Do you want to start cycling but are constantly plagued by the pain of choice? Or maybe you’re looking for advice on what bikes are affordable, as every other bike you see has exorbitant prices and jargon that’s beyond the average layperson’s comprehension. Cyclists and cyclists-to-be, here’s a quick, easy-to-understand guide/review to help you choose your next long-time hybrid bike at any price range
Now, what is a hybrid bike?
Hybrid (oftentimes referred to as cross bikes) are almost just as fast and easy to pedal as road bikes while being almost as comfortable and versatile as mountain bikes. Meaning, these offer the comfort of an upright riding position along with flat handlebars and more often than not, a wider seat. With a slightly heavier frame and tires that are wider and more robust than a road bike’s, hybrids handle with a lot more confidence over comparatively rougher terrain and on not-so-perfect roads.
So, it tends to offer the best of both worlds for an experienced cyclist.
In addition to hybrid or cross bikes, there are two other broad classes when it comes to bicycles.
- Mountain bikes, and
- Road Bikes
Mountain bikes are significantly harder to pedal and they also tend to be a little slower on paved roads. They are usually designed
for rugged and uneven terrain. But on the plus side, they do have a cushy slightly more comfortable ride compared to their road
counterparts, (thanks to the much stronger suspension system) an upright riding position, and can travel easily on a wide variety of
surfaces.
A road bike (according to sources on the internet within my reach, such as the venerable Oxford English Dictionary) is a bicycle designed for competitive cycling and intended for use on paved roads rather than rough terrain or race tracks. This means they must meet certain legal criteria/requirements in order to be approved for road use. (Similar to the distinction between legal and illegal vehicles on the road.) They are made for riding on public roads with ease. And you’ll be able to tell a road bike when you see one. As they’re often characterized by their sleek and slender appearance, with lowered, curved handlebars, they also have much narrower wheels and tires that you would call “skinny”. Many a time, they have a rather small seat and lots of cogs, or gears, on the back wheel.
But the latter two are a topic for another story. We’re here to talk about hybrids.
I want a hybrid bike. But WHICH ONE?
So, you’ve made the decision to ride a hybrid bike? If you answered yes, that’s fantastic news. Otherwise, do keep an eye out for other mountain bike and road bike buying guides. Continue reading this one if you don’t want to change your mind. We’ve selected the top three rated hybrid bikes for the purposes of this buying guide and to make things easier for you, dear prospective buyer and respected reader. At three distinct price categories to suit anyone and everyone. Namely, 300, 500 and 1000 pounds. (In increasing order of MSRP)
The £300 Category: Vitus Dee City Bike (Tourney) 2021
MSRP: £349.99
This bike offered by Vitus is the most affordable one on our list of three. The Dee City Bike is a lightweight, durable and affordable entry-level road bike. It is the perfect bike to get stuck into road cycling and is a smooth-rolling utility bike that comes in an awesome slate blue colour, features a solid aluminium frame, which makes it a highly rigid bike thanks to its construction, and it makes it more than capable of handling all the hurdles you throw at it in your commute from A to B. The Vitus Dee City Bike (Tourney) 2021 comes complete with an aluminium handlebar and stem to keep the weight down, along with the comfort of a Nuke proof Neutron saddle.
To add to the list, the geometry of the bike is old school XC MTB which also has clearance for MTB tyres. This is ideal for going fast. Vitus also equipped this superb lightweight model with Shimano gears in addition to a trusty reliable components package, this allows you to benefit from its no-nonsense approach to cycling. If you’re traveling to work or strolling around town, this highly practical and dependable ride is designed for peak performance.
Regarding frame size, don’t be intimidated by the ‘large’ size. One problem some of the taller riders might encounter is that it could very well feel uncomfortable at first but after setting the saddle quite high that goes away. Still, the Nuke proof saddle is very well-made and there’s plenty of leverage or legroom for people with smaller legs (or longer legs!). It doesn’t ride nor really feel like a ‘large’ frame. More medium than large.
However, The Tourney groupset is a budget groupset but does a good job. With only 1×7 gear shifts it’s actually pretty reliable. A good thing about it is that it’s a 1×7 set up so there is less clutter in the cockpit and fewer parts to maintain as compared to the more common 3×8. This is because the gear indicator can break, but not the shifter. The frame is a fixed-gear frame with a bolted-on rear mech hanger. Works fine, but more work to remove the rear wheel, also because it is attached with nuts instead of QR. Also, for use of a city bike fenders should be included but they, unfortunately, don’t. Also, the crankset is a square taper, which is ok, but the bearing is not very good and may require replacing.
