Hybrid Bikes
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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BUYING THE RIGHT HYBRID BIKE
If you want a do-it-all bike, then a hybrid will be ideal for you. There are two main things that you should consider when you want to select one of the diverse options on Bike Chaser.
Features and Components: These are the different parts that comprise the bike. They include things like the wheels, suspension, brakes, fenders, racks, and gears. All these determine how you would use the bicycle and its overall performance.
The Fit: If you get one that has all the required components, you need to make sure it fits you well enough. This is particularly important because if it doesn’t fit you, the discomfort and pedalling inefficiency will definitely outweigh any features.
The Features To Look Out For
To really figure out the specific product that would be right for you, you need to know what you would be using it for.
Do you want commute daily, ride out for your weekly workout session on paved paths, cruising on streets, or ride it out in the mountains? If you know what you want to use it for, it’ll be that much easier to determine what features you need and which ones you can dispense with.
You should also know the differences between men’s and women’s hybrid bikes. By indicating whether you are looking for one for a lady or a guy, you can streamline your search here on Bike Chaser and find a great deal much quicker. You can check out brands like Trek and Specialized to hone your options.
The Wheel Size
The standard wheel size you’d likely come across most often is a 700c. You can also find some with their sizes measured as 26in. The wheel size is just one of the cycle’s features though, so don’t let it get in the way of your evaluation of other important specifications.
The Gears
The number of gears on a bicycle can range from one to more than 27. Things become more complicated when you factor in the chainrings, cogs, and number of teeth on it.
To pick the right amount of gears, the most important thing you should consider is your fitness level and the terrain you’ll be using the bicycle on. If you are going to ride on hilly terrain that will make the ride quite difficult, you should opt for more gears.
If you are a skilled cyclist or you do most of your riding on a flat terrain, then you should go for a bicycle with a lower number of gears. This is also quite beneficial because it would have the effect of making your bicycle light.
A lot of bikes have just one speed, which is why they are called single-speed bikes. The rear hubs of these bikes have a freewheel mechanism that allows its rider to coast. This is quite similar to what you would get on a standard ride with multiple gears.
The Bike Suspension
A lot of hybrids do not have a suspension. This is because suspensions make the entire machine heavier and make pedalling more inefficient. If you ride on paved paths and smooth streets, you don’t really need suspensions.
There are some that still have suspensions, however. These are usually hybrid road or commuter bikes made for commuting, and the suspension is usually in the front. The purpose of the front suspension is to absorb impacts on the front wheel to make the ride on rough streets smoother.
The Bike Brakes
The brakes are usually either rim brakes or disc brakes. Rim brakes have pads that grip the rims of the wheels to slow down the bicycle speed. An advantage of rim brakes over disc brakes is that they are cheaper. You can also easily spot brake pad wear and can easily replace the pads.
Rim brakes also have disadvantages compared to disc brakes. For one, they gradually wear out the wheel, meaning you will have to change the wheel on a consistent basis. They also have less stopping power and require more effort to aggressively brake.
On the other hand, disc brakes have pads that grip a brake motor on the wheel hub. There are usually two types of disc brakes: Hydraulic disc brakes and Mechanical disc brakes. Hydraulic disc brakes give you stronger and more progressive braking. They also self-adjust for wears on the brake pad. For mechanical disc brakes, you’ll need to adjust them manually when there is a brake pad wear.
There are a lot of clear advantages that a disc brake has over rim brakes. One of them is that rim brakes are more consistent when you brake in a variety of situations. It is also better for you to replace just a rotor than for you to replace the whole wheel. Disc brakes also give you less finger strain.
The Frame Material
The common materials for hybrid frames are usually steel, aluminium and carbon fibre.
Aluminium frames are lighter than steel and are quite durable. A steel frame is heavier than aluminium and would probably pose a problem if you need to carry it often.
Carbon fibre is lighter than aluminium and stronger than steel. This makes it the best of both worlds. However, it is usually quite expensive compared to the other two. This makes it the preserve of professionals and top earning riders, although there have been significant price reductions in recent times. Many of the options you’ll come across just have some parts like the fork or seat made from carbon fibre. This would make the price lower, and would definitely give the added benefit of using carbon fibre with its light weight, superb strength, and durability.
Getting the Right Fit
Regardless of the kind of hybrid bike you finally choose, you need to make sure that it fits you. You can use the size chart on Bike Chaser to determine how well the bicycle will fit you so you can be certain of a comfortable ride every time you get on.