edwong3

Hey Gang!

I know that among the "single speeders" here, there has got to be some who are also into beach cruisers. Remember those beloved one speed bikes with "balloon tires", and built like a steel bridge? Well there is a Yahoo group called what else? Beachcruisers, and it seems that it needs an injection of some active members to keep it going.

Allow me to invite those of you who like these bikes, own, and ride one.

https://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/beachcruisers/

See 'ya there!

rudypyatt

YES! I was going to start a thread on this, because most of the threads I've seen here are on fixed gear bikes. I started riding again in April after a 30 year layoff. Rented some cruisers, and bought one last month (a Matte black Trek Classic). A friend of mine calls it "the Darth Vader bike." If folks can ride fixies around without brakes, I figure I can misuse a cruiser!

NYC/Brooklyn folks: I've been riding from Brooklyn Heights/Cobble Hill/Red Hook up to Prospect Park and doing laps. A challenge going up the Slope from here, and that hill up the backside of the park, but fun, definite feeling of accomplishment.

Anybody else here using and misusing cruisers on the road?

edwong3

Yes most beach cruisers do qualify as "single speed", so talking about them here is appropriate. Sounds like it would be cool to discuss other single speed bikes besides "fixies".

Here is a photo of my 2010 Huffy Cranbrook.


So yea, anyone who wants to start a thread on single speed cruisers...post away!

2slo2run

I was in LA last summer and very nearly came home with a beach cruiser. They were everywhere and I'd love to own one. Right now it's not practical as I have too many bikes floating around and am gearing up to downsize and move cross-country. ie, the fewer bikes I have next summer the better.

Definitely IN on this thread though for some pics!

edwong3

Here are some more photos of my new "ride".











Nothing spectacular...just a nice comfy riding beach cruiser.

rudypyatt

Oh, that's a nice one. I have to get some pics up of the Trek.

sau

beach cruisers are definitely in the same category as "single speed/fixed gear!" well, the ones that are have one gear and coaster brake that is. I really really dislike geared beach cruisers because the hanging derailleur just bugs me for some odd reason. a proper red schwinn beach cruiser is my goal.

crackrocksteady

I love cruisers! Fixed cruisers are pretty fun to tool around on.

edwong3

Thanks! For the money I paid, I believe I got a lot of bike.

By any chance is this your bike?

https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes...assic/classic/

I can see in my mind an Imperial Officer saying, "Lord Vader, your beach cruiser is ready!"

edwong3

I seen a video on YouTube showing a fixie cruiser. The guy demonstrating it, even pedaled it backwards to go in reverse. Pretty wild!

rudypyatt

Yup. That's it! My review is up there, too. I really would like to Frankenbike one with running gear from the Soho S. Muhhhhhuhhhhuhaaaaaaaaaa. If they only knew the power of the Dark Side...

edwong3

Bump!

edwong3

I just posted a "bump" message to bring this thread back to page one, but hadn't realized that I could have replied to your post.

Many, many years ago, I bought an old bicycle off an older gentleman for only $7 bucks! I named it, "Frankenbike", and had you ever had a chance to see it, you would know why immediately.

It had a roadster frame with ape hanger bars, banana seat, and a sissy bar with a cushion that reached two thirds up my back. The front tire was from a beach cruiser, but the rear was narrower. Both were fitted on 26" rims. It also had a tiny chain ring, maybe 32 tooth tops, while the rear cog was somewhere around an 18 tooth. That low gearing made it really easy to pedal, and to get up hills. Apart from pedaling easy, it was very comfortable, almost like a semi recumbent.

Against the advice of a cousin of mine, I decided to sell it one day to a buddy of mine for the same that I paid, $7.00! He was really happy to say the least.

I think many of us has owned a "Frankenbike" at one time or another, and today, I would not have a problem with owning that bike again, as ugly as it was

ilikebikes

Heres a SS "beach cruiser" I built a Loooooooooong time ago.

rudypyatt

Nice!

edwong3

Now that's nice!!! I actually ride a single speed three wheeler to run errands, but of course that trike you built really rocked! The three wheeler I ride is called the "Trifecta", made by Worksman bikes. It is sold by Walmart as well. I bought it for a lady friend of mine, but I'm the one who rides it 90%, whenever I'm not on my folding bike or cruiser.

Cool! Hope to see more photos of single speed cruisers on this forum.

RoadJerk

Most kids on campus roll around on the cruisers. Most of them are Micargis, but there are some cooler-looking custom-ish ones made by 3G Bikes. I personally am content with being a snobbish hipster ****** and turning up my nose at them as I ride by on my fix, but ive considered getting a cruiser for those drunken nights out on the row when I can't be worried about scratching my paint. But most cruisers are overpriced (155 is the standard retail here, new). I'd rather go and get a third-hand MTB for 30 dollars.

rudypyatt

Love the graphic! So true.

Yeah, the fixies are legion here in Brooklyn. I'd love to see some of the local hipsters roll on cruisers for a week and see how they get along with them, maybe see how quickly they can lap Prospect Park or Central Park.

rudypyatt

Question folks: How fast have you gone on your cruisers? I got a ride computer, and it says that I got it up to 20.1 mph max, on a level ground sprint.

Crappymonkey

My girlfriend won this Diamondback in a World Cup soccer pool at work (she came in second). She didn't even want to try taking it for a ride and it wen't up on Craigslist immediately after I put it together. It's a SS with a coaster brake.

Build your own

I fixed up a '74 schwinn typhoon for my sister.I could see adding one to my stable.Now i have to convince my friend to sell me his 50s skiptooth higgins

hairnet

not such a fan of riding a sofa around town

edwong3

Ha! Ha! Funny graphic! Around here (Orlando, FL), I'd say that I actually see about equal numