Recreational & Family - Enjoying the Comfort Bikes!

It seems we who ride for the "fun" of it and of comfort bikes get a bit of a snub from the roadies and MTB'ers. Just thought I show what fun our comfort bikes are, we took our bikes on our 25th. Wedding Anniversary Weekend and rode around Estes Park, CO. (Oct. 1,2,3). We had one of the best times in our lifes and the bicycles added a big part of the fun! It just goes to show you don't have to spend "thousands" of dollars to have fun on a bicycle, jmho! :)

It seems we who ride for the "fun" of it and of comfort bikes get a bit of a snub from the roadies and MTB'ers. Just thought I show what fun our comfort bikes are, we took our bikes on our 25th. Wedding Anniversary Weekend and rode around Estes Park, CO. (Oct. 1,2,3). We had one of the best times in our lifes and the bicycles added a big part of the fun! It just goes to show you don't have to spend "thousands" of dollars to have fun on a bicycle, jmho! :)

Nice pics!

The road bike I ride most (Winsdor Leeds) cost me $285 on EBay - Brand New! Not thousands. I bet this is less than your comfort bike. I also use this bike as my winter trainer. Here is a picture of it being used as a trainer - right next to my Spinerval Video TV and VCR player.




My wife rides a hybrid and a mtn bike, and we too enjoy just riding together relaxedly around places like Lake Estes, Vail Pass, Breckenridge, the trail from Palmer Lake to CS, etc.

I have another road bike (Lemond) that I paid a lot more, and I ride this when I want to go fast and play a Walter Mitty game of Lance Armstrong.

I enjoy biking fast, slow, sightseeing, you name it.

I also have a mtn bike that set me back a total of $300. So, I can go on singletrack.

I enjoy having a wide interest in all aspects of biking, not just one dimension.

If I could afford it, I would also get a recumbent. Even though we have a 3 car garage, it is getting just a bit crowded with bicycles.

Have a great day.

Love the granny gears!!

I have comfort bike too.

LOL, when I grow up, I wana be just like YOU! ;) Don't get me wrong, IF I could afford multi-bicycles, I'd have a road and MTB too myself! Your right, my comfort Fuji cost $400 in May 2005, $500 is my limit on bicycles, I'm saving for a "hardtail MTB", I don't ride hard enough for a FS MTB so I too can do a better job on riding single track off road. Wouldn't mind finding a "great deal" on a used road bike, just to go and do the "Sunday Social Ride" with the local cycling club, it's basiclly a "pure road ride" and although I hold up well on the comfort bike, I can tell I'm pushing a lot harder than most.

The Fuji Monterey is no lightweight at 32lbs. and LOL, I'm sure I pack 10lbs. of gear in the rack bag! :O
When I did the 40 mile MTB run with the club, I carpooled with the club president, who has all the "trick" bikes a human could want (including a custom MTB tandem), he hoisted up several bikes onto his roof rack and then groaned a bit when he had to put my comfort bike on the rack! Oh well, I can dream of hitting the loto someday and then I too will have more bikes! :D

LOL, when I grow up, I wana be just like YOU! ;) Don't get me wrong, IF I could afford multi-bicycles, I'd have a road and MTB too myself! Your right, my comfort Fuji cost $400 in May 2005, $500 is my limit on bicycles, I'm saving for a "hardtail MTB", I don't ride hard enough for a FS MTB so I too can do a better job on riding single track off road. Wouldn't mind finding a "great deal" on a used road bike, just to go and do the "Sunday Social Ride" with the local cycling club, it's basiclly a "pure road ride" and although I hold up well on the comfort bike, I can tell I'm pushing a lot harder than most.

The Fuji Monterey is no lightweight at 32lbs. and LOL, I'm sure I pack 10lbs. of gear in the rack bag! :O
When I did the 40 mile MTB run with the club, I carpooled with the club president, who has all the "trick" bikes a human could want (including a custom MTB tandem), he hoisted up several bikes onto his roof rack and then groaned a bit when he had to put my comfort bike on the rack! Oh well, I can dream of hitting the loto someday and then I too will have more bikes! :D

Keep your eye open for good deals.

