3S1M

So.... I have a Schwinn Del Mar that is about 10 years old that when I ride it feels real good, dimension wise. It was actually my wife's bike but my daughter and I started riding it this year. We cleaned it up together. Well, being on a super tight budget we added 3 more bikes so all of us in our family could ride at once. Me, wife, son and daughter.

Well, the last two bikes I got were mountain bikes because they're so prevalent. I mean you can't look left or right without seeing one. My daughter seems to like the forward lean so hers is staying a mountain bike set up. Although she got a more cruiser like seat for it cuz it was more comfortable.

But the rest of us like an upright seating position. We got my wife a Schwinn Sanctuary for a pretty good deal and then the last bike I acquired for 15 was a mountain bike.

I'm basically working on turning it into a cruiser. It's a Schwinn Hurricane and I think it was made in the mid 90's . The handlebars on this one are more upright than some but I still want them a bit higher. And it needs a new, cruiser type seat.

I do notice that the frames on these bikes might put the pedals a little more under you. Or basically it looks like cruiser frames have a bit more angle to the upright bar that the seat is on that helps put the pedals more in front of the body. The difference between this hurricane mtb and my del mar is minimal but it's there. Maybe an inch or so. But I don't think that's a huge issue. Just makes it feel a little less reclined.

Anyways.... I'd be interested to see if there are any other folks out there who acquired a mountain bike on the cheap and then converted to a cruiser and how you feel it turned out. I can get pics up of mine as soon as I'm allowed to. I have not done a lot to it yet other than a really good cleaning. And I eliminated the front derailleur because the mechanism on the handlebar that changes the gears was not working and I don't think I can fix it. So I just put the chain on the middle sprocket and it feels just right. Actually I had it on the largest one for a bit but that was too high of gearing. So basically it's now a 6 speed. I put new tires on it because the old ones were super cracked. I'm not sure they'd qualify as cruiser tires but I liked the tread on them, but they're not super wide or tall.. 1.95 Schwinn comfort tire. It's got like a dual purpose tread which I like a lot.

Now I just have to see if I can get these brake handles off the old bars and if I'll need to run new wires for the brakes and gears. I would rather not so I don't think I'll go much higher and wider than the ones on there now. The handlebars on there are like a hybrid and have some rise and angle back a bit but I'd like a bit more rise to them.

OldCruiser

I turned my Hardrock into a Cruiser . Changed the stem for a higher one and added riser bars to it . Fairly comfortable bike to ride . Puts my weight more on my saddle than my hands . I couldn’t ride more than a mile with pressure on my hands because of arthritis. Using gel grips and riding gloves helps some . They still go numb on me and ache but I’m not giving up my riding ..

OldCruiser

Swapped the nobbies for Kenda 1.9” city tires . And added a Brooks b17 Imperial saddle .
I’m thinking of trying to fit my set of 2.5” Maxxis Hookworms on this one if they’ll fit .

SHOFINE

I started converting my Sawyer right after picking it up from the store. Here it is the day I picked it up.



I'm loving my most recent conversion to 650b+ with 2.8" Schwalbe Super Motos! Sporting a Brooks Flyer and a Shimano Alfine 8 spd hub with On-One Mary Handlebars. Brakes have been upgraded to Shimano 615 Deore.

Philphine

i guess more city bike than cruiser, but i'm playing with the project now.


a group of fuji/marlboro folding mountain bikes. two of them with get more cruiser like drivetrains. a two speed (sram automatix is what i want, but kickback or shifter if i come across one) and a coaster brake 3 speed but with studded tires for winter.

i posted a pic years back. i'll try to repost it.

Philphine

well, photobucket is back in hostage mode, but here is the thread in folding bikes with the frames i'm using

Fuji Marlboro folding MTB? Or does it?

the one i posted in this thread isn't one with cruiser wheels. it's an older thread and i just got the latest frames to try it.

rhenning

Schwinn at one time built this kind of bike called a Nue Citi. Schwinn's first first try at a hybrid bike. Sort of a mountain bike with smooth tires. Doesn't ride to bad. Roger

3S1M

Some nice bikes in here!!!!

