How to Choose the Best Women’s Hybrid Bikes?

The most important factor for picking up the best womens hybrid bike is to know what type of riding you will be mainly performing. Will you use it for daily commuting, or will you ride for long hours?

Once you know why you need a hybrid bike, you are very close to getting the best womens hybrid bikes on the market.

As I said earlier, you need to consider many things to get the right hybrid bike for yourself. So before you make a final decision, you must check all these factors to see if that hybrid bike suits you.

So what are those factors? Lets have a look at them now:

Size of Wheel

The standard wheel size for hybrid bikes is 700c. Wheels that are under 700c come equipped with 26 in. I suggest you dont worry about the wheel size. Instead, focus on a bike that will suit your riding style.

Gears

Hybrid bikes are available in a large range of gears. It ranges from 1 to 27 and sometimes even more.

So to keep it simple, all you have to do is determine in which terrain you will be riding most. Your fitness level also matters here.

If you are riding through the hills, you might need more gears. On the flip side, if you are a strong, fit cyclist and plan to ride on plain terrains, you might not need so many gears. A few will do fine.

More gears will make your bike heavier. You will see some hybrid bikes only come with 1 gear, and they are very lightweight. Moreover, their wheels have a freewheel mechanism, making the bikes smoother and faster.

The Kent Northwoods Springdale Women Hybrid Bicycle comes with 21 gears and is suitable for amateurs and professionals.

Suspension

This one is quite an essential factor to consider. Your overall riding comfort will depend mainly on the bike suspension. Some hybrid bikes dont include any suspension, which is better for riding on a plain smooth street.

Suspension on a bike will absorb all the impacts your bike will encounter while riding, and you will enjoy comfortable riding.

Though it is also true that seat suspension and suspension forks will increase your bike weight, it is better to ride comfortably and safely. Have a look at the Schwinn Discover Hybrid bicycle. It is equipped with suspension forks.

Brake

The brake is essential when riding your bike, so choosing the bike with the best braking system is mandatory. There are two types of brake, Rim and Disk brake.

Below I am breaking down each of them:

Rim Brake:

These are the traditional brakes. They work by pads that grip the wheel rims to stop the wheel from moving. Rim brakes are affordable, and replacing the pads is easy and cheap. The whole replacing work could be done by yourself.

Check out the Sonoma Womens Chainless Commuter Bicycle. It comes with an excellent rim braking system.

But the drawbacks of rim brakes are: that the pads require replacement very often, and most importantly, some of them have less braking power, especially when you ride through a muddy road. Plus, using rim brakes requires more effort from the fingers.

Disk Brake:

The disk brake is the latest braking system. Disk brake features a wheel hub-mounted brake rotor and a pair of pads that grip onto that rotor to stop the wheel from moving.

There are two types of disk brakes: Hydraulic and Mechanical.

Disk brakes are very effective and also look good on the bike. This braking system puts less to no strain on the fingers. It doesnt matter where you ride. The bike will stop right there where you push the brakes.

But the drawbacks of rim brakes are that it is costly and hard to know when the pads wear out. Plus, for replacing the pads, you will need to hire experts.

Though the disk braking system is costly, it is safer and more reliable. So you should choose a hybrid bike with a Disk braking system.

Frame

Most bikes, not just hybrid bikes, are made of aluminum. However, carbon fiber and steel are also very common as building materials for the bike. Every material comes with its own set of pros and cons. Lets have a close look at them:

Aluminum:

Aluminum is light, strong, robust, and inexpensive. The aluminum frame can be challenging for rough roads, but now some latest models are coming with a shock absorber.

Steel:

Steel is heavier than aluminum, but its highly durable.

Carbon Fiber:

Carbon fiber is much stronger than steel and much lighter than aluminum. Though it is a little bit expensive, thats fair, as it offers both lightweight and durability. Carbon fiber is very popular among bike riders.

The best decision will be going for the carbon fiber frame, as it promises to serve you years after years.

Handlebar

It will be wise to choose a bike in which the handlebar is higher than the seat position because it will ensure that you are riding the bike in the correct posture. You will find a lot of bikes in which the handlebar is below the seat. In this setting, you can pedal faster, putting a tough strain on your back as you are riding leaning forward. Moreover, riding for a long time in that posture will be very uncomfortable.

There are 4 different types of handlebars. Take a look:

Read: best budget bike light under 100 dollars

Drop bar:

This type of handlebar is widely seen on road bikes. You will barely see drop bar handles on hybrid bikes. Drop bars are lightweight and aerodynamic, perfect for those who want to ride fast.

The disadvantage of a drop bar is that it will throw most of your upper body pressure on the hand, which is very uncomfortable.

Flat bar:

These handlebars are seen very often on hybrid bikes. Flat bar handles are heavier than the drop bar, but they will let you keep your hand in a more comfortable position.

Riser bar:

These handlebars are also common on hybrid bikes. Rise bar handles are slightly extended upwards, which lets you sit in a more upright position. Moreover, these handlebars give you a clear view of the road.

