Nanci's right: longer ride.

I love my Navigator. The upright position meant I didn't have shooting pains in my shoulders like I did with the road bike. It also meant my thighs didn't hit my stomach as I pedalled. The seat didn't hurt my butt. After half an hour on our road bike on the trainer my butt hurt so much the couch was uncomfortable and I sat on old dishtowels each time I rode it for the rest of the winter. However, don't be stupid like me -- get yourself a pair of padded shorts if you don't get a comfort seat. Or buy an add-on seat. I also don't like hard-tails (no shock absorber in the seat post); when 200 pounds hits that seat post ...

I can hunch over to get better performance out of myself on the comfort bike, although I could get even better on another bike. I'm not a speed demon, although I do blow past every weekend rider when I'm out at my amazing speed of 11 miles an hour.

The stupid lowered top bar (you know, the change to the frame that screams girl's bike!) on the Navigator WSD makes it impossible to have a second bottle cage on the seat post.

Other people on the forum (Queen? CorsairMac?) started with a Navigator and quickly upgraded. It could be that part of my love is that it's my first bike that's all my own.

So, do like Nanci says and take them for longer test rides. How's your butt feel? Your shoulders?

--SJ