The speed of a road bike and the comfortable riding position of a mountain bike—those are just a few reasons to love a hybrid bike. Fortunately, you have plenty of options if you find yourself wanting one. In this article, we’ll talk about the budget-friendly Raleigh Bikes Alysa 1 Women’s Fitness Hybrid Bike.
Table of Contents
Features and Specifications
Female-Specific Frame
The melon-colored frame is made of aluminum alloy (AL-6061) and custom formed butted tubing to reduce weight and for durability. The top tube slopes down steeply (step-through design), so you can easily get in and out of the bike.
The Raleigh Bikes Alysa 1 Women’s Fitness Hybrid Bike is available in three frame sizes:
- The small frame is for riders who are 5’3” to 5’5” tall and has a standover height (distance from the ground to the top tube) of 735 millimeters.
- The medium frame is for riders who are 5’5 to 5’7” tall and has a standover height of 735 millimeters.
- The large frame is for riders who are 5’7” to 5’10” tall and has a standover height of 815 millimeters.
Kenda Kwick Tendril Tires
Ride the Alyssa 1 everywhere around the city: to work, to school, to the park, to run errands, or just for pure fun. This fitness hybrid bike is equipped with the Kenda Kwick Tendril (700x35c) tires, which offers enough width and tread to grip on dirt trails, bike trails, and surfaced roads.
Kenda’s Standard Rubber Compound (SRC) provides low rolling resistance, extreme durability, and long tread life span. Meanwhile, the Iron Cap (ICA) under the tread stops you from getting a flat tire.
Women’s Flat Bar with Raleigh Comfort Grips
Like a true hybrid bike, Raleigh Bikes Alysa 1 Women’s Fitness Hybrid Bike has a flat and wide handlebar with a 15-millimeter rise, which offers stability and comfort for rides on paved surfaces and smooth dirt paths. But if you have short arms, a wide handlebar might not be a good idea.
21-Speed Fitness Bike
This hybrid bike will help get where you need to go, with the benefit of a 21-speed gear system. With different gears to choose from, you can comfortably ride through various terrains at different speeds—ride fast on the flat and cycle up hills better.
Technical Details
- Bike weight: 26 pounds
- Handlebar width: 640 millimeters
- Seatpost: Alloy micro adjust suspension (27.2 x 350 millimeters)
- Brakes: Tektro Alloy BX1V V-Brake and Tektro brake levers
- Spokes: 14-gauge stainless steel spokes with brass nipples
- Front and rear hubs: Joytech alloy QR 36-hole
- Chain: KMC Z51
- Cogset: 7-speed Megarange (14-34 teeth)
- Front and rear derailleurs: Shimano Tourney
- Crankset: Suntour 28/38/48 teeth with guard
- Fork: Cantilever steel fork with integrated crown
- Bottom bracket (connects the crankset to the bike): Sealed cartridge 68/122
The Good
Fast and Light
The Raleigh Bikes Alysa 1 Women’s Fitness Hybrid Bike is a lightweight bike. This is one of the main reasons some people buy it. Its light weight and multiple gears would be advantageous when you’re tackling steep hills.
More Gears, More Efficient Rides
Hybrid bikes, like the FIRTH SPORTS Nadine SE Women’s Aluminum Step-Thru City Bike, usually have seven to eight speeds. In most cases, they’re enough for most urban riders who ride mostly on a level ground or want an occasional leisure ride when summer comes around.
The Raleigh Bikes Alysa 1 Women’s Fitness Hybrid Bike can handle the hills well. However, since it’s light, you need to consider the weather in the area you’re planning to ride through.
Not Difficult to Assemble
Despite the poorly written user manual, you can easily put together this hybrid bike. It already comes with the tools you need. Depending on your bike knowledge and skills, you’ll be riding this within thirty minutes to an hour.
Whether you want to go uphill or go fast on a level ground, the Raleigh Bikes Alysa 1 Women’s Fitness Hybrid Bike will do the job for you.
The Bad
No Standard Air Pump
The tire valve stem of this bike is not the usual type. It also doesn’t help that it doesn’t come with a standard air pump. As you may already know, the right pressure, which is 30 TPI (threads per inch) for this bike, will markedly affect your comfort and how the bike rides and handles.
Low and Wide Handlebar
This isn’t exactly a bad thing. Wide handlebars have their upsides: better control of the front wheel, better positioning for balance, and allows easier breathing. On one hand, they have their downsides, like clearance issues and increasing your risk of injury (particularly to the shoulder joint).
The best width for the handlebar is a matter of personal preference. We’re not trying to dictate what handlebar width you should have on your bike, but if you prefer narrower handlebars, try the Raleigh Bikes Alysa 3 Women’s Urban Fitness Bike.
Lacks Some Bike Accessories
The Raleigh Bikes Alysa 1 Women’s Fitness Hybrid Bike doesn’t come with a kickstand. Although it says on the product description that it includes full fenders and racks mounts, there were a few customers who complained that they didn’t receive them.
Looking for a good-quality hybrid bike that’s equipped with partial fenders, a kickstand, and a rear cargo rack? They’re a bit difficult to find, but you might want to check out the Retrospec Venus Dutch Step-Thru City Comfort Hybrid Bike.
Who Is It For?
The Raleigh Bikes Alysa 1 Women’s Fitness Hybrid Bike is marketed to women because of its step-through frame design, but men can also use it (if they prefer). If you love the idea of a bike that has the key features of a road bike and a mountain bike, then this is for you.
Conclusion
The Raleigh Bikes Alysa 1 Women’s Fitness Hybrid Bike is one of your best choices for a female-specific, fitness hybrid bike under $500. It’s fast, light, easy to assemble, and works well on both flat and inclined roads. We can’t say how it would hold up after a few years of use, but it seems durable.
Light, fast, and simple to use—the appeal of the Raleigh Bikes Alysa 1 Women’s Fitness Hybrid Bike doesn’t end there. Try it today!