Commuting in heavy traffic is one of the most tedious parts of going to work if the distance you are supposed to ride is long. Then again, you can make your daily commute some sort of an adventure by opting for one of the most popular hybrid commuter bikes in the market, The L-Train best commuter bike by Brilliant Bicycles. This bike is not only an eco-friendly way to travel in a concrete jungle like New York City but also great for those who do not have the time to hit the gym but need some exercise.
If you are wondering what a Hybrid bike is, it is not like the regular bike that requires you to look for paths that are pedestrian and traffic-free to ride, this bike will enable you to travel hassle-free across the city and beyond. The best part is that you can ride the L-Train best commuter bike on any terrain either in the city or on the mountainside.
Well, if you are wondering whether these men’s hybrid bikes would take half of the balance away from your bank account significantly, then you don’t need to worry about it. With the substantial growth in the online market, you can find several incredible hybrid bikes with full options for less than USD 1000. And one of the Best Hybrid Bikes for beginners you can find in nearby stores or even online sites is the L-Train best commuter bike by Brilliant Bicycles.
L-Train best commuter bike by Brilliant Bicycles Co
No matter what time of the year you are in a big city like New York, for instance, you usually come across people cycling from Brooklyn to Manhattan. And, you will be surprised to find out that more than a quarter of them are opting to ride one of the best hybrid bikes under $1000 – the L-Train best commuter bike by Brilliant Bicycles Co.
Being started in April 2019, the subway services in New York City have been suspended in Manhattan for construction after the damages caused by Hurricane Sandy. This situation dramatically funneled the surge in demand for hybrid bikes for sale in most east coast cities in the U.S. Now, it has become a mandate for most travelers to make the healthier choice and opt to commute across the city with the bicycles such as the L-train which is popular among young urban professionals in New York City.
Technical Specs of L-Train best commuter bike
- Weight of the Bike: 27 lbs.
- The maximum load capacity of the Bike: 275 lbs.
- Suitable height of the Rider: 5’2” to 6’2”.
- Brakes: Shimano V-Brakes.
- Tires: 700c*32.
- Sizes: Three – Small (29.5 inches inseam), Medium (30.5 Inches inseam) Large (31.5 inches inseam).
- Fasteners and Spokes Material: Stainless steel.
- Frame Material: Chromoly Steel with Double Butted Tubing.
- Tire Clearance: 32mm (1.26 inches) for the tires and 45 mm (1.77 inches) for the racks and fenders.
Features
Double Butted Chromoly Frame and Fork
Obviously, the bike is the preferred choice for most New Yorkers and other young urban professionals, it is undeniable that the L-Train commuter bike offers both durability and strength. The Brilliant Bicycle Co. has chosen the rigid and robust Chromoly Steel as the mainframe. The material not only renders this best hybrid bicycle strong and long-lasting but is also light enough not to cause any fatigue to cyclists during pedaling.
The tubing of the frame is quite impressive too as the brilliant bicycles Co. intentionally designed it as a double-butted type. It ensures that only both ends of the tubes are thick enough to maintain the balance during the ride and the bike can also withstand any pressure while rolling on the uneven terrain. The Brilliant Bicycle has decided not to build the frame on a uniform thickness because the bike will be likely to carry more weight than it’s supposed to.
A 7-Speed Shimano Gear and Carbon Belt Drive
Even though the L-train bike is originally designed as a hybrid commuter bike, it is not exactly built for off-road riding purposes. Its impressive 7-Speed Shimano Nexus Internal Hub gear does perform well when riding through some harsh terrains. Most of the time you can enjoy pedaling your bike to cross the bridge, climb uphill, and to moderately descending down the slope. Then again, you may easily fall in love with the standard double chain setup for longer handling and steeper climbing.
The Gates Carbon belt drive is best to move the bike forward and gives it a longer service life as compared to other similar components that might not prove effective enough. Additionally, riding the L-Train commuter bike is almost completely soundless, and requires little maintenance. Speaking of the weight, you will be able to ride with impressive speed without much effort because of its lightweight.
Apart from the above-mentioned features and specifications, the main factor that makes the L-train hybrid commuter bike become one of the most perfect urban bikes is its quality parts. Each of them is designed with utmost perfection in mind. Also, it arrives in an almost pre-assembled stage at your doorstep so that you don’t have to spend hours going through the instruction manual to assemble it from the beginning.
The shades of the bike such as the River Blue and Subway Grey are inspired by the Subway logo and the Hudson River respectively. As we know, both of these aspects of the Big Apple are iconic and it is the better choice the Brilliant Bicycles Co. could have done.
Moreover, the L-Train best commuter bike is a grease-free, low-maintenance bike that can take you thousands of miles across the city without requiring any extra service. The FSA threaded Headset allows the cyclist to ride comfortably and safely. Furthermore, the Shimano V Brakes enhance the safety of the bike by providing a precise stop when you want to take a halt.
