Show me your cruiser.
Likes For coopman:
#1127
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere South
Posts: 1,677
Bikes: Most of my bikes are Single Speed Conversions
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 266 Post(s)
Liked 3,045 Times
in
1,012 Posts
#1128
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere South
Posts: 1,677
Bikes: Most of my bikes are Single Speed Conversions
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 266 Post(s)
Liked 3,045 Times
in
1,012 Posts
Swapped out the frame today . The blue Schwinn was too small for me .
Likes For OldCruiser:
#1129
Member
Here is one of my favorite Cruiser Bikes. It started out as an Electra Punk (2008). It has an alloy frame and a 3 piece crankset. The Punk paint job was not a selling point with me but these "tank" models were hard to find so I bought it. The first thing I did was paint it flat black. I rebuilt both wheels using the original rims. On the rear, I used a Nexus 8 speed internal gear hub. I don't remember if the Alfine 8 speed version was around then, but what I got was the Nexus version which used the Shimano Roller Brake. At first, I was not keen on the clunky looking roller brake, but after using these on multiple bikes over the years, I have come to believe these are good brakes and definitely better stopping than caliper brakes. On the front, I put a new hub for a disc brake rotor. These bikes did not come with a front brake at all, only a coaster brake on a Nexus 3 speed rear hub. I made a fork mount for a Shimano disc brake and with that and the roller brake installed, the bike had very good stopping power. The tires are the original 24 X 3.0 Fatti-O white wall versions. I made a shorty fender and added it to the front wheel. I added a headset extension with a medium high riser type handlebar because I like to ride in a vertical position. Various "Flame" decals gave it a vintage Hot Rod look IMHO. A Streamride "flame" seat completed the mods.
Likes For The Old Peddler:
#1132
Member
Did not weld it. This an alloy (aluminum) frame and fork. That would have required a TIG welder, which I did not have, and there is always the
danger that the thin metal might have warped. Instead, I drilled two holes and through bolted (SS cap screws) a piece of aluminum bar stock (threaded) to the
fork and then mounted the brake to that aluminum piece. That gave me the right spacing for the brake to fit the rotor. The Shimano disc brake comes with angled
washers that allow a good range of adjustment so the brake caliper and the rotor can be aligned easily.
disc brake mount detail
danger that the thin metal might have warped. Instead, I drilled two holes and through bolted (SS cap screws) a piece of aluminum bar stock (threaded) to the
fork and then mounted the brake to that aluminum piece. That gave me the right spacing for the brake to fit the rotor. The Shimano disc brake comes with angled
washers that allow a good range of adjustment so the brake caliper and the rotor can be aligned easily.
disc brake mount detail
Likes For The Old Peddler:
#1133
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Thornhill, Canada
Posts: 748
Bikes: United Motocross BMX, Specialized Langster, Giant OCR, Marin Muirwoods, Globe Roll2, VROD:)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 236 Post(s)
Liked 401 Times
in
243 Posts
The Old Peddler.....nice job on the brake mount! I wish I had your mechanical aptitude to do the same on my Cruiser.....
#1134
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere South
Posts: 1,677
Bikes: Most of my bikes are Single Speed Conversions
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 266 Post(s)
Liked 3,045 Times
in
1,012 Posts
My latest build . Coaster brake , 700c SS Cruiser .
updated Pic . Swapped out the stem for a taller one which moved the bars forward a little giving me more top bar length . More space between me and the bars . Removed the rear rack to give a cleaner look and to help keep this one as light as possible.
updated Pic . Swapped out the stem for a taller one which moved the bars forward a little giving me more top bar length . More space between me and the bars . Removed the rear rack to give a cleaner look and to help keep this one as light as possible.
Last edited by OldCruiser; 08-02-20 at 04:27 PM.
Likes For OldCruiser:
#1135
Senior Member
Does this classify as a cruiser? Mostly original 80s Gazelle with some minor modifications.
Likes For GTBruiser:
#1137
Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 76
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20 Post(s)
Liked 39 Times
in
17 Posts
This showed up in my yard one day...
