Hybrid e-bikes

What a hybrid e-bike is

If you only own one bike, a hybrid is usually the right answer. It sits between a commuter and a mountain bike: wider tyres than a road bike, a more upright position than either, and mounts for the rack and guards that make it useful on a Tuesday as well as a Sunday. Most of the bikes here run 700c wheels with 40 to 50mm tyres, which roll well on tarmac and cope with a gravel towpath.

The choice that matters most is the fork. A rigid fork is lighter, cheaper and needs no servicing. A suspension fork takes the edge off tree roots and potholes, at the cost of a couple of kilos and a service interval. Neither is wrong; it depends whether your riding is mostly tarmac with the occasional rough stretch, or the other way round.

Who a hybrid e-bike suits

• One bike for commuting, errands and weekend rides, rather than three bikes for three jobs.
• Riders who want an upright position without a step-through frame.
• Mixed surfaces: lanes, towpaths, cycle tracks and the occasional forestry road.
• Anyone who would rather have a comfortable bike than a fast one, and would like to keep both options open.

What to check before you buy

• Tyre clearance and tyre width. Wider tyres at lower pressure are the cheapest suspension there is, and clearance cannot be added later.
• The fork: rigid saves weight and servicing, suspension saves your wrists on rough ground.
• Rack and mudguard mounts, fitted at the factory. Bolted-on alternatives creak, slip and mark the frame.
• Where the battery sits. In the downtube keeps the weight low and central; on a rear rack is easier to lift off and charge indoors, but makes the back end heavier.
• Gearing range. A wide cassette matters more on an e-bike than the number of gears, because the motor covers the gaps at the top and you still need a low gear for a steep hill with a dead battery.