Between my mtn bike and my "utility" road bike, I have $585 invested. Just a bit above your limit (but then, I got two bikes).

And my mtn bike, with slicks, does everyting a "comfort" bike does. So, really, between the mtn bike and the utility road bike, that is all I need to do just about everything there is to do in biking. In fact, I rode my mtn bike on the "Ride the Rockies" in 1998. Here is a pic of me at 58 going from Boulder to Estes Park on the mtn bike:



I bought the Lemond as a birthday present to myself, and I also had a nice check from my son and daughter-in-law for my birthday present to help out. Got any grown kids and a birthday soon? :D

The next year I rode the RTR on the Lemond. Was a bit easier!

Denver Fox states: Got any grown kids and a birthday soon?

BJ says: LOL, naw my kids are just low-level working poor like ME :( I'm happy if they continue to "support themselves", much less getting any serious funds from them! I'm going to look into a set of pure "road wheels" for the Fuji, I saw some 26x1.5 semi slick tires that would probably help out on the road rides but I really like keeping my 26x1.9 semi-knobbies with high center ridge on for riding the trails.

I'm going up to VeloSwap in Denver this month and do some looking, might be able to snag a road bike, you never know. Man I do like your winter gym set up, gota get a "trainer" for the wife and I to use and maybe a small weight bench for some very minor upper body stuff too! :)

It seems we who ride for the "fun" of it

I think everyone does the riding that they do "for the 'fun' of it"

Racers race for the fun of it.

I do centuries for the fun of it.

Mtn bikers mtn bike for the fun of it.

I think it is a mistake to assume that because a particular type of biking is strenuous or requires a lot of training or special bicycles or expensive bikes or whatever, that the folks doing this are not having "fun."



I'm going up to VeloSwap in Denver this month and do some looking, might be able to snag a road bike, you never know.

If you would like, give me a holler! Perhaps we can say "Howdy" over a cup of coffee (although I don't drink coffee).

BJ,

I am very interested in the full step-thru frame that your wife rides. How does she like it? I was sure from the photo that it was the Trek Navigator womens model - the shape of the lower tube and brace look identical. I need to consider replacing my wifes bike (K2 Rosario) as she cannot get on it easily.

Thanks,

Steve

BJ,

I am very interested in the full step-thru frame that your wife rides. How does she like it? I was sure from the photo that it was the Trek Navigator womens model - the shape of the lower tube and brace look identical. I need to consider replacing my wifes bike (K2 Rosario) as she cannot get on it easily.

Thanks,

Steve

Howdy Steve, I've been amazed by how well Jo has taken to the "step thru" framed Fuji Monterey Ladies Bicycle! Years ago we bought Jo a special set up, 17" mixte framed road bike with even lower gearing than she has now (28/38/48) and due to a damaged knee, she had a hell of time riding it and finally just gave up! Well now she's 20+ years older and I decided it would be great to get back into bicycling, you should have seen the "LOOK" I got from Jo at the idea! :O

She's doing well, she's comfortable up to about 25 miles at a mellow pace and has even started pulling some minor hills in "higher gears", than when she started! Jo works 5 12hr. days (7AM-7PM) so she usually only gets to ride "one weekend day". On our Annivarsary road ride, she only had to walk up one very steep hill in 20 miles of ridng with 25+ mph. wind gusts! At first I too thought, "damn I wish she could ride a normal framed bicycle" but now I'm really glad she got the "step thru" as she seems very comfortable with it, it's really nice to see Jo ride a bicycle and SMILE! :)

Denver Fox states: If you would like, give me a holler! Perhaps we can say "Howdy" over a cup of coffee (although I don't drink coffee).

BJ Ondo says: That would be great, I'll let you know if it's 100% that we are heading up that way, soon. My cell phone is: 719-232-7129. LOL, I probably won't have enough funds to buy a bike but you never know. Also looking for a used bicycle cargo trailer, would like to use the bicycle for more everyday tasks and the cargo trailer would work nicely! :)

I think everyone does the riding that they do "for the 'fun' of it"

Racers race for the fun of it.

I do centuries for the fun of it.

Mtn bikers mtn bike for the fun of it.