...I love the shape of this step thru frame, but, it was hidden underneath the old surfboard rack, rear fender, mismatched tank and handlebars.
Likes For GTBruiser:
#1141
Member
Super Cruiser
This is my daily ride. This is quite the opposite of a single speed beach bike but I still think of it as a " Cruiser". It was originally an Electra Townie 21D (2010) with a Suntour suspension fork, rim brakes, two derailers (3 X 7), and 26 x 2.0 tires. I changed it to have a Shimano Alfine 11 speed internal gear rear hub, disc brakes front and rear, Halo SAS rims, Schwalbe Big Apple 2.35 tires, Wellgo pedals, a Thudbuster seat post and recently a Cloud 9 anatomical saddle. Shimano had a bolt-on chain tensioner that allowed me to keep the front derailer for a total of 33 speeds. Now that may seem like a lot of gears and probably has some overlaps but I choose to use this as 3 sets of 11 gears. I pick the chain ring to suit the terrain. The 48T chain ring is for open roads where high speeds are the norm. The Alfine 11 has an extra low 1st gear which allows for standing starts without having to change the front derailer. The middle ring (38T) I find is good for urban travel where there are low speed limits, frequent intersections and traffic lights. The small chain ring (28T) works well for very low speeds, off road and hill climbing. The Alfine low gears give speeds similar to a mountain bike.
The Alfine 11 was an expensive hub at that time (cost more than the bike) but I felt this was a logical next step. I already was familiar with the Nexus 3, 7 and 8 speed hubs. The Alfine was setup for a disc brake but the Electra rear fork was not, so I had to make a mount to match the disc caliper to the hub rotor. The Suntour front fork already had bosses for the disc caliper, thus I only had to build a new wheel with a Surly disc brake hub. I was concerned about the reliability of the new 11 speed hub but I have never had a problem with it. It still shifts smoothly and easily with a flick of a finger even when standing still.
I feel I should mention the Thudbuster seat post. When I put that on the bike, I was very surprised how much of a difference it made in ride comfort. Along with the new Cloud 9 saddle I am a happy rider.
The Old Peddler
The Alfine 11 was an expensive hub at that time (cost more than the bike) but I felt this was a logical next step. I already was familiar with the Nexus 3, 7 and 8 speed hubs. The Alfine was setup for a disc brake but the Electra rear fork was not, so I had to make a mount to match the disc caliper to the hub rotor. The Suntour front fork already had bosses for the disc caliper, thus I only had to build a new wheel with a Surly disc brake hub. I was concerned about the reliability of the new 11 speed hub but I have never had a problem with it. It still shifts smoothly and easily with a flick of a finger even when standing still.
I feel I should mention the Thudbuster seat post. When I put that on the bike, I was very surprised how much of a difference it made in ride comfort. Along with the new Cloud 9 saddle I am a happy rider.
The Old Peddler
Likes For The Old Peddler:
#1142
I'm the anecdote.
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: S.E. Texas
Posts: 1,823
Bikes: '12 Schwinn, '13 Norco
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1110 Post(s)
Liked 1,176 Times
in
795 Posts
This is my daily ride. This is quite the opposite of a single speed beach bike but I still think of it as a " Cruiser". It was originally an Electra Townie 21D (2010) with a Suntour suspension fork, rim brakes, two derailers (3 X 7), and 26 x 2.0 tires. I changed it to have a Shimano Alfine 11 speed internal gear rear hub, disc brakes front and rear, Halo SAS rims, Schwalbe Big Apple 2.35 tires, Wellgo pedals, a Thudbuster seat post and recently a Cloud 9 anatomical saddle. Shimano had a bolt-on chain tensioner that allowed me to keep the front derailer for a total of 33 speeds. Now that may seem like a lot of gears and probably has some overlaps but I choose to use this as 3 sets of 11 gears. I pick the chain ring to suit the terrain. The 48T chain ring is for open roads where high speeds are the norm. The Alfine 11 has an extra low 1st gear which allows for standing starts without having to change the front derailer. The middle ring (38T) I find is good for urban travel where there are low speed limits, frequent intersections and traffic lights. The small chain ring (28T) works well for very low speeds, off road and hill climbing. The Alfine low gears give speeds similar to a mountain bike.
