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In this report

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Comfort Bikes: Ratings of Sources
Total of 23 Sources

For an explanation of how we rank reviews, see our ratings criteria page.

1. Bicycling Magazine
2009
Editors' Choice 2009 Cruisers and Commuter Bikes
by Editors of Bicycling
4 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Bicycling magazine tests the latest commuter and comfort bikes to determine their Editors' Choice award winners for 2009. Several bikes are nominated, including the Novara Fusion, Specialized Globe Vienna Deluxe 3 and Breezer Uptown 8. Ultimately, the Breezer Uptown 8 tops the list.
2. Bicycling Magazine
April 2009
The Buyer's Guide
by Editors of Bicycling
4 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Several city and comfort bikes are highlighted in Bicycling's 2009 buyer's guide, but only one scores a Hot Tech designation: the Breezer Finesse. Stephen Madden at Bicycling likes the geometry on the Breezer Finesse, which is geared for speed more than the average commuter bike.
3. Women's Adventure magazine
June 2009
Gear Room
by Editors of Women's Adventure magazine
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Women's Adventure magazine highlights 10 of their favorite comfort bikes in this special section on bike commuting. Picks range from $470 to $3,200, and at least some of the bikes are tested. The reviews are also balanced, and there's more than just a list of features.
4. National Geographic Adventure
April 2009
Spring '09 Buyer's Guide
by Steve Casimiro
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Only one commuter bike scores a mention in National Geographic Adventure's 2009 buyer's guide: the Trek Valencia. National Geographic Adventure lauds the disc brakes for more reliable braking power in wet conditions, and they like the 24 speeds for hilly commutes.
5. MainStreet.com
Jan. 29, 2009
The Best Bikes for Your Budget
by Carl Winfield
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment In this article geared toward bike commuters, Mainstreet's Carl Winfield picks some of the best commuter bikes for those on a budget. Winfield doesn't personally test the bikes, and each bike gets only a one-sentence overview.
6. Men's Fitness
2009
Best Bicycles for ' 09
by Scott Boulb
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Men's Fitness picks six of their favorite bikes for 2009, including two each in the road, mountain and comfort bike categories. The reviews are based on features, not tester feedback, but each bike gets a brief description. The Nirve Starliner and Electra Amsterdam Royal 8 are noted.
7. MetaEfficient.com
Feb. 27, 2009
The Best Commuter Bikes of 2009
by Justin Thomas
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment MetaEfficient.com is a website devoted to reviews of green and energy-efficient products. The site's editor, Justin Thomas, picks the best comfort bikes of 2009 in various price ranges. It doesn't appear that any of the bikes have been tested, and the reviews focus mainly on features.
8. BikeRadar.com
As of June 2009
Bikes & Gear
by Editors of BikeRadar.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment BikeRadar.com provides a great database of bike reviews, but only select models receive full editorial reviews. The reviews they do have are detailed and balanced. You can also sort the reviews to view the highest-rated bikes or newest reviews.
9. The Early Show
May 27, 2009
Finding Your Best Bike
by Editors of "The Early Show"
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Loren Mooney, the editor of Bicycling magazine, appeared on an episode of CBS' "The Early Show" to offer advice on buying a new bike. Mooney also recommends a few bikes, including the Jamis Commuter 1 as a good comfort bike.
10. Men.Style.com
Not Dated
Hotlist
by Editors of Men.Style.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Men.Style.com -- the website of GQ magazine -- lists some of their favorite city bikes. They rate the comfort bikes on various criteria, but their main criteria are style and function. The Swobo Otis, Specialized Langster, Bianchi Milano and Novara Transfer score an Editor's Pick designation.
11. Road.cc
As of June 2009
Bikes – Urban/Hybrid
by Editors of Road.cc
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment This British site posts great reviews of commuter bikes, there are just not very many of them. Each bike receives a thorough testing (although usually from one person), and the bike receives an overall rating in addition to individual ratings on components, ride and handling. The tester's specs are also listed so you can see how you would compare.
