Comfort bikes
Comfort bikes are a type of hybrid bike but aimed at the leisure and fitness rider who wants a comfortable bike to ride on a sunny day for exploring the local park, cycleway or towpath.
Most comfort bikes will use a 26 inch sized wheels as this makes the bike physically shorter and easier to control. It also allows for the use of wider tyres to give a more cushioned, stable ride.
When designing a comfort bike most manufacturers have basically tried to recreate the chair seating position but on a bike, so this puts the main bodyweight onto the saddle. By placing the handlebars at a higher than normal position it means the hands only have to reach forward to steer and do not have to support the upper body, which is sometime the cause of strain and fatigue. This position is known as the 'sit up and beg' position as it resembles a well behaved dog sat up with its paws up front.
The frame on a comfort bike is such that the top tubes tend to be lower cut similar to that on compact frames so getting on and off them is a lot easier. Also the way they are sized is such that when you stop pedalling you are able to place both feet flat on the floor, which is reassuring for a lot of riders.
To give a more plush feel to the ride a lot of comfort bikes have suspension to take the edge off any bumps in the road. Suspension can be on the front suspension fork and/or on the rear as a suspension seat post. The suspension forks do add a little weight to the bike but add a lot of comfort to the ride. As does the seatpost which sometimes comes as standard on some bikes but is available aftermarket so it you do buy a comfort bike without one or you want to give your hybrid some comfort then this is a simple upgrade.
The gearing on a comfort bike is usually simplified and allows riders of all abilities to tackle gradients and cruise along at a pleasant steady pace. If you are looking for high end, high speed, gears you'll be looking for a race bike instead. Some comfort bikes use 'Hub' gears, which basically contain all the gearing mechanisms inside the hub (centre bearing) of the rear wheel, which reduces wear and tear and, most importantly, the maintenance.
Comfort bike are often popular with older cyclists looking to maintain their fitness and people who have had back, neck, shoulder and hip injuries who want a bike to regain fitness but may be unable to ride a normal bike due to some restriction. With a low centre of gravity combined with the smaller 26-inch wheels comfort bikes are very easy to handle and ride.
Examples are Raleigh Voyager, Giant Sedona, Mongoose Crossway and the Specialized Expedition.