And as for the drivetrain, it comes with a Shimano 7 Speed Tourney Drivetrain. This allows the large 29er wheels to ensure this bike rolls without much elbow grease over rougher terrain or off-road trails. Moreover, the dependable Shimano 7 speed Tourney drivetrain gives you more than enough gearing choice to tackle anything from hills to tow-paths. The result of this is a highly versatile and easy approach to cycling. The drivetrain also has disc brakes which give you better control over your ride no matter the kind of road.
The Tourney gears are okay despite sitting firmly at the bottom of the Shimano range! Simple, and does the job quite snappy with good shifting. The shifter however is not the best as it feels quite cheap. The front has a quick release. You wouldn’t want to be riding super steep hills with this bike, but ‘normal’ hills are ok.
Components like the handlebar and saddle are basic but fine. The brakes are not durable and will need to be replaced as well. Not to mention that they are also difficult to adjust, bolts are soft and rounded easily and the brakes get a lot of play in them.
In addition to that, the tyres are pretty good. The Vitus Dee City bike features a pair of Schwalbe Land Cruiser Plus tyres which are quite heavy, pretty slick for tarmac and is surprisingly grippy on the short, grassy, muddy, tree-roots. The wheels do work reliably and are not very stiff for the average rider and not only that but the rear wheel has a cassette, not a freewheel, which is nice. They provide just about the right amount of traction and grip to tackle any of the varied terrains you might encounter, whilst still keeping a tarmac friendly rolling resistance for worry-free cruising, and features their very own Twin-Skin puncture guard protection.
This is a cheap bike that you can use around the city with the occasional off-road blast through the woods. Especially if you don’t want to spend a lot. This is fine for a non-serious off-road ride and short rides around town. Not only that but it comes with pedals & a multi tool were thrown in free of charge. Only one mount for a bottle cage though.
So, to conclude, the bike is capable of a lot. It won’t be suitable for all-day epic road rides or proper off-road rides, but as a quick cheap fix for a runaround, it’s pretty decent. Some parts will need to be changed when worn out early, but replacements are cheap.
Technical Specifications:
- Frame: Vee, 6061-T6 Aluminium, Mudguard Mounts, Rack Mounts, QR
- Fork: Vee, Hi-Ten Steel, 1 1/8″ Steerer, Mudguard Mounts, QR
- Headset: Neco, Loose Ball Bearings, OD48, 1 1/8” – 44 – 50 – 30, Height 23.6mm
- Handlebar: VITUS 6061 Aluminium Flat Bar, 6 Degree Back sweep, 660mm Width, Bar Bore 31.8mm
- Stem: VITUS 6061 Aluminium, 90mm Length, +/- 15 Degree
- Grip (Tape): VITUS MTB, With Plastic Lock Ring
- Front Rim: Vitus Shining, DC20, 29er, Double Wall, 32 Hole, Disc
- Rear Rim: Vitus Shining, DB-21, DC20, 29er, Double Wall, 32 Hole, Disc
- Front Hub: Vitus KT, K68F, 32 Hole, QR, 6-Bolt
- Rear Hub: Vitus KT, MS2R, 32 Hole, 6-Bolt
- Front Tyre: Schwalbe Land Cruiser Plus, 29″ x 47mm, Puncture Guard, Twin Skin
- Rear Tyre: Schwalbe Land Cruiser Plus, 29″ x 47mm, Puncture Guard, Twin Skin
- Spoke: Steel, 16mm Nipple
- Chain: Shimano HG40, 7 Speed
- Crank set: Shun, 38T, 170mm Crank Length
- Bottom Bracket: Square Taper, 68mm Width
- Front Brake: Alhonga Mechanical Disc, HJ-MD15
- Rear Brake: Alhonga Mechanical Disc, HJ-MD15
- Brake Rotors: Alhonga, Front: 160mm, Rear: 160mm
- Front Derailleur: N/A
- Rear Derailleur: Shimano Tourney, RD-A070, 7 Speed
- Left Shifter: N/A
- Right Shifter: Shimano Tourney, SL-TX30-7R, 7 Speed
- Freewheel: Sunrace M63, 12-28T, 7 Speed
- Saddle: Nuke proof Neutron,
- Seat Post: VITUS 6061 Aluminium, 27.2mm x 400mm
- Seat Screw: Aluminium 31.8mm
- Available Colour(s): Slate Blue
- Frame Size: L, M
- Wheel Size: 29″
- Gender: Unisex
- Speed: 7 Speed
- Material: Aluminium
- Fork Travel: Rigid
Verdict:
Pros: great value, great for any terrain.
Cons: really poor brakes, some parts need to be replaced. Only one bottle mount cage.
The £500 Category: Vitus Mach 3 VR Urban Bike (Claris) 2021
MSRP: £579.99
This bike offered by Vitus is the second-most affordable one on our list of three. Not as cheap as the Dee City bike but still quite affordable and offers much improvement for the extra £200-ish. In terms of build quality and the overall appearance. It also comes in a lovely Nardo Grey colour.
The copper finish is lovely – not sure about that kinked top-tube – and the Mach 3’s up-to-date features include radically dropped seat stays for rear-end comfort, mainly internal cable routing, a tapered full-carbon thru-axle fork and Metrea’s single-ring chainset and hydraulic flat-mount brakes.
Metrea? A Greek goddess? One of the Marvel Avengers superheroes? Nope, it’s a bit more prosaic: it’s Shimano’s urban bike-specific group set launched back in 2016 but still not seen that often. As for Mach 3, I don’t think you’re ever going to approach three times the speed of sound on this Vitus, which is pretty much the classic commuting ‘hybrid’ that most of us would imagine. This 700c hybrid bike offers modern distinct striking looks from its lightweight and double-butted aluminium frame, which delivers guaranteed comfort and versatility.
Whether you’re riding around your local forest loop on the weekends or loading it up with panniers for your daily commute to work, this ride is designed for maximum performance.
Rides like a dream and rides easy, light and fast should be the tagline this bike should be sold under. If you want a bike to commute in the fastest time possible and one that looks awesome then this might just be the bike for you. Given its quality, very low rolling resistance and its very low maintenance. Vitus has also ensured that this model’s geometry supports a more upright, comfortable and accessible riding position.
This hybrid features an aluminium fork and steerer combined with a tapered head tube, in addition to flat bar specific stem lengths result in superb steering. Fitted with fully integrated cable routing, this bike keeps everything nice, tidy and in place, this allows you to make the most of the bike’s rack and mount capabilities. Braking from Shimano’s hydraulic discs is impeccable with power and control. It also features the powerful and reliable Shimano Claris R2000 8 Speed groupset and TRP mechanical flat mount disc brakes.
Vee G-Sport 700 x 38 tyres on Vitus’ own wheels are similarly at home on tarmac or towpath. The extra tyre volume provides a very smooth ride, even on rough roads or when carrying extra weight in the pannier rack. Install mudguards to keep you dry and a baggage rack in the back to transport everything from your notebook to your groceries. The Vitus Mach 3 VR urban bike is excellent because of its sporty saddle and integrated bar and stem.
The sole fault of this bike is the saddle as it can feel very hard. But that can be fixed by opting for a padded saddle and/or padded cycling shorts which don’t cost much.
Technical Specifications:
- Frame: Mach 3, 6061-T6 Double Butted Aluminium, Internal Cable Routing, QR, Flat Mount, Mud Guard Mounts, Rack Mounts
- Fork: Mach 3, 6061-T6 Aluminium, Tapered Steerer, QR, Flat Mount, Mud Guard Mounts
- Headset: ACROS Aix-Low R3, Sealed Bearings, OD46, 1 1/8” – 1 ½”, 41.8 / 28.6 – 52 / 40
- Handlebar: Vitus Integrated Flat Bar / Stem, 6061 Aluminium, 4 Degree Rise, 9 Degree Sweep, XS:380mm S:400mm M:420mm L:420mm XL:440mm XXL:440mm
- Stem: Vitus Integrated Flat Bar / Stem, 6061 Aluminium, XS:80mm S:90mm M:100mm L:100mm XL:110mm XXL: 110mm
- Grip (Tape): Vitus Ergo, Anti Slip, Ergonomic Shape, Integrated Lock Ring
- Front Rim: Vitus Shining, DB-T280, 700c, 24 Hole, Eyelets
- Rear Rim: Vitus Shining, DB-T280, 700c, 28 Hole, Eyelets
- Front Hub: Vitus KT, K68F, 6-Bolt Disc Brake, 24 Hole, QR
- Rear Hub: Vitus KT, K68R, 6-Bolt Disc Brake, 28 Hole, QR, Shimano 8/9/10 Speed
- Front Tyre: Vee G-Sport, 700c x 38, MPC, B-Proof
- Rear Tyre: Vee G-Sport, 700c x 38, MPC, B-Proof
- Spoke: Stainless Steel, 16mm Nipple
- Chain: Shimano HG71, 8 Speed
- Crank set: Shimano Claris R2000, FC-R2000, 50/34T, XS:165mm S:170mm M:170mm L:170mm XL:175mm XXL: 175mm
