When all-terrain mountain bikes were becoming a popular alternative to the road bike back in the 1980's, many people found that, although a mountain bike was a good, versatile bicycle, they did most of their riding on pavement and well maintained gravel bike paths. Mountain bikes have heavy frames and wide, knobby tires that can handle rough trails and mud, but are somewhat cumbersome on the street. Road bikes on the other hand, have narrow tires ,light frames, and down-turned handlebars, and are much more nimble on the street but aren’t meant to handle riding off curbs, pounding over potholes and broken pavement, and unpaved sections that are frequently encountered in everyday riding.

Some bicyclists don’t need the full capabilities of a mountain bike and the road bike is focused on pure street riding. The hybrid bike was created to bridge this gap. A high quality Cadillac hybrid bike will have tires with a low drag, smooth tread pattern in the center, yet is wider and more knobby than a street tire to handle softer terrain and sharp-edged bumps. Cadillac hybrid bikes also have comfortable ergonomics with wide, upright handlebars that give good leverage to enhance safety and maneuverability when riding in less than ideal conditions. Hybrid bikes often have a number of other innovative features such as suspension forks that can be locked when riding on smooth roads, 24 speeds, and pedals with clips on just one side.

Often times a hybrid bike is the best choice for commuting and town riding, as hybrid bikes can handle most obstacles that will be encountered in this type of use, and yet, the bike will still be comfortable enough on longer trips and all day rides.

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