The Best (and Most Fun) Fitness and Hybrid Bikes
We’ll admit we’re biased, but there are few better ways to get in shape or maintain your fitness than riding a bicycle—and you don’t need a high-end road-racing model to do it. Fitness bikes (also known as hybrids) offer a balance of lightweight speed and a comfortable, confidence-inspiring upright riding position. Other features you’ll typically find are wide tires for smoothing out choppy pavement and (if you so choose) gravel, simple and sometimes maintenance-free drivetrains, and disc brakes for more control, especially on slick surfaces.
Check out quick info below on the five top-performing fitness bikes, then scroll deeper for more buying advice and longer reviews of these and other quality rides.
Flat Bar vs. Drop Bar
A fitness bike starts with a traditional road bike platform: fast-rolling 700c wheels and a swooping lightweight frame. But while a road bike typically comes outfitted with a drop bar, a fitness bike’s signature feature is a flat handlebar. This provides a wide stance for better control and a more upright position that’s both comfortable and more conducive to looking over a shoulder in traffic.
But a proper fitness bike is more than just a road bike with a flat bar: It’s specifically designed around it. Chad Price, core research and development director at Specialized, says that a fitness bike typically has a longer reach than a road bike, resulting in better handling from a flat bar and shorter stem.
Disc Brakes
One of the best technologies to come to fitness bikes is disc brakes. Though a little more expensive than rim-style brakes, discs offer more control and precision, especially in wet conditions. And because discs don’t require as much hand strength to operate, your fingers won’t ache as much after a long downhill.
Some lower-cost bikes may come with cable-actuated disc brakes, a cheaper alternative that’s not quite as powerful or as low maintenance as a fully hydraulic disc brake system but delivers similar all-weather performance and reliability.
The Right Gearing
Most fitness bikes come with two chainrings in the front and between nine and 11 cogs in the rear. Having more gears in the back allows you to fine-tune your shifting so you can keep a steady cadence no matter the terrain. Bikes with three front chainrings cost less, but the third ring can make shifting less precise. A single-ring option simplifies shifting and cuts down on maintenance but may not have the range you need for hillier routes.
Belt Drives and Internally Geared Hubs
A belt drive (which takes the place of a chain) with an internally geared hub (where all the gearing is packaged inside the rear hub’s shell and sealed from the elements) requires less maintenance than a traditional chain-and-derailleur drivetrain. It’s incredibly reliable and very clean, says Andrew Lumpkin, CEO of Spot Bikes. A belt drive is also easy to use (one shifter controls everything) and, perhaps best of all, lets you change gears while sitting still at a stop light. It’s a great option if you can afford it, and low maintenance is often more important that low weight.
How We Tested
Of the pile of fitness bikes we tested and evaluated, we chose these based on their value, performance, comfort, ride quality, and how the overall package meets the needs of the intended buyer. Our team of experienced bike testers spent weeks on each model to suss out the best (and least desirable) qualities. We commuted on them, took them out on long bike paths, and used them to join fun group rides. We also included four that we didn’t test but still highly recommend based on our experience with similar bikes and other models from those brands. Once we get our hands on them for official testing, we’ll update those reviews.
Purchasing During the Pandemic
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the bike industry has experienced an exponential boom in sales, partially due to public transit restrictions, and also because people are looking for a fun, healthy way to get outside. Because of this, many bike shops and online brands are nearly sold out of bikes. If a bike on this list says sold out, it might still be available at a bike shop near you, so check the retailers listed on the site or call the ones in your town.
Ridden and Reviewed
—BEST SELECTION OF COMPONENTS—
Spot Acme
The Acme is fast like a road bike, sturdy like a mountain bike, and smooth like a luxury car. It’s as capable for slow, people-watching cruises as it is for fast, get-to-work commutes. The geometry favors a more upright position, which is great for keeping your head up while wending through urban traffic. And the belt-drive system with an internally geared 11-speed hub is far cleaner—no lubing required—and quieter than a normal chain and gears. From top to bottom and front to back, every part on this modest city bike is handpicked for quality: Alex rims, Cane Creek headset, Gates belt drive, Kenda tires, Shimano shifters, SRAM brakes, and Spot-brand leather saddle and grips.
—FAST AND LIGHT—
Specialized Sirrus X 4.0
If you’re searching for a bike that’s as fun to ride as it is utilitarian, consider the Specialized Sirrus X 4.0. The 38mm-wide Pathfinder Sport tires have knobby sides for cornering and a flat strip down the middle for rolling fast on pavement. The carbon fork, wide tires, and handlebar suspension smooth out the ride. A wide gear range plus rack and fender mounts mean you can haul your stuff even where it’s hilly. It’s fast and maneuverable, making it ideal for quick city commutes and efficient errand running. To expand its capabilities, Specialized added 38mm gravel tires and its Future Shock, a rubber-encased coil shock above the headset with 20mm of travel to help absorb any front-tire impacts. These additions, plus the carbon fork, contribute to smoothing out your ride on any road.
