The 6 Best Commuter Bikes of 2021

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Riding a bike can be an excellent way to get to and from work—especially if you live in a bike-friendly area. Your daily commute could be a great opportunity for logging some exercise or simply getting outside. And even if you don’t want to ride your bike to work every day, it can be nice to switch up your routine every now and then.

Whether you’re an avid commuter cyclist or an occasional one, a solid commuter bike can make all the difference on your morning and evening rides. And since there are so many great options on offer, you can easily find one that suits all your needs and preferences—and that offers the precise blend of speed, comfort, and versatility you’re looking for.

Ahead, you’ll find the best commuter bikes on the market.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall for Men:

Schwinn Signature Men’s Fremont Hybrid Bike at Dick's

This hybrid boasts a shock-absorbing front suspension, so you can expect a smooth, comfortable ride on any terrain.

Best Budget:

Schwinn Stites Fixie Commuter Road Bike at Amazon

Promising a low-maintenance experience, the budget-friendly bike features dual alloy brakes and a single speed for simplicity.

Best for Beginners:

Decathlon Riverside 100 Hybrid Bike at Walmart

The hybrid works well in any kind of setting while the six-speed gear shifters help you confidently navigate a range of terrain.

Best Electric:

Hyper E-Ride Electric Bike at Amazon

A full charge should get you through 20 miles of motorized riding while its six speeds work to help you navigate obstacles.

Best Cruiser:

sixthreezero EVRYjourney Step-Through Hybrid Cruiser Bike at Amazon

Its step-through design makes it easy to climb on and off, and its built-in rear rack comes in handy for storage.

Best Folding:

Schwinn Loop Adult Folding Bike at Amazon

It folds down to a fraction of its size—making it a particularly great pick for small spaces and multimodal journeys.

In This Article

Our Picks
What to Look For
FAQs
Why Trust Verywell Fit?

Schwinn Signature Men’s Fremont Hybrid Bike

Pros

Shock-absorbing front suspension makes for a comfortable ride
Beginner-friendly
Can be used for off-roading as well as morning commutes

Cons

No built-in storage

Lightweight, durable, and nimble, the Schwinn Signature Fremont Hybrid Bike is an excellent option for commuters. The bike’s durable aluminum frame promises to feel sturdy, but not heavy. And since it boasts a shock-absorbing front suspension, you can expect a smooth, comfortable ride—no matter where you’re cycling.

What’s nice? Since the bike is a hybrid, it will fare just as well on an off-road trail as it will on your morning commute. Its three-speed front derailleur and seven-speed back derailleur will give you all the options you need to confidently navigate different terrain. And its front and rear linear pull brakes will help you come to smooth, reliable stops when necessary.

Height Capacity: 5 feet, 11 inches to 6 feet, 2 inches| Weight Capacity: 20 pounds | Bike Weight: 40 pounds

Pros

Lightweight
Beginner-friendly

Cons

Best for city biking and cruising
No built-in storage

The Schwinn Stites Fixie Commuter Bike is a budget-friendly bike designed with city streets and slick pavement in mind. The bike’s lightweight steel frame promises a reliable but nimble ride, and its dual alloy brakes will help you come to a stop in just about any condition.

Whereas other bikes boast complicated gear shifters and derailleurs, the Schwinn Stites Fixie Commuter Bike promises a decidedly low-maintenance experience. The bike is a single-speed—meaning you won’t have to worry about a ton of gear-shifting as you cycle. Instead, you can focus on your ride.

Height Capacity: 5 feet, 9 inches to 6 feet, 2 inches| Weight Capacity: 250 pounds | Bike Weight: 28 pounds

Pros

Lightweight
Beginner-friendly
Versatile tires are perfect for all terrain

Cons

No built-in storage

Beginners need a bike that’s comfortable and easy to ride, and the Riverside by Decathlon Hybrid Bike promises to be exactly that. The bike boasts a steel frame that feels lightweight but durable, and its handlebars are designed to keep you comfortably upright as you ride.

The bike’s six-speed gear shifters will help you confidently navigate a range of terrain, and its versatile tires promise a smooth ride—no matter where you’re cycling.

The best part? The bike is a hybrid. So you don’t have to commit to one style of cycling right off the bat. Instead, you can take your bike on your morning commute, on weekend adventures, and just about anywhere else you feel like cycling.

Height Capacity: 4 feet, 11 inches to 6 feet, 2 inches | Weight Capacity: Not listed | Bike Weight: 31 pounds

Pros

Beginner-friendly
Faster than regular bikes
Built-in storage

Cons

Needs to be recharged between uses

The Hyper E-Ride Electric Bike is a budget-friendly electric bike that will give you a little extra speed on your morning commute. The bike’s durable aluminum frame will keep you stable as you pick up speed, and its front suspension forks promise to smooth out some of the bumps in your ride—keeping you comfortable as you cycle.