12. BikeCommuters.com
As of June 2009
Reviews
by Contributors to BikeCommuters.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment For detailed reviews of commuter bikes and accessories, BikeCommuters.com is a good resource. Their review section focuses more on accessories than bikes, but several commuter bikes receive recent reviews. Each review is based on one tester's feedback, and the commentary is accompanied by pictures of the various components.
13. CommuteByBike.com
As of June 2009
Reviews
by Contributors to CommuteByBike.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment CommuteByBike.com is another good resource for commuters shopping for a new bike. Their reviews are based on tester feedback and include pictures. The list of reviews is not sorted by date, so you'll have to scan the list to find the most recent reviews.
14. EcoVelo.info
Not Dated
Road Tests
by Contributors to EcoVelo.info
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment EcoVelo.info posts extremely detailed reviews of several comfort bikes in their Road Tests section. Only a few bikes receive a road test, but the reviews available -- especially for the Breezer Finesse -- are balanced and informative.
15. The News and Observer (Raleigh, N.C.)
June 19, 2008
Bikes for the Commute
by Joe Miller
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment In this slightly older review, Joe Miller picks some of the best comfort bikes from various manufacturers. His reviews are based on visiting local bike shops and seeing what is popular among consumers in his area.
16. Sunset magazine
Not Dated
Get the Right Ride
by Editors of Sunset magazine
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Sunset magazine highlights two commuter bike options for different purposes in this brief article. The Xtracycle Radish, which they describe as a bike that "thinks it's a station wagon" is recommended for commuting. The comfort bikes haven't been tested, and each commuter bike receives only a short overview.
17. The Arizona Daily Sun
April 16, 2009
The Green Commuter Picks a Bike
by Randy Wilson
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Randy Wilson interviews several bike shop owners and asks for their recommendations for new commuters. Each bike gets a brief review, but the recommendations vary in price and features.
18. Self Magazine
May 2009
Pick Your Ideal Wheels
by Editors of Self
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment The editors of Self magazine highlight a number of bikes designed for women, including several comfort bike options. The Trek Cruiser Classic gets high marks for its retro styling, and Self picks the Abio Penza folding bike for commuters with little storage space.
19. The Seattle Times
March 19, 2009
Beefy Bikes for Getting You Around Town or Around the Block
by Dan A. Nelson
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Dan A. Nelson from The Seattle Times reviews two commuter bike options -- the Kona AfricaBike and the Kona Sutra. Both are tested, but neither receives any negative feedback. The article receives a few comments from readers who wonder why the article only focuses on bikes from Kona.
20. The Boston Globe
July 27, 2008
When It Comes to 2 Wheels, There Are Countless Choices
by Ethan Gilsdorf
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Ethan Gilsdorf from The Boston Globe interviews a local bike shop expert to get his recommendations for bikes of various types. A few options are mentioned for commuters, including the Specialized Globe for the budget-conscious and the Bianchi Valle for big spenders.
21. Natural Health
May 2009
5 Cycling Essentials
by Karen Asp
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment In this short article, Natural Health recommends the Specialized Globe Vienna 2 for women, but it's not tested and there's not much detail here.
22. Buzzillions.com
As of June 2009
Trek Soho S
by Contributors to Buzzillions.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment More than 50 owners review the Trek Soho S, but most of the reviews come from the Trek website. Commuter bike reviews are hit and miss on Buzzillions, and there's no separate commuting category to determine the best-reviewed comfort bikes.
23. Women's Health magazine
April 2009
Pick Your Perfect Bike
by Editors of Women's Health magazine
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Women's Health recommends a number of bikes, in road, mountain and commuting categories. It doesn't appear that the bikes have been tested, so the reviews are based mainly on features. Overall, they think the Felt Café 8 Deluxe is a good choice for commuters.

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