Beach Cruisers - why do they exist?
05-01-11, 03:45 PM
#51
Bike ≠ Car ≠ Ped.
I bought my wife an Electra Townie a few weeks ago (the closest thing in my bunch to a beach cruiser), and I swear, after riding it for two minutes I wanted one of my own. Made me feel like a kid again.
The last time I rode at "the beach" -- actually it was the boardwalk at Ocean City -- my Cannondale road bike felt like the wrong thing to use. The deep saddle-to-bar drop negated most sightseeing, I didn't really have anything to carry stuff (not necessarily the bike's fault), and the clipless pedals weren't exactly boardwalk-friendly. But a Townie, with its laid-back posture and a rack or basket, would have been perfect for that kind of low-speed meandering.
The last time I rode at "the beach" -- actually it was the boardwalk at Ocean City -- my Cannondale road bike felt like the wrong thing to use. The deep saddle-to-bar drop negated most sightseeing, I didn't really have anything to carry stuff (not necessarily the bike's fault), and the clipless pedals weren't exactly boardwalk-friendly. But a Townie, with its laid-back posture and a rack or basket, would have been perfect for that kind of low-speed meandering.
05-01-11, 05:49 PM
#52
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I see a lot of beach cruisers in my area (because I am near a beach), I am not sure if it's because of the name of the bike, I have not ridden one, maybe will try one. Those who own beach cruisers are they easier to ride on the beach than say a mountain bike on the sand?
05-02-11, 01:20 PM
#53
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I see a lot of beach cruisers in my area (because I am near a beach), I am not sure if it's because of the name of the bike, I have not ridden one, maybe will try one. Those who own beach cruisers are they easier to ride on the beach than say a mountain bike on the sand?
__________________
My preferred bicycle brand is.......WORKSMAN CYCLES
I dislike clipless pedals on any city bike since I feel they are unsafe.
Originally Posted by krazygluon
Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred, which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?
My preferred bicycle brand is.......WORKSMAN CYCLES
I dislike clipless pedals on any city bike since I feel they are unsafe.
Originally Posted by krazygluon
Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred, which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?
05-02-11, 06:58 PM
#54
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i noticed that my mountain bike tires sink into the sand. I have the knobby tires, so the cruiser tires will do better
05-03-11, 02:40 PM
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And then they'll end up on the sidewalk, and going the wrong way in traffic, and they won't know how to change a tire when it goes flat, and they'll keep riding in the rain without appropriate tires or fenders, without lights or visibility gear, going too fast, while talking on their cell phones and applying make-up...
Not to mention when the parents/government get into it, and then your bicycle has to have airbags!
05-10-11, 02:31 PM
#56
Senior Member
LOL - If I told you how much it cost me, you'd *really* go crazy. (Hint: the fork cost more than the frame. Come to think of it, the fork cost more than the rest of the bike.)
(yes, I'm jealous and want one... there, I said it, OK? 
)
03-01-19, 02:27 PM
#57
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My Personal Opinion of My Beach Cruiser Exp
Yeah, I currently own a beach cruiser and have owned beach cruisers for the majority of my life and I can 100% understand where the original poster is coin from.
When I was a kid I had a beacvcruiaer cause I live in California and they are everywhere, but while I loved biking, I struggled hard to figure out why.l, ebcause I hated struggling to get an inch of speed out of the annoying bike that would never see anything other than pavement and sidewalk.
When I became a teen I wanted a faster bike, so I went to Target and because I didn't know the difference and the vast majority of bikes are beach cruisers from what I could tell, I got another beach cruiser and dlfaced the same problem of loving loving getting places a bit faster then walking, but I was always left drenched in sweat an old stayed home rather then going out so I didn't have to explain why I needed a ride when I had a bike. (Because I hated my bike was the answer)
I went a long couple years with the not riding, until I was at my friend's house and they wanted to go to the store. I repuctreluc got on a siblings bik and was surprised how well it road. Was the first time I was ever told that not all bikes are the same. I then got the same bike which I enjoyed for most of college until it was stolen one day and my dad seeking to fix the problem bought me a clbeach cruiser. When check is currently riding out of social obligation only. (I was told by mother to just accept it and save up for a car) I love riding, but having known a bike her than the beach cruiser, I can truly say that I hate it with every fiber of my being and I wish it weren't as popular as it is so that it's not the first thing parents buy their children. (Every oid I knew who had a bike had a beach cruiser, which is I can personally say for myself and some of my friends who I tried to encourage to ride with me, beach cruisers give riding a bad name, none of my friends ever road with me or got a bike because the effort to make a beach cruiser work outside of the beach was not worth the couple extra minutes getting from point A to B.
When I was a kid I had a beacvcruiaer cause I live in California and they are everywhere, but while I loved biking, I struggled hard to figure out why.l, ebcause I hated struggling to get an inch of speed out of the annoying bike that would never see anything other than pavement and sidewalk.
