Afraid to get back on

[vj_pdx]

Hey Renee - A comfort bike is just marketing talk. Here's what one web site says:

Not quite a Mountain Bike, and not quite a Road Bike, the Comfort bikes have one goal in mind - "Comfort." ... These are excellent for riding around the city, campus and town, as well as for commuting purposes. ... These bikes are made to be ridden on roads, bike paths, and can be ridden on some light trails. Comfort Bicycles are designed to give you a more upright riding position, reducing strain on your neck and back.

You should get the bike that makes you want to ride it and that helps you accomplish your goals. That's a combination of looks, function, comfort.

Last year, I got a Townie (a comfort-cruiser). I love the looks, I love the comfort, I get lots of attention riding it. I got it because I wanted to really start riding my bike regularly, and with the Townie, I do. Now, I'm looking to get another bike, a road/utility bike, because my commute home has hills, and the Townie doesn't do well on them. (Though I can't bear the thought of giving up the Townie for errands around the neighborhood!)

(Does this make Townie a gateway bike?

You go, Renee! Hope this helps!

[Grog]

Many others have raised an interesting point that I'd like to underline:

It's very possible that, after riding a bike like a "comfort" bike for a while, especially if it's a decently good one (not a cheap bike from Walmart for example), you'll be hooked and you'll want to get a different bike, a faster bike, etc. (Which will be more expensive, I'm afraid to say...) It's not clear how long this process will take you, but it's quite certain that it will happen.

We are in quite different situations, but my story will give you a hint of what might happen to you eventually. In my case, I had my hybrid (which was a "performance", a trusty Trek 7100 fx, not a "comfort", but the difference is not that huge) for about 2 months before I wanted a road bike. I got the hybrid because I didn't feel very confident riding in the racier position at first. I had been riding beater bikes all my life and the step to a $1000 road bike was quite steep. But I got hooked to speed and wanted MORE of it pretty quickly. I also became a hill-eater, but that's another story.

Despite the fact that I nearly regretted getting the hybrid in the first place, because I "grew" out of it pretty quickly, I think it was the best idea for me. I started with a bike that suited my level of skills, ability, comfort and confidence. That hooked me to cycling. If I had gotten a bike that was racier to begin with, maybe I would have been too uncomfortable to really ride it, and I wouldn't have been hooked.

Bottom line: Get a bike that you're really comfortable on, that you feel confident riding. This will help you build skills and above all confidence. But also be prepared to want to upgrade to a different bike in a few months. That's okay. Start saving now though.

[Geonz]

And if feet-on-the-ground really makes a difference to you, be sure to check out the Breezer bikes, which are designed to fit right but still let you do that. http://www.breezerbikes.com/bikes.cfm

[mimitabby]

When looking at the comfort bikes in the store, pick them up. that's the weight that you will be pushing down the road.

There's a great range of weights between those comfort bikes and the mountain bikes and the hybrid bikes and the road bikes. There's a happy medium for everyone I think.

A lot of those "comfort" bikes have horrendous huge seats on them. I wonder how those work out.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

A lot of those "comfort" bikes have horrendous huge seats on them. I wonder how those work out.

I rode on one of those big puffy pillow seats last weekend on a borrowed bike. After one hour my a** was in terrible pain, after two hours it went numb. No THANKS!!! Was releived to get back on a "normal" seat with just a small amount of padding. My new bike is ordered, and it will have a simple Brooks leather saddle on it. Can't WAIT!!!!!

[Bikingmomof3]

Despite the fact that I nearly regretted getting the hybrid in the first place, because I "grew" out of it pretty quickly, I think it was the best idea for me. I started with a bike that suited my level of skills, ability, comfort and confidence. That hooked me to cycling. If I had gotten a bike that was racier to begin with, maybe I would have been too uncomfortable to really ride it, and I wouldn't have been hooked.

Bottom line: Get a bike that you're really comfortable on, that you feel confident riding. This will help you build skills and above all confidence. But also be prepared to want to upgrade to a different bike in a few months. That's okay. Start saving now though.

Thank You! I have been beating myself up for spending $350 on a bike I already want to change. You are right. Had I, a terrified beginner, started on a road bike (yikes, I priced them) I would probably not be confident as I am now. I shall take this year to continue building endurance, skills, and confidence. It will also give me time to save and learn much more about bike, so when I do upgrade I make certain I know what I am getting.