I think it is a mistake to assume that because a particular type of biking is strenuous or requires a lot of training or special bicycles or expensive bikes or whatever, that the folks doing this are not having "fun."



LOL, ok you got me there Fox, my apoligies to anyone taking offense at my opening statement, just looks a lot more like "WORK" too me but as they say, "too each their own"! :) Just remember your talking to the guy who when asked, "what type of training rides" do I do, I tell them, "I don't train, I just ride", LOL! :D

Just remember your talking to the guy who when asked, "what type of training rides" do I do

But training is FUN!

I love to see my improvement from time to time; even at almost 66yo, I measure my heart rate, distance and speed and take great joy in my improvement.

We all have our own perspective!

BJ, you absolutely did the right thing. I pushed Beth into a more conventional styled ladies frame desite her overweight condition and knee injury. She never got comfortable mounting and dismounting, and very quickly got into trouble. Minor mishap turned into major fall, and the bike has sat ever since. Figured my daughter will ride it in maybe 2 years (she is 9.5 yrs old, and already extremely comfortable piloting a 24" Giant MTX 225). Hence the interest in a non-conventional frame style. Kind of a cruiser comfort bike...

Totally off the subject, but I had a tough day at work, and it was a pleasure to throw my bike (Trek Navigator 200 - comfort style), my daughers, and the 3yr old's Burley trailer onto/into the Outback and head off to a place to ride. Only did a few miles before dark, but it was just great to get out before dinner. Maybe our last nice warm evening here in NY (Hudson Valley) before the cold front comes thru.

Steve

I have ridden many thousands of miles in the last couple of years. When I look back on them, I have a lot of fond memories of different types of rides. However, probably one of the best was just a week or so ago when we all came home from church and packed a lunch and headed out for a family ride.

My wife, 7 yr old and 4 yr old and I only rode about 5 miles but we found a nice out of the way place and had lunch. It was a beautiful day and will always stick in my mind. I don't remember most of the other tens of thousands of miles I have ridden.

It seems we who ride for the "fun" of it and of comfort bikes get a bit of a snub from the roadies and MTB'ers. Just thought I show what fun our comfort bikes are, we took our bikes on our 25th. Wedding Anniversary Weekend and rode around Estes Park, CO. (Oct. 1,2,3). We had one of the best times in our lifes and the bicycles added a big part of the fun! It just goes to show you don't have to spend "thousands" of dollars to have fun on a bicycle, jmho! :)

Yeah, mon....total agreement. I ride mtb, but I don't ride to the xtreme that some on the mtbr forum here do...in fact, I got slammed by one or two of the guys there just for the bike that I now ride...whatEVER!!!

I ride a full suspension, Trek Y26....cheap fs, but one thing rings true...this bike fits me, and is comfy, and if I choose to ride a gravel road or dirt trail or paved rail trail, I'm on one bike that can do it all. I think I finally found a group of folks I can identify with....ride on!!!

Yeah, mon....total agreement. I ride mtb, but I don't ride to the xtreme that some on the mtbr forum here do...in fact, I got slammed by one or two of the guys there just for the bike that I now ride...whatEVER!!!

I ride a full suspension, Trek Y26....cheap fs, but one thing rings true...this bike fits me, and is comfy, and if I choose to ride a gravel road or dirt trail or paved rail trail, I'm on one bike that can do it all. I think I finally found a group of folks I can identify with....ride on!!!

Howdy, well I figure a inexpensive FS-MTB is "way above" my Fuji Comfort bike as far as doing single track style riding! I don't seem to have any real riding problems on any of the mountain dirt roads (forest roads), here in the Southern CO. mountains. Too be honest, my present comfrot bike has 50mm front suspension fork and a suspension seat post with Gel & Spring seat and I don't seem to get as "beat up" on a long fire road ride as a lot of the serious MTB folks do. Of course I use the old, "stand up and let the knees and legs" riding posture a lot when I'm riding off road.

Now serious single track is different, I'm limited by my more "road biased" gearing (28/38/48), we did a serious up hill road ride thru North Cheyenne Canyon yesterday, 1300ft. elevation gain in less than 3 miles and man I WISHED I'd had a "22 or 24 toothed small chainwheel"!! :O I can see were a serious hard tail with 100+mm of front suspension or a FS MTB would be so much easier than my comfort bike when doing "single track", especially if it's rocky and steep!