The Pros and Cons
- 7-speed gears work incredibly well for an uphill ride which requires some strength.
- Double-butted tube frame helps the bike run smoothly, tacking most of the hustle-bustle of the city.
- The Chromoly frame ensures the bike lasts longer.
- The steel alloy serves as a strong frame to save the bike from any wear and tear.
- A bike can be customized to add a basket at the front, the rear for a rack, and a water bottle cage.
- It is expected to have some flaws in terms of its parts.
- Steel material is heavier than its carbon fiber counterparts.
- Cable gear doesn’t work well when planning to make a move backward.
- Some parts are reported missing when delivered.
- The price is still pretty high for a budget bike.
Hybrid Commuter Bike Buying Guide
For those who wonder how you can decide whether the L-Train best commuter bike may fulfill all the expectations or not, here are a few criteria you can use to justify if a bike is qualified as one of the Best Hybrid Bikes Under $1000.
1Wheel size
An acceptable size of a hybrid bike wheel should be between 32c and 42c. This size increases the surface contact of the tires so that they can hold on to the ground better regardless of any terrain you are riding. The best hybrid bikes should equip with the strongest and widest wheels.
2Shifting Gears
The type of shifting gears in any bike should match with the terrain you frequently ride. While the one who is living on the uphill road might opt for more gears so that they can pedal the bike with much ease, on the other hand, most cyclists are likely to depend less on gear shifting speed if they usually do the cycling on flat roads in the city.
3Suspension Fork
Suspension forks usually add up weight to the bike. Unlike mountain bikes that equip with both front and rear suspension, hybrid bikes, on the other hand, employ only front suspension or even none in some models. Additionally, I highly recommended buying a hybrid commuter bike with suspension fork equipped so that you can cruise on the uneven surfaces with much ease.
However, the suspension fork is likely to cause the cycling across the city tougher than the ordinary bike without one because you have to carry more load on your bike due to the weight of the suspension fork itself. Therefore, it is advisable to look for a bike with a lightweight frame.
4Brakes
Hybrid commuter bikes can either come with disc brakes or rim brakes. While the disc brake has recently become more popular and works extremely more efficiently than the rim brake, the cost of maintenance is usually high. Furthermore, the rim brake works fine for a daily commute. Furthermore, you can easily replace the pad as soon as it becomes worn out.
5Frame Materials
There are three types of materials for frames – aluminum, steel, and carbon fiber. While aluminum is strong and affordable, it is not as rigid as steel. On the other hand, steel can add up more weight on your bike. Therefore, steel might not be the best option for women who are looking for the best lightweight women’s hybrid bikes.
If you have more budget at your disposal, you may opt for carbon fiber material which is both strong and lightweight. Then again, carbon fiber is expensive and it is extremely hard to find a budget hybrid bike built with a carbon fiber frame unless you will go for a used hybrid bike instead.
6Handle Bar Shape
The handlebars of hybrid bikes are usually flat and in a more relaxed position so that one can apply a full grip on them to ride for long hours without much fatigue.
Best Hybrid bikes for women usually come with adjustable handlebars and seats for the cyclist to easily fit in.
7Accessories
If you plan to ride on a regular basis, then it is advisable to look for a hybrid commuter bike that allows you to customize it with more accessories lineups such as a rack or a fender. While a fender provides protection for your tires from unnecessary wear and tear from the edges, on the contrary, a rack offers you more space to store your pieces of stuff on your best commuter bike as you are commuting to work or home.
The Final Verdict
The L-Train best commuter bike by Brilliant Bicycles Co. is a hybrid comfort bike essentially designed for riding pleasure in cities. People who are looking for a convenient option to commute across the city can also use this bike for everyday rides. This choice would turn out well for them because the bike offers a smooth and fast ride. Also, it can effectively tackle the city’s heavy traffic as well. Not only does the bike do well on any flat terrains, but it can also cruise on a slightly uphill slope or uneven dirt roads as well. Therefore, those who are living in such areas may consider buying the L-Train hybrid commuter bike without having to look further for any expensive models such as the electric bike.
Finally, the L-Train best commuter bike is a feasible bike for regular commuters at an affordable price. The quality of frame, gears, positioning of handlebars, and the possibility of adding accessories is certainly a plus for this bike.
However, there is some drawback that we should address. The paddles do not perform well backward which can cause trouble for many novice cyclists. In addition, the 7-speed gear support is not steady enough to assist you through harsh terrains, even though it does well on cruising through the slopes.
Overall, the L-Train hybrid commuter bike is reliable, efficient, and budget-wise. This bike deserves to be one of the best hybrid bikes under $1000 I have recommended so far. If you are looking for an ideal bike for a daily commute in the city, this bike is definitely not the one to miss.
