You have a hybrid bike and you are wondering how to make it faster?
Then you are in the right place.
Hybrid bikes are great for a lot of different reasons, but the biggest one is that they are versatile.
For commuting hybrid bikes is the number one choice among cyclists, as it allows riders to ride on rough terrain and paved roads.
But, most of the hybrid is not designed to be ridden fast, and you might be thinking is there a way to make it faster?
Absolutely yes, you can make your hybrid bike faster with these 12 tips that I will be explaining to you, and will experience the difference in speed when you apply them.
So let’s get started.
Table of Contents
12 Tips to Make Your Hybrid Bike Faster:
1 The Fitness Of The Rider:
yes, you read it right, before you start changing or upgrading your hybrid bike, first improve your fitness level.
Bicycles have only one engine which is you, so you must understand that your fitness level will determine the performance and speed of your hybrid bike.
To improve your stamina and cardiovascular fitness, ride your bike for at least 30 minutes a day at least 5 times a week, this will help you ride faster and improve your stamina.
And try other exercises too that build your cardiovascular, like running, swimming, jumping rope, etc, this will build your overall fitness level and will help you ride faster on paved roads.
If you are a professional cyclist then please ignore this tip.
2 Change Hybrid tires to slick tires:
Generally, hybrid bikes come with 700cc tires, which is good for light rough terrains, 700cc has more threads and offers more grip on rough terrains.
But, since you want to ride faster you must switch your tires to a narrower, slick and semi-slick tires, tread pattern that helps you to ride faster on paved roads.
Slick tires will reduce the rolling resistance since these tires have no threads and also it requires higher air pressures.
Check out how much tire pressure your tires have:
| Types of Tire | Types of Bikes | PSI |
| Slick | Road bikes | 80 – 120 |
| Semi-slick | Hybrid bikes, gravel bikes, | 50 – 90 |
| City tires | Hybrid bikes, cruiser bikes | 40 – 60 |
| Threaded tires | Mountain bike | 30 -50 |
3 Remove Unnecessary Components:
New hybrid bikes usually weigh around 25 to 30 pounds (11 to 14 kg), with all the other components like fenders, rack, bottle holder, and bell (if you have one).
These components add more weight to the bike, and it will slow you down.
Remove these components you will manage to decrease about 3 pounds (1.3kg) from your bike’s weight.
3 pounds makes a huge difference when it comes to speed riding.
4 Improve Gear Ratio:
In order to go faster you need more gears to shift up, it is that simple.
Most hybrid bikes come with 8 to 11 cassettes with 28 to 30 tooth and 1 or 2 chain rings in the front.
At this gear range you easily maintain an average speed of 18 mph (30km/h) on flat roads.
If you don’t have this much gear range you need to upgrade, if your main goal is to ride at a higher speed.
Gears are the most essential part of your bike, which allows you to shift up when you need more speed and to shift down when you are climbing uphill.
This 11 × 2 also allows you to find you perfect balance between speed and efficiency.
5 Upgrade Braking System:
When your main goal is to ride your hybrid at high speed then you must and should have a good braking system
Installing high-performance brakes, such as hydraulic disc brakes, it will improve stopping power at high speeds.
Not only that, when you are descending at a higher speed rim brakes don’t have enough power to slow the bike at a short distance.
Whereas, hydraulic disc brakes do a great job stopping the bike.
Speaking of maintenance, disc brakes require regular maintenance like washing and lubricating often, If you put your bike outside in the rain for a couple of days there is a high chance the disc may start to get rust.
Also, it is best to wash your bike, especially the discs because after every ride little particles of dust, sand, and mud start to build on the discs causing sound when the brake is applied.
6 Optimize the riding position:
Do you know what is the main difference between road bikes and other bikes?
It is the riding position, the road bike’s geometry makes the rider lean forward with a high seat post enabling riders to put full body power into the pedal
other bikes like hybrid bikes, mountain bikes, and cruiser bikes, these bikes’ geometry is built for comfortable riding.
The tip is to lower your handlebar and ride your seat post, when you stand next to your bike, the seat must be 1 or 2 inches higher than your waistline.
This gives room to fully extend your leg when pedaling so you maximize your power output on the pedal.
This makes a huge difference when it comes to speed riding, so don’t ignore it.
7 Switch to clipless pedals:
Clipless pedals are great for speed riding, they give you a lot more control over your bike and your pedal.
Toe strap and clipless pedals allow you to transfer power from your lower body to your pedals more efficiently, whereas clipped pedals reduce your leg rotation which results in less power.
A few downsides of the clipless pedals are:
If it is your first time using clipless pedals, you might find it difficult to remove your feet from the pedals when you are stopping, and this may cause you to fall.
Clipless pedals require specific shoes to ride, these shoes have a little lock at the bottom of the shoe which you use to clip your foot into the clipless pedals.
