5 of the Best Hybrid Bikes for Women

You may have heard quite a bit about hybrid bikes but might not know much about them. If you’re looking to learn this post is a great place to start, we’ll cover the basics of what a hybrid bike is, who should buy a hybrid bike and which are the best hybrid bikes for women specifically. This is because there are hybrid bikes on the market that have been designed with women in mind. We’ve also thrown in a few bikes aimed at anyone so you get a good range of what is on offer. We’ve tried to keep the bikes relatively cheap and always good value for money so you know you’ll be getting a good deal.

Hybrid bikes provide a brilliant option if you’re going to be using your bike mainly for commuting with a little additional recreational cycling when you’re free. They are ideal for newer cyclists and riders just getting into the sport, people who want versatility from their bike or just someone thinking of commuting using a bicycle. The best hybrid bikes will be able to comfortably manage all types of terrain, will make a morning commute much quicker and will hopefully provide a fantastic introduction to this great sport. So let’s start with the basics…

 

Our Top 3 Hybrid Bikes for Women

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What is a Hybrid Bike?

A hybrid bike is a combination (or hybrid) of a traditional road bike and a mountain bike. They’ve aimed to take the best bits of both types of bikes and combine them into something new that is able to cope with any types of terrain or surface. Some specific hybrid bikes may well take more influence from a road bike than they do a mountain bike, likewise other brands of hybrid bike could use more from a mountain bike in their design. It’s worth taking into account which type of bike it takes more influence from and use that in your decision when purchasing.

We’ve got a quick guide to help you notice the features that make a hybrid bike.

They usually:

• Have a flat handlebar which allows the rider to sit in a more upright and comfortable position. This is more similar to standard mountain bikes and means that the shifting and braking components are often very similar to how mountain bikes implement them.
• Have tires that are a bit wider than a road bike and a bit narrower than a mountain bike. 28c – 42c is fairly common. The wider tires will not only help out with increasing the comfort of the ride, but will also give you more grip. Perfect for off road or wet streets. Hybrid bikes that use a 26 inch wheel format will also tend to fall closer to the mountain bike side of things, whereas bikes with 700c road style wheels are usually much less effective offroad.
• Have a lot of versatility and variety when it comes to components. For example, brakes can vary dramatically from model to model. V-brakes and mechanical and hydraulic disc brakes are quite common.
• Have a least the eyelets and clearances required to fit full mudguards and pannier racks. They should also have other mounts of the frame and fork.

If you’re not sure if a pedal bike is for you, then check out our guides on electric bikes and the best electric scooters for commuting. They might be more what you’re looking for.

If you’re not sure about bicycle wheel sizes then check out this post for more information.

 

Best Women’s Hybrid Road Bike

Raleigh Bikes Alysa 1 Women’s Fitness Hybrid Bike

Raleigh have a long and interesting history, dating all the way back to 1885 and producing some memorable bikes such as the Chopper.  provide some of the best value for money bikes on the market. They’re one of the top sellers on Amazon and have many of the top rated hybrid bike reviews. For this category we chose the Alysa 1 because it has been specifically designed for women, with a specially designed seat and a step-thru frame.

Quick Look:

• Weight: 26.4 lbs (12 kg)
• Frame: Aluminum step-thru
• Fork: Steel
• Crankset: SR Suntour
• Shifter and Gears: Shimano Revo Shift, 3 front & 7 rear gears
• Brakes: Tektro V-brakes
• Wheel Size: 700c
• Seat: Raleigh Women-specific
• Water Bottle Mounts: 1
• Dimensions: 58.3 x 10.2 x 29.9 inches (148.1 x 25.9 x 75.9 cm)

This women’s bike makes a great city bike or commuter bike and will even perform off road. The women’s specific step through bike frame is lightweight and durable as it’s made from a butted aluminum. It comes with wide 35c tires to provide extra traction for slippery tarmac or dirt trails and the 700c double strong wall wheels keep the ride quick, efficient and stable.

The Alysa 1 has flat handlebars that are fitted with the Raleigh comfort grip for a firm, upright position. It also has a set of full rack and fender mounts so you have a lot of versatility with additional extras.

Like Raleigh claim, it can really be used for “putting in miles along the bike path, riding through the city on your way to work, and going everywhere in between.” However, it does have some fairly fragile components so we would recommend sticking to the city and tarmac if you’re worried about damaging it.

