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Why cruiser?

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Beach Cruisers Do you love balloon tires and fenders? Do you love riding the simplicity of a single gear and coaster brakes or a single gear cluster? Do you love the classic curves in the tubing of a cruiser that takes you back to the 1950's and 1960's, stylistically? Here's your home! Welcome to the Beach Cruisers and Cruisers forum!

Why cruiser?

Old 11-03-20, 04:34 PM
  #1  
Elco
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Why cruiser? why not Beach-Bike?

no offence but? why cruiser ? why not BEACH BIKE ?
is it realy just the stance ...???
and a nice and low ratio?
i still didn't found out why? cruiser?

Last edited by Elco; 11-04-20 at 06:51 AM. Reason: title lenght
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Old 11-03-20, 05:09 PM
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Originally Posted by Elco
no offence but? why cruiser ? why not BEACH BIKE ?
is it realy just the stance ...???
and a nice and low ratio?
i still didn't find out why? cruiser?
Why does it matter?
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Old 11-03-20, 05:11 PM
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Because the vast majority of them are not ridden on or near a beach.

Same could probably be said for "mountain bikes", but that term was used to describe a new style of bike. The term cruiser has been around forever. Beach bike? I was a bike shop employee for ten years in the 70s & 80s and don't recall ever hearing the term back then.

But yeah, I'd also agree with why does it matter?

Last edited by DesmoDog; 11-03-20 at 05:16 PM.
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Old 11-03-20, 05:31 PM
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Who cares? As long as we both know what we're talking about.

Yes we use MTB in Florida, don't ask where the mountains are though.
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Old 11-04-20, 06:45 AM
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no real drama " me just wondering

Originally Posted by DesmoDog
Because the vast majority of them are not ridden on or near a beach.

Same could probably be said for "mountain bikes", but that term was used to describe a new style of bike. The term cruiser has been around forever. Beach bike? I was a bike shop employee for ten years in the 70s & 80s and don't recall ever hearing the term back then.

But yeah, I'd also agree with why does it matter?
yes like the mountain bike ...it doesn't realy matter ...
just hoping to find an easter egg.....
thanks ...cruiser sounds like the '70 era ..
uh beach bike ...was my thought
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Old 11-04-20, 06:49 AM
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Originally Posted by KennyFSU
Who cares? As long as we both know what we're talking about.

Yes we use MTB in Florida, don't ask where the mountains are though.
yes all terrain Bike " the name makes a lot more sense...
still the era and the style of the beach cruiser makes me wonder ...
no real drama the name cruiser- is just keeping me searching for an easter egg...
thanks people
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Old 11-04-20, 08:11 AM
  #7  
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Cruisers are CHEAP. They don’t need adjustments to a shifter. The brakes last forever. No cables to adjust. Just get on pedal forward to go, backwards to stop. There are a million videos to fix anything on a cruiser which consists of taking something apart, grease up, and put back together. They also ride silent no clicking of a chain between two gears. No brakes rubbing. Doesn’t get better than that.
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Old 11-04-20, 10:18 AM
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i hate to say : it probably has' something to do with coppers and their "CRUISER" ...

yeah coaster style no-nonsense system you could keep truckin' the big old rims with the big tires and never get a flat..
great also the fluid lines are so great to see ...
.and handling is' great sure thing, smooth like a baby's bottom..!
great to see and even better to handle...
the open ball bearing are epic ...the one piece crank sets are out of this world.
i love a great beach bike i should build me one.
i hate to say : it probably as got something to do with cop's ..and their " Cruiser" ...
the dutch MAKE Gazelle Holland was first a postal service the started producing their Bikes for their employees..
way back when they started...their company ..they made it to royal bike suplier.
so it probably 'has something to do with cop's on the beach. or something like this back in the '50 era ...
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Old 11-04-20, 11:47 AM
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It probably has most to do with how you sit on those things, including how low they are.
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Old 11-05-20, 07:08 AM
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I honestly never heard them referred to "beach cruisers" until they began categorizing other bikes as mountain, BMX or road bike . Growing up we just referred to bikes by the number of gears or gender, "10 Speed" was always a road bike, Stingray was anything with a banana seat and could be had in a 3 or 5 speeds, townies and cruisers were just "regular bikes".
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Old 11-05-20, 07:39 AM
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Bicycle cruisers are more related to motorcycle cruisers, than police cruisers or naval cruisers.

It's all about the intended use of cruising "for pleasure" and therefore the design of the bike. Lower speeds, relaxed riding, seeing and being seen, no pretense of going fast or racing.

Last edited by FiftySix; 11-05-20 at 07:44 AM.
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Old 11-06-20, 05:40 AM
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More comfortable to ride! Great styling.
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Old 11-06-20, 06:00 AM
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oh yeah just regularly called CRUISER ..

now that makes most sense! ...when other particular bikes where designed.
they called out different names for different bikes ...
yeah like other cruisers always would have those '70 lines on the frame!.
like the muscle cars from the '60 ..being called coupé or cruiser ..and sedan
yeah that makes most sense !⚜



Originally Posted by jsinnard
I honestly never heard them referred to "beach cruisers" until they began categorizing other bikes as mountain, BMX or road bike . Growing up we just referred to bikes by the number of gears or gender, "10 Speed" was always a road bike, Stingray was anything with a banana seat and could be had in a 3 or 5 speeds, townies and cruisers were just "regular bikes".
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Old 11-10-20, 08:30 PM
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Cruising is a state of mind
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Old 11-11-20, 10:16 PM
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Originally Posted by Unshore
Cruising is a state of mind
My mind is in a constant state of cruising. 😎👍

Last edited by ilikebikes; 11-12-20 at 03:15 PM.
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Old 12-24-20, 06:49 AM
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yeah!
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Old 01-03-21, 01:25 PM
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Never heard of "beach bike" as a kid, and, well, my bike says "Schwinn Cruiser" right on it.
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Old 01-06-21, 11:20 AM
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Thank you for this thread.

