Originally Posted by
67RS427
As I mentioned, I don't really see myself going on long 10+ mile trips... I'd be surprised if I were to ever do a 5 mile ride. Who knows, I could be wrong but for now I'm just casually cruising around.The bikes I listed above are capable of 25-30+ mph so I don't see how keeping up with the kids will be a problem but I appreciate the insight. My issue with some of the bikes you listed it that they don't have a seat post spring or suspension and worry that could be rough on my back.
* I have considered the FX2 but thought the Verve was a more comfortable ride
I am able to lean forward, I just don't really know what will be more comfortable for me until I actually try it for a prolonged period of time. Short rides though as I mentioned above.
1. If you can cruise at 30 mph on a comfort bike, you should consider turning pro. Seriously. I would say more realistically, you will be crusing at more like 10 mph on a comfort bike. Maybe 12, but probably not much faster than that. Sitting bolt upright is just not a very efficient, either aerodynamically or biomechanically. I bought my wife a comfort bike when my son was little so she could cruise around the neighborhood with him. A year or two later when he was maybe 7, she pretty much hung up her comfort bike and went back to her old touring bike because she could not keep up with my son anymore on the comfort bike.
2. Suspension seat posts are a crutch to fix a problem that doesn't exist as much on bikes where you lean forward a little. Namely, transmitting shocks from the road right up into your spine. If you ride correctly, your body is kind of relaxed as you move and you more or less "float" over bumps. The second thing is, like suspension forks, suspension seatposts decrease the efficiency of your pedaling. How? Instead of the saddle firmly supporting your legs, you are bobbing up and down as you pedal, which is both inefficient and annoying.
You asked for advice, and this is my advice. You can do short rides on something like a Giant Escape or Jamis Coda just as easily as you can on a comfort bike. The difference is, if you want to do even just a little bit more,a fitness bike is a way better tool than a comfort bike is.