Good morning! I am responsible for purchasing two bicycles for a lodge
in Truckee, California. The lodge has roughly 60 members, most 50+ in
age, some athletic (its primarily known as a ski lodge), some not,
most in between.  I would like to propose that we purchase bikes that
are commonly refered to as comfort bikes or cruiser bikes, because my
understanding is that these types of bicycles are similar to mountain
bikes, in that they have larger tires, forks, etc, but also because
they are more comfortable than mountain bikes, because they allow the
rider to sit in a more upright position.  My thinking is that a
comfort/cruiser would best fit our diverse lodge population.

I am 29 and I showed my parents, who are 60 and 65, the difference
between a mountain bike and a cruiser.  They both felt more
comfortable on the cruiser, and frankly I do as well. But there are
some people in our lodge who feel that we can go with nothing less
than a mountain bike, due to the rugged terrain of Truckee. However,
knowing the population of our lodge members, I feel that most of them
will stick with road riding and bike path riding, and only those of
the more athletic variety will venture onto dirt paths or off road.

I don't want any of the members to feel intimidated by the bikes,
which can sometimes occur with mountain bikes.  But I also want to
assure them that our new bikes can be taken off-road a bit if they
choose to do so.  And this is where I need your help! I'd like a bit
of evidence to support the fact that a comfort/cruiser bicycle can
handle some small off-road/dirt riding. Nothing overly rough and
tumble, but hopefully you get the idea.

Right now the only evidence I have is this:

1.  I made one phone call to a bike rental shop in Truckee and they
said they rent both mountain bikes and cruisers, and that older people
tend to like the cruisers but they can be taken off road on occasion.

2. I found this website which says "Comfort and cruiser bikes are
based on the mountain-bike design" :
http://www.stlbiking.com/Bike_Types.htm

Basically I have to go to the board of directors and share with them
my research, make a recommendation, and ask them to approve it. So any
information you can provide me with on comfort/cruiser bicycles and
the terrain they can handle would be great!

Hello susan_california and thank you for your question

To directly answer your question "Can comfort or cruiser bicycles be
taken off-road on occasion?" the answer is yes, provided it is for
"light off-road recreational use"

I would say, given that the profile of the future users is 50+ in age,
and given that seniors tend to prefer the comfort or cruiser bicycles,
and given that it is generally accepted that comfort or cruiser
bicycles can go off road (provided that it's not "overly rough and
tumble") I would say that there should be no problem.

See below for some opinions and descriptions:

"Description
Comfort bikes are sporty all terrain bikes which are designed to offer
superior rider comfort.

The frame is similar in style to a mountain bike, but the riding
posture is designed to be more upright to reduce pressure on the back
and shoulders, such bikes are usually fitted with an adjustable
handlebar stem which allows the rider to alter the sitting posture.
The components are designed to increase rider comfort rather than to
decrease weight, often featuring a wide comfort saddle, suspension
forks, suspension seat-post, comfort grips and easy to use gears. They
are often fitted with wide smooth rolling tires that are suitable for
on road riding and gentle trail riding.
  
Good Points
Comfort bikes are general purpose bikes which are ideal for pleasure
riders, new riders, or for those returning to cycling after a break
from the saddle. Comfort bikes are ideal for pleasure biking on bike
paths and are also suitable for commuting, gentle off road trail
riding and trekking.
  
Bad Points
Comfort Bikes are designed for comfort rather than speed so they can
be slightly heavier than hybrid or mountain bikes. They are not as
fast on the road as a hybrid bike or as stable off road as a mountain
bike.
  
Should I buy this type of bike?
If you plan to use your bike for leisure biking and value your comfort
but want a bike that looks and feels sporty, comfort bikes are for
you. Don't buy this bike if you want to compete on or off road."
http://www.discountbicycles.co.uk/miscfiles/typesofbikes/comfort.htm

"If you're looking for a bike to ride on the pavement most of the time
but want to ride hard-pack fireroads and horse trails occasionally,
this is the bike for you."
http://bikeempire.com/biketype.asp

"Hybrid and Comfort bikes are built for comfort ­ a compromise between
mountain and road bikes. They enable you to keep your back in a more
upright position. These bikes are excellent for use on both pavement
and dirt trails but are not intended to be a competitive quality road
bike or mountain bike.
Hybrid and Comfort bikes often include a suspension seat post to
absorb minor bumps on the road or path. Light front suspensions make
small bumps easier to ride through which places less stress on the
wrists and shoulders. Hybrid bikes have larger 700C size diameter
wheels and 21 to 24 gears, while Comfort bikes have 26 inch wheels
with wider tires.
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/ads/how_to/interior/bike.html

"comfort bikes" which offer straight handlebars but upright riding
position, medium-width tires, and well-cushioned seat. Great choice
for urban and light off-road recreational use,"
http://www.biscaribrothersbicycles.com/textonly.asp?Dept_ID=0&NavButton=0701&Main=07

"Comfort bikes 
These are modified mountain bikes designed to be more tame for the
less aggressive rider who values comfort. They have wide, smooth
treaded, medium pressure tires, high handlebars, an upright riding
position and a wide, soft seat. Advantages: Smooth, soft, stable ride
Disadvantages: Slow on-road and less nimble off-road"
http://www.bfw.org/new_bfw/articles/choosingthe.php

"Comfort bikes. These are specialized mountain bikes or hybrids with
more upright riding positions, softer saddles and lower gearing.
They?re built for, as the name implies, comfort, but are also designed
to perform well."
http://nbda.com/site/page.cfm?PageID=63

Comfort Bicycle
The original runaway popularity of mountain bikes was mainly related
to their greater comfort for casual cyclists, compared to the
drop-handlebar , skinny-tire sport-touring bikes that had been the
predominant adult style through the '70s and early '80s.