- Bottom Bracket: Shimano Claris R2000, BSA Threaded, English
- Front Brake: Tektro C310 Disc, MD-C310-F, Cable Actuated Disc, Flat Mount
- Rear Brake: Tektro C310 Disc, MD-C310-R, Cable Actuated Disc, Flat Mount
- Brake Rotors: Tektro TR-160, Front: 160mm, Rear: 160mm
- Front Derailleur: Shimano Claris R2000, FD-R2000-F, Band-On
- Rear Derailleur: Shimano Claris R2000, RD-R2000, 8 Speed
- Left Shifter: Shimano Claris R2000, ST-R2000
- Right Shifter: Shimano Claris R2000, ST-R2000, 8 Speed
- Freewheel: Sunrace R86, 11-28T
- Saddle: VITUS, Steel Rail
- Seat Post: VITUS Aluminium, 27.2mm, 12mm Offset, 350mm
- Seat Screw: Aluminium, 31.8, Stainless Steel Bolt
- Colour: Nardo Grey
- Frame Size: M, XXL, XL, L, S, XS
- Wheel Size: 700c
- Gender: Unisex
- Speed: 8 Speed
- Material: Aluminium
- Fork Travel: Rigid
Verdict:
Pros: very lightweight and quick
Cons: cable disc brakes are sometimes unreliable
The £1000 Category: Vitus Mach 3 VRS Urban Bike (Sora) 2021
MSRP: £749.99
This bike offered by Vitus is the last one on our list of three. Not as cheap as the others but all for good measure and offers much improvement for the difference. In terms of build quality and the overall appearance. It also comes in a lovely Slate Blue colour.
The slogan of this bike should be sold under, rides like a dream, easy, light and fast. If you want a bike to travel as quickly as possible, and one that looks great then it could be just your bike. Due to its high quality, rolling strength and maintenance.
Furthermore, Vitus has ensured that the geometry of this model is more upright, comfortable and accessible. Practicalities are taken care of by rear rack mounts and front and rear mudguard fittings with plenty of clearance for full-size fenders. These contribute to a bike that really does hit the spot for commuting, even my 17-miler – though that route is largely flat.
Once again bar-ends would have helped with comfort. The Vitus Mach 3 is easily good enough for longer countryside rides, but the bottom gear might make any hillier away day’s hard work. But it’s a solid, comfortable commuter bike with a good kit and great brakes.
This contemporary 700c wheel hybrid bike with modest components and hydraulic disc brakes is priced in the middle of the Mach 3 model range and also features a lightweight 6061 T6 double-butted aluminium frame that offers assured comfort and flexibility. Vitus has also thoughtfully included rack and mudguard mounts, ensuring that you’re ready for anything from a local forest loop ride to commute to work. Designed to deliver this ride’s geometry supports a more upright, comfortable and accessible riding position.
The Mach 3 VRS is a flat handlebar 700c wheel bike that can be used to test your fitness or to navigate the city.
This bike, with its fully integrated cable routing, keeps everything nice and smart so you can use the bicycles to the full.
Fit mudguards to keep you dry, and take a rear luggage rack from your laptop to shopping.
The flexible Shimano RX010 wheelset comes with 700 x 38 tyres from Vee G-Sport, either on a tarmac or a tow-path home.
The additional volume of the tyre offers a super-plush ride and handles bad road surfaces or additional weight from the rack.
The Vitus Mach 3 VRS Urban Bike (Sora) 2021 is a genuine head-turner with a sporty saddle and an integrated bar.
The 700c x 38mm tyres would be new for this year. These larger volume tyres make your ride more comfortable and help you handle any additional weight whether loaded or not.
The combination of an aluminium fork and steerer with a tapered head tube, as well as flat-bar special stem lengths, results in confident steering. This bike keeps everything neat and tidy with fully integrated cable routing, allowing you to take advantage of the bike’s rack and mount features. This bike is also equipped with a Shimano Sora R3000 9-speed groupset as well as Tektro hydraulic flat mount disc brakes this way, you can go anywhere. The Mach3 VRS is ready for any urban assault.
On the flat, however, the Mach 3 nipped along delightfully, helped by quick, crisp gear changes from the Metrea’s right-hand thumb-shifter and Shimano’s excellent hydraulic brakes, offering power and precision with minimal effort.
