Btwin Riverside 50 - Review

The Btwin Riverside 5 is a traditional steel bodied, hybrid bicycle. Though often heavier than alloy frames, steel frames are known to be sturdy and durable. The frame has been ergonomically designed with a lowered frame geometry enabling easier mounting and dismounting. The bicycle has been categorized as unisex by Btwin. The design of the bicycle frame allows for a comfortable and upright riding position. The bicycle has a rigid fork and is available in two sizes - Medium and Large.

The Btwin Riverside 5 is a single-speed bicycle, that is perfect for city commutes and regular short distance leisure riding. The crankset on the bicycle is a 38T x 17mm, which allows for comfortable pedalling power in a city. Climbing, even slight gradients, requires a little extra effort while pedalling. A larger crankset, say 4T might have aided this aspect slightly.

The Btwin Riverside 5 has been designed keeping simplicity in mind. The branding is clean, on the frame of the bicycle, and the model information is painted on the upper side of the top tube in neat. This bicycle is available in a single color, a matte black frame. It would have been great to see a few more color variants available of the bicycle given its simplistic design.

The Btwin Riverside 5 comes equipped with V-Brakes. The Brake levers are well placed on the handlebar to ensure comfortable reach to use them. The stopping power is adequate for a city bicycle, and is sufficient to bring the bicycle to a complete stop without requiring extra effort. However, I feel that in wet riding conditions, the breaking might not be as responsive. The plastic brake levers were slightly flimsy, especially compared to what one is used to from Btwin.The semi-raised, 62mm wide handlebar on this bicycle ensures supreme control when on the saddle. Additionally, a wide handlebar allows for an ‘open-chested’, comfortable riding position.It also allows for easy maneuvering in crowded riding conditions.

The Btwin Riverside 5 is equipped with Btwin 7x42C tires that are fast rolling and lightly threaded. They are slightly broader than traditional tires on hybrids, but this is considerably helpful on rugged and bumpy roads. The Btwin Sport 1 Ergofit saddle is made using foam. The saddle is soft ensuring a comfortable ride. The saddle will be comfortable for city commuting as well as leisure riding on a regular basis. Longer duration rides, over an hour long, might have the one feel slight discomfort on the sit bones. Overall, a good bicycle for city roads and usage, however it's categorization as a hybrid bicycle is questionable.