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Beginners Guide To A Comfort Bike: What Is It And How Would It Benefit You?
Jeremy Pollack
Updated On: May 27, 2021
Biking is an incredible, low-impact way to get in shape and see your community. Though it can get you fit, keep you fit, get you places, keep you happy, but there is nothing that is more distracting on an otherwise great bike ride than being uncomfortable. A numb butt and sore back don’t exactly make for an enjoyable journey.
Similarly, a bike that feels awkward to ride, that needs a lot of maintenance or that doesn’t stand up to the day-to-day use is likely to fall out of favor, ending up at the back of the garage rather than be the bike you return to day after day. A comfort cruiser bike could be all the bike you need – comfortable, super low-maintenance, and ready to ride whenever you are. Living the bike life has never been easier.
What is a Comfort bike?
Basic recreational bikes come in two main flavors: hybrids and comfort bikes. At first, you might not notice much difference between the two styles but even small details can add up to a great ride. Armed with a few pieces of knowledge, you can be sure to choose the model that's right for you.
We’ve covered hybrid bikes here, so let’s look at the question of what makes a bike a comfort bike.
Comfort bikes are in general a little heavier than the super-sleek road bikes you might see, though the frame material is often the same with aluminum often used for both. This makes the bike sturdy and durable – the heart of every long-term relationship!
Sometimes, though not always, the frame is a little longer – that means on a comfort bike the distance between the extremes of the two wheels is further than a hybrid bike. At the same time, the handlebars will be raised enough and close enough to your body so that you hardly have to stretch a muscle to reach them, providing maximum comfort while you ride. Flat or cruiser-style handlebars help reduce pressure on the hands and wrists. This provides a relaxed, cruisy feel that gives the comfort bike its character – there’s no need to rush when you’re riding one of these beauties. We’re talking Fonzie here, not Ferrari!
The frame itself is often designed with ease of getting on and off the bike in mind. Along with flat pedals, this means there’s no need for special clothing – you can ride in your favorite summer dress and heels just as easily as you can in sneakers and shorts.
Wide tires and foam-cushioned seats, sometimes give even more comfort using springs or a suspension seat post to smooth the way and are combined with soft grips on wide handlebars to create a super comfortable ride. This makes the comfort bike suitable for new or occasional riders or those who experience shoulder or wrist pain; your back, neck, and shoulders don't have to adjust to a crouch position and with your head raised, you can better engage with your surroundings.
To complement the easy-riding experience, the comfort bike normally comes with a number of gears. You change gear with either a twist of the bar grip or a flick of the thumb lever – you don’t even have to let go of the grips. How many gears you need depends on where you live and how far you intend to ride, and you can customize this as you need on a number of our bikes. Remember though that you’re likely to fall in love with riding your new bike, and may want to take it with you on trips to different places – so it’s better to have too many gears rather than too few. For the most part, comfort bikes use derailleur gears, with mechanisms that move the chain around sprockets on the rear wheel – they’re light, simple to use and easy to maintain.
The handlebars are also where you’ll find the easy-to-operate brake levers, linked to either V-brakes or cantilever brakes. Both these systems slow the bike by bringing a brake pad into contact with the rim of the wheel, and you have all the control over your speed at the end of your fingertips. If it’s been a while since you’ve ridden a bicycle, or have been getting by on an older bike, you’ll be impressed with how little effort it takes to stop fast if you need to.
You’re able to customize your bike to however you want to use it. Need a cargo rack for the groceries? No problem. Worried about rain or riding in the dark? Fenders, chain protectors, lights and sometimes even an enclosed lock complete the comfort bike package. If not included, these bikes usually come with specially placed mounts on the frame so you can add them later if you’re unsure about whether or not you’ll need them when you start out.
Who rides a Comfort bike?
A comfort bike is ideal for the person who wants to exercise outdoors but finds running and similar activities put too much strain on the joints and bones. The comfort bike riding position isn’t primarily designed for speed, though you can certainly get places faster than walking. But if you’re after a faster bike or one that can take you on long weekend trips to the woods, you’re better off looking at our hybrid bikes.
The comfort bike is the cool kid on the block. The one hanging out by the beach, feet up, just taking it easy…life’s not a race, after all!
The Benefits
Comfort bikes are great for cardio workouts – a study, published in The Circulation Journal, found that people who biked regularly had 15% fewer heart attacks than non-cyclists, while another study found that biking just 20 miles a week reduced the potential for heart disease by a whopping 50%.
Physical activity has been shown to be as effective as medication and counseling in overcoming and even preventing anxiety and depression. On a comfort bike, you'll pedal down the road almost as comfortably as sitting at home on your couch and get a whole bunch of positive benefits with a great big grin on your face – seriously, what’s not to like?
No More Traffic
You’ve most likely experienced the mind-numbing effects of sitting in a car that’s stuck in traffic. There’s nothing less fun than being trapped in a metal box as the fumes from exhausts all around you slowly seep in and you feel the wasted minutes slowly dripping by. A comfort bike will free you from this sort of misery – if you’re off to the grocery store or just around the block to a friend’s, taking the bike is so much faster and more efficient than driving, and way more fun.Buying a Comfort Bike
We offer the best comfort bikes for men & women, each one designed to give you maximum riding enjoyment with minimum fuss. The classic beach cruiser look is on-point with our AroundtheBlock, IntheBarrel, BE and Classic models. Simple, elegant, casual, cool – with 26” wheels, cushioned seats and super-soft grips on wide handlebars biking has never been more comfortable.
Sixthreezero AroundtheBlock Mens 26" Seven Speed
Sixthreezero AroundtheBlock Womens 26" Seven Speed Cruiser Bike
Sixthreezero AroundtheBlock Womens 24" Seven Speed Beach Cruiser Bicycle with Rear Rack
IntheBarrel Mens 7 Speed in Matte Black
The EVRYJourney gives you a little more versatility – it could be the bike that grows with you into an all-round bike for everyday use. Choose the single-speed model for cruising around the neighborhood and easy-going rides on flat terrain. If you've got hills to climb or want to cover more miles, the 3-speed and 7-speed models will get you to your destination with style and grace. The 21-speed model will help you tackle demanding street, trail, long distance, and uphill riding.
EVRYJourney Mens Touring Hybrid in Matte Black
EVRYJourney Ladies Touring Hybrid Bike
Sixthreezero EVRYJourney Womens 24 Seven Speed Step Through Touring Hybrid Bicycle
The Paven’Trail and BodyEase bikes live up to their names. With the suspension in the seat post and the front forks, the Paven’Trail is equipped to handle paved roads or packed trails. No matter the terrain, it rolls smooth – it’s perfect for the hobbyist looking for exercise who spends most of their time on pavement but isn’t afraid to live a little and go off-road.
Sixthreezero Pave N' Trail Womens 7 Speed Hybrid Bike
The trademarked Body Ease Geometry smooths bumps on the road, letting the bike absorb the bumps while protecting your body. Built for the recreational rider whose ideal ride stays under 20 mph and less than 30 miles per ride, the Body Ease puts comfort first, making your ride pain free and enjoyable.
Comfort Bike Womens
Crafted so each detail intentionally adds to a more pleasant journey, our comfort hybrid bicycles and comfort cruiser bikes are the best comfort bicycles around. The bike is a powerful mobile innovation, yet it should feel soft while riding. We’d love to hear from you if you have any questions or want to try one out.