The Alfine 11 was an expensive hub at that time (cost more than the bike) but I felt this was a logical next step. I already was familiar with the Nexus 3, 7 and 8 speed hubs. The Alfine was setup for a disc brake but the Electra rear fork was not, so I had to make a mount to match the disc caliper to the hub rotor. The Suntour front fork already had bosses for the disc caliper, thus I only had to build a new wheel with a Surly disc brake hub. I was concerned about the reliability of the new 11 speed hub but I have never had a problem with it. It still shifts smoothly and easily with a flick of a finger even when standing still.
I feel I should mention the Thudbuster seat post. When I put that on the bike, I was very surprised how much of a difference it made in ride comfort. Along with the new Cloud 9 saddle I am a happy rider.
The Old Peddler
The Alfine 11 was an expensive hub at that time (cost more than the bike) but I felt this was a logical next step. I already was familiar with the Nexus 3, 7 and 8 speed hubs. The Alfine was setup for a disc brake but the Electra rear fork was not, so I had to make a mount to match the disc caliper to the hub rotor. The Suntour front fork already had bosses for the disc caliper, thus I only had to build a new wheel with a Surly disc brake hub. I was concerned about the reliability of the new 11 speed hub but I have never had a problem with it. It still shifts smoothly and easily with a flick of a finger even when standing still.
I feel I should mention the Thudbuster seat post. When I put that on the bike, I was very surprised how much of a difference it made in ride comfort. Along with the new Cloud 9 saddle I am a happy rider.
The Old Peddler
Likes For FiftySix:
#1143
Member
A Blast From the Past
My first Cruiser Bike. It is an Electra Rally Sport (2002). The paint is powder coat in anti-freeze green. Rear wheel has a Nexus 7 speed rear hub with coaster brake. Front wheel has a King disc brake hub and Shimano disc brake. Both tires are Fatti-O 24 X 3.0. Three piece crankset. High rise handlebar. Electra bike rack. Note: the simulated suspension forks were an Electra option.
The Old Peddler
The Old Peddler
Likes For FiftySix:
#1145
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: socal
Posts: 4,219
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 872 Post(s)
Liked 795 Times
in
603 Posts
Not a cruiser, but testament to the efficacy of a Thudbuster. Rode this on a very choppy fire road last night (twelve miles, about 1500' elevation gain). No problem with the terrain and even better, no soreness today.
Last edited by 2old; 08-16-20 at 03:29 PM.
Likes For 2old:
#1146
Rhapsodic Laviathan
#1147
Rhapsodic Laviathan
I thought I posted one in here.
Nel Lusso I made in to a ratrod. Has a fork from a 24" mtb and the front brake is a center pull. I never really got to finish it. More a boardtrack racer than cruiser.
#1148
Junior Member
here is my cruiserAttachment 316685
#1149
Member
Originally Posted by 2old: "Testament to the efficacy of a Thudbuster"
Yes indeed! I am a big fan of the Thudbuster seat post. That nice ride has saved my butt many times on rough bike paths.
The Old Peddler
Yes indeed! I am a big fan of the Thudbuster seat post. That nice ride has saved my butt many times on rough bike paths.
The Old Peddler
Likes For The Old Peddler:
#1150
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Valley Forge: Birthplace of Freedom
Posts: 1,298
Bikes: Novara Safari, CAAD9, WABI Classic, WABI Thunder
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 364 Post(s)
Liked 456 Times
in
239 Posts
Huffy Cranbrook from Wally World, bought it yesterday. Have it on Craigslist to flip since there is a huge shortage on them right now. Even if it doesn't sell I wouldn't mind keeping it for a while. I like the blue color.
When I got back into riding in 2008 I had an 80's Raleigh Beach Cruiser like this. Rode it for 9 months or so until I figured I would keep going. Then bought a geared hybrid.
Last edited by stevel610; 08-26-20 at 11:51 AM.