Hybrid/Comfort Bikes

Hybrid and Comfort Bikes

Bicycles give you an easy means to shed calories and do your bit for nature, and some people simply prefer using bikes as effective modes of transport. Whether you plan to use your new bike for a leisurely ride or intend using it to exercise, choosing the right type is important. You’ll find similarities between hybrid and comfort bikes, but it’s crucial that you pay due attention to the differences.

Tyres of hybrid and comfort bikes offer an easy starting point to differentiate between the two. A typical comfort bike, like a mountain bike, comes with 26-inch wheels. Hybrid bikes usually make use of 700c standard wheels found on road bikes, and you may use 23 mm to 42 mm tyres depending on the surface you ride. Comfort bike tyres offer adequate cushioning to deal with rough terrain and you may even consider getting knobby tyres for dirt roads. Tyres for hybrid bikes are apt for riding on pavements, climbing, and quick acceleration.

The design of a comfort bike’s frame veers more toward comfort whereas a hybrid bike’s frame is designed for efficient pedalling as well. You can find both, hybrid and comfort bikes, made using different materials. High tensile steel bikes are easy on the pocket and come with adequate strength. Aluminium is lighter and more expensive than high tensile steel, and it offers resistance against rust and corrosion. Bikes made using carbon fibre and aluminium composites are the most expensive. They’re rust and corrosion resistant, and also the lightest.

Hybrid saddles and bike seats play a vital role in comfort. Saddles come in a variety of anatomically designed shaped to eliminate pressure on riders’ soft tissue, thereby preventing pain and numbness. Flexible frames, cushioning springs, and gel padding make for additional comfort. You can find comfortable seating for both kinds of bikes, although hybrid bikes may come with sleeker saddles.

There is considerable variation in number of gears that hybrid and comfort bikes offer. Some bikes offer no more than 10 gears, and some others come with 27 or more. If you’re a casual rider, it’s unlikely that you’ll need 27 gears, and 21 or 22 might be enough. Most hybrid and comfort bikes come with rim brakes, and some offer disc brakes. While the latter add to the cost of a bike, they offer more control in muddy conditions and on slopes.