How to choose a hybrid bike

Tyres
Hybrid bikes have versatile tyres—essential for touring in the great outdoors! The route you ride may be a combination of stabilized roads and paths that are more or less rocky or dusty. You'll want a tyre that rolls efficiently on asphalt but which is also able to provide the necessary traction on trails to keep you safe. These tyres are about halfway between road tyres and mountain bike tyres, with short crampons to ensure good rolling efficiency and comfort while still providing sufficient traction. These tyres are wider than road bike tyres so as to dampen the little bumps, dips and stones you may encounter along the way.

Riding position 
Here again we're looking for something midway between the performance-oriented position of a mountain bike, and the very comfortable position of a town bike. A riding position of 60°, with the back slightly bent forward, is ideal for a leisurely outing or a longer tour.
On paved roads, this riding position distributes your pedalling energy more efficiently. While on paths and trails it helps to better absorb the bumps. This position allows you to sit comfortably while still producing enough power to pedal without too much effort so you can ride further and farther more easily!
The positioning of the handles is also important. Some touring bikes have so-called ergonomic handle grips that are flat to avoid hurting your wrists as you hold the handlebar. This helps prevent aching in your joints as well as tingling sensations in the hands.

Telescopic fork and other equipment
To further dampen vibrations on uneven roads and absorb shocks when riding on sidewalks, you may want to equip your touring bike with a telescopic fork. You can also add other accessories for a more comfortable ride, including mudguards to keep you from splashes on the road, a tow bar to take your kids along, pannier racks, and pannier bags and other bags to carry your essentials. Your hybrid bike is great for running daily errands as well as for your weekend outings!

The true Swiss army knife of bikes, your hybrid bike will carry you from city sidewalks to paved roads to bike paths to craggy trails, with the agility of a mountain bike coupled with the comfort of a town bike. Perfect for leisurely outings with friends and family as well as more intensive sporty rides. Versatility is its middle name.

At Riverside we of course recommend you ride your bike as often as you can, as it's a known fact that cycling brings joy! 

Which bike you get will depend in part on how often you ride, whether occasionally, regularly, or frequently.

We have bikes for every level and budget! 

From v-brakes to hydraulic disc brakes, from steel frames to aluminium frames, our range of hybrid bikes matches your budget while staying true to Riverside's core values: get out into nature and enjoy the ride!

Carry your laptop on weekdays, and a picnic on weekends! Your bags' contents are sure to change depending on the day of the week and your needs or wants of the moment. We're here to make it happen! Our bikes can be accessorized in a multitude of ways,  including mudguards to keep you from splashes, a tow bar to take your kids along, pannier racks, and pannier bags and other bags to carry your essentials. Get your bike ready for anything.

This e-assist (or classic) hybrid bike is highly versatile. Defined by its famous 60° riding position, it provides the ability to switch between paved roads and dirt paths with good traction and manoeuvrability.

With an e-bike you can cover more routes, go further and faster too! And switching between electric assistance helps even out performance levels so everyone can stay in a group.

While other brands have decided to build separate men's and women's lines, we take a different approach here at Riverside. Other than a different frame, the components are identical for both men's and women's bikes, including the saddle, drivetrain, and brakes. As to the riding position, this is influenced by the frame geometry,
which is why our experts may recommend certain models depending on your gender.
Here's something to help you choose: 

Available in 4 sizes:

Size S: 1.50 m to 1.65 m
Size M: 1.66 m to 1.77 m
Size L: 1.78 m to 1.89 m
Size XL: 1.90 m to 2.01 m

If you're on the cusp between two sizes:
- pick the smaller size if you want easier handling and comfort (more upright riding position);
- pick the larger size for a more stretched out position (better suited to speed).

A word from William, Riverside Product Manager

"There are several criteria you should consider when choosing a hybrid bike. The first is how you prefer to get on your bike. You have the choice between a step-over model, where you raise your leg over the cross tube at the seat post level, and a step-through model (the "Dutch-style bike") which allows you to get on the bike without having to lift your leg much. It's an important criteria to take into consideration and impacts comfort and ease of use.

The second is the bike's gear ratios. All of our hybrid models are single-chainring; that means the drivetrain has a single chainring in the front and a cassette at the rear that offers a wide range of gear ratios. Nevertheless, it's good to be mindful of how many gears (speeds) your bike has. The more speeds you have, the more finely you can adjust your level of effort, especially when climbing! And even if you mostly ride on flat terrain like pathways alongside rivers or canals, you'll still need to at some point go over small bumps or other obstacles like a tree trunk, for example. So it's good to think about those things too!

Lastly, look at the bike's components such as the saddle, ergonomic grips, telescopic fork, etc. They are all selected with the goal of making you as comfortable as possible on your bike and making it easier for you to ride it!"