Why do the handlebars on beach cruisers stick up so far?
09-30-13, 07:32 PM
#1
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Why do the handlebars on beach cruisers stick up so far?
I don't remember them doing this in the old days. Is it as uncomfortable as it looks?
09-30-13, 07:48 PM
#2
My wife and I went to the beach last week and spent some time on beach cruisers. Those things are the most uncomfortable torture devices ever made. The seats are so low that the effort to pedal is easily doubled. I couldn't stand the bars. The idea that they are more "comfortable" is an outright lie.
09-30-13, 08:42 PM
#4
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I don't know why they do that, but people nowadays always point their cruiser handlebars way up. It looks terrible to my eye.
09-30-13, 11:25 PM
#5
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To give the other kid, the one riding on the bars, a seat and something to hold onto. I see this all the time at the beach.
09-30-13, 11:36 PM
#6
Riding like its 1990
They look better with real ape-hangers, but some people just cant seem to stop cranking them higher. Part of it is that when the bars are horizontal they are at about knee level and are just as uncomfortable.
Some higher brands sell them with more bend to the handles like an upright road bike
Some higher brands sell them with more bend to the handles like an upright road bike
10-01-13, 02:07 AM
#8
Senior Member
Like this???
I need fenders and a new rear wheel, I bent the rim from not knowing I had a broken spoke, I used to commute 14 miles a day on this thing when I first started riding, did this for a couple of months...
I need fenders and a new rear wheel, I bent the rim from not knowing I had a broken spoke, I used to commute 14 miles a day on this thing when I first started riding, did this for a couple of months...
10-01-13, 05:13 AM
#9
The ridiculous thing, is that all the companies still make them in only ONE size, and that size will not fit me, unless I jack the seat way up, and rotate the bars up to match. Giant made one a few years ago, but it was a multispeed hybrid thing "shaped" like a cruiser. THAT one fit me, but we sold it before I could even think of buying it. It was like $650 or some ridiculous price. It's just as well, since I can't stand big wide marshmallow saddles anymore. You'd be amazed to this day how many people think they need the widest saddle made, and are DEATHLY afraid of front brakes. We even sold one of those carbon forked single speed Specialized race mtb's a year or two ago, to this 20 year old kid. We could hardly keep a straight face as we bolted a C9 gel exercise bike saddle onto it. It looked ignorant, for lack of a better word.,,,,,BD
https://****************/wp-content/up...-city-bike.jpg
As for the Specialized single speed... Imagine this:
https://www.clevertraining.com/p-5024...el-saddle.aspx
On this:
https://www.eriksbikeshop.com/Assets/...C13277_mlg.jpg
https://****************/wp-content/up...-city-bike.jpg
As for the Specialized single speed... Imagine this:
https://www.clevertraining.com/p-5024...el-saddle.aspx
On this:
https://www.eriksbikeshop.com/Assets/...C13277_mlg.jpg
Last edited by Bikedued; 10-01-13 at 05:39 AM.
10-01-13, 05:22 AM
#10
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No. Those are actually sort of sweet looking. I was thinking more like this;
https://images03.olx.com/ui/5/44/57/1...1268853353.jpg
I can't see a comfortable hand position there but then I haven't tried one to see for myself.
10-01-13, 05:31 AM
#11
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I do wish someone would make one with a 58 cm seatpost. Lugged 531 would be pretty cool, too. Till then I've got an extra long cromoly BMX seatpost in my 1950 Schwinn. I have "boy scout" bars, not so different from Jamesj's and a Brooks B-72. Love them. It's a great setup for me.
I just seem to remember reading that as you raise the bars, you need to bring them back to compensate for your back being straighter. Rotating them up like this goes the other way so you have to reach way out. Then you have to twist your wrists way in to that wacky grip angle.
I just seem to remember reading that as you raise the bars, you need to bring them back to compensate for your back being straighter. Rotating them up like this goes the other way so you have to reach way out. Then you have to twist your wrists way in to that wacky grip angle.
10-01-13, 05:33 AM
#12
Banned.
Like, dude, because.
10-01-13, 05:43 AM
#13
Still learning
I was thinking more like this;
https://images03.olx.com/ui/5/44/57/1...1268853353.jpg
I can't see a comfortable hand position there but then I haven't tried one to see for myself.
https://images03.olx.com/ui/5/44/57/1...1268853353.jpg
I can't see a comfortable hand position there but then I haven't tried one to see for myself.
10-01-13, 05:58 AM
#14
Yeah, that is New Orleans style, it was the first place I ever saw the straight up cruiser bars. I think it was to deal with traffic, and missing car mirrors. Just my theory though.,,,,BD
10-01-13, 06:39 AM
#15
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10-01-13, 06:51 AM
#16
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Even new bike promotional photos show them this way.
10-01-13, 07:09 AM
#17
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It's so they won't hit your knees, or body when turning sharply. The old balloon tire bikes from the 1950's can hit your knees, or are very close. It depends on the bike and your position. You also need to have your hand closer to your waist when turning especially at slow speeds, for some that is uncomfortable.
10-01-13, 11:54 AM
#18
Senior Member
Ok I get what your talking about, my cruiser had bars similar to those that are posted on the other bike and they would hurt my wrists so I changed to the ape style hanger bars not to high but high enough to feel comfortable.
I have always wanted to do my cruiser up like this bike, I use it as my wallpaper.
I have always wanted to do my cruiser up like this bike, I use it as my wallpaper.
Last edited by jamesj; 10-01-13 at 12:04 PM.
10-01-13, 12:15 PM
#19
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10-01-13, 12:48 PM
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^Not to mention, those shoes are ridiculous with that outfit and that bike.
