Originally Posted by
RLSchell
My oldest bike is a non-suspension mountain bike of mid-90s vintage. With the handlebars all the way up and seat in proper height, bars and seat are about even. If find this bike very difficult and uncomfortable to ride. I fitted it with a comfort saddle and changed out the knobbies for smooth road tires and it still sucks. The Electrec and my "comfort" bike (K2 Easy Street) are adjusted so the handlebars are higher than the seat and I find them both very comfortable. They also have suspension, which helps of course.
I'm not sure what you mean by "difficult and uncomfortable to ride." It's sounding like even the MTB had too much "lean" for you, and I suppose there was still the problem of not being able to put your feet flat on the ground. Most people need a bit of experience to feel comfortable on a bike that's designed for speed or distance. Typically, uncomfortable riders go too slowly, which makes the bike less steady and stable.
Maybe you just haven't given it enough of a chance. Maybe you have a touch of acrophobia (fear of heights or fear of falling). Most likely, you're just one of millions of people who doesn't like traditional bikes.
Of all the suggestions I've seen here, I think you should first try one of the Electra bikes with "flatfoot" or crank-forward design.