General Cycling Discussion - Recumbent, cruiser or comfort bike? Help me choose.

After a 4 year hiatus from mountain biking, I am ready to resume some form of biking as an alternative form of exercise (knee is getting bad & thigh is atrophying as a result). Problem is, I'm not sure which style bike I'd be most happy with...recumbent, cruiser or comfort bike.

I have ridden one comfort style bike (looked like a geezer mountain bike) & one cruiser with a 7 speed. I have only sat on a recumbent....BikeE. The recumbents intrigue me due to the comfort factor however, the "comfort" style bike seems more versatile. I really liked the look & price of the cruiser and the one I rode was very comfortable and fun to ride but I'm wondering about its versatility.

I'm after some thing good for exercising & light commuting with the potential to carry groceries etc. I plan to mix up my riding between in town errands and rural open roads most of which will be on pavement (an occasional dirt road).

My main criteria in order of importance is:
1) price ($500 MAX)
2) comfort
3) ease of riding in town such as dealing with curbs, cars etc

At this point, I'm seriously considering a 2002 BikeE CT recumbent as I can get one shipped to my door for $409. It really does not concern me that I would have no warranty being that the company went bankrupt.

All opinions are appreciated.

Thanks.

I've ridden a variety of upright bikes (comfort, road, mtb) and had a Bike E for awhile.

Bike E is easier on the backside and hands - although it did induce a kind of discomfort/fatigue in my lower back that I never had with an upright.

But for me the negatives outweighed the comfort considerations. It's slow to accelerate, slow for climbing, has sluggish handling, and it's hard to load the bike up an haul it somewhere for a ride.
Of course, some people really like it and find it great for all kinds of riding. Just didn't work for me.

Cruisers - I wouldn't. They don't seem to be designed for performance at all and you'll probably want to kick up your heels a little bit.

Comfort - Not as bad as a cruiser.

MTB - My impression is that you can get better components on an MTB versus a comfort bike of the same price. And it'll be a little sportier in case you want to challenge the trails. And if you keep 1.5 to 2" tires on it, it'll feel as comfy as a comfort bike.

So I'd say go for an MTB 1st and Comfort 2nd.

I don't think there are many road bikes worth considering in the sub-$500 range. Maybe a used touring bike with wide tires. That would be good for roads and gentle trails.

I like the BikeE recumbent and was ready to purchase one last year (AT Version) until the company went bankrupt. The only problem with the BikeE were the seat sliders which were made cheaply and tended to break after heavy use. This is an IMPORTANT issue since parts are becoming scarce.

As an alternative to the BikeE, are the Sun EZ-1 and Rans Tailwind. Both companies still exist and the bikes are good entry level bents. You may have to buy used on Ebay for a Rans but a much better choice in my opinion to the BikeE which offers no support for their cycles.

As for cruisers. Try to get an Aluminum cruiser and not a heavy steal bike as your legs will not take the weight. DO NOT get a single speed cruiser under any circumstance. Trek and Jamis offer non-steal cruisers at your price level.

Why not get a hybrid? There are plenty of choices and you really need the gears in your condition. The only reason I would look at a cruiser are for vanity reasons only. In my opinion, you really need an entry level hybrid from Giant or Jamis if your going the non-bent route.

Many people are going to hate me for saying this but get a hybrid with a suspension seatpost.

FWIW, you ain't goona get any recumbent for a measly $500.

Check out a hybrid/cross bike while you're at it. I'd definitely recommend against the cruiser and recumbant for reasons already stated.

Bianchi make a good bike in the cruiser style, but it is a quality, lightweight machine. Most cruisers are way too heavy and sluggish. For riding in the city, lightness is always good, and there is no point carrying excess steel, or bits of off-road suspension on your bike.
A 7speed hub geared city bike like the Trek6045 would suit your needs, except that it is not sold in the US market. Seems crazy to deny Americans one of their nicest designs.
http://www.trekbikes.com/bikes/2003/citybike/6045e.jsp

Recembent bikes fair best on the open road, where you can get up speed and use their aerodynamic advantage. In the city, they are not as manouverable, you can't go for the gap as easily, they can't hop curbs, are difficult to carry and store.

The cyclo-cross touring style is excellent as a general purpose machine (Bianchi Volpe, Jamis Nova), but they are beyond your budget. A used touring bike may be the thing.