As mountain-bike racing became more organized, mountain bike designs
started to morph into a more competition-oriented riding position,
with longer top tubes , lower handlebars, narrower saddles, shorter
wheelbases and more upright frame angles .

By the late '90s, this trend had gone so far that many casual/beginner
cyclists were finding mountain bikes uncomfortable.

In response, the industry came up with what is commonly known as a
"comfort bike." Typical comfort bikes resemble mountain bikes in wheel
size, brake and gear equipment, but also differ in several ways:

Shorter top tubes, for a more upright riding position. 
Taller, often adjustable, handlebar stems, also for a more upright
riding position.
"Riser" handlebars, also for a more upright riding position. 
Wider saddles with springs (and/or suspension seatposts.) 
Smooth, wide tires for quiet and comfort on smooth surfaces. 
Lower bottom brackets for easier mounting/dismounting . 
In many respects, the comfort bike harkens back to the riding
style/position of the classic English roadster , only with modern
gears and brakes.

Comfort bikes are often seen as slower, stogier versions of "hybrid"
bikes, and are targetted at pretty much the same market.
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_cn-z.html


And from the news groups:

"There are mountain bikes fitted with cushy seats, suspension seatposts, and
riser handlebars that are often labeled "comfort bikes,"  although
manufacturers seem to have fun inventing new labels for this category. These
have 26" tires, and can be fitted with either knobby or street tires. They
generally have mountain gearing. They're suitable for off-road use on mild
terrain, and will give you a comfortable ride on the street. But they're
relatively slow, and probably not the best choice if road/street riding is
your primary purpose"
http://groups.google.com/groups?q=%22comfort+OR+cruiser+bicycles+OR+bikes%22+%22for+off+road%22&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&safe=off&as_qdr=all&selm=6cpc4.23219%24W2.257615%40iad-read.news.verio.net&rnum=1


Thank oyu for your question, and if you need any clarification of my
answer, do not hesitate to ask prior to rating my answer.

Very best regards

THX1138

Search strategy included:
"comfort OR cruiser bicycles OR bikes" "for off road"
://www.google.com/search?q=%22comfort+OR+cruiser+bicycles+OR+bikes%22+%22for+off+road%22&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&safe=off&as_qdr=all&start=70&sa=N

OMG you totally rock! Far and away, you provided what I was looking
for and them some. Thank you!

Hello again susan_california

Just a note to say thank you for the nice words, nice rating, and generous tip!

Very best regards

THX1138

Why not get several different kinds, to learn the preferences of the
users, cost of repairs and frequency of user injury? You may wish to
start with mostly used bikes to help keep initial cost within reason. 
 Neil

I think getting several different kinds of bicycles is a great idea!
It's something I've been pondering as well.  This first round my
budget is only for two bikes, so I may go with one comfort bike and
one mountain bike.  I'm really hoping they like having bikes around
enough to give us a budget for more of them :)

One thing that hasn't been covered at length is the weight of comfort
bikes compared to regular mountain bikes. Comfort bikes are generally
made of a heavier material than most mountain bikes. The bike
components can really add up in weight as well. However, I am assuming
that you will also be transporting the bikes on car or van bike racks
to some destinations where guests can use the bikes on trails, paths
etc. I really want to impress upon the need to take bike weight into
consideration if you will be using bike racks because the weight of
loading and unloading bikes repetitively can really become burdensome.
I've listed some of the most popular rack configurations below, as
well, if you are unfamiliar in this territory.

site references:
http://www.orsracksdirect.com/yakima-bike-racks.html
http://www.orsracksdirect.com/thule-bike-racks.html
http://www.orsracksdirect.com/rocky-mounts-bike-racks.html

can i suggest that you purchse mountain bikes and make them more
cofortable by changing the seats, fitting riser handle bars and higher
rise short handlebar stems. you could even have a number of different
saddles fitted to seat posts that fit all of the bikes and seats could
then be easily swapped using the quicvk release seat post clamp. (this
would be particularly useful for changing between mens and ladies
seats as they are quite specific to each sex) this may also be
possible with the handle bar stems using front loading stem they can
be rewmoved or changed in just a min. your local cycle store should be
able to advise you on the different seats availiable and handle bar
setups etc... i think this would solve your problem as very often it
is only the seats and handlebars that vary from comfort bike to
mountain bike. using genuine off road parts fitted to mountain bikes
would mean that they are as tough as mountain bikes and can be used
off road as much as is necessary but with the changed parts would
provide the comfort for your riders... hope this gives you some food
for thought