This is the one I'm working on in progress. I still need a good seat and different handlebars. These bars are really close though. I have the quill stem up as far as probably safe. For some reason that one doesn't have a line on it showing where to not go past. I guess I'll have to measure and make my own line. Someone said at least 2" is a good idea. I could maybe get a different quill stem and use these bars....

I also was trying to see if the grips will come off but they're on there pretty good. Might have to spray some wd40 under them.

Rollfast

No, but then again I have eight cruisers/antiques.

OldCruiser

Quote “I also was trying to see if the grips will come off but they're on there pretty good. Might have to spray some wd40 under them. “
use Windex , it’ll help them slip off and when dry won’t leave a slippery film ,

3S1M

Thank you. I can try that.

cambiker71

Sort of, single speed conversion on mine, then put muduards on it cos it rains lots here in the UK and now a dyno front hub and lights too, I ride it a lot cos it's comfortable...

Iron Horse

Two tips for getting your handgrips off.
1. Use an air nozzle and a screw driver. Wedge up on the lip of the handgrip with the screwdriver use the nozzle to blow the hand grip off, and
2. Find an open end wrench just big enough to fit over the handle bar. Place the wrench on the handlebar in front of the hand grip, and give it a wack with a rubber mallet. The shock of the wrench hitting the hand grip causes it to balloon up, and usually two or so smacks, the grip flies right off.

FiftySix

For old rock hard grips that you know are going straight to the trash, I've simply cut them off with a utility knife. One slit along the bottom side of the grip, and it's free.

MikeyMK

My e-tandem looks more cruiser-based than MTB-based, yet is based on a bonafide downhill MTB.

The main frame is a shortened GT Quatrefoil MTB tandem but is a full-bouncer thanks to a GT STS rear frame and 140mm air forks. It also has disc brakes and there's no huge handlebars, so it's amazing what a set of cruiser fenders and tyres can do!

On the tandem i've used 50mm wide supermoto rims but it wasn't always a tandem - it's previous incarnation was as a GT LTS-3 and that ran 19mm rims...







They evolved from my old manual Merlin, which was every bit a cross between a cruiser and an MTB, though it was a woman's road bike when i bought it!

J.Higgins 

That Merlin is fantastic, @MikeyMK!

MikeyMK

Thanks - Was a bit fussy by then though, I'd previously ran it in this simpler V-brake form, cream tyres...

But it's always gonna ride like a hybrid MTB at best unless you use a lay-back seat post and vastly swept-back bars.

jan230

Quill stem adapter and BMX stem and bars on my '90's MTB

tds101 

3S1M

Some great bikes and pictures in here. Thanks for the responses!!!

Vintage Schwinn

The KENDA K-838 tire at $14.41 each with Free Shipping is the best tire on the market in my opinion that will turn your mountain-bike into a hybrid-road going cruiser that will do everything well IF YOUR RIDING WILL BE DONE ON PAVED ROADS! You won't find a better tire at any price, as the K-838 from KENDA provides a very comfortable soft ride. You will also find that your Mountain Bike will be significantly faster on paved roads with these K-838 tires than with Knobbies or traditional tread cruiser style tires. My 71 year old brother-in-law installed these on his lightweight hardtail Nishiki mountain bike back in early 2018.
He has ridden this K-838 equipped Nishiki in two triathlons, one in 2018 and one, just a couple of months ago in 2019. He was not slow, and was very competitive considering he was riding upright and not using a specific tri competition bike as he had in prior years. At 71, he feels that riding a purpose built, highly modified Nishiki
mountain bike, riding on K-838 Kenda slicks, is better for him and his hands and arms.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/KENDA-04700...6fc5:g:AGgAAOS
(**see #254420545477 on the bay**)

3S1M

That's a decent price for sure. Downright cheap. Thanks for the tip.

FiftySix

Excellent pavement tires that happen to be cheap. I've bought 2 pairs of those over the past year with Giant's branding on them. Love 'em.

3S1M

Only thing is I've been riding in the snow and I think more tread is warranted. Cruiser tires have done well so far.

FiftySix

Good point. Snow and ice is so rare down here, I forget to consider it.