Cross bikes were originally created to combine the benefits of both road and mountain bikes. Their large, cushioned seats and upright handlebars provide a comfortable riding position and are best suited for casual riding around the neighborhood, bike paths, short-distance commuting as well as going on errands in the city. They can be ridden on paved roads, but are not as light and efficient as road bikes. They are ideal for both paved and unpaved bike trails, but are not suitable for rough off-road bike trails. The tires are usually medium width with a semi-smooth tread to provide a fairly smooth ride on sidewalk and give enough grip and cushioning on unpaved trails. Most hybrid bikes have front suspension cushioning to smooth out small bumps, but some are fully rigid.

Buy a cross bike if: your main use of the bike will be commuting and/or riding around town and occasionally riding off-road.

Do not buy a cross bike if: you need a bike to fully indulge in high-speed riding on paved roads or to ride mountain bike trails as efficiently as possible.

Trek is a manufacturer and distributor of bikes and dedicated bicycle products under brands such as Trek, Electra, Bontrager and Diamant Bikes. Previously, Trek also manufactured bikes under the Gary Fisher, LeMond, Klein and Villiger Bikes brands. Trek is based in Waterloo, Wisconsin. Their bikes are sold through 1,700 independent bike stores in North America, subsidiaries in Europe, Asia, and South Africa, and distributors in 90 countries around the world. The majority of Trek bicycles are now manufactured outside the United States, in countries such as the Netherlands, Germany, Taiwan and China.