Beach Cruiser Bikes in the Sun
Beach cruiser bikes are a retro phenomenon, with the revival of relaxing bikes from the 1950s, but in more cheerful colors. Actually, the fancier you make them the better. Not a few bikes are seen rolling around town with 10-coat paint jobs and exotic decorations all over their frames, baskets, and if they have one, a tank. No, it is not a gas tank. And the new bright colors are really ones for the sun to reflect off of, including pink, mint green, purple, chrome, yellow and the ubiquitous black beach cruiser. You can get a simple retro beach cruiser, but some bikes are a bit fancier.
The multi geared models allow the rider to travel in more varied terrain. The type of beach cruiser that you ride is determined by what kind of area you will be riding in. If you will be riding your beach cruiser where rain is frequent then you’d like to have a beach cruiser with fenders. The bicycles are styled like those popular in the 1950's - with fat tires that can handle sand, wide handlebars, comfortable seats and foot brakes. They have sort of become part of the lifestyle in places where people go surfing, like Southern California or at least a place that in the summertime you can have a good surfing fantasy. Anywhere near a lake or a stream will probably be alright.
Beach cruisers for adults can vary from 17 inch frame models or 19 inch frame models. The wheels for the men’s bikes are generally 26 inches. The height adjustment can be made by adjusting the level of the seat. Instead of hand brakes, you can have foot brakes, and don’t forget the front and rear reflectors, whitewall tires and fenders to protect you from mud spatters. By having oversized tires, from 1.5 to 2 inches wide, it’s easier to ride on rough terrain, and get a smoother more cushioned ride everywhere. Some of these bikes even have 2 ¼
Their appeal is their simplicity, appealing to those who have had enough of multi-geared bikes and technology all over the place. That’s why they are so comfortable, with their wide seats. I mean these seats are really wide and upholstered, with enough room for a decoration or two. You don’t need to have a mini-seat to crunch over.
Cruisers are retro-chic, but also have strong nostalgic appeal. It’s a throw back to the time when bicycling was more for family fun, rather than racing somewhere. Getting out, enjoying the lifestyle is the goal, not racing very fast, not being some sort of man-speed machine.
Very nice beach cruisers can sell for as little as $119, though don’t surprise if you end up springing for $199.99. That’s still a heck of a lot less then some road bike for a couple of grand . At such prices, almost anyone can ride in style. And if you want to make a splash, more expensive and exclusive models are available. They started a number of years ago with the Schwinn Cruiser. However, bicycles are a fairly easy item to assemble, this is not an automobile! So there are hundreds of brands to choose from.
Howard Giske writes about beach cruiser bikes at
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