Anza Ridge Way Men's Comfort Bike

by Anza

Product Features

• Lifetime warranty on frame and fork

Product Description

Product Description

Cruise around in comfort and style with Anza's 21-speed Ridge Way comfort bike, which features a lightweight aluminum frame, saddle-style seat for increased comfort on long rides, and wide tires for quiet and comfort on smooth surfaces. This bike also offers alloy wheel rims, reflectors for low-light situations, and a steel kickstand for easy parking.

Specifications:

• Frame: 26" Men's aluminum cushion frame
• Fork: RST CAPA shock fork
• Saddle: #7644B-BE
• Handlebar: Alloy, MTB-AL29
• Derailleur: Index 21S with RD-TZ30 rear derailleur and grip shifters
• Derailleur Cable: 2P
• Stem: Alloy, HS-C80-5 Ext 100mm
• Rims: Alloy, 26" x 1.75", 14Gx36H
• Hubs: Steel, F: MTB Type; R: 21-speed Hub
• Tires & Tubes: 26" x 1.75", TD-2031 Tread with A.V. turbe
• Spokes: 14G x 36H x 2
• Chainguard: Plastic, circle type
• Pedals: Plastic platform (9/16") with C.P.S.C. reflectors
• Grips: YCC-1B06 (CB-3362) type
• Kickstand: Steel, SFC KS5 rear kickstand
• Brake: Alloy, front & rear shun LU V-brakes with levers
• Cable: 2P
• Crank & Sprocket: TY-33 Cotterless 3pcs. alloy crank; 28TX38TX48T sprocket
• Chain: Z-50 (L 1/2" x W 3/32")
• Reflectors: 4 Pcs. C.P.S.C.
• Seatpost: Alloy, with alloy quick release

Amazon.com Bicycle Buying Guide

Finding the Right Bike
To really enjoy cycling, it's important to find a bicycle that works for you. Here are some things to keep in mind when you're in the market for a new bike:

The Right Ride
In general, bikes are broken down into three major categories:

• Road and Racing Bikes--As a general rule, road and racing are built for speed and longer distances on paved surfaces. Thinner tires, lightweight 29-inch (700c) wheels, and drop bars that allow for a more aerodynamic position are the norm. Most road bikes, regardless of price, offer many gears for tackling both hilly and flat terrain.
• Mountain Bikes--With their larger tires, hill-friendly gearing, and upright position, mountain bikes are very popular for all types of riding, both on pavement and off. Mountain bikes that are designed specifically for rugged trail use typically feature a suspension fork. Some may have rear suspension, as well. A quick change of the tires on any mountain bike--even one that you use regularly on trails--adds to its versatility and makes it a worthy street machine.
• Comfort/Cruiser Bikes--For tooling around on bike paths, light trails, or for cruising a quiet beach-side lane, comfort/cruiser bikes are the ticket. With a super-relaxed riding position, padded seats, and limited or no gearing, these bikes are made for enjoying the scenery and having fun with the family.

The Right Price
A bike's price boils down to three essentials: frame materials, bike weight, and component quality and durability.

• Entry-level--You'll find a wide range of comfort and cruiser bikes in this category, as well as some lower-end mountain bikes and road bikes. Most will have steel frames and components that are designed to last for several years with frequent use.
• Mid-range--Bikes in this range may feature a lighter aluminum frame with mid-range components that keep performing after miles of use. If you're looking for a quality bike that is relatively lightweight and will stand up to abuse, this is the "sweet spot." Most serious commuter and touring bikes fall into this category, as do mid-range mountain bikes with a decent front suspension.
• High-end--Racers and serious enthusiasts who expect lightweight, high-performance components will want to stick to this category. For road bikes, exotic frame materials (carbon fiber, titanium) and ultra lightweight components can add thousands to the price tag. Mountain bikes in this class often feature advanced front and rear suspension technology, as well as components designed to handle lots of rugged trail action.

The Right Size
Fit is crucial for comfort, control, and proper power and endurance on a bike. Here are some basic bike fit tips:

• Stand-over Height--To find out if a bike's overall height fits your body, measure your inseam. Next, determine how much clearance you'll need between your crotch and the top tube of the bike. For a mountain bike, you'll want three to five inches of clearance. A road bike should offer between one and two inches of clearance, while a commuter bike should have two to four inches. Compare the stand-over height for a given bike to your measurements (inseam + clearance) to determine the right bike height.
• Top Tube Length--You can measure your torso to get a good estimate of proper top tube length. First, make a fist and extend your arm. Measure from the center of your fist to the end of your collarbone (the part that intersects your shoulder). Next, measure your torso by placing a book against your crotch with the spine facing up. Measure from the spine to the bottom of your throat (the spot between your collarbones). Finally, add the two measurements (arm length + torso length), divide the number in half, and subtract six inches. This is your approximate top tube length. Compare this number to a bike's posted top tube length. You can allow for about two inches longer or shorter, as most bikes can be adjusted via stem length/height and saddle fore/aft position to make fine adjustments to the fit.
• Bikes for Women--Proportionally, women tend to have a shorter torso and longer legs than men. Bike makers design women's bikes that offer a shorter top tube and many comfort/cruiser bikes built for women may also provide more stand-over clearance.

The Right Accessories
When you make a bike purchase, don't forget these crucial add-ons:

• Helmet (this is a must!)
• Seat pack
• Lock
• Hydration pack, or water bottle and bottle cage
• Spare tubes
• Portable bike pump
• Gloves

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 47.4 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B000GHG0GK
• Item model number: 8569-14
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #474,899 in Sports & Outdoors (See Top 100 in Sports & Outdoors)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent bike, although its price has skyrocketed., June 16, 2007

By 

Drake Chan "dgc218" (Bethlehem, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Anza Ridge Way Men's Comfort Bike (Sports)

This bike has seemingly become so popular that Amazon has raised its price to more than twice what I paid just 3 weeks ago. So I will base my review on that price (about $140).

At the time, I was looking for a good bike so that I can get to work and back. I found this bike amongst the Amazon specials at the time and it seemed like a good deal compared to the other bikes available on Amazon or bike shops. True, bike shops offered better bikes, but they were much more expensive than this bike.

All in all, I am very pleased with the bike. It has a good aluminum frame, good gears, a cushy seat, and front and rear suspensions. Given that it is a "comfort bike", it is a sort of hybrid between a cruiser and a mountain bike: not as aggressively built for rugged terrain as a mountain bike, but with similar styling that is mixed with a cruiser bike's styling. This makes it somewhat versatile as it can ride pretty well on the streets and still be somewhat competent on the trails.

The bike is manufactured by Dynacraft, a company that says that it makes good, high-quality bikes and sells them for a lower price. It uses parts from other manufacturers to complement what I believe is their own frame.

The good things:
- The price at the time (about $140) was exceptional for what I got.
- The free shipping is a godsend. It would have cost me $35 and higher otherwise.
- The bike was pretty much put together for me before shipping. Only the front tire, handlebar, seat, and pedals needed to be put on the bike. That made the process 20 times easier.
- The aluminum frame is very nice.
- The front and rear suspensions makes for a a much cushier ride, as does the cushioned seat.
- The gears work well enough, but I would suggest an adjustment at your local bike shop to get them to work better.
- The brakes are good when are in working condition.

The bad things (and not that bad, but in need of fixing):
- As a comfort bike, I find it a bit weird that the bike still has mountain bike-esque tires on them. But I think all comfort bikes have those. And I think the only other choice right now is road bike tires, which don't seem to fit well with the bike. Of course, I don't profess to be a bike expert at all, so it's all speculation.
- Though the bike is essentially put together for you, the job that the assemblers do is obviously not top notch. No real complaints from me, since it made putting the rest of the parts on a lot easier. Plus the bike mostly worked well anyway. But...
- Besides an adjustment of the gear shift, I would suggest an adjustment of the brakes also from a local bike shop.
When all assembled, everything on the bike worked except for the brakes. Why? The cables were kinked, so the brakes couldn't snap back after being depressed. Whether it was because of the assemblers or the shipping, I don't know. But I do know that it has cost me $23 extra at my bike shop to get them working.
- All the parts on the brake seem to be of above-average quality, except the brakes. The gears and gear shift are made by Shimano. The front suspension is made by Capa. The brakes are made by a Taiwan company, Chang-Star. After taking brake handles apart to figure out what was wrong (before bringing it to a bike shop), I found the parts in them to be so cheap and a flimsy-looking that I wondered if I had to replace the whole brake system. Luckily for me, the problem was with the kinked cables, and the brakes themselves are not bad at all despite the cheap parts.


All in all, it's a very good bike for what I paid. But is it a good deal at the $300 Amazon charges right now? It certainly is not the bargain that I got. And looking at comparable bikes at my bike shop, you can find similar bikes around the same price (most likely higher, but not that much higher).

So right now, it is only a decent bike for the price. But for what I paid, it was a an absolute bargain. To put things into perspective, this bike was going for less than $100 according to a question and response I found
on this page. If Amazon was trying to draw interest to this bike by doing that, it has definitely succeeded.

But now the company is assuming that its customers are willing to buy a bike sight-unseen that is similar to bikes they would find and could try out and and examine up-close at their local bike shop. And it is assuming that they are willing to pay not that much less than what they would be paying at the bike shop.

I am questioning the company's reasoning, strategy, and tactics. But Amazon is the one with the experience of selling things, not me. So I can only guess at what they are trying to do.

Anyway, it is a very good bike that is worlds away from your Walmart Huffy.

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Anza Ridge Way Men's Comfort Bike, March 26, 2007

By 

david smith (Summerville, SC, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Anza Ridge Way Men's Comfort Bike (Sports)

I like the bike! I've never owned a true quality bike before. I only wish there was a simple enclosure with the bike, meant for a common layman, on how to adjust the brakes...how to adjust the gears.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Womans Bicycle, May 17, 2007

By 

Troy R. Davis "Batter-Up" (Olympia, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Anza Ridge Way Men's Comfort Bike (Sports)

Great price on a good all around bike. Nice and comfortable brakes are a bit cheap though.