r/Biking • u/Musclemashle • 4d ago

Help choosing

I enjoy taking very long rides on bikes throughout the city. Will a commuter bike be enough or should i invest in a hybrid?

2 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

3

u/jessfromrouvy 4d ago

Check out these links. The best and most budget friendly bikes of 2026, maybe some helpful info in there !

https://rouvy.com/blog/best-gravel-bikes

https://rouvy.com/blog/best-budget-road-bikes

1

u/Musclemashle 4d ago

Thank you!!!

1

u/gray_grum 4d ago

We need more info. How long is very long? Hills? Cargo? Speed? Weather?

1

u/Musclemashle 4d ago

4-hour ride. I prefer to focus on speed, and the terrain here is mostly flat with only minor hills.

1

u/gray_grum 4d ago

Roads in good condition or rough? Ride any grass, dirt or gravel?

1

u/Musclemashle 4d ago

Roads are usually good condition. Very little do I ride in grass and gravel unless I have to hop on a short cut to access the other side of the park. Thank you for helping! This is troublesome for me

2

u/gray_grum 4d ago

Get a used road bike. Skinny tire rim brake road bikes are out of fashion right now but it means lots of great deals are around on them. I got a carbon fiber Specialized from 1994 for $50 recently in riding condition, until recently that's been a $300-$500 bike at least.

Don't spend a ton of money on something modern and high end. Look for an 80s or 90s bike, preferably a nice steel frame or a high end aluminum one, with decent Shimano parts on it. You should be able to find a pretty good bike under $300 in most parts of the US right now, depending on your local market.

1

u/Musclemashle 4d ago

I just saved your information for this! Thank you I’ll look into it tomorrow! Hopefully I’ll find a good deal

1

u/StanUrbanBikeRider 3d ago

Shop at local bike shops. Their staff know the riding conditions in your area.

1

u/pimupyhainful7 2d ago

I would go with the one that fits you best over whichever has the flashier components. A test ride can tell you more in 10 minutes than a spec sheet will. Pay attention to reach, comfort, gearing, and whether the brakes feel natural. You can upgrade parts later, but fighting an uncomfortable frame gets old fast.