NukeouT

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.

tsl

Waiting for Nightshade to spot this thread…

StephenH

A lot of the appeal is simplicity. I started riding a few years ago on a mountain bike, but it was a $100 mountain bike from Academy. The brakes and shifters needed constant adjustment and never seemed to be working quite right. So my Worksman cruiser was an upgrade, and was actually a reliable bike that I could ride every single day.

Efficiency isn't too important for a lot of riding. Bicycing is always more efficient than walking, so why does anybody ever walk anywhere?

JanMM

Excuse me, but where can I find the Beach Cruiser forum?

Nightshade

It would be better if this tread were to be moved to https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ier-quot-forum where cruisers are discussed.

That said, the American Cruiser(beach cruiser is the wrong name for these bike dreamed up by some dope smoking California dude) is the first bicycle enjoyed by the general public and is the grand dad of all the other types of bicycles sold today. So let's show some respect for the Cruiser since has been around so long.

This type of cycle was designed when not all roads were paved. In fact, many were dirt or gravel since no bike does well in pure sand. Only a robust heavy cycle had a prayer of lasting on those old roads.

Cruisers are for relaxed easy riding while getting from point A to point B.....wherever point A and B are.

Doohickie

Incorrect.

Commodus

Cuz they're pretty, that's enough reason. It's okay to go slow if you look good doing it.

Machka 

Why does there need to be a reason/advantage to having different types of bicycles? I own all sorts of bicycles (although not a beach cruiser at this point in time) because I want to own all sorts of different bicycles ... and I can own all sorts of different bicycles.


So?


Do you have statistics to back up your opinons here?

In your opinion, what is "riding our bicycles enough"? What quantity of cycling is "enough"?

Why should people get more into cycling, or encourage their friends to do so? Why is that important?


What is the "right direction"? What type of bicycle should people have or what type of cycling should people be doing?

MichaelW

Cruisers are good because you can ride, eat an ice cream and still look cool.

When I lived by the coast I played with the idea of a true beach cruiser that could ride through surf. I think you could do it with carbon belt drive and nylon/teflon bearings with some fat ballon tyres.
On my tour of Denmark, the coastal bike path has a 17 mile section along the beach. This is hard-packed by all the cars using the beach and I managed it with a full camping load on 32mm tyres.

Looigi

If you have to ask, you'll never understand.

That's what Harley riders say about riding Harleys anyway, and somehow it makes some kind of sense.

bikem

Because they are fun to ride. I have high end Road, mountian, cruiser and touring bike but my cruiser is my favorite and gets ridden the most.

Flying Merkel

Beach cruiser fill a need that no other bike does. They are better at slow speed pleasure riding than any other bike. Beach cruisers have cup holders, not water bottle brackets. I miss the one I pulled out of the dumpster a few years back. Just a delight to pull it out of the back yard and ride around the 'hood, to the liquor store, or even down to the beach. ALL bikes suck at riding sand.

Me and my my buddy were riding around San Clemente beach and a guy in his 7 series BMW with hot GF saw us go by, baskets loaded with beer & eats. Turned to his hot GF and told her, " THAT is cool". Right on dude- you got the point.

Attached is a picture of my Schwinn Jaguar performance cruiser. Mountain bike rims, seat and bars. Worked better than it should have. Only bike I've sold that i still miss.



What bike should would you have casual riders buy?

Nightshade

Please expand on just what is "incorrect"...............

himespau 

doohickie rides a highwheel?

Doohickie

That cruisers are the ancestors of all bikes? Get real.

bhop

Have you ever ridden a beach cruiser? They are not difficult to ride at all.. for their intended purpose anyway.. and people that own them generally seem to know what they're getting into, not to mention they're usually not the types to really take cycling to the next level (from my experiences) they are generally more of the 'relaxed beach bum' type.(again, from my own experiences) I personally don't own one, and probably never will, but i've ridden them and if you're just "cruising" around, they're fine.

FunkyStickman

You know what they say, if you have to ask... you'll never know.

Bicycles are not always about being fast and efficient.

Artkansas 

For one thing, beach cruisers are not intimidating. They are adult versions of children's bicycles of the '50s and '60s. And people remember their parents riding them.

I don't care for them. But my ex, that's all she wanted. She could relate to them.

steve0257

I ride for enjoyment and relaxation. I don't really care about high performance this or that. Cruisers can be a lot of fun to ride for shorter relatively flat rides.

e-Man

I got mine because it was easy to bring back from the dead and customize. It might not be the lightest, most technologically advanced thing out there, but I pieced it all together, painted it, and modified lights for it all by my lonesome. I get a sense of satisfaction when I take it out for a spin. Like others have said, its a very simplistic design, and hard to put into any further words why I enjoy it so much.

JonathanGennick 

I just wish I had a beach.

More seriously, some people just want an easy bike for cruising around the subdivision. Nothing at all wrong w/that.

I'd probably have one, except that my neighborhood is sort of built on a hill. I can't go any direction from my house without having to go uphill either leaving or returning. So my neighborhood cruiser is a single-speed mountain bike with slick tires and geometry that works better than a beach cruiser on the hills.

Cyclist0084

+1

rnorris

My neighborhoods are likewise too hilly for a singlespeed to be of much use for my aging knees, but was sure wishing I had one last week. I took my 15 year old cousin on a seaside camping trip and both of us had our beater MTBs with us. This particular park has trails and an almost 2 mile long surf beach, it was pure joy to blast along at the water's edge spraying foam from under the wheels, jumping logs. Cleaning the bikes afterward was less fun, I was wishing we had simpler bikes with no external brakes or cabling for that trip. Actually, a balloon tired kickback 2 speed bike with coaster brake would have been ideal.

Elvo

Do they make carbon fiber beach cruisers that have road wheel spacing? Thinking of putting my spare chinese carbon wheels on one.

caloso

They are also a fine choice for short, flat commutes, grocery runs, or pub/cafe hopping. Which explains why it's the most popular style of bike in Sactown.