Marin has since revamped the frame to make the bike more stable and possibly less sprightly (we couldn’t detect a difference when we rode it). When we first tested this bike, it earned extra credit for its well-designed aluminum frame, which provided more-agile handling and zippier acceleration than the competition. Our top pick, the Marin Fairfax 1, ticks most of the boxes on our hybrid-bike checklist: durable-enough components, a chrome-moly steel fork that’s forgiving on potholes and rough city streets (and of higher quality than the high-tensile steel forks used on many other, pricier bikes), rack and fender mounts, and hill-friendly gearing (including a rear cassette, rather than a cheaper and outdated freewheel cogset). ( Bike Index, a nationwide nonprofit registry, maintains a list of stolen bikes.) Don’t help bike thieves profit from their misdeeds.

One point that we’d like to underline: No matter where you end up buying a used bike, ask the seller for the bike’s serial number so that you can see if the bike has been reported stolen. (The Pro’s Closet specializes in higher-end bikes-that is, those costing at least $1,500 when new-and gives the bikes an inspection and a tune-up before selling them.) Sites such as BicycleBlueBook and The Pro’s Closet sell used bikes both require sellers to provide serial numbers for the bikes. Or consider getting a used bike-we have advice on how to buy secondhand gear, including bikes, online without being scammed. We are seeing discounts on bikes this summer, so it’s worth shopping around for a deal. However, the list prices that rose during that time generally haven’t come down, at least not permanently. These days, global supply chains have mostly recovered from their pandemic-related problems, and many bike companies are now facing inventory gluts rather than shortages. It provides a stable, comfortable ride on city streets, and it’s a better value now than when we first tested it.

Over the past six years, we’ve spent 60 hours sifting through nearly 75 options, test-ridden more than a dozen bikes, and concluded that the Marin Fairfax 1 is the best hybrid for most people. If you’re seeking a bike for your daily commute and your weekend exercise, a fitness hybrid-that is, a road bike with flat handlebars-may be the right choice.

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