Cheap hybrid bikes: 5 practical picks that won’t break the bank
Affordable hybrid bikes for relaxed commuting or leisurely rides
Published:
Hybrid bikes are a great solution for many commuters and leisure cyclists who prefer a flat handlebar to the nose down position of a road bike.
A hybrid is often the most practical and versatile choice for commuters and recreational riders who travel over mixed terrain. If you want your ride to take in a mixture of roads, cycle paths, tracks and trails, a hybrid could be the bike for you.
The riding position of a hybrid is more upright than a road bike, with an emphasis on comfort over outright performance. Hybrids usually arrive with the correct fittings and mounts to fit mudguards and racks for further practicality.
- What is the best bike for cycle commuting?
- Which kind of bike should I buy?
- Best road bikes: how to choose the right one for you
- Wiggle Black Friday deals
Cheap hybrid bikes, top budget choices
- Boardman MTX 8.6
- Decathlon Riverside 120
- Creme Caferacer Man Uno Urban Bike
- Challenge 20-inch urban bike
- Carrera Subway 1
B’Twin Riverside 120
The Riverside 120 from Decathlon is incredibly cheap thanks to the simple design of the steel frame and its affordable components.
Eight gears should be enough to make a difference on hills and the lack of a front derailleur will make changing gear easier for beginner riders. Even the v-brakes are an upgrade from the cantilever designs you might expect to see at this price.
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Boardman MTX 8.6
The Boardman MTX 8.6 is based around an alloy frameset, which features smoothed welds for a clean look.
The 27-speed Shimano Altus transmission has plenty of range and the Tektro hydraulic disc brakes are great to see at this price.
The MTX also has a suspension fork to keep you comfortable on rougher surfaces. The puncture-resistant Schwalbe Tyrago tyres are also a great choice.
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Creme Caferacer Man Uno Urban Bike
- Buy now from Wiggle (£699.99)
If you’re after a seriously stylish bike to cruise around town on between sipping cappuccinos, the Creme Caferacer could be just for you.
Replete with urban-friendly accessories, including a porteur-style rack and a chain guard, this bike will be ready for all conditions straight out of the box.
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Challenge Urban 20-inch bike
- Buy now from Argos (£250.00)
If you’re looking for a practical and oh-so-cute bike for shooting around town that won’t take up much space at home, this diminutive darling from Argos’s house brand, Challenge, could be just the ticket.
With a simple 1×6 drivetrain and folding handlebars, we reckon this little cutie will find a place in your heart.
Carrera Subway 1
- Buy now from Halfords (£330)
The Carrera Subway is one of BikeRadar’s all-time favourite hybrid bikes. It’s a simple no-frills machine that offers an enjoyable ride thanks to smart component choices.
The wide range 2×8 drivetrain is complemented by mechanical Tektro disc brakes.
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Authors
Jack Luke is the deputy editor at BikeRadar and has been fettling with bikes for his whole life. Always in search of the hippest new niche in cycling, Jack is a self-confessed gravel dork, fixie-botherer, tandem-evangelist and hill climb try hard. Jack thinks nothing of bikepacking after work to sleep in a ditch or taking on a daft challenge for the BikeRadar YouTube channel. He is also a regular contributor to the BikeRadar podcast. With a near encyclopaedic knowledge of cycling tech, ranging from the most esoteric retro niche to the most cutting-edge modern kit, Jack takes pride in his ability to seek out stories that would otherwise go unreported. He is also particularly fond of tan-wall tyres, dynamo lights, cup and cone bearings, and skids. Jack has been writing about and testing bikes for more than five years now, has a background working in bike shops for years before that, and is regularly found riding a mix of weird and wonderful machines. Jack can also often be seen zooming about with his partner aboard their beloved tandem, Cecil.
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