Bicycle is among the most popular hybrid bikes. The bicycle features a built-in rear rack and fender for clean and simple storage as well as the easy attachment of panniers and bags for long rides. Great for riding around campus or commuting to work, this bike sports a women’s frame made of aluminum, classic rim brakes, and a quick-release seat adjuster. The Discover uses standard 700c wheels and a 21-speed shifter with a reliable Shimano derailleur. The seat and fork both include suspension elements, and the saddle is padded. With hundreds of positive reviews and an average rating above four stars, people love this bike. Many people note that it is easy to assemble. 2. Best Sporty Men’s: Raleigh Bikes Cadent 3 Urban Fitness Bike The Cadent 3 Urban Fitness Bike from Raleigh Bikes is a great option for anyone who wants to burn calories as well as the ride for commuting or casual rides. Including disc brakes, double-walled rims, and an aerodynamic frame, the Cadent 3 is just plain sportier than most hybrid bikes on the market. While this bike isn’t designed to win road races, it is a great option for anyone who wants to train and exercise in their spare time, but also have a durable and versatile bike most other days. Related Post: The Best Commuter Bike Lights: LED Front Lights for Safer Cycling 3. Best Men’s Hybrid Commuter: sixthreezero Explore Your Range Hybrid Bike If you’re one of the many people who like to commute to work each day with a tiny carbon footprint and a great bike ride, then sixthreezero Explore Your Range seven-speed hybrid bike might be for you. This reliable hybrid bike has wide 700x38c wheels and simple design. The bicycle sports a rear rack, ready to outfit with panniers and work gear. This bike isn’t the flashiest, but it is made of good parts and will get you to work and back each day with ease. 4. Best Classic Women’s: sixthreezero Ride in the Park Women’s City Bike If you’re looking for a bicycle that gets you around town and can be displayed like a piece of art at home, check out the sixthreezero Ride in the Park Women’s City Bike. This seven-speed bicycle is designed for style as well as function, from its leather saddle and handlebars to the blue frame and white tires. The low-sitting bicycle features high, sloping handlebars and a stylish women’s step-through frame for the look of a bygone bicycle with all the usefulness of a modern bike. This bicycle includes front and rear fenders as well as a rear rack sitting above the 700c wheels. Able to fit a wide range of heights, this city bicycle is an excellent casual hybrid bicycle. 5. Best Men’s Overall: Trek FX1 Hybrid Bike Trek is one of the top bicycle manufacturers, but its FX1 is not a high end, expensive racing or mountain bike. This affordable hybrid option is perfect for even beginning riders. The simple, well-made design includes a lightweight aluminum frame and 700c wheels with durable, double-walled rims. Great for training, commuting, and everything in between, Trek’s FX1 is a versatile and fun bicycle. Compared to other FX models, the FX1 features better parts than the base model FX, such as the derailer, but at a lower cost than the FX2 or FX5. The FX also features a comfortable handlebar grip, a sleek look and wheel mounts for easy attachments of accessories.