When I became a teen I wanted a faster bike, so I went to Target and because I didn't know the difference and the vast majority of bikes are beach cruisers from what I could tell, I got another beach cruiser and dlfaced the same problem of loving loving getting places a bit faster then walking, but I was always left drenched in sweat an old stayed home rather then going out so I didn't have to explain why I needed a ride when I had a bike. (Because I hated my bike was the answer)
I went a long couple years with the not riding, until I was at my friend's house and they wanted to go to the store. I repuctreluc got on a siblings bik and was surprised how well it road. Was the first time I was ever told that not all bikes are the same. I then got the same bike which I enjoyed for most of college until it was stolen one day and my dad seeking to fix the problem bought me a clbeach cruiser. When check is currently riding out of social obligation only. (I was told by mother to just accept it and save up for a car) I love riding, but having known a bike her than the beach cruiser, I can truly say that I hate it with every fiber of my being and I wish it weren't as popular as it is so that it's not the first thing parents buy their children. (Every oid I knew who had a bike had a beach cruiser, which is I can personally say for myself and some of my friends who I tried to encourage to ride with me, beach cruisers give riding a bad name, none of my friends ever road with me or got a bike because the effort to make a beach cruiser work outside of the beach was not worth the couple extra minutes getting from point A to B.
03-01-19, 02:47 PM
#58
Banned
^^^ Tl, Dr, not enough spaces
If you live at the beach, life is unhurried ... now you can buy a surfboard rack for your bike too..
If you live at the beach, life is unhurried ... now you can buy a surfboard rack for your bike too..
03-01-19, 03:33 PM
#59
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I simply cannot fathom why anybody would be different than me in any way. Why is it that people can enjoy things I wouldn't enjoy? It just doesn't make sense.
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03-01-19, 09:56 PM
#61
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The only thing I don’t like about beach cruisers is that every bike with upright bars is now deemed a cruiser, not matter what riding characteristics they have.
The are fun on relaxed rides. Did a bike tour in New Orleans on one.
The are fun on relaxed rides. Did a bike tour in New Orleans on one.
03-01-19, 10:29 PM
#62
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When I lived in New Orleans in the mid-1980s, I had a cruiser with slick tires. Given the horrible state of the roads at the time and the near total lack of hills, it was probably the most efficient type of bike for the purpose in that era.
03-03-19, 07:03 AM
#63
Senior Member
Walking and running are less efficient than beach cruisers, but lots of people enjoy riding and walking. Lots of people still like to ride fixies or single-speed bikes, and these are not as efficient as multi-geared road bikes.
The word "beach cruiser" appeared in the late 70's, a new name for a bike which has been around since the 30's. The reason these bikes have been popular for so long is that they are simple, comfortable (for shorter rides), and are easy to ride. The big tires are great for dirt roads, or sand-covered boardwalks, the bars were made wide so one could hang one's newspaper bag on them, and have enough leverage to steer safely.
A hard-tail mountain bike is a lightweight beach cruiser with more gears. All that said, I don't currently own a beach cruiser, though I am on the hunt for one. I now have a home on the beach, so I have a genuine excuse to buy one. Unfortunately, here in Japan a genuine US made Schwinn is hard to come buy, and the Asian copies start rusting literally within 24 hours in the salt air.
The word "beach cruiser" appeared in the late 70's, a new name for a bike which has been around since the 30's. The reason these bikes have been popular for so long is that they are simple, comfortable (for shorter rides), and are easy to ride. The big tires are great for dirt roads, or sand-covered boardwalks, the bars were made wide so one could hang one's newspaper bag on them, and have enough leverage to steer safely.
A hard-tail mountain bike is a lightweight beach cruiser with more gears. All that said, I don't currently own a beach cruiser, though I am on the hunt for one. I now have a home on the beach, so I have a genuine excuse to buy one. Unfortunately, here in Japan a genuine US made Schwinn is hard to come buy, and the Asian copies start rusting literally within 24 hours in the salt air.
03-03-19, 09:10 AM
#64
faster downhill
check this out! this cat rode his beach cruiser bike across the country. now that's an accomplishment, I wonder if the TS could ride any bike cross country?
KENNY DO IT - A Cross Country Beach Cruiser Journey for Better Health and Quality of Life - Main
KENNY DO IT - A Cross Country Beach Cruiser Journey for Better Health and Quality of Life - Main
03-03-19, 11:54 AM
#65
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Walking and running are less efficient than beach cruisers, but lots of people enjoy riding and walking. Lots of people still like to ride fixies or single-speed bikes, and these are not as efficient as multi-geared road bikes.
The word "beach cruiser" appeared in the late 70's, a new name for a bike which has been around since the 30's. The reason these bikes have been popular for so long is that they are simple, comfortable (for shorter rides), and are easy to ride. The big tires are great for dirt roads, or sand-covered boardwalks, the bars were made wide so one could hang one's newspaper bag on them, and have enough leverage to steer safely.
