Whether tackling steep and bumpy mountain trails or a rugged urban landscape, a hybrid bicycle offers the best in comfort and stability of any bicycle on the market today. A hybrid bike combines the agility and sturdiness of a mountain bike with the sleeker, faster design of a road bike, allowing regular commuting and fitness riders to take to the off road lifestyle with ease.
Hybrid enthusiasts are looking for lighter weight, more agile and faster bikes. All aluminium frames, suspension that can take the daily punishment of potholes and rocky terrain, and a wide range of gears are must-have’s in any hybrid bike. Additional equipment such as bags, racks, and other accessories are a must as well.
While many manufacturers have created some of the best hybrid bikes on the market, few have managed to do it for under $700. Schwinn, Topeak, Diamondback, Marin, and Raleigh are just a few of the manufacturers that have been able to dominate the field when it comes to offering quality women’s hybrid bikes for under $700.
Schwinn Crest Urban Women’s Hybrid Bike
The Schwinn name is synonymous with quality and performance and the Crest Urban Women’s Hybrid bike is no exception. This bike offers riders the ultimate in comfort, utilizing a Suntour front suspension fork for navigating comfortably through busy city streets or rugged mountain terrain. The inclusion of the SRAM 21-gear shifters means that the rider is fully equipped to handle flat or hilly rides with ease. The 700cc rims offers the stability, traction, and sturdiness of mountain bike tires with the speed of a road bike.
A few consumers have voiced disappointment with the grip shifter, preferring a trigger shifter instead. However, the overall consensus is that this is a great product and value for the price. It’s no wonder this bike received 4.5 out of 5 stars from Amazon.
The Schwinn Crest Urban Women’s Hybrid Bike can be purchased from Amazon for $290.
Diamondback Vital 2 LX Women’s Hybrid Bike
If you are looking for an efficient road bike but don’t want to leave the comfort of a mountain bike behind then look no further. The Diamondback Vital 2 LX Women’s Sport Hybrid Bike combines the simplicity of their Vital 1 design and the performance of their Vital 3 design to create a comfortable, yet powerful women’s specific bicycle. Like the Schwinn Crest Urban Hybrid Bike, the Vital 2 offers a lightweight all-aluminum frame and Suntour suspension fork. In addition to this, the Vital 2 includes Shimano Easy Fire shifters, a sealed cartridge bottom bracket, Promax linear brakes, and a DB Deluxe hybrid double density base seat with coil spring. The smooth rolling 700cc rims make this bike perfect for commuting, event riding, and personal fitness both on and off the pavement.
The Diamondback Vital 2 LX Women’s Sport Hybrid Bike can be purchased through Amazon for around $300.
Diamondback Clarity 1 Performance Women’s Hybrid Bike
Comfort and speed is the name of the game when it comes to the Diamondback Clarity 1 Performance Hybrid Bike. This bike packs a punch. The heat treated all aluminum frame is fused with the straight blade fork offering the best in aerodynamics, and high performance 700cc tires makes this bike as fast as it looks. The Shimano shifters allow riders to fly through the gears with ease.
Some users have voiced concern with the quality of the wheels on this model with several reporting the tires rubbing against the brake pads; however most have been able to resolve the issue by making some minor adjustments. Overall, this bike is touted as a great value for the price, receiving 4 out of 5 stars in customer satisfaction
The Diamondback Clarity 1 Performance Hybrid Bike can be purchased from Amazon for $330.
2010 Raleigh Venture 3.0 Women’s Hybrid Bike
The 2010 Raleigh Venture 3.0 Women’s Hybrid Bike takes comfort to a whole new level. The Suntour 4100 suspension fork takes the bumps and jarring out of riding on pavement. The 21 speed Shimano trigger shifters allow riders to adjust gearing with ease allowing riders to climb steep hills with ease. And the platform pedals allow riders to enjoy riding no matter what shoes they prefer. The Venture also offers a suspension seatpost and Avenir comfort saddle, not common in other manufacturer’s offerings.
REI takes owning this bike to the next level by offering a free warranty tune up to keep this bike running at peak performance.
The 2010 Raleigh Venture 3.0 Women’s Hybrid Bike can be purchased from REI for $379.
Novara Jaunt XX Women’s Hybrid Bike
The Novara Jaunt XX Women’s Hybrid Bike is a fresh perspective on an older design. The Jaunt is the perfect hybrid for older riders or new enthusiasts. The upright design reduces stress and fatigue on the arms and back, making this the ideal commuter and recreational bike. Novara offers its Best Foot Forward design that moves the crank forward and the 26” rims coupled with wide tires allows for the ultimate in slow speed turn stability and comfort.
As with all other REI bicycle offerings, this bike comes with a free warranty tune up to keep it operating at peak efficiency.
The Novara Jaunt XX Women’s Hybrid Bike can be purchased from REI for $429.
GT Traffic 3.0 Steo-Through Women’s Hybrid Bike
The GT Traffic 3.0 Step-Through Women’s Hybrid Bike is the perfect solution for the urban warrior. This bike offers agile handling, tough construction and dependable performance that make it the perfect bike for navigating city landscapes.
One of the main features that separates this bike from the competition is the reflective paint, which offers unparalleled visibility on the road in both day and nighttime conditions. The direct pull brakes allow riders to quickly slow down to avoid traffic or other road hazards.
The GT Traffic 3.0 Step-Through Women’s Hybrid Bike can be purchased from REI for $479.
Marin Redwood Women’s Hybrid Bike
The Marin Redwood Women’s Hybrid Bike offers sleek styling along with superior comfort and function. The Spinner front shock and suspension seat post make riding through the city a breeze. The handlebars and seat stem are fully adjustable, allowing the rider full control over the ride height and position reducing rider fatigue and uncomfortable pressure on the wrists and hands. The suspension seat stem coupled with the signature Marin comfort saddle makes riding this bike 5 miles or 50 miles a snap. REI Customers gave this bike 5 out of5 stars.
The Marin Redwood Women’s Hybrid Bike can be purchased from REI for $529.
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