GIANT TOUGHROAD SLR 2

RRemember the ‘hybrid’ bike, back in the early 2000s? It was usually a road bike with upright geometry and a flat bar like a mountain bike, aimed at people who found the stooped-over position of a road bike uncomfortable. Hybrids were inherently uncool, though, and seemed to vanish when dropbar gravel bikes started gaining prominence.

But who cares about being cool? The ToughRoad revisits the hybrid concept, with some notable improvements that give it more of a gravel bias: huge tyre clearance, hydraulic disc brakes, a D-Fuse seatpost that smooths out bumps, and integrated rack mounts front and rear.

You can ride to a seaside café for brunch, or you can bomb along the Braamfontein Spruit. You can even clip on some panniers and go bike-packing for the weekend.

Freedom!