Cruiser Components and Upgrades
 

Are there any good sources for quality components and accessories for cruisers? I've spent a lot of time doing web searches with marginal results and wonder if y'all have any good references.

I'll continue to make most purchases from the local shops but even in this coastal town their options for cruiser components are slim.

After decades of watching me buy/ride road and mtn bikes the Warden is taken back with my cruiser obsession, lol.

This place has everything, and more, in 50 sizes, and 300 colors.

Bicycle Parts and Accessories at Beach City Bike

Thanks for that link!!

You are welcome.

They have a ton of difficult to source stuff there. 21.1mm stems, 1-1/8 threaded headsets, a big variety of 1/2 inch pedals, greatest grip selection on Earth, etc. But....do keep an EYE on the prices. Seems like their prices on oddball stuff are good, but If it's a common item, it's worth shopping around.

Two other places I like to shop when I have quirky or old school needs are...

Porkchop BMX: Old School BMX Parts and Accessories

and...

Memory Lane Classics

Service is great at both places.

BCB appears to have some nice bits but yes I noticed that prices for some items can be 50% more than other places, like the Sturmey Archer X-FD drum hub for instance.

maybe bicycle designer also. bicycledesigner.com (lets see if that link works). a lot of lowrider and motorized stuff also. ordered a pair of their 255mm rotors for my coker monster project.


edit: guess I messed it up. will come up on a goggle search though.

Many Thanks
 

I appreciate the websites and recommendations in everyone's responses. These are all good sources.

If I can find another cruiser in a trash pile or a "next to free" one that I can use for beach rides I then may go a different direction with the Isla Vista. After a complete teardown and rebuild of the hubs, headset and bottom bracket everything is super smooth. Without breaking the bank I'd like to change out some of the heavier components for lighter ones and end up with a moderately lightweight cruiser. I use the term moderate because I want to retain the cruiser styling and not spend large sums of money.

Squid, thanks for your cruiser tires comparison in another thread. That kind of info is very helpful.

You are welcome.

How much does the Isla Vista weigh? I like it because it's pretty much stripped. Not too many places to lose weight on that bike. No fenders, rims are already aluminum. Looks like a steel quill maybe? Yank the chain guard for a few ounces I guess and replace the steel seat post and handlebar with aluminum pieces. You could replace the Ashtabula OPC with a snazzy three piece crank and ring, but then you are getting into a little more money by the time you buy the adapter and cartridge BB and the crank itself.

Yeah, everyone in the 700c wheel world poo-poos the ThickSlicks big time. And I believe them. The 700c tires are heavy and have a low TPI so I assume rolling resistance is high too. But in the 26" wheel world, the tire really isn't heavy by comparison to the "Norm". I like mine enough that I wouldn't even shop around for a better tire when these wear out. I already know where to find a better and lighter tire, it's just a matter of justifying BIG $$$ for a cruiser tire. But I'm a weirdo so I may go for the Compass tires at some point.

Isla Vista Weight
 

I've not weighed the bike yet but will soon. It'll need tires before long and I'll choose slicks for sure. The pedals need to be replaced so maybe lose a few ounces there.

Which cloud storage option is everyone using to post pictures here? PhotoBucket has jumped the shark.

I use IMGUR. Very easy to use and free.

3 piece cranks
 

I've looked at 3 piece cranks options for the cartridge bearings upgrade. If the spindles match I have some old XT and Dura-Ace cranks around here somewhere but either of those might look odd. The Isla Vista needs a new handlebar stem as it now has a groove cut into it (4.5 inch grinder slipped while cutting out a rusted/seized clamp bolt, lol). That'll be the first lighter replacement component. Thanks for the tips.

Yesterday I did the BB and front hub on a neighbor's Felt Bixby cruiser. New bearings, marine grease, etc.. It has a Nexus Internal 3 speed rear hub. That'll have to wait for another day or a better mechanic unless the Shimano Internal Hub Grease he's ordering resolves the odd friction sound it makes when freewheeling. That's a cool grease port Shimano designed for the Nexus 3 w/Coaster brake. Felt makes a nice cruiser.

Ha ha ha. Been there. Oops. Mine involved a HUGE bolt cutter and a spoke on a brand new wheel that I had just built. :o

Black chainrings?
 

Does anyone have a source for black chainrings, 44 - 46t, basic designs? I'm only asking after spending way too much time searching online sites to only see the Black Ops decorative options or chrome only Sunlite chainrings. The local coffee shop owner did point me to a good vendor he's used where I found the traditional cruiser grips that SquidP likes. https://www.niagaracycle.com

Hope y'all are having a good weekend. In a few hours at low tide I'm headed down to the beach to best my cruiser bike, flat land, top speed record (wind assisted). Tomorrow and Monday more of the same. Bigger gearing would be added except I'd likely go backwards after turning around for the return trip, putting me and bike in the Irma angry Atlantic.

ebay is all I know off hand, or break out the krylon.

I can't find any in black except 25t and 28t old school BMX rings.

I'd whip out the rattle can unless you know a powder coater that doesn't have a minimum. Flat, satin, and gloss black are super common constant runs for the local powder guy here, so he'll toss in my small parts and only charge me a few bucks.

Thanks for the replies. I may try the rattle cans Plasti Dip on one and Rust-Oleum Rust Inhibitor on another chainring and see which holds up best.

The kids around here are using Plasti Dip spray to have black wheels on their pick-ups and Jeeps. No doubt their parents paid extra for those chrome wheels before eventually passing the vehicles down to their teenagers. 😅

From what I've read, the plast-dip can be easily removed by hand. Just peels right off. That's part of the attraction for the kids because it's temporary. I've never used the spray, but the actual DIP product left me very dissatisfied. It was as durable as peanut butter on a hot day.

If'n I may, try Brownell's coatings. BROWNELLS ALUMA-HYDE® II | Brownells

I've had a long history of using this stuff when rebuilding bikes,and I'll wholeheartedly recommend this stuff. Very tough. Very tenacious. Its the perfect coating in that it works and its way less in price than the 1K and 2K coating available now.

Many thanks, NoControl. Bownells Aluma-Hyde II is what I will use.

Please report back when done. I'd never heard of that stuff and reading about it at the site has me intrigued.

The single caveat with using Aluma-Hyde II is that it takes a while to cure. Once it has hardened, its pretty tough. Another brand of gun coatings is Lauer Custom Weaponry's Dura-Coat. I really like it, but you need to spray it with a gun, and it has to be used with an activator. When I was rebuilding guns a lot, I used this, but its twice as expensive as Brownell's.

Will do, SquidP. We have some water damage so it might be a week or so. Irma was a big, bad hurricane and we weren't even in it's track. Thoughts are with those in Florida and Texas as they deal with the harsh aftermath of direct hits.

Ouch. Sorry to hear that. Wishing you and all affected the best for recovery.

In the late 70's~mid 80's I had a very nice tubular one piece crank, but, looking thru that site link mentioned, earlier,
you'd have to find those on an auction site, since they're not being made any more..

I replaced cruiser handlebar with 6 degree handlebar. You can probably get one from LBS or an online shop.