Flip between the bike’s six speeds as you navigate hills and other obstacles, and flip on the motor any time you want to get to your destination a little faster.

A full charge should get you through 20 miles of motorized riding—that’s about 1 hour of ride time. And since the bike only needs 4 hours to fully recharge, you won’t have to wait too long before taking it out again.

Height Capacity: 5 feet, 4 inches–6 feet, 2 inches | Weight Capacity: 275 pounds | Weight: 50 pounds

Pros

Lightweight
Beginner-Friendly
Built-in storage
Step-through design makes it easy to get on and off

Cons

Best for city biking and cruising

If you’re looking for a smooth, easy ride, the sixthreezero EVRYjourney Step-Through Hybrid Cruiser is sure to deliver it. The cruiser boasts a lightweight aluminum frame, and its plush tires promise to keep your rides feeling smooth and comfortable every time you cycle.

Since the bike boasts a step-through design, it’s incredibly easy to climb on and off of. And its built-in rear rack will come in handy any time you need storage space. Though the bike is designed for comfortable riding, its seven-speed gear shifting makes it a surprisingly versatile pick—one you can easily take on leisurely weekend rides and long-distance commutes, alike.

Height Capacity: 5 feet to 6 feet, 4 inches | Weight Capacity: 300 pounds | Bike Weight: 39.7 pounds

Pros

Comfortable
Easy to ride
Foldable

Cons

Best for city biking and cruising
No built-in storage

The Schwinn Loop Adult Folding Bike is not your average commuter bike. Instead, it’s a solid road bike that folds down to a fraction of its size—making it a particularly great pick for small spaces and multimodal journeys.

The bike boasts a lightweight, step-through frame, and its plush tires promise a smooth, comfortable ride on slick city streets. The bike comes equipped with a seven-speed gear shifter, which you can use to confidently tackle hills and other obstacles. And its front and rear linear pull brakes will help you come to smooth, efficient stops any time you need to. These classic features make this bike a great commute companion—and its foldability is simply the cherry on top.

Height Capacity: 4 feet, 8 inches to 6 feet, 2 inches | Weight Capacity: 300 pounds | Bike Weight: 33 pounds

Final Verdict

If you want a solid commuter bike you can take elsewhere on the weekends, the Schwinn Signature Men's Fremont Hybrid Bike (view at Dick's Sporting Goods) is an excellent pick. Since the bike is a hybrid, it’s versatile enough to tackle a range of terrain. And its seven-speed gear shifter will help you nimbly navigate everything from your morning commute to an off-road adventure.

If you’d prefer a budget-friendlier—but equally versatile—option, the Decathlon Riverside 100 Hybrid Bike (view at Walmart) is a great pick. The bike promises to be lightweight, versatile, and easy to ride, making it a solid choice for most.

What to Look for in a Commuter Bike

Height Capacity:

Before you buy a bike, you should ensure you’ll feel comfortable riding it. Checking a bike’s height capacity can be a great way to do that. Most bikes comfortably accommodate riders between a select range of heights, so double-check that you fall within that range before buying.

Weight Capacity:

Some bikes are sturdier than others. To make sure a bike can support you—and all the cargo you’ll be carrying on your commute—double-check a bike’s weight capacity before buying. If you plan to bring stuff with you on your commute, you might also want to look for a built-in rear rack and other storage-friendly features.

Bike Weight:

Weight can vary a lot from bike to bike—the bikes featured here range from 26.5 to 50 pounds, for example. This may not matter a ton while you’re riding, but if you plan to carry your bike around—or toss it in your trunk—you may want to look for a lighter weight option.

FAQs

What is the difference between a road bike and a commuter bike?

Since both road bikes and commuter bikes are designed to handle slick city streets, they might seem like the same thing, but that's actually not true. Road bikes are typically optimized for speed, whereas commuter bikes are optimized for efficiency, comfort, and reliability. (You don’t just want a fast commute—you want one that’s safe and comfortable, too).

Given this, commuter bikes may be a little heavier and sturdier than road bikes. In fact, many people use hybrid bikes—which are designed to handle city streets and off-road trails—as commuter bikes. That said, some people do use a road bike as their commuter bike—it's all up to personal preference.

What to wear for bike commuting

If you want to stay comfortable and keep your clothes in tip-top shape, you probably won't want to bike to work in your workwear. Instead, you’ll want to wear athletic clothes—like a windbreaker, workout pants, and sneakers—on your commute. Store a change of clothes in a small backpack, or store one at the office. For safety, you’ll also want to top off your commute outfit with a bike helmet.

Why Trust Verywell Fit?

As a seasoned health and fitness writer, Lindsey Lanquist understands how vital quality product recommendations can be. She is careful to recommend products that are reliable, comfortable, and genuinely well-reviewed by those who’ve tried them.

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