Gravel Bike vs Hybrid Bike – Which One Should I Buy?

For bicyclists, one of the main concerns is whether the bike will put up with the task at hand.

Surely, while many bikes are capable of doing well on-road, not all of them deliver a good performance during those adventures that take us slightly off the comfy roads.

In that regard, both the gravel and hybrid bikes have a lot to say. Over the years, these bikes have earned their place due to their high capabilities.

However, the question remains on which one to ultimately buy between the gravel bike vs. hybrid models.

Today we’ll clear everything you need to know about this debate. By the end, you’ll know which is the most suitable choice for you. Let’s begin, then!

Gravel Bike vs Hybrid Bike – Comparison 2020

Gravel Bikes

Here are a few of the most prominent features of gravel bikes.

Variety

Customers can choose to have their gravel bikes built with a diversity of materials, including aluminum, carbon, titanium, and more.

Plus, the bikes will fit a wide range of components from the most renowned brands, allowing you to customize it with the most reliable parts.

Versatility

Although you wouldn’t pick these gravel bikes for casual riding specifically, they are very well capable of doing that, and more.

It’s true that a gravel bike shines the most over tricky terrains, but they serve just as right for a variety of other applications as well.

Resistant

Do you want a bike for all seasons? The gravel bike manages to work well over most surfaces, be it dry, wet, or even winter.

With highly resistant components, you’ll be safe during the most demanding activities.

Recommended Gravel Bikes to Buy

Take a look at some of the best bikes under this category.

Tommaso Siena Shimano Tourney Gravel Adventure Bike

This bike features aluminum as the frame material, which provides benefits such as durability, resistance, and lightweight.

It works flawlessly with the SST steel fork added, delivering outstanding performance.

Also, the drilled design of the frame makes it compatible with all variety of racks and fenders.

The groupset included is the 3×7 Shimano Tourney, featuring 30/39/50T Claris crankset as well as a 12x28T Tourney cassette.

These components make the bike perfect to ride over a variety of terrains, whether it is flat or hill grounds.

With 700x40c tires, you’d be able to conquer all types of terrains and more. The versatility provided is pleasant, as it tackles most surfaces with complete stability.

Additionally, the TC-20D rims feature a rugged design to keep you on the road despite the obstacles you may encounter.

The Siena also comes with the Avid BB5 disc brakes. Whether you’re riding at high or low speeds, the stopping power offered by this brake system is one of the best out there.

It guarantees a safe experience at varying speeds over different types of terrains.

Of course, having such a good set of brakes makes it possible to ride the bike on wet surfaces.

Another highlighted feature of the bike is its overall design. While sitting on it, the rider feels comfortable with arms stretched to reach the handlebar.

The geometry of the frame makes it a pleasant experience at all times.
A small nitpick would be that the shifting is a bit slow.

Fortunately, it’s barely noticeable unless you’re putting much thought into it.

Tommaso Sterrata Shimano Claris R2000 Gravel Adventure Bike

A durable bike is always the key to a successful ride. This bike offers just that: outstanding resistance due to the compact aluminum frame and carbon fiber fork combination.

These two parts alone make each of your rides feel more fun by giving you maximum vibration dampening for more comfort.

The groupset included for the build of this bike is the 3×8 Shimano Claris. It features a 30/39/50T Claris crankset and the 12x25T Claris cassette.

These are ideal for irregular terrains, as the wide range of gears offered will suit most riders’ demands.

Similar to other Tommaso bikes, this one comes with TC-30D rims. On the ground, the rim proves to be resistant and flexible, allowing riders to enjoy adventures on a variety of terrains.

Plus, the width of the 700x40c tires guarantees proper traction despite the surface’s toughness.

While all of those parts deserve credit for the bike’s success, perhaps the frame geometry is what inspires most people to consider this Tommaso bike.

The compact frame geometry, combined with the design of the handlebars, is outstanding.

Once you get to ride the bike, your body sits in a perfect, comfortable position that most bikes can’t offer. It’s particularly useful when you’re riding long distances.