Still my current Fuji Monterey Comfort bike reminds me so much of my 1985 Raliegh Mt. Crested Butte hard tail MTB it's scary, LOL! ;) I guess that's why I feel much more comfortable about taking a "Comfort Bike" on more serious dirt roads than just a dirt bicycle path. I hope to get a more serious hard tail MTB just for that "Single Track" riding but for now the current Fuji has done all I've asked of it and just kept on tick'in so there's no hurry! :)

You guys look like you are having a blast! My primary bike is my '94 Schwinn Sidewinder MTB. It's never been used as a mountain bike. It's primary use is (and always has been) as a comfort or hybrid bike on bike trails and streets. I have a great time riding it, too, and it makes a great bike to pull my bike trailer, loaded with two toddlers! BTW: I'm really jealous of your vacation. What a beautiful area to ride!

Wonderful website. Hi everyone. :)
I love my comfort bike. I had never even heard the term until I owned one. For a total impulse buy, my Specialized Expedition Sport is amazingly suited to my needs. It's lighter and seems as efficient to pedal as my old steel-framed Ralieigh road bike. The seating position isn't extremely upright, the saddle isn't ridiculously wide, and I'm covering more distance and a much wider variety of terrain than I had expected. Instead of just exploring the neighborhood, I spent the summer riding nature trails and bush roads, sightseeing along the National Capital pathway network and going from town to town on a wonderful rail trail that runs right past the end of my street. Without ever intending to, I lost 20 pounds and gained an energy level I haven't experienced in years. Not bad for an outlay of about $250 U.S.

My wife and I rode 20 miles today in Jackson and Marshall Counties(Northwest Alabama). Very pretty foliage in the mountains, perfect weather. Rode to Cathedral Caverns to take a look.

I ride my mountain bike to stay with my wife on her hybrid.


Entrance to Cathedral Caverns. Kinda washed out but you can see me at the left for a size reference



Beautiful old dogwood in country cemetery on top of a hill.



View from Grant Mountain at the DAR School


Cotton Field with Keel Mountain in the distance

Beautiful Pictures!!

Great pix, bbattle. The lovely scenery, except for the cotton fields of course, reminds me of some of the places I like to ride. I envy your climate. Our weather has taken a nasty turn lately. Feels like we'll soon have white stuff on the ground, and it won't be cotton bolls.

Excellent photo's and some sweet colors but "where's" the photo of the wifes Comfort bike, huh? ;) Come on gota share the spotlight, glad you two had a grand time chasing the colors of fall! Sigh there trees are almost bear out here in Southern CO.

Excellent photo's and some sweet colors but "where's" the photo of the wifes Comfort bike, huh? ;) Come on gota share the spotlight, glad you two had a grand time chasing the colors of fall! Sigh there trees are almost bear out here in Southern CO.

Sorry about bogarting the bike pr0n; I'll try to post some more pics(Trek 7100 hybrid included) later.
;)

If she keeps on improving like this; I may have to get myself another bike; something like the Trek FX series.

BJ, nice shots from Estes Park. As a Colorado College graduate and former denizen of Manitou Springs, I can appreciate the scenery. Sorry I don't have a hybrid. This is my comfort bike. Perhaps I just need to add some fenders?

LOL, adding fenders would only slow you down, that's one good looking road bike! :) Alas, I'll be looking into getting a different set of wheels made up so I can run on set with "high center tread knobbies" for the trails and one set with 26x1.5 semi-slick tires for road only riding. Can't afford a decent road bicycle and living in a one bedroom apt., don't have any more room than our two comfort bikes on a bike stacker in the bedroom!! :O

I'll admit I was truel amazed at the amount of bicycle trails and paths here in Colorado Springs, when I started riding again after 20 years of being off bicycles! They didn't have any of this type of trails/path system 20 years ago, you had to ride a rodie or haul your MTB up to the real mountains to ride. It's gave me a reason to not move away from Colorado Springs! :D