Do you guys ever actually ride on the beach?
08-01-17, 02:24 PM
#52
Senior Member
It's good to read many beach cruisers see the beach. I've a
4 yr old Bildabike (aluminum frame) that rarely rolls on the beach and a 3G cruiser (rescued from a trash pile) for beach rides. I live 2 blocks from the beach on Isle of Palms.
Post-ride maintenance: fresh water mist/rinse being mindful around hubs/headset/bottom bracket, spray wax, wipe dry, WD 40 to diplace moisture on moving parts, silicone spray on other exposed metals (WD 40 evaporates too quickly). I also switched to KMC rustproof chains on wife's Bildabike and my 2 cruisers. Love these chains.
Aside from buying a cruiser with sealed bearings does anyone else have good ideas for beach dwelling cruisers?
4 yr old Bildabike (aluminum frame) that rarely rolls on the beach and a 3G cruiser (rescued from a trash pile) for beach rides. I live 2 blocks from the beach on Isle of Palms.
Post-ride maintenance: fresh water mist/rinse being mindful around hubs/headset/bottom bracket, spray wax, wipe dry, WD 40 to diplace moisture on moving parts, silicone spray on other exposed metals (WD 40 evaporates too quickly). I also switched to KMC rustproof chains on wife's Bildabike and my 2 cruisers. Love these chains.
Aside from buying a cruiser with sealed bearings does anyone else have good ideas for beach dwelling cruisers?
When I've ridden on the sand I just put the bike away like any other day after a ride. With the miles I ride (3-5k per year) replacing chains and re-lubing the wheels and BB is just a matter of time. If I had to do all that work after the ride, I wouldn't want to ride on the sand! Occasionally I'll take the chain off and give it a good soaking but chains are cheap, why bother. My time is becoming too valuable to mess with cleaning, just swap it out.
08-02-17, 12:43 PM
#53
Senior Member
That all sounds like a lot of work! I'm lazy and come to love the rusty patina. When I've ridden on the sand I just put the bike away like any other day after a ride. With the miles I ride (3-5k per year) replacing chains and re-lubing the wheels and BB is just a matter of time. If I had to do all that work after the ride, I wouldn't want to ride on the sand! Occasionally I'll take the chain off and give it a good soaking but chains are cheap, why bother. My time is becoming too valuable to mess with cleaning, just swap it out.
When I've ridden on the sand I just put the bike away like any other day after a ride. With the miles I ride (3-5k per year) replacing chains and re-lubing the wheels and BB is just a matter of time. If I had to do all that work after the ride, I wouldn't want to ride on the sand! Occasionally I'll take the chain off and give it a good soaking but chains are cheap, why bother. My time is becoming too valuable to mess with cleaning, just swap it out.Anyone have a portable repair stand they've used and recommend?
08-22-17, 09:10 AM
#54
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That portion that went from Portland, along and behind Shawnee Golf Course over to Shawnee Park has been shut down for years now (I'm sure the golfers are happy about getting rid of the rabble on their bikes). I guess the city just didn't want to pay to keep the paved trail cleaned anymore. It was such a nice section too.
that last time though a few years back, the trail dissapeared compleatly. i ended up, like i said, in an area where it looked like mountain bikers probaly played around in the sand. but i couldn't find the trail out going west. i ended up kinda just nowhere behind the gold course and had to wade through tall grass 'til i found the trail again kinda at that point where the golf course fence is. where they added the big barracade.
haven't ridden the riverwalk in a few years (part health, part time). they seem to have given up on that section. i wish they'd try something to bring that part back.
08-29-17, 01:27 PM
#55
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I think I've bought a chain maybe twice...maybe it was used one time.
What is the wax for anyway? I did that once, because it was 35 years old and a gift to someone.
The nearest sand is at Lucky Peak reservoir and I've never ridden there.
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08-29-17, 08:54 PM
#56
Senior Member
Water beads up and rolls off waxed metal faster. Less water=Less salt. But I use it because like the way carnauba car wax makes my bike smell.
09-03-17, 07:24 PM
#57
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Oh nevermind.
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10-08-17, 06:49 PM
#60
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My beach bike is a folding MTB for storage reasons. No idea how long it will last, but I'm using my fathers trick of spraying the whole thing with silicone spray before folding it up and putting it away. A recent mishap caused it to be submerged in the ocean just above the bottom bracket and axles for a few moments, no idea how much damage was done. Will know in a few weeks.
10-09-17, 08:16 PM
#61
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Not near a beach
I am at least six hours from the beach. I consider my "beach cruiser" to be just a comfortable bike with a retro look.
11-03-17, 10:45 PM
#62
Enjoying the ride
Never, have enough trouble keeping rust off my bike without the added hassle of sea water
Regards
Rod
Regards
Rod
07-14-19, 07:29 PM
#63
Newbie
Yes. Ponce Inlet, Florida. When we are there I ride daily. I like to ride early before it gets too hot, but will ride on the beach later in the day when the tide is lower. If it's too hot, I'll park the bike and take a dip in the ocean, cool off and ride some more.