The handling is everything you want for urban riding. The upright position allows for excellent visibility, the short stem allows for lively, quick-acting steering, and the straight 62cm bar isn’t too wide to avoid traffic gaps.
The Mach 3 is also reasonably light, weighing less than 10 kilogrammes. Of course, the Schwalbe Kojak tyres are slick and provide more comfort and control on tarmac than a cheap suspension fork. and though reasonably light they do feature a puncture-protection layer.
Technical Specifications:
- Frame: Mach 3, 6061-T6 Double Butted Aluminium, Internal Cable Routing, QR, Flat Mount, Mud Guard Mounts, Rack Mounts
- Fork: Mach 3, 6061-T6 Aluminium, Tapered Steerer, QR, Flat Mount, Mud Guard Mounts
- Headset: ACROS Aix-Low R3, Sealed Bearings, OD46, 1 1/8” – 1 ½”, 41.8 / 28.6 – 52 / 40
- Handlebar: Vitus Integrated Flat Bar / Stem, 6061 Aluminium, 4 Degree Rise, 9 Degree Sweep, XS:380mm S:400mm M:420mm L:420mm XL:440mm XXL:440mm
- Stem: Vitus Integrated Flat Bar / Stem, 6061 Aluminium, XS:80mm S:90mm M:100mm L:100mm XL:110mm XXL: 110mm
- Grip (Tape): Vitus Ergo, Anti Slip, Ergonomic Shape, Integrated Lock Ring
- Front Rim: Shimano RX010 Disc, Aluminium, 700c, WH-RX010, 28 Hole, QR, Centre Lock
- Rear Rim: Shimano RX010 Disc, Aluminium, 700c, WH-RX010, 28 Hole, QR, Centre Lock, HG Freehub 8/9/10 Speed
- Front Tyre: Vee G-Sport, 700c x 38, MPC, B-Proof
- Rear Tyre: Vee G-Sport, 700c x 38, MPC, B-Proof
- Spoke: 16mm Nipple
- Chain: Shimano HG53, 9 Speed
- Crank set: Shimano Sora R3000, FC-R3000, 50/34T, XS:165mm S:170mm M:170mm L:170mm XL:175mm XXL: 175mm
- Bottom Bracket: Shimano Sora R3000, BSA Threaded, English
- Front Brake: Tektro R290 Hydraulic Disc, MD-R290-F, Flat Mount
- Rear Brake: Tektro R290 Hydraulic Disc, MD-R290-R, Flat Mount
- Brake Rotors: Tektro TR-160, Front:160mm, Rear:160mm
- Front Derailleur: Shimano Sora R3000, FD-R3000-F, Band-On
- Rear Derailleur: Shimano Sora R3000, RD-R3000, 9 Speed
- Left Shifter: Shimano Sora R3000, ST-R3000
- Right Shifter: Shimano Sora R3000 Rapidfire Plus, ST-R3000, 9 Speed
- Freewheel: Sunrace R91, 11-28T
- Saddle: VITUS, Steel Rail
- Seat Post: VITUS Aluminium, 27.2mm, 12mm Offset, 350mm
- Seat Screw: Aluminium, 31.8, Stainless Steel Bolt
- Colour: Slate Blue
- Frame Size: XS, XL, M, XXL, L, S
- Wheel Size: 700c
- Gender: Unisex
- Speed: 9 Speed
- Material: Aluminium
- Fork Travel: Rigid
Verdict:
Pros: Nippy handling, good visibility, great braking and a decent weight
Cons: The single-ring setup is simple and elegant but leaves a highish bottom gear
Conclusion
Buying a bike anywhere (online or otherwise) can be an estranging process especially if this is your first bike we are talking about,
but if you do your homework and learn about the ins and outs of the market by using the resources available to you to make sure
you get the most out of your money, it can be a much better experience.
Reviews are obviously a key part of the buying process when buying any cycle gear, and that goes for all bikes. Reading reviews is going to be the closest insight you get into how good a bike is, without actually trying or buying it. So, it’s really worth spending a few minutes reading through lots of these to see what the key advantages or dislikes are. It will really reassure you when you come to buying online.
So, our final piece of advice that we can offer is to take your time reading plenty of reviews now. If you do go on to buy a bike we mentioned in this article, or in fact any of the other bikes, we would love to hear from you. Sharing your views will really help us to write more comprehensive reviews and we will share these thoughts with customers just like you that are looking to read reviews before they commit to buying.