Why are bikes today so damned uncomfortable?

[Patiod]

Am I not allowed to ride unless I'm racing?

I haven't been on a bike in 25 years. Was at my friend's beach house this weekend, borrowed her bike (which looks like the one below, only with a lower seat), and took it out for a ride around the island

The seat was hard and narrow (what, you're not supposed to sit?), and you were forced into a horribly uncomfortable hunched over position. Why?

[noonwitch]

1. I'll bet Schwinn is still making comfortable bikes

I always rode their bikes as a kid and teen and thought they were comfortable. I've been thinking about buying a bike for excercise, and I was considering buying a Schwinn.

They used to make a tricycle for adults. One of our neighbors had one when I was a kid, and used to put her two Westies in the basket and drive them around.

[Patiod]

5. I used to put my dachshund in the saddle bags of my Schwinn

when I was a kid. He would bark and jump at the baskets when he saw the bike - he LOVED riding around in it.

My Schwinn was comfortable - if I ever live in a less-hilly area, I'm going to look into getting one.

[KG]

2. look perfectly comfortable to me. but that isn't a 'beach cruiser'

thats a nice trail bike, tho.



i can ride mine for hours.

[Rabrrrrrr]

3. Because our butts have gotten fatter.

[MissMillie]

4. It's not the butt that ends up being sore

it's the area between ones legs.

[Patiod]

6. I would think fatter butts would help

You're right; the that nasty hard, narrow little seat hurt the bony area in between the legs.

[Az]

7. The problem with "comfy" seats

Is on an extended ride that wide comfy seat is going to cut off a lot of blood. The smaller seats while initially uncomfortable actually are better over a long haul.

[Patiod]

11. Well, there you have it

The concept of "extended ride" is not the same for me as it is for my friends. They think nothing of riding between Phila and Atlantic City for a fund raiser, or riding up and down hills for 30 miles.

My idea of "extended ride" is a few miles on flat terrain!

[tatertop]

8. My skinny-tired super-light racing bike is comfy as heck

These trail bikes seem heavy and slow to me.

[LeftyMom]

9. Could it be a fit issue?

Since it's a friend's bike and really not set up for you? I had to adjust the hell out of my sister's bike when I borrowed it and we're built similarly and only an inch apart in height.

[FLSurfer]

10. Just need the right bike for the job

That Diamondback looks like an awesome bike but if you are just going for a cruise get one of these.



Its all loaded up. Coffee cup and towel for a sunrise swim.
Plus with all the rust on the chain its quite the workout.

[Patiod]

13. Oh, that looks MUCH better

Nice high handles, nice comfy seat!

[FLSurfer]

15. And those silver brackets on the top tube

hold surfboard racks which are on the porch railing.
Also used to carry fishing poles or a lawn chair when there is no surf.

[devilgrrl]

12. My bike is fine. Want to see it?

Here

[Patiod]

17. Mmm...fuzzy

Does the cat ride in the basket?? (having a cat, I already know the answer to that, although she has probably tried to get in there if it wasn't moving)

[fredtaylor]

14. Bikes

That's certainly no racing bike. You need a "cruising" bike, where the bars are higher and seat is wider. Maybe it's only uncomfortable since you haven't ridden in so long.

[Patiod]

18. but why do you have to hunch over to ride?

what happened to riding in a sitting position?

[raccoon]

16. You said that right! I hate them!

I like the old kind, with the handlecars I could REACH.
That kind doesn't make my back hurt. Having to hunch over like that bothers my back.

Does anybody make them any more?

[Rob H.]

19. I have the three-speed version of this...

It's the Electra Bicycles Hawaii. It's as comfortable as it looks! (Mine's an older one so it came with whitewalls, which look better on this bike, imho.)

I think this one's cool, too--I like that it's all hot rod lookin'.



They also make a line called the Townie that's supposed to have a more sane seating position than most bikes today.

[Greyhound]

20. I think they were always this uncomfortable, we were just younger,

better padded, and better able to ignore it. OTOH I love the gel seats, they take all the pressure off your tender bits.