I have to admit, I've never been inclined to ride or own a cruiser bike. But I realize that's my loss.

Cruising, for lack of a better term, represents a kind of relaxed and unpretentious form of local practical cycling.

You need elbow room to cruise. They aren't very good for climbing long steep hills. You simply have to get off and walk.

It takes a great deal of space to store a cruiser leaning on a kick-stand. Plus they are pretty heavy and the idea of hanging them up doesn't go along with the cruising attitude, I mean, the idea of enjoying a cruise and then having to store or park the bike. In some urban setting there's not much storage space. I envision the cruiser just being left somewhere with a plastic covered chain around the front wheel and frame in an ideal suburban situation.

Now I'm really interested.

Since I seem to have divorced myself from triple ring bikes in 2020, and am getting more mature and older, the relaxed notion of cruising a beach cliff bike path towards the random joys of chatting with tourists, hanging out in coffee shops, to laying on a beach by the sea or a lake with a beach towel, and stopping by a brewery, sounds so wonderful during this pandemic and winter.

I could see that just by looking at a cruising bicycle I could invoke an invitation to a panoply of romantic scenarios which would definitely include bikini's and flip-flops, straw hats and snorkeling gear. Just that in itself is beautiful.

Compared to taking a look at one of my mountain bikes, that's just incredible. One look at one of my single speed bikes and I see maximum torque, gnarly descents, all-day epics, mountain top vistas for miles, simple durability and self sufficiency, and small groups and solitary rides, being immersed in nature and possibly consumed by it, and danger.

The cruiser, bubble gum, Hollywood movies, flirting, smiles and giggles, the smell of suntan lotion, and coconut oil.
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Old 01-07-21, 05:08 AM
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Originally Posted by Elco
no offence but? why cruiser ? why not BEACH BIKE ?
is it realy just the stance ...???
and a nice and low ratio?
i still didn't found out why? cruiser?
There are posts that are relevant and those that are not. This might belong to the later.
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Old 01-07-21, 06:32 AM
  #20  
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Originally Posted by Elco
no offence but? why cruiser ? why not BEACH BIKE ?
is it realy just the stance ...???
and a nice and low ratio?
i still didn't found out why? cruiser?
Because most of the world doesn't live where there's a beach? Sometimes there's accuracy in a name.
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Old 01-09-21, 07:18 AM
  #21  
Elco
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easy moded

i have had some run up's with the one-piece crankset's n the past , with no succes
i did not know the open ball-bearing mech is really one of the best to repair or even modify if it's really necessary.

even if it is really necessary ...thats my main aim right here .....
the bikes i tried to fix where rusted or just KAPUT.. and it would de-motivate one to keep up the goodwork and try to fix the broken bike...and get rid of rust whilst at it.
when changing a one-piece crankset
there's just a few things to keep in mind ...in case of interchanging gear.
the size of the bearing...the size of frame mount.or bearing cup's inside the frame.
and you'll have to take of a padle at one side of the crank to remove the bearing ..
to put new grease you'll don't have to take of the padle.
and the front sprocket ..has to fit ...there some difference in sprocket tooth assembly..
some have a hole to fit a peg ....some don't...

when things are broke down and need a bit of grease and good lovin' to work properly.
now-a-days broke stuf doesn't want to get fixed ....the big company's don't want you to.
or at the least they' don't put in any effort in making bikes last longer ..for regular abuse...
it's like art, and the tech on it don't make it easier for regular folk's very much like myself :
who just want bikes to be working " to keep the bikes on the road "
so now i have been building these crank mech's up and runnin' ..
because it's the best system to overhaul...you'll find the one piece-crank on just about any bike..
including kids- bike's ..BMX..even the beach-cruiser comes with the open ball-bearing mech on it ...AWESOME!

Last edited by Elco; 01-09-21 at 09:51 AM.
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Old 05-20-21, 07:49 PM
  #22  
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it glides therefore you...cruise
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Old 05-22-21, 06:38 AM
  #23  
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Its really a great fun
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Old 05-22-21, 01:56 PM
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In the 1950s and early 1960s, the common beach cruiser was called a “middle weight”. Things are always changing.
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Old 06-01-21, 06:08 PM
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Originally Posted by surveyor6
In the 1950s and early 1960s, the common beach cruiser was called a “middle weight”. Things are always changing.
They really were just your "generic" conventional bike back then, that wasn't typically specialized for anything other than the possibility of being really ornate. The term most likely came from their use on beaches, when they by large fell out of favor everywhere else by the general populus(like real SUVs), thus were had fairly cheap by bike rental stands on beaches to ride on the boardwalks as a simple easy to use, slow, low maintainance bike. Something to cruise on the beach. The only other place they seem to be popular by numbers is in the hood. Imagine the white flight if they were called ghetto cruisers, lmao.
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