trek hybrid bike

There are big differences – and subtle differences – between road bikes and hybrid bikes. But there are similarities as well, making for a tough task to choose between them.

Here’s how to figure out which one is best for you.

Understanding Road Bikes vs Hybrids

Let’s begin by learning some important background information.

The purpose of hybrid bikes

To understand hybrid bikes, you first need to know the difference between road bikes and mountain bikes.

In a nutshell, the bikes are designed for completely different terrain: road bikes are designed for riding on paved roads, while mountain bikes are designed for riding on off-road trails.

The purpose of a hybrid bike is to give you one bike that can go decently fast on smooth roads but also handle mild off-road terrain. Hence the “hybrid” name.

Sounds like a great idea, but is it the right bike for you? Or should you stick with a road bike?

Key differences between road and hybrid bikes

Here are some of the important differences between these two styles of bikes:

  • Riding position. A hybrid bike’s geometry puts you in an upright riding position, more similar to sitting in a chair. This upright position is more comfortable for most people. A road bike usually stretches you out forward to create an aerodynamic riding position. Road bikes are about speed rather than comfort.
  • Handlebar style. Most hybrids have flat handlebars which are easy to understand and always put the brake levers within reach. Road bikes use drop bars, which offer more hand positions, but may scare off some new riders with how the braking and shifting works.
  • Tires. Hybrids come with multi-purpose tires that provide acceptable performance on paved roads, dirt roads, and gravel paths. Road bikes have thin tires with slick tread, suitable only for paved surfaces.
  • Pricing. Hybrids are usually targeted at casual, recreational cyclists, so they are meant to be affordable. There’s a great selection of these bikes under $1000, with some under $500. Road bikes tend to be more expensive, usually starting closer to $1000 and going up from there. (A high-end carbon road bike with new technology like electronic shifting and hydraulic disc brakes could easily surpass $10,000.)

The Right Bike For You

2013 specialized allez road bike

Choosing between these two styles of bikes is mainly about what type of bike rider you are.

If you are riding for fun and you just want to get out and ride, a hybrid is a good choice. You can just hop on and go and it will likely handle whatever terrain you come across.

If your main goal is fitness, either bike would work. A mountain bike would work too, as would a stationary bike! Just depends on where you want to ride.

Some manufacturers have created lines of “fitness bikes” but this is really another name for hybrid bikes.

If you’re not sure about the terrain, a hybrid is a safe bet. It’ll work for road, off-road, dirt, and gravel riding.

If you will be commuting to work or running errands on your bike, a hybrid bike would be a good choice because they usually have proper mounts for racks, fenders, and other useful accessories.

If you crave speed and are considering racing, that’s a sign that you should get a road bike!

If you want to go mountain biking, riding over rocks or hitting dirt jumps – you’ll need a mountain bike instead!

Hybrids typically provide lots of fun and smiles unless you have a very specific need for a specific type of bike.

Should I Trade In My Hybrid for a Real Road Bike?

This article was inspired by a reader’s question about using a hybrid for road riding and if it will be sufficient…

Hi Coach Levi, I did a charity ride 3 months ago. I had a mountain bike that was over 20 years old, somewhat rusty and not in very good condition. I decided to buy a new bike to do the ride because I didn’t know if the old mountain bike was going to withstand it.

The area where I live is not a biking community so I went for a hybrid, Scott Sportster P6 to be exact. Two months after my dad told us we are going to move closer to my brother and he lives in a biking community. I am now going to do road rides with him; if I knew before hand that we were moving I would’ve gotten a road bike. My ? to you is, do u think I should sell/trade in this bike for a road bike since I’ll be doing road rides?

Thanks,
Hybrid Henry

Hi Henry,

What I would do is start out doing your road rides on the hybrid and see how it works out. The Scott Sportster P6 looks to have road wheels with fairly slick tires so you might be alright on it, at least to start out.

If your flexibility allows, you could lower the stem and handlebar to get a little more aero.

The downfalls I see are these:

1. If you’re a powerful rider and like to go fast, the 48×14 high gear is going to be too low for road use. And you’ll definitely spin out on downhills.

2. If you do long rides, the lack of available hand positions offered by a flat bar will have you wishing for the drop bar of a real road bike. Flat bars also make it tough to get into an aggressive riding position, which you may want to do if you have any sort of sibling rivalry that urges you to ride faster than your brother!

3. It’s heavy. 27 pounds is rather heavy for something being ridden on the road. How troublesome this is depends mostly on the number of hills you have to climb.

So if you know you are going to be doing a lot of road rides and get pretty serious about it, I’d get a road bike sooner rather than later. But if you’re not positive, I’d stick with what you have. At the very least, the hybrid is going to be much faster and more comfortable than a 20 year old mountain bike!!

Another thing to consider is money. If you sell or trade in a nearly new bike, you’ll probably still lose quite a bit of money on it. And then you need to buy the road bike, and they are typically more expensive than hybrids, even for the lower-end models. (While it’s easy to find a $400 hybrid, it’s hard to get a new road bike for under $800.)

It wouldn’t hurt to visit the local bike shop in your new town and ask their advice, too.

Whatever you do, just try to enjoy the ride!

This article was originally published on May 12, 2010. It was updated and re-published on August 7, 2023.

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2 Comments
  1. Are the rim brakes on the Scott Sportster powerful enough for road riding?

    • @Erin

      I’m not sure which specific brake came spec’d on that bike. If it’s a Tektro or Shimano V-brake, it should provide more than enough stopping power. Even if you’re doing big road descents that are much steeper than what you find on bike paths you might typically ride on with a hybrid.

      Heck, these V brakes are probably more powerful than the rim brakes you find on most recreational road bikes!

      That said, if you’re riding in pouring rain, there is an advantage to disc brakes.

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