For example, the Kent Northwoods Springdale Women Hybrid Bicycle comes with a riser handlebar.

Moustache bar:

These bars are the same as drop bars but have slightly more drop-in downwards, letting the users put their hands in different positions.

For hybrid bikes, picking up the flat or Riser bar will be a great choice because you will be riding in an upright position which is good for your back.

Adjustability

Choosing a bike with some adjustable features, such as an adjustable handlebar or seat, would be wise. This will allow you to adjust the seat height and handlebar according to your need.

Saddle

If your main reason for getting a hybrid bike is doing regular commuting or roaming around and having fun, then you must want it to be comfortable as possible. Right?

In that case, the saddle plays a significant role. If you cant sit comfortably, it will turn down your whole riding experience.

So choose a wide saddle that has extra padded foam. Most importantly, ensure that your bike has a shock absorber below the saddle for optimum comfort.

Racks

The rack is another essential accessory for a hybrid bike if you plan to use the bike for commuting, shopping, or other things. Some hybrid bike comes with a rack attached in the front. Even you can purchase an extra rack and then attach it later. You can put the necessary things in a rack and carry them with you.

Water bottle holder

Though a water bottle holder is much underrated, it will be an essential item when planning a long ride. Like a rack, you can also purchase it separately and attach it later. Thanks to the water bottle holder, during summer and long rides, youll not have to get down from the bike to take the bottle out of your bag.

Price

Price is always an essential factor for people who are on a tight budget. Most of us end up buying useless items just because they are cheap. As a result, we need to pay more bucks in the long run.

Whether buying a hybrid bike or anything, your priority should be quality. Bikes, phones, laptops, gaming consoles, etc., require a good amount of money, and these are not something you would change very often unless you are a millionaire.

So if you are having trouble with the budget, I suggest you wait a little more, increase the amount, and then buy the one that has the finest quality. Trust me. You wont regret it.

Just reading this buying guide is not going to help you. Youll have to check each factor wisely before getting your hands on the best womens hybrid bikes.

Health Benefits of Riding a Hybrid Bike

Do you know that there is another name for hybrid bikes? It is a Fitness style bike. This naming is definitely for a valid reason. Along with comfortable rides, hybrid bikes also positively impact our health.

Below I have enlisted 5 health benefits of riding a hybrid bike.

Straight Vertebral Column

Hybrid bikes keep the rider upright, which is very important for the body. You will barely find any bike that offers this body posture. Sitting upright keeps your vertebral column straight, preventing any back pain.

Also, it helps the spinal cord to work properly. Staying in an upright position promotes more blood circulation among the different parts of the body.

Body Muscle Strengthening

A hybrid bike requires constant body movement, and almost all body muscles move continuously, strengthening our muscles and bones.

Fat Burn

Riding a hybrid bike for a long time will take a lot of your energy. The continuous upper thigh movements will help to burn the belly fat. It burns both belly fat, and lower body fat as cycling requires lower body movements.

On the other hand, regular cycling for long sessions is going to increase your stamina level slowly with time.

Reduces Heart Disease

Riding a hybrid cycle for any length of time will increase the pulse rate and breathing which means your lung and heart activity will also increase. It is essential for maintaining a healthy heart.

Plus, cycling regularly strengthens the cardiac muscles, which keep the heart active and protects it from various diseases.

Improved Digestive System

Research has shown that people should walk for 10 minutes after a proper meal. Unfortunately, nowadays we are too busy to maintain that.

A hybrid bike can help you to maintain it. If walking is too boring for you, after having a meal you can go cycling, breathe some fresh air and it gets even better if you have friends who would join you on their bikes.

As hybrid bikes encourage upper thigh movements, our stomach muscles get activated, which helps the stomach digest foods properly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a hybrid bike better than a road bike?

Answer: Yes, it is. Firstly, youll have to ride leaning forward on road bikes, which will strain your hands, as most of your upper body weight will be on your hands. Riding while leaning forward will not keep your vertebral column straight which can cause severe back pain.

On the other hand, a hybrid bike helps you to keep a good body posture while riding. As a result, your vertebral column will be straight, and your spinal cord will work properly.

Can I ride long distances with a hybrid bike?

Answer: Obviously, you can! The hybrid bike has suspensions that absorb the most impacts you would encounter at inroads. Also, the handles of the hybrid bike are flat so that you can place your hand relaxingly. And not to forget, the extra padded saddle will keep you comfortable during the ride.

Can I ride a hybrid bike on trails?

Answer: It is better not to. Though the hybrid bike has sufficient suspensions, it would still be better not to use them on mountain trails.

Are road bikes faster than hybrid bikes?

Answer: Yes. Road bikes are lightweight, and the seat height is higher than the handlebar, so they are faster. You can indeed ride faster on a road bike, but with a hybrid bike, you can ride more comfortably.

What is the best hybrid bike for me?

Answer: Actually, it depends on you. The best hybrid bike for me would not be the best for you. A bike that suits your needs would be the best for you. For example, a one-gear hybrid bike will be enough for one who is physically fit. However, one who is not fit would require more gears on the bike.