Nonetheless, there is an observation you must keep in mind. For instance, the disc brake calipers prove to be quite tricky to adjust at times, which could be a little frustrating for some people. Still, it’s not an impossible task. It only requires a bit more patience to get it done.

Make sure to set everything right, and the bike will be nothing but one of the wisest investments.

Schwinn Sporterra Adventure Adult Gravel Bike

With 14 speeds available offered by the Shimano gear, which includes Shimano shifter, this bike delivers excellence above all.

Using the brake lever combo with the Shimano rear derailleur ensures quick gear changes, allowing riders to react quickly if the situation requires it.

Of course, a high-speed bike wouldn’t be a good choice without effective safety measures.

That’s why the alloy mechanical disc brakes come in handy, as they’re capable of delivering superior stopping power to get you to a halt on your commands.

Both the speed gear and the brake system already make this bike a valuable pick. However, there’s more than that.

The tires, for instance, are 700x38c multi-terrain models that provide incredible traction.

Whether you’re riding on or off the road, this bike gets you through either safely.

Adding to the bike’s resistance, you get a Schwinn aluminum gravel frame, featuring a rigid fork.

These parts are decent at what they do, guaranteeing a fun experience with less vibration. The 700c wheels are suitable for riders of 5’4†to 6’2†in height.

While many people disregard many Schwinn bikes for not being good, this one meets most expectations easily.

It’s undoubtedly better than many would expect, having a good build with high-quality parts for more versatility.

The assembly process, on the other hand, is a bit frustrating. Mostly because the instructions included are far from what you’d want.

If customers don’t know how to do it themselves, then they’d have to go to third-party sources to get proper guidelines.

Other than that small issue, consider this bike an incredible pick for the price.

Related Guide: Bicycle Rental Near Me in the USA

Hybrid Bikes

What is it about the hybrid bikes that make them so good? Here’s a summary of them.

Comfort

The biggest reason you’d want a hybrid bike is that they’re easily among the most comfortable out there.

These allow you to sit in perfect position, maintaining an upright composure in relation to your hands, legs, and back.

Incredible Look

A hybrid bike combines well the retro style while still keeping a modern look. Whether it’s for women or men, the bike ensures you’ll look great while cruising the streets.

Considerable Power and Safety

Perhaps these aren’t the most powerful out of all the bike types, but hybrids still put up a good performance with relatively high speeds.

Furthermore, the disc brakes are often the best, keeping your rides secure.

Recommended Hybrid Bikes to Buy

Now, let’s take a closer look at what these bikes have in store for us.

sixthreezero EVRYjourney Women’s 3-Speed Step

This bike is easily one of the best picks for female casual riders that enjoy comfort and fun above speed.

It’s a mix between a hybrid bike and the beach cruiser, featuring comfortable geometry to maintain your body in an upright position as you ride the roads.

Whether you’re short or tall, the bike is suitable for either one. The adjustable saddle allows you to lower the seat as much as needed while still having your legs fully stretched when pedaling.

The design of the bike is also top-notch. With different colors available that include Teal, Navy, Cream, and Mint Green; you’ll be able to find one for you.

Plus, you also get to customize the saddle, as there are brown, white, and black versions available as well.

So, women that enjoy adding their own style to the bikes will appreciate the variety of colors.

Despite not being necessarily a race bike, it still offers several speed variations to get you between locations.

Several models of this bike are available, guaranteeing you get the option to pick either a single or a multi-speed gear.

Since the assembly of the bike is pretty straightforward, people won’t have any issues during the process.

Still, make sure to check the brake adjustments. During first use, they work perfectly, but the lack of tightening on the wires may cause them to slip down.

This bike focuses on delivering a comfortable experience without the extravagancies of high-end bikes.

That’s why it’s such a good pick. If you’re a casual rider, then you probably won’t find much better options than this one.

Royce Union RMY Men’s 21-Speed Hybrid Comfort Bike

Available in different colors and sizes, this commuter bike offers superior performance with the convenience of an aluminum frame.

Not only will you get a good grip while riding, but the bike also feels lightweight and highly resistant to foreign objects.

The frame offers many more benefits, such as easy maintenance. Also, the bike’s build makes it easy to handle and maneuver, specifically in tight corners.

