BicycleBicycle

Hello everyone.
Once, when walking around, I saw a bike that looked like a beach cruiser, but the tubing diameter of the frame was small.
(Much like the diameter of a steel fixed gear).
The frames top tube curved like a beach cruiser, and had a very relaxed seatpost angle, but as soon as you went to the downtube it was straight like a SS or fixed.

The tires were also relatively skinny, somewhere between 28 and 32.
It was a single speed frame, btu the one I saw was upgraded with an internally geared 3 speed.

It was basically a hybrid between a SS/fixed and a beach cruiser.

Does anyone know the make/model of this bicycle?
I looked it up last time and it was less than $400, and the brand was a newish offbrand like purefix or critical cycles. (Not a huge company), but big enough to probably be made offshore and be under the $400 price range.
The bicycle was steel.

i have since lost the descritpion of the make/model when my phone go wiped.

Woudl anyone be able to help me find out what kind of bike this is?
THanks!

02Giant 

Google Images...happy hunting.

Philphine

probably wasn't an old Schwinn, but they made a 26" kind of like that. can't remember the name of it though.




edit: tried searching/goog'ling around. I think I'm thinking of a Schwinn speedster.

canklecat

Sounds like a Trek Sawyer, or a Detroit Bike Co. A-Type frame.

DrIsotope

700c conversion, perhaps? Just put 700c road wheels and tires on a typical 26" cruiser. Done.

canklecat

But that fork, tho'... just doesn't go with that curvalicious frame.

Or maybe it's just the right amount of wrong, I dunno. I'm still trying to get used to the notion of straight forks.

02Giant 

The BMX bars and stem don't go with either.

BicycleBicycle

It looked a lot like this
https://www.citygrounds.com/products...nt=31650049164

However, the top tube had a MUCH more pronounced curve (Making it scream beach cruiser), the rear triangle was tucked in a little more, and the headtube angle was just a tad tad bit steeper. (More towards an SS/fixed than a hybrid).
And it was set up as an SS.

The rest of the frame had similar geo to this one, straight bottom tube, and relaxed seat tube angle.

It wasn't a custom build, since when I saw it, I immediately took a picture of the brand, and saw it on sale as a complete.

I know that this looks like a normal hybrid, but this one seems like it has slightly more aggressive geometry, has a much cleaner look, and is a little more "snappy", and the other bike had bars with a lot of sweep like the bars on that hybrid.
It basically looked the same, but with the aforementioned changes.

BicycleBicycle

Almost like this, but with a single top tube, single bottom tube, curved forks, (But not beach cruiser curved)
and bars with a lot of sweep.

SquidPuppet

Is mine better?

SquidPuppet

Like this?

Philphine

that's a speedster isn't it? can't read the chain guard.

SquidPuppet

Yes. They made them with sloping top tubes like that for a few years and then with horizontal top tubes for a few years.

BicycleBicycle

It was definitely made recently. (single speed dropouts) 1 1/8" head tube.
steep headtube angle, but relaxed seat tube and compact geometry.

It was the coolest thing ever. It looked like you could relax and cruise along while sitting down, pushing forward/down with your toes rather than pushing back.
but it also looked very nimble, and snappy if you stood up.

02Giant 

Much better!

Philphine

I've seen them a few times at flea markets, but the frame is always really small for a 26". if I came across a larger frame (if they made them), it might make a fun "wolf in sheep's clothing" cruiser project.

SquidPuppet

The horizontal top tube frame was made in a 24" seat tube version. So that's a 61cm frame which is pretty big. Varsities came in 26" (66cm) which is jumbo. The chain stays have enough room to accept a two inch tire if you convert them to modern 26" (559) rims.

This is my 24 inch 1977 Speedster with 700c rims. I'm six foot tall and it's plenty roomy.






This is my 26 inch 1977 Varsity. I have to be really careful when straddling the top tube. Sucker is TALL.

BassNotBass

I see nothing wrong with this bike. It looks like a fun adult sized BMX with road wheels... something to be a hooligan on without breaking and is something that could easily have been built in the 70s and 80s.

Philphine

do you know if the curved top tube frames were available in larger sizes? that's what makes it seem "cruisery" (I just made that word up) to me.

SquidPuppet

I'm pretty sure they were only available in three sizes, called "26 inch" and "24 inch" and "20 inch". But those measurements aren't done the traditional way. I think the "Big" one is small, like you've noticed.

Notice in the frame description it says they were specifically designed for smaller riders.

SquidPuppet

It does look fun, but I have issues with it. Serious issues.

1. A BMX or Klunker would use a 3/8 inch solid nutted axle up front. Never a QR. Huge clash of styles. It stands out like a sore thumb. Huge faux pas.

2. This one is bigger. The rims have machined sidewall braking surfaces. The bike is running a coaster not hand brakes. Drawing board failure or shopping error? Screams at me. Painful to look at.

3. They've converted the bike to a modern three piece crank. I'm OK with that. But they have retained the original old school chrome plated 'Circles' chain ring and used it with the modern satin black arms. Two different eras, two different styles, and two different colors/finishes mixed into one component. Ashtabula or modern, either is fine. Mix n match grab bag is a no go.

4. Rear axle is too long. Stunt/race bikes don't have excess pieces of metal protruding at calf height. A sanitary silhouette would see the ends flush with the nuts. There is no excuse for not trimming it to the CORRECT length. It's a very common mistake, but that doesn't make it any less sloppy. It's about the details.

5. The bell. On a BMX/Klunker? No. Just no!

BassNotBass

KOTA

4. Rear axle is too long. Stunt/race bikes don't have excess pieces of metal protruding at calf height. A sanitary silhouette would see the ends flush with the nuts. There is no excuse for not trimming it to the CORRECT length. It's a very common mistake, but that doesn't make it any less sloppy. It's about the details.


I think that they are still very nice bikes, even though the axles are not trimmed to the CORRECT length.

SquidPuppet

Do those look like stunt/race bikes to you?!!!!!!!!

Good catch though. Those photos were basically taken at the time of initial build up. Impatient to snap some pics. The axles and a few other invisible details (seat post collar shim etc) had yet to be addressed. The situation has since been remedied and they match my other bikes.

SquidPuppet

Perspective.