8 Rigid forks are better than suspension forks:
Rigid forks are front forks with no suspension, just like this.
These forks are more aerodynamic than suspension forks and can be a lot lighter than suspension forks.
Rigid forks are introduced in bikes to ride faster in long distances, and to reduce the weight of the bike, making it faster.
Rigid forks are generally lighter than suspension forks and have less weight to ride on, apart from bike design, gearing ratio, and terrain type, rigid forks are a better choice for speed than suspension forks.
9 Clean and lubricate your bike:
This tip might seem very obvious but the majority of cyclists don’t do this, and this is a great way to increase the speed of your bike.
Just like regular maintenance is required for cars and motorbikes, bikes also require regular maintenance to keep them in good condition.
Lubing your bike helps you ride much smoother which results in less wear and tear on your bike, and more efficient riding.
Don’t forget to lube your bike’s chain, cassettes, cog, and pedal edges once a month, this reduces squeaky noise and increases the speed of the bikes by being smooth and efficient.
Cleaning and lubricating often help you to get rid of rust and dirt on your bike. It increases the longevity of the bikes and gives many smothers and a faster riding experience.
10 Add Bar ends to your handlebars:
This is a long-forgotten component in bikes but it is so helpful when you are considering riding speed on your hybrid.
Bar ends provide additional hand position, allowing you to change your grip and posture. On longer rides, being able to switch between different hand placements can reduce strain on your wrists, palms, and shoulders.
Also bar ends reduce the fatigue caused by holding the same grip position for a long period of time, and having the additional component on the handlebar help you to change hand positions can reduce the strain on specific muscles and joints.
Having bar ends allows you to ride in different riding postures so you can change your riding position and handlebar reach, which can improve your comfort and riding efficiency, making your ride more enjoyable, and increasing your speed as well.
11 Wear aerodynamic clothes:
Aerodynamic clothing is a big part of being fast. Aero cloths help reduce the headwinds that you feel, allowing you to ride faster with the same effort.
Areo cloths reduce air resistance
When you’re riding your hybrid bike, your body creates a lot of drag as it moves through the air.
Think of it like pushing against a strong wind.
Aerodynamic clothing is designed to minimize this drag by fitting snugly to your body and smoothing out the airflow around you.
This means there’s less resistance holding you back, so you can cut through the air more efficiently and go faster.
Not only that, aero clothes are comfortable and fit, and these clothes are breathable, stretchy, and lightweight, which will help you push faster and stay cool at the same time.
12 Consider electric bike assistance:
Finally, you have the option to go for electric bikes, if you have a short time and long distance to cover on a daily basis, e-bikes will help you a lot.
Hybrid bikes are good too but not as helpful as electric bikes, now let’s look at some pros and cons of using electric bikes vs hybrid bikes to go faster:
Pros and cons of using electric bikes
| Pros | Cons |
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Pros and cons of using hybrid bikes
| Pros | Cons |
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As you read the pros and cons of both of these bikes, electric bikes help you to go faster and reach the destination in time, whereas hybrid bikes demand constant pedaling, and shifting of gears.
FAQs
Are hybrid bikes faster than road bikes?
Hybrid bikes are not typically faster than road bikes. Road bikes are designed specifically for speed and efficiency on paved roads, whereas hybrid bikes are more versatile and can handle a variety of terrains.
While hybrid bikes can still be fast, they are generally not able to match the speed and performance of a road bike.
The average speed of hybrid bikes?
The average speed of hybrid bikes depends on various factors such as the terrain, the cyclist’s fitness level, and gear shifting. Generally, the average speed of a hybrid bike is around 18 mph.
expensive hybrid bikes with carbon fiber frames, and forks, and which have fewer components can go much faster than 18 mph.
Are hybrid bikes faster than mountain bikes?
Hybrid bikes are not typically faster than mountain bikes. Mountain bikes are designed for off-road and rugged terrain, with features like suspension and wider tires for better control.
On the other hand, hybrid bikes are more versatile and can handle a variety of terrains, including pavement and light trails. While hybrid bikes can still be fast, they are generally not able to match the speed and performance of a mountain bike.
Conclusion
These 12 tips will make your hybrid bike faster than it was before, all the tips that are mentioned here personally I have applied to my hybrid bike and I can assure you that you will see some improvements.
Most of the time, what I have found out is that instead of thinking of changing or upgrading your hybrid bike, first, you need to change your mindset to ride longer and faster with more efficiency, ride your bike like a huge bear is chasing and pedal for your life,
Upgrading you hybrid bikes will only give you tiny results, but when you train your mindset to ride faster and maintain the same pace for a longer period of time, it will burn extra fat on your body and increase your cardiovascular health which gives big results at the end of the day.
Thank you for taking the time to read my article, hope you got something out of it, happy cycling keep pedaling.
