I just got back from Virginia Beach (yes rode around on boardwalk like a tourist, no helmet) where I rented two bikes not very different but they both offered big eye openers when it comes to choosing one bicycle for a ignorant beginner.
One bike I can identify it is a Sun Bicycle Drifter, 1spd, aluminium frame with coaster break, the other one I can't identify, all I can say is that it is a Fuji cruiser 1spd, steel, with a frame geometry of almost a MTB, the forks on both appeared to have the same angle leaning forward, so let me tell you a few things this newbie learned.
* Aluminium makes a bicycle a whole lot lighter!!! (duh...) I rode the Drifter and it light to pick up if need to and it seems strong enough to hold me, and almost effortless to start pedaling up the boardwalk
* I had never ridden a bicycle with a coaster break before, and I have to say that I like this type of breaking system didn't think it would be safe or that I would like it but having tried it now, it just feels safer than a handbreak that feels like it could throw you off your bike with the slightest grip
*Switched from the Drifter to the Fuji, and didn't stay on the Fuji but for 5 mins, it was like riding a tank, can't say that the gear was the same ration I thought that that was the problem, but it just felt someone just added five 10lbs bags of potatos on me and told me to go on, and with that remark I see why the Worksman wouldn't be for me.
*Sizing the bicycle makes a whole lot more sense to me now, having ridden the cruisers for two hours, I can see now that it can be vital for the sake of being able to ride it safely, I can say that the upright position is not exacly what I had in mind, it can be a back breaker after an hour, felt better position on the Fuji with my body leaned forward a bit more, and the flat footed may not be good either, pardon my ignorance but is the crankset just longer on cruisers? It felt that if turned to sharply it would very easily hit blacktop and crash.
*Turning, I don't know if this has to do with the type of fork or the type of metal, or just the combined weight of the bicycle, the fact is that the Fuji had a much better steering than the Drifer, which turned very easily with little control which I may also be able to blame on the handlebars? I found myself wanting to hold on the bike below the hand grips, the entire cruiser handle bar just didn't feel natural on either one, but cruising was much better on the Fuji which had MTB knobbed tires and the Drifter's were not knobbed but they weren't skinny either, I think 26*1.75 but I could be wrong...
With all this in mind I have got a much better idea of what to get and what not to get, and a Cruiser seems definitly something I don't need to get, might get me run over. I have two LBS in the area that I think I can trust, and out of the two I have my eyes now a few bicycles, mostly within the Town/Commuting and Cross/Hybrid categories. I realize that by prefering Aluminium frame it will be more costly which is not cool. Oh well, I am looking at the cheapest bikes in these two stores, 10 Trek 7000 for around $360, Giant Cypress ST for around $310, with these add also the cost for +Tax+Fenders+Lights+Helmet+Lock. I'd like everyones opinion if possible and please do appoligise any of my ignorance when it comes to the technical knowledge.
http://pedalpowerbikeshop.com/produc...st-58356-1.htm
http://schellers.com/product/10-trek-7000-37425-1.htm
One last question, these bikes can all hold my weight right?