sixthreezero 630034 26" EVRYjourney Women 7s Cream

Just for reference: I’ve had this bike for about 2 weeks. My husband put it together. We store it inside. I mostly ride it through out neighborhood and on the hilly Tennessee Green Ways, which are paved trails through woods and by the water. Not a lot of off-roading, outdoor storage, or extremely prolonged use.I’ll start with the obvious: You don’t sacrifice style OR functionality in the bike. The curvy frame and cream color make it just the right amount of cute.I’m only 5’2.5” and the step-through is a great height for me to swing my little legs over. With my small stature, I also don’t find the bike to be too big, unyielding, or imposing. It handles well, even if you’re on the small side.The included instruction manual is detailed and helpful. At no point did my husband feel like we'd have to take it in to a shop to be assembled, like we had to do with his.When it comes to the seat, let me start by saying I think the phrase “comfortable bike seat” is an oxymoron. This seat is comfortable enough, if you have it adjusted properly. It took me a few rides to realize I was sliding forward too much and needed to angle it up more. Otherwise, the wide base of the seat means you can distribute your butt in a mostly comfortable way - a way that gets top marks for me on the bike seat comfort scale - unlike the seats on comparable bikes. Of course, long bike rides will leave you with a sore rump, so don’t expect memory foam here.The brakes are incredibly responsive. You’ll feel like you are in complete control the entire time, whether you’re trying to stop quickly or just influence the rate at which you’re coasting. They also, in my experience, feel pretty well balanced. I don’t find myself trusting the front or back brake more than the other, which allows me to alternate between them when trying to stop, as many suggest for the safest stop.There is a satisfying click when the gears shift, and the shifting system looks sleek on the bike. It’s my favorite that I’ve ever had/seen. You can actually feel the mechanical change from gear to gear, especially when you’re trying to tackle hills (but read the rest of the review to hear more about how this thing handles on hills). It makes it easy to decide which gear you should be in based on your situation. Pedaling gets noticeably easier or harder with each gear shift.There are a few downsides, but **disclaimer** my most notable complaints are subjective and are based on how I use the bike. These things may not apply to you whatsoever.This thing is not ideal for inclines. No matter which of the 7 gears I put it in, I’m at a near standstill, painstakingly propelling myself upward. It is a comically slow process. It’ll do it, but I have to admit that you’ll be feeling the burn. Full disclosure, though: I am small, but out of shape. I’m sure someone with more power and stamina could make their way up faster and with less effort. If you plan on riding it in a fairly level place, you’ll also have a great time with few complaints.Because of the step-through, you’ll need a bike bar to put this thing on a suspended bike rack. We have been putting it on our rack without the bar, and it just feels precarious. Better to get the bar. That being said, having the step-through (to me) is worth this, even if it means spending an extra $15-$20 to safely secure it to a rack.Overall, this bike is perfect for me. It’s cute, reliable, and well worth the money. That’s coming from an extremely frugal person, too. I had initially bought a $130 Huffy that I had to return after weeks of broken, warped, defective parts. Just be honest with yourself and choose a quality bike like this one.