After months of use, the aluminum material continues to be in good shape, proving it’s capable of withstanding the toughest conditions.

Truthfully, the rest of the parts that make up this bike are simple yet effective.

The 3-speed Shimano Twist works well with the Shimano Nexus rear derailleur, enabling precise and quick shifting with a twist.

By featuring Shimano internal hub, the gear won’t get damaged from harmful dirt.

Riders will also appreciate the stopping power delivered by the lightweight alloy linear-pull brakes.

Working alongside machined alloy wheel rims, the bike has superior brake pad contact to guarantee a safe experience on the roads.

All of those components, shifting gear, brakes, and more, make the tire all-terrain.

The tires, featuring a 700c design, significantly improve rolling momentum to ensure there’s less resistance between your starting point and destination.

Some minor issues you should know about this bike have to do with the handlebar.

First, it could be tricky to install it, as many customers reported having trouble with that. Also, while riding long distances, the handlebar may feel too hard for comfort.

Fortunately, that’s the only two issues that you’d face after purchasing this bike. Over time, it gets easier.

Schwinn Wayfarer Adult Bike Hybrid Retro-Styled Cruiser

There’s something about retro bikes that instantly draw our attention to them. That’s what happens with this Schwinn bike, as it features a vintage design that doesn’t look like anything else nowadays. Due to its looks, this bike lets you ride around the streets with a unique style.

The bike is available in colors blue and black. Its frame material is steel, providing high durability to withstand regular use.

After riding it for the first time, this Schwinn bike feels lightweight and comfortable. It also helps a long way that the saddle included is actually pleasant to use.

For a more responsive performance, the bike features a Schwinn 7-Speed twist shifter, as well as the rear derailleur from the same brand.

These two components work efficiently, delivering quick gear changes on-the-go according to the riders’ demands.

The type of brake attached is the V-Brake. Both the front and rear alloy linear-pull brakes work properly, providing precise stops as soon as needed.

Although you probably won’t be reaching high speeds with this bike, it’s always nice to have effective brakes for more safety.

With 700c size wheels, adult riders between 5’4†and 6’2†will fit on the bike perfectly.

The addition of the fenders is another benefit, as they keep you protected from splashes. On the rear carrier, you’d be able to carry your items to your destination.

For the most part, the assembly of the bike is pretty easy. It’s quite likely that you may have issues with the derailleur, though.

This component has a slight twist in it, which makes the adjustments a bit difficult.

Information online will truly save you some trouble while handling the derailleur.

Gravel or Hybrid Bike?

Which one of these bikes is the better choice for you? Let’s talk about that.

Hybrid Bikes – Perfect Choice for Casual Riders and Short Commutes

If there’s a middle point to road and mountain bikes, that would be the hybrid bikes.

These take the comfy riding position of the former while having the high-quality parts, such as a light frame and fast-rolling wheels, of the latter. What you get is the perfect balance between the two.

Despite feeling somewhat heavier than the gravel bikes, the hybrid models have powerful disc brakes for a good performance in wet conditions.

Plus, the option to attach mounts to help us carry our stuff is a nice advantage that most bikes don’t have.

The disadvantage of this type of bike is that it isn’t as fast as others due to the lack of aerodynamics.

Gravel Bikes – Better for Adventurers Off-Road

With the popularity of gravel bikes on the rise, it’s clear why many people prefer it.

These are highly versatile, as they combine the looks of a road bike while having plenty of frame clearance for fitting tires of different sizes.

Because of the high tire compatibility, the bike allows you to ride over mud, gravel paths, rocks, and many more.

When compared to hybrid bikes, these are much better at handling those particularly tough terrains. Riding in winter is quite pleasant with this bike too.

Also, the variety of materials used to build the bikes is incredible; you get steel, aluminum, carbon, and even titanium gravel bikes available.

Conclusion

While choosing between gravel bike vs. hybrid, keep in mind that your intentions are the decisive factor to consider.

If you’re a casual rider, the hybrid models would be the most fitting option. For tougher applications, the gravel bikes may be the most suitable.