Hybrid bikes, Commuter bikes or city bikes as they're also known, are essentially a mixture between road bikes and mountain bikes. They give you the versatility to do a bit of everything. What you sacrifice in terms of speciality, you gain by being able to do what you want, when you want.

Defining characteristics: Hybrid bikes have flat handlebars instead of drop handlebars. Some models have front suspension to cushion bumps in the road or on the track, and others don't. They're designed with versatility and comfort in mind, so they have the comfortable riding position of mountain bikes but with slicker, narrower tyres. The tyres can be changed for more offroad tyres if you want to do a bit of off-roading, or slicker tyres if you're commuting on tarmac, or something in between.

Get a hybrid bike if: Your main use for the bike will be commuting and/or knocking about town, as well as occasionally going off road or mountain biking.

Don't get a hybrid bike if: You want to go full lycra and ride as fast as possible on roads, or tear down mountain bike trails as dexterously as possible.