Which to buy?
I own a Townie Comfort Bike by Electra. I am not comfortable on a bike, never learned as a child, but I want to ride since my knees are going bad. I have a LOT of trouble with keeping the bike under control. I ran off a curb today and fell. Damaged bike and took it to a shop and asked owner what bike he would recommend, given my experience (not much) and skills (few). The owner of this reputable shop said that the Townie is not stable enough and contributes to my inability to keep the bike straight. Makes sense to me. He also said that the size of the tires are making me work harder to get the same distance as others in my beginner's group. I am nervous, hold the bars tightly and have trouble keeping in a straight line. I try to correct the wobble and lose control the other way. Last week I was almost hit by a bus as I nearly lost control in traffic trying to get to a path! I tried a couple of bikes at the shop: Specialized Crosstrail and a Cannondale Road Warrior. Both were easier to maneuver and more stable against my pulling. I know that I am a big part of the problem because I can't keep my hands steady. After two bad experiences, I don't think I can continue with the Townie, especially in light of the comments from the shop owner. Can you recommend a bike that might be stable? A bike good for a beginner? Are you familiar with any of the bikes I've mentioned? Also, what's the difference between the experience with flat bars and the curved? Thank you for your help.