Hybrid bicycle
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For motorized-pedal hybrids, see motorized bicycle
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A hybrid bicycle is a bicycle designed for use on roads and bike paths, combining in highly variable degree features of a road bicycle and a mountain bicycle. A recent innovation, the hybrid bicycle retains the features of mountain bicycles which have made them accessible and popular while making them more suitable for urban use.
In general, hybrids use mountain bike gears to make riding in hilly environments easier, and have an upright riding position similar to a mountain bike. Handlebars are neither downturned like a road bicycle nor flat like a mountain bicycle. Rather, they have a slight upturn, providing for a more upright seating position.
[edit] Road-biased hybrid
A road-biased hybrid has a frame similar to a racing or touring bicycle, and 700C-size wheels with slick or semi-slick tires between 32 and 40 mm wide [1]. This additional tire width over a road bicycle is intended to give the hybrid some ability to deal with rough surfaces that might be encountered on bike trails, such as gravel, hard-packed sand and shallow mud.
[edit] Flat Bar
A type of bicycle that is sometimes considered to be a hybrid is the flat-bar road bike. It uses a handle bar that does not rise above the stem, and has other features from the hybrid family such as mountain bike components and a triple crank. The frame itself resembles that of a road bike.
[edit] Mountain-biased hybrid
A mountain-biased hybrid has a modified mountain frame with a taller head tube for a more upright riding posture, and 26-inch wheels with semi-slick tires around 1.95 inches (5 cm) wide.
[edit] Comfort bike
A subclass of the hybrid category is the comfort bike. Some manufacturers define their bicycles as "hybrid" if they have 700C size wheels, and as "comfort" if they have the smaller 26-inch wheels. For other manufacturers, the difference is more one of marketing focus than specification, but such features as front suspension forks, seat post suspension and angle-adjustable stems are generally provided on both the hybrid and comfort bicycles to enhance the comfort of the rider. Hub gears may be used instead of derailleur gears.
