The changing face and pace of cycling Comfort bikes are popular style for family riding By Beth Brody Baby boomers are driving the bike market; they are the largest group of Americans purchasing bicycles. The word today in the world of biking is "comfort." While you will still see your share of hard-core cyclists zooming through the city streets and off-the-beaten-path mountain trails, family cycling is becoming more and more popular. And family members want a comfortable ride on a comfortable bike. To keep up with this "comfy" trend, most of the major bike manufacturers are producing what they call comfort bikes. "Our most popular bike is the comfort bike, which is a recreational bike based on a mountain bike, but more suited for family riding and general around-town use," said Brian Graessle, manager of Beacon Bicycle in Howell. "With a comfort bike you sit more upright on a larger, softer seat, and it has smoother tires which work better on the streets. People who haven't ridden a bike in a while can jump right on and have a lot of fun." Cliff Wittenberg, owner of Bike Haven in Fair Haven, agrees: "Comfort bikes are our big sellers and we carry two types. We sell a Cross Comfort bike which is a hybrid of a road bike and a mountain bike. With the hybrids, the tires have higher pressure so you go faster with every pedal strike. In the Mountain Comfort bikes, the 26-inch tires are wider and have a lower pressure so you get a softer ride. Both types of bikes have adjustable handle stems and a shock absorber seat post so you have a bit of shock absorbency." Wittenberg notes that many customers come in asking for a mountain bike. "However, as soon as someone walks in the door, we ask them a lot of questions about the kinds of riding they plan on doing so we can put them on the right bike," he explained. "Many say they want to ride with their spouse or their children and that's when we recommend one of the comfort bikes. In fact, most people between the ages of 30 and 70 walk out of here with a comfort bike, unless they are really avid road cyclists." Graessle and Wittenberg note how the baby boomers - adults age 46 and up - are driving the biking market because they comprise the largest group of Americans with disposable income. A decent comfort bike starts at about $250. And these days, biking doesn't have to hurt. Graessle said he is seeing such a big resurgence of people getting back into biking because of the new, comfortable bikes that are now available. "The baby boomers want to ride with their families, and they want to be comfortable," he remarked. "The wider, softer seats really offer a more comfortable ride." Wittenberg and Graessle both note how the X Games have increased the popularity of freestyle bikes with younger members of the family. With these bikes kids can perform tricks or grind along curbs. Wittenberg remarked how the girls come to his shop looking for 20-inch mountain style bikes with gears, and the boys are seeking 20-inch freestyle or dirt jumping bikes with front and rear breaks. Both Wittenberg and Graessle agree that to find the proper fitting bike and helmet, it is absolutely essential to be fitted by an expert. "Have you ever wondered why you see so many old 10-speed bikes hanging from hooks in garages?" remarked Wittenberg. "Most of them don't fit the owners because they were purchased in department stores or toy stores without being properly fitted, so they've been banished to the garage wall to collect dust." If you want to take your old 10-speed off the wall and go for a spin, Wittenberg can sell you different sized stems and seat posts that might just do the trick and get you rolling again. Wittenberg, who was an avid cyclist before opening Bike Haven four years ago, has had extensive professional training to accurately fit customers for their bikes. Bike Haven even has a special fitting area where Wittenberg and his expertly trained staff do custom sizing to ensure a proper fit for an adult or child. Graessle also stresses the importance of buying a bike from a reputable bike shop with knowledgeable employees. "I can't say enough about how important it is to purchase from a cycle shop. We have qualified techs on staff to outfit you. If you show up at a toy store, you don't get the help or expertise that a professional bike shop offers. And, in the long run, that will cost you more money. Many people have come to us unsatisfied after purchasing from a department store or toy store. We are always glad to jump in and help out," he said. If you purchase a bike from Beacon Bicycle, you will get free lifetime service and unlimited tune-ups for as long as you own the bike. Both Beacon Bicycle and Bike Haven carry a full line of gear and accessories to accompany their state-of-the-art bikes. "If it can go on or be used on a bike, we sell it," remarked Graessle of Beacon Bicycle. Once you've decided on the bike, feel free to browse the shops and view their extensive lines of clothing, shoes, helmets, pumps, bags, cycle computers to track mileage, and car racks. Visit Beacon Bicycle at 2449 Route 9 in Howell (732-431-5610) or Bike Haven at 588 River Road in Fair Haven (732-747-6868).