07-15-19, 12:56 PM
#64
Senior Member
I ride New Smyrna Beach between Ponce Inlet and Canaveral National Seashore on a regular basis. Early mornings are best to avoid the heat in the summer and the wind can get rather stiff later in the day. However, much of the 20 miles or so in that stretch is not easily rideable at (or near) high tide due to the soft sugar sand up near the dunes and seawalls so I try and time my rides with the tides. The rest of the tide cycle rewards with nice hard packed sand for the entire stretch. On occasion I ride up north of Ponce into Daytona Beach as well.
I've been riding on the beach in this area since the 60's. Typically 10-15 miles per day. Some days as much as 25 miles.
I picked up a couple of Jamis Earth Cruiser 1's a couple of years ago at Bob's in Port Orange. Since they are essentially all alloy construction I just hose/rinse them off after each ride and store them inside out of the salt air. Over 2 years of use and many hundreds of miles and they are like new - even the chains aren't rusty.
Near Low tide...
Ponce Inlet - south side looking north...
I've been riding on the beach in this area since the 60's. Typically 10-15 miles per day. Some days as much as 25 miles.
I picked up a couple of Jamis Earth Cruiser 1's a couple of years ago at Bob's in Port Orange. Since they are essentially all alloy construction I just hose/rinse them off after each ride and store them inside out of the salt air. Over 2 years of use and many hundreds of miles and they are like new - even the chains aren't rusty.
Near Low tide...
Ponce Inlet - south side looking north...
Last edited by dbf909; 07-15-19 at 01:20 PM.
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07-15-19, 01:24 PM
#65
Newbie
Somebody in our condo bought 4 Earth Cruisers. 2 male, 2 female. I'm just starting out but I'm up to about 7-8 miles per day, mostly from North Turn to the lighthouse park area and around the neighborhoods and marinas. Occasionally I'll ride on the beach. Looking forward to moving down full time, probably the middle of next year...then it's on.
07-15-19, 09:42 PM
#68
Senior Member
Nice ride.
I've been going to Daytona since the early 60's with my family for summer vacation. Then in '84 I moved to South FL and have lived here ever since. However, I bought a place on the beach in New Smyrna in 1991. The area has changed quite a bit in the last 50 years (few places haven't) but I still love it. I spend a lot of weekends and a few full weeks there throughout the year. Unfortunately, its a 3.5 hour drive each way so it isn't as convenient as I wish it was - it's a bit of a commitment to get in the car and go.
I mostly ride the beach but only recently have discovered a few hidden places around town off the beach that are fun to explore.
I've been going to Daytona since the early 60's with my family for summer vacation. Then in '84 I moved to South FL and have lived here ever since. However, I bought a place on the beach in New Smyrna in 1991. The area has changed quite a bit in the last 50 years (few places haven't) but I still love it. I spend a lot of weekends and a few full weeks there throughout the year. Unfortunately, its a 3.5 hour drive each way so it isn't as convenient as I wish it was - it's a bit of a commitment to get in the car and go.
I mostly ride the beach but only recently have discovered a few hidden places around town off the beach that are fun to explore.
Last edited by dbf909; 07-15-19 at 09:46 PM.
07-16-19, 05:05 PM
#70
Senior Member
My neighborhood streets are my beach.
07-17-19, 10:17 AM
#72
Junior Member
I have ridden on the beach for years. I just check the tides and ride only at low tide on the hard packed sand and not in the water. You have to push the bike thru the soft sand to get to the hard packed sand. Last beach ride was from Patrick AFB to Port Canaveral, about 13 miles. I live about 6 miles from the Atlantic Ocean and about 10 miles from Port Canaveral. I always wash off the bike after a beach ride.
Enjoy
Em
Enjoy
Em
07-17-19, 08:26 PM
#73
Senior Member
I spent four days and nights over the forth of July long weekend at the beach at a friends house..
We rode twenty to twenty six miles every day riding on the beach or on the beach trail. It was fabulous!
We rode twenty to twenty six miles every day riding on the beach or on the beach trail. It was fabulous!
07-31-19, 03:53 PM
#75
Junior Member
Never have taken my bike to the beach (about a 40 minute drive over the Santa Cruz mountains). I envy those with easier access. Maybe someday my wife and I will move even closer to the coast, which we love to visit. I think I'd prefer to ride on a paved trail, though, and keep the bike further from the water.
The local creek trail has been my favorite route. About 20 miles total, with a net elevation change of about 300 feet. Much more practical for me (I was in my 40's and 50's when I was doing it regularly) after having a Shimano Nexus 7-speed IGH installed.
The local creek trail has been my favorite route. About 20 miles total, with a net elevation change of about 300 feet. Much more practical for me (I was in my 40's and 50's when I was doing it regularly) after having a Shimano Nexus 7-speed IGH installed.
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