The Alysa 1, like many bikes from Raleigh is very simple to assemble taking less than 30 minutes if you’re even remotely experienced. It comes with simple, yet clear instructions and even a small tool set so you don’t have to spend an hour searching the house for that one screwdriver you know you have somewhere.

Overall, the Raleigh Alysa 1 is a great bike with very few drawbacks. It’s also very well priced, with the largest model coming it at less that $400! Remember however, we would recommend keeping to the roads if you’re worried about damaging it as parts can be a bit fragile.

Check the latest price on Amazon.

 

Vilano Diverse 3.0 Performance Hybrid Bike

A fantastic alternative to the Alysa is the Vilano Diverse 3.0 Performance Hybrid Bike. This is a unisex bike as it has a higher top tube.

Quick Look:

• Weight: The largest model with packaging will weight 41 lbs (18.5 kg)
• Frame: Aluminum
• Fork: Aluminium
• Crankset: Triple 42/34/24T with replacable chainrings, alloy crank arms
• Shifter and Gears: Shimano EF 51 3/8 Speed, integrated brake lever (24 speeds total)
• Brakes: Dual Disc
• Wheel Size: 700c x 35c

The Vilano Diverse 3.0 is the 3rd model in the Diverse line of hybrid bikes from Vilano. It’s build completely from aluminum which makes it very lightweight and easy to control. The finish and welding is very well done and the bike feels like it’s solid very well made. It also has a lot of great features, such as the front and rear disc brakes. It also has 35c 700c wheels that give you a great balance between speed for the city and extra traction for when you take it off road. Not only this, but the Diverse 3.0 has a 24 speed gear system split 3/8. It also has a series of predrilled holes ready for all sorts of mounts and racks.

So as you can tell, the Diverse 3.0 has a lot of features and is well build, so how much would you expect to pay for a bike like this? More than the Alysa 1? Well, no. It actually comes it an about $100 less than the Alysa 1! This makes it an absolute bargain.

If you’re looking specifically for a step-thru frame and other nice features aimed at women then the Alysa 1 is a great option and we’d highly recommend it. If however you want one of the best value hybrid bikes that’s aimed more at road riding then we’d say go with the Vilano Diverse 3.0.

Check the latest price on Amazon.

 

Best Hybrid Bike Under $500

Sixthreezero EVRYjourney Women’s 26 inch Step Through Hybrid Cruiser

The Sixthreezero EVRYjourney is a 26-inch hybrid bike which is the first of its kind on our list. Sixthreezero must be doing something right with their choice and design as this is one of the highest rated hybrid bikes on Amazon. It currently has 4.8 stars from over 1,000 reviews and we can see why.  

Firstly, the look and style of this bike is fantastic, it feels slightly retro but still modern enough to be able to use any time. It comes in three colors: Cream, Navy and Teal, each combined with black, white or brown seats and grips.

The Sixthreezero has a step-thru aluminum frame which has been designed to give it’s user a geometry that provides a comfortable upright position that might seem lower than normal but one that also gives a good overview of what’s in front of you.

In addition to this is also has a forward pedal design where the pedals are further forward than the rest of your body. This allows you to sit back and be able to stretch your legs out fully when pedaling which creates quite a unique and comfortable riding style.

You can get 4 different types of the Sixthreezero in addition to the color options. The different options alter the amount of speeds you get. They come in either 1, 3, 7 or 21 speed which gives you the choice to tailor the bike to your exact needs. For example, you can save some money and get a lower speed gear system if you know you’ll be doing short, flat commutes. Likewise it might be best to invest in one with more speeds if you know you’ll be facing a longer hillier commute. Whatever you choose, there will be an option that fits your lifestyle.

The Sixthreezero also comes with some additional equipment that none of the other bikes mentioned do. For example, you will get a set of matching fenders and a even a leather seat.

Just to make it even easier, Sixthreezero have designed this so that you do not need to worry about not choosing the right size, because it has a one-size-fits-all frame design. It can accommodate people of heights anywhere between 5’4” and 6’5”.

Some people have reported trouble with the assembly process but there are guides and videos on the internet to help. For example, this one:

So this is not only one of the best hybrid bikes for women under $500, but it is also probably the best hybrid bike for women in general.

Check the latest price on Amazon.

