Felt Cafe Deluxe 8

The Felt Cafe 8 Deluxe has a more relaxed positioning than some other commuter bikes, which can be a good or bad thing depending on your riding style. Bicycling magazine calls the Felt Cafe Deluxe 8 the "love child of a beach cruiser and road bike," and although it supports leisurely riding, reviewers say it doesn't lack firepower. The aluminum-framed Felt Cafe Deluxe 8 has multiple gears and puncture-resistant tires; it's also loaded with a host of accessories, including a bell, rear carrier, clip-on saddle bag, fenders, a handlebar cup-holder and a kickstand. It comes in multiple sizes in both men's and women's designs -- and the snazzy tangerine color (on the women's version) is a favorite of reviewers.

Testers say the ride on the Felt Cafe Deluxe 8 is very comfortable, but it still handles precisely and has good braking power. It may not be the speediest ride to work, but reviewers say it's a good choice for commuting. If you have a bigger budget and want a bike that can get you to work fast, the Breezer Finesse (MSRP: $2,000) is a top choice. It's more expensive than the Felt Cafe Deluxe 8, but you get high-quality components and quicker geometry. Less expensive than the Felt Cafe 8 Deluxe is the Jamis Commuter 1 (MSRP: $365). The Jamis comfort bike weighs 29 pounds -- the same as the Felt bike, but the Jamis bike doesn't come with many accessories.

The best review of the Felt Cafe 8 Deluxe comes from Bicycling magazine. Their review is based on real-world testing, and many other reviews are based on the manufacturer's description. Still, Women's Health magazine also has a decent review, and MetaEfficient.com highlights the Felt Cafe 8 Deluxe in a brief article. There are few owner-written reviews of the Felt Cafe 8 Deluxe.