—BEST STEP-THROUGH—
Specialized Crossroads 2.0 Step-Through
Cruising down rail trails makes for great exercise with a view, and the Crossroads 2.0 is what we want to be riding along the way. Of course, this bike is just as capable on roads, but the wide tires and comfortable saddle truly shine when they’re smoothing out long, flat gravel paths. Those 45mm tires are built with flat protection and maintained grip on crushed gravel, letting us roll over small road debris without issue. And the foam saddle was comfortable on hour-and-a-half-long rides, thanks to its gel inserts and a pressure-dispersing divot in the middle. The relaxed, upright geometry kept us riding tall without straining our lower back, though on hilly outings the bike hindered us from really getting on top of the pedals. The 7-speed Shimano Altus cassette and triple chainring offers a wide gear range, and those gears shift smoothly. The flat bar provides comfortable, responsive steering control that allows riders to enjoy the cruise.
—ACCESSIBLE HARDTAIL—
Scott Contessa Active 50
This hardtail from Scott is an awesome bike for those just beginning to venture off-road. We noted that the wide tires provided superb stability. Though the 100mm Suntour fork has enough travel to keep you riding comfortably on most smooth trails, the suspension does have its innate downsides; the cost of a cushioned ride is the loss of energy you’ll experience when pedaling up an incline. The saddle on this bike is decent, but if you plan on spending more time sitting than standing, consider upgrading to something more adept at supporting your sit bones against bumpy terrain. The 8-speed Shimano Tourney cassette and triple chainring offered enough gears for spinning gently uphill, and the Tektro hydraulic disc brakes bring you to a full stop without any jerky movements. The rubber grips on the handlebar are super cushy and impressively tacky—even when your hands are sweaty. We also loved that the wide handlebar afforded a greater feeling of control over the entire bike. It’ll be hard to find so much quality—and fun—in another ride at this price.
—ZIPPY ROAD BIKE—
Specialized Allez
This is a gateway bike and arguably the best cheap roadie money can buy. For $875, you get quality, versatility, and comfort, all wrapped in a sharp aluminum frame with a carbon fork. That fork soaked up bumps in the road and reduced upper-body fatigue, allowing us to ride comfortably for longer. The Allez sports a crisp Shimano Claris drivetrain with an 8-speed, 11-32 Sunrace cassette and 50/34t chainring to get you over climbs and help you keep up with friends when the pace picks up. The bike’s relaxed, endurance-style geometry made it comfortable for a long day in the saddle as well as zipping down the block to the brewery. Tektro rim brakes, while not as good as discs, perform well enough and so that Specialized could keep the Allez light and cheap, giving riders the performance and weight savings they want while maintaining an affordable price.
—SIMPLE CRUISER—
Civia Lowry Step-Thru
The Lowry is a simple, solid, and relatively light bike for cruising around town. Its step-through design means the bike works with almost any outfit (there’s a step-over model, too), and the aluminum frame contributed to an easy-to-carry 25-pound total weight for the size medium. Opt for the 7-speed cassette if your town is hilly. Semi-slick Kenda Kwest tires rolled fast on pavement, and rear rack mounts made the bike a viable grocery-getter, too. Reliable Tektro rim brakes and a kickstand round out a bike that’s ready to breeze around the corner.
More Options to Consider
—BEST VALUE—
Marin Presidio 1
This bike is Marin’s gift to cyclists who want to get rolling on a quality bike without spending a lot of cash. But you still get parts that perform well, like Shimano’s Altus 8-speed internally geared hub—it’s smooth and more reliable than a similarly priced external drivetrain. The Vee Tire Co. tires are puncture-resistant and have reflective sidewalls, and the Tektro hydraulic disc brakes mete out real stopping power. As you hop between bike lanes, the Presidio feels zippy while pedaling, and the drivetrain shifts fast and suits all but the hilliest routes. If you think prioritizing value and reliability makes a boring bike, the Presidio 1 just might change your mind.
—PEPPY COMMUTER—
Liv Alight 3 DD Disc
With its upright geometry, the Alight is a comfortable commuter and casual rider. The lightweight aluminum frame is decked out with mounts for racks and fenders if you choose to add those, or leave it bare and simple, ready for longer rides for exercise. Disc brakes offer excellent stopping power, and puncture-resistant tires mean you’ll spend more time riding and less time fussing with flats. A wide cassette and triple chainring offer a great number of gears, including many easy ones for hilly rides.
—RELIABLE OFF-ROADER—
Trek 820
The 820 is Trek’s offering to people who just want a capable, reliable, and affordable bike. With a steel frame, a fork with 75mm of travel, and 26-by-2-inch-wide tires, the 820 is labeled as an entry-level hardtail mountain bike. It’s great for college students looking for a commuter and a way to explore local trails, or a family looking to buy a bike that several people can use for a variety of purposes. A 7-speed Shimano Tourney groupset, with a 42/34/24 crank and a 14-28t cassette, will enable almost any level of rider to get where they’re going.
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