 

Best Hybrid Bike for Commuting

Diamondback Clarity 2

If the other bikes on the list aren’t to your liking and you’re thinking of using your new hybrid bicycle to commute to work and back then the Diamondback Clarity 2 might be just your thing. It’s fast, lightweight and very comfortable.

Quick Look:

• Bike Weight: 27 lb 8 oz (12.5 kg) this is for a medium size model with no pedals
• Frame: Clarity 6061-T6 Devine Geometry, Butted Aluminum Performance Hybrid w/ Formed / Hooded Top Tube, Integrated Headtube, VCS compliant stays, replaceable derailleur hanger
• Fork: Clarity integrated Aero Alloy straight blade, Cro-mo Steerer
• Crankset: Shimano FCM131 w/ chainguard, 28/38/48t
• Shifter: Shimano EF-51 Easyfire 7 Speed
• Tires: Kenda Kwick Trax 700x32c
• Brakes: Tektro Aries Mechanical Disc w/ 160mm Rotors
• Seat: DB Performance Hybrid w/ Gel
• Wheels: 700c performance hybrid wheels

The Diamondback Clarity 2 is a commuting, hybrid road bike that has been designed specifically for women. It has a lower top tube to accommodate that design choice. It uses a 6061-T6 aluminum alloy frame that is durable and very comfortable. The fork is an integrated aero alloy for increased strength. This all acts together to form a very strong bike that is also very light.

It uses a Shimano 24 speed gear system that can tackle pretty much any terrain and slope. In addition to this are the wheels and tires. It uses 700c performance hybrid wheels which are rated at 32c in width. This gives you enough traction to manage rain and dirty whilst also not being too big to compromise speed.

The only real downside to this bike is that the Tektro mechanical disc brakes are a bit disappointing. They simply don’t stop you as quickly as we would have liked, which is surprising as most disc brakes tend to work noticeably better than their v-brake counterparts. This problem can be overcome by squeezing harder, however this isn’t idea for fast pace stopping and starting that you’d expect from a commuter bike.

Despite this small problem, the Diamondback Clarity 2 is another great bike from Diamondback that we’d highly recommend. It does everything you’d want from a bike used to commute, and more. It is surprisingly competent off road and will give other, more expensive hybrid bikes good competition. All of this is available for less than $400.

Check the latest price on Amazon.

 

Best Electric Hybrid Bike

Schwinn Sycamore 350 W Electric Hybrid Bicycle

As all the bikes we’ve mentioned before have been relatively cheap, we thought we’d give you one of the best electric hybrid bikes on the market today. This obviously comes at a higher price tag. In this case its you could buy 5 sixthreezeros and still have change leftover for dinner for the price you’ll be paying for the Schwinn Sycamore.

So is it worth it?

The Sycamore sport hybrid electric bike has a 350 W hub drive motor with a thumbpad controller on the handlebar. This sort of motor isn’t anything amazing, but it’s still enough to get the bike to a top speed of 20 mph. The battery is also very good on the Sycamore and can give a total range of up to 60 miles on a single charge! It also has a battery life indicator built into the battery and can be removed and charged or stored inside.

There is also a very nice build in LCD display that shows battery life, assistance level, and basic cycling computer features, you can use the thumbpad to completely control your ride. There are five different levels of pedal-assist for you to choose from.

The overall build is very good, the whole bike feels solid, looks amazing (despite a few slightly rough welds) and is incredibly durable.

Other features include:

• Schwinn Quality comfort seat and ergonomic grips that add crucial comfort at key bike touch points
• 8 speed Shimano Alivo drivetrain with a Shimano Altus trigger shifter and front and rear alloy mechanical disc brakes for a durable yet smooth ride
• Schwinn aluminum dual-sport frame with SR Suntour NEX suspension fork with 63 mm of travel & hydraulic lockout keeps you in control of your ride

What we love about the Schwinn Sycamore is the fact that it combines so many different types of bikes into one. You get the benefits of a slightly more mountainesque hybrid bikes and the benefits of an e-bike, all in one package. So despite a couple of small problems, like the sometimes messy welds and price tag, we think the Schwinn Sycamore is definitely an electric hybrid bike worth your money.

Check the latest price on Amazon.

Not all e-bikes are priced this high, if you’re looking for a cheaper e-bike that is still worth buying, then check out our list of the best electric bikes under $1,000.

 

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