A hard-tail mountain bike is a lightweight beach cruiser with more gears. All that said, I don't currently own a beach cruiser, though I am on the hunt for one. I now have a home on the beach, so I have a genuine excuse to buy one. Unfortunately, here in Japan a genuine US made Schwinn is hard to come buy, and the Asian copies start rusting literally within 24 hours in the salt air.
The word "beach cruiser" appeared in the late 70's, a new name for a bike which has been around since the 30's. The reason these bikes have been popular for so long is that they are simple, comfortable (for shorter rides), and are easy to ride. The big tires are great for dirt roads, or sand-covered boardwalks, the bars were made wide so one could hang one's newspaper bag on them, and have enough leverage to steer safely.
A hard-tail mountain bike is a lightweight beach cruiser with more gears. All that said, I don't currently own a beach cruiser, though I am on the hunt for one. I now have a home on the beach, so I have a genuine excuse to buy one. Unfortunately, here in Japan a genuine US made Schwinn is hard to come buy, and the Asian copies start rusting literally within 24 hours in the salt air.
beach cruisers? well if i lived in the city, probably get a lot of use. for the rest of us, well our rides may go on for many miles and hours. as a kid though, that was all we had. cheap tanks that lasted forever.
03-03-19, 04:23 PM
#66
Full Member
When I was surfing back in the day I would have loved to have had a cruiser for my board.
03-22-22, 11:23 PM
#67
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I just don't understand why so many people spend money on vintage and new ones to ride them around. I see a whole bunch, especially around the beach towns of LA.
Is there a reason/advantage to having one as opposed to any other type of bike: road, touring, fixie, mountain, ect. ?
My friend, who owns one, even told me the other day that his Beach Cruiser sucks at biking over sand. I just feel, that they are a fad, and people buy them to look cool in front of others. Most importantly, they are not efficient, and lead people to believe that cycling is hard in general. Therefore they don't ride their bikes enough, and are less likely to get more into cycling, or encourage their friends to do so.
This is just my current opinion based on what I know. I am starting this thread so I can better understand why these bikes exist and in such huge numbers. At the same time even though I don't understand it, I am still happy for those of you who ride cruisers, because that's already a step in the right direction and you are free to like what you like.
Is there a reason/advantage to having one as opposed to any other type of bike: road, touring, fixie, mountain, ect. ?
My friend, who owns one, even told me the other day that his Beach Cruiser sucks at biking over sand. I just feel, that they are a fad, and people buy them to look cool in front of others. Most importantly, they are not efficient, and lead people to believe that cycling is hard in general. Therefore they don't ride their bikes enough, and are less likely to get more into cycling, or encourage their friends to do so.
This is just my current opinion based on what I know. I am starting this thread so I can better understand why these bikes exist and in such huge numbers. At the same time even though I don't understand it, I am still happy for those of you who ride cruisers, because that's already a step in the right direction and you are free to like what you like.
03-23-22, 07:51 AM
#68
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Dyno glide by Gt
Enough said.
rides better than it looks.
rides better than it looks.
03-23-22, 08:36 AM
#69
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Cheap, dead simple, near-zero maintenance, and people with little cycling experience can ride them easily.
For cruising short distances around a flat beach town (or any flat area), they seem like a no-brainer to me.
For cruising short distances around a flat beach town (or any flat area), they seem like a no-brainer to me.
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03-23-22, 10:54 AM
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I just don't understand why so many people spend money on vintage and new ones to ride them around. I see a whole bunch, especially around the beach towns of LA.
Is there a reason/advantage to having one as opposed to any other type of bike: road, touring, fixie, mountain, ect. ?
My friend, who owns one, even told me the other day that his Beach Cruiser sucks at biking over sand. I just feel, that they are a fad, and people buy them to look cool in front of others. Most importantly, they are not efficient, and lead people to believe that cycling is hard in general. Therefore they don't ride their bikes enough, and are less likely to get more into cycling, or encourage their friends to do so.
This is just my current opinion based on what I know. I am starting this thread so I can better understand why these bikes exist and in such huge numbers. At the same time even though I don't understand it, I am still happy for those of you who ride cruisers, because that's already a step in the right direction and you are free to like what you like.
Is there a reason/advantage to having one as opposed to any other type of bike: road, touring, fixie, mountain, ect. ?
My friend, who owns one, even told me the other day that his Beach Cruiser sucks at biking over sand. I just feel, that they are a fad, and people buy them to look cool in front of others. Most importantly, they are not efficient, and lead people to believe that cycling is hard in general. Therefore they don't ride their bikes enough, and are less likely to get more into cycling, or encourage their friends to do so.
This is just my current opinion based on what I know. I am starting this thread so I can better understand why these bikes exist and in such huge numbers. At the same time even though I don't understand it, I am still happy for those of you who ride cruisers, because that's already a step in the right direction and you are free to like what you like.
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