Huffy Calais Men's Comfort Bike

by Huffy

Product Features

• 6-speed, 26-inch comfort bike for men in black and silver
• Shimano 6-speed derailleur, lightweight aluminum frame
• Suspension seat post, wide saddle with springs
• Alloy linear pull brakes; taller handlebar stem for an upright seating position
• 6-month warranty on parts, lifetime warranty on frame

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Ride in high style and easy comfort with the 26-inch Huffy 26264 Calais men's comfort bike, which features a Shimano 6-speed derailleur and a sleekly designed black and silver aluminum frame. It's designed to give you a smooth, cushioned ride with a suspension fork, a suspension seat post, and a wide saddle with springs. The taller handlebar stem provides an upright seating position, helping you to avoid painful crouching. Other features include SRAM twist grip shifting on the handlebars, alloy linear pull brakes, alloy rims, and large, semi-chunky wheels perfect for traveling paved trails and city streets.

Specifications:

• Bike Type: Comfort
• Bike Frame Material: Aluminum
• Type of Shifter: SRAM Gripshift
• Brakes: Front and Rear Alloy Linear-Pull
• Fork Type: Suspension
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano
• Saddle: Spring
• Rims: Alloy
• Pedals: Resin

Assembly of the Bike:
This bike comes mostly assembled. Minor assembly is required before the bike can be used.

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 bottles and bottle cages
• Spare tubes
• Portable bike pump
• Gloves

Product Description

Calais Mens 26" Comfort Bike 6-Speed

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 50.6 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: B0009PDPZS
• Item model number: 26264
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #868,358 in Sports & Outdoors (See Top 100 in Sports & Outdoors)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great bike, August 12, 2005

By 

S. Levy - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Huffy Calais Men's Comfort Bike (Sports)

Sleek design and comfortable ride. This bike was a great deal! I did had trouble building it at first, but I think that is due to my inexperience in building bikes. The instructions were not at all helpful. In addition I needed to purchase an allen wrench set since the bike did not come with one to make the appropriate adjustments.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This comfort bike is the greatest!, September 3, 2005

By 

Fats Dominico (Blaine, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Huffy Calais Men's Comfort Bike (Sports)

I've owned numerous bikes - mountain bikes, 10 speeds, racing bikes - but none is as comfortable as this one. As an aging baby boomer, I don't like to bend over and absorb all the bumps of the road myself, but this bike has shocks and springs to take 90% of the discomfort out of riding.

Unless you're an experienced bike mechanic, I would pay the $25 to get it assembled and tested at your local bike shop. Add a back rack, lock, and a mirror for safety and you're all set for fun riding. 6 speeds are all you really need for most areas.

I've been riding about 10 miles a day for the 5 weeks since I bought the bike, and I think it's paid for itself already because I use it for grocery shopping, trips to the bank, and general local transportation. Who needs gas?

Also, I've lost about 8 pounds without dieting too!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun Bike, October 17, 2005

By 

LNS (Georgia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Huffy Calais Men's Comfort Bike (Sports)

I just turned 41 and was interested in a bike for exercise and gas-free transportation. I previously owned a mountain bike, but felt the leaning-forward riding position was a little uncomfortable. This bike is a dream to ride (in an upright position), even for a large person like myself. The throttle gear shift is a breeze compared to old style shifters on the frame. Assembly required a little thought (and metric Allen wrenchs), but was easier than I expected. The locking latch on the seat shaft makes seat height adjustment easy anywhere without tools. Seat shocks make for a comfortable ride. At times I wish it had another gear or two to really build the speed on flat sections, but that's just because I enjoy riding the bike a lot. Overall, a great bike.