In the fiercely competitive comfort bike business, where pennies can divert a customer from one brand to another, the company with the sharpest pencil usually wins.

No one has a pencil sharper than Jamis. This somewhat-small New Jersey company, in business for 25 years, gets bike shop floor space in this competitive era by offering good value.

Like all comfort bikes, the Explorer 2.0 leaves no stone unturned to give you, the rider, a plush ride. While conceived of as a way to ease reluctant beginners into cycling, the comfort bike has capabilities beyond this.

But first, consider the plush ride. Your rear end will never get sore, since it sinks first into the well-cushioned seat, which sags atop coil springs, which are then attached to a shock-absorbing seat post. While this combination of features isn't unique to Jamis, it does mean plush comfort is guaranteed.

Similarly, the suspension fork smoothes out bumps, and the high handlebar position means you'll sit in a stately upright posture, much like Mary Poppins on her bike. And the wide range gearing means that standing on the pedals is a thing of the past: you can ride up or down long hills in a comfortable "sit and spin" posture.

But all that comfort masks sits atop a machine that is capable of doing much more than keeping a beginning rider from hurting. The welded aluminum frame is similar to frames used for serious mountain bike riding and touring; it's easy to add a rear rack (and easy to add a front rack too, if your dealer knows enough to order one from Old Man Mountain). With racks, you can carry a picnic lunch, the week's groceries, the suit you wear to work, or a weekend's camping gear.

Those huge Jamis Sport Comfort tires will withstand some pretty vigorous trail riding if you're so inclined. Both wheels and the seat can be removed in seconds, for easy transportation in a car trunk or the closet of your RV.

So for the rider who wants to be convinced that cycling is fun, the Explorer 2.0 is a modestly priced start that will grow with you.

Pros: Great frame, competent suspension fork, far more capable than the average comfort bike customer

Cons: To some, the comfort bike is just too posh and sits the rider too upright