With such an array of choice of bikes in today’s popular bicycle purchasing market, it can be a difficult decision. Are road bikes faster than hybrids? Are hybrids more practical? What is the difference? We investigate.
The Road Bike
If you are a real bike enthusiast and your interest is in riding your bicycle as fast as you can over distances on a smooth tarmac surface, then a road bike is the bike for you. As the name suggests, road bikes are designed for just one thing, riding on roads. In the early days, they were called racing bikes to distinguish them from the chunky, upright models, that had been the workhorses before cars had become so commonplace. These older workhorses had a flat handlebar which gave a totally different riding position from that of trendy racing bikes.
Looking at the basic shape of a road bike, you will see that it looks very similar to that of early racing bikes. It is the technology and materials now used that have changed over the years.
The most obvious difference is the handlebars.
Instead of the straight ones found on the older upright bicycles, and the mountain bikes, a road bike will have drop handlebars which allow a variation of position when cycling. They can be purchased in a variety of shapes and sizes, but they all feature two levels of the handlebar where the rider can either sit more upright while holding the top part of the bar or change to a lower, more streamlined position by holding the bottom bars.
“The highest speed ever achieved on a road bike is an incredible 183.91mph”
The controls on the bicycle are also different with a variety of gear controls on offer. Road levers combine the brakes and gear controls into a single unit. This set up will vary according to the manufacturer.
The Hybrid Bike
There is no doubt that hybrids are seen as the ‘cooler bike’ today. With urges on people to cycle to work instead of using the car these days, the hybrid has come along to cater for this new market in recent years.
The hybrid has a more practical seating position with a flat handlebar, and easier-to-use controls. They often come equipped with panniers (built on bags, ideal for a change of clothes and laptops) and mudguards to protect the rider; you arrive fully-equipped and mud-free. The wheels are chunkier too on a hybrid giving a much softer ride than the skinny, hard tires on a road bike.
While speed is important, the emphasis on these bicycles has changed from pure speed to durability and comfort. You could describe them as the ‘SUV of the cycling world,’ with chunky off-road features that are rarely used except for navigating potholes and climbing on to the occasional curb. They are practical all-rounders that are also far less likely to get punctures or mechanical problems than a highly tuned road bike with slimline tires.
Speed
Factors that are going to affect the speed on a bicycle are wind resistance, tire friction, and the gears. The seating position we have already established is more aerodynamic on the road bike than the hybrid. The road bike will probably have tires no more than 24 mm which do not create so much friction as the chunky 38 mm of the hybrid. The road bike will most probably have advanced gears that are designed for speed. Everything is in favour of the road bike.
The highest speed ever achieved on a road bike is an incredible 183.91 miles per hour. Alright, this was achieved in a slipstream, but it is still an amazing achievement. There does not seem to be an official speed record for a hybrid bike, but in most cases, the fastest people seem to be able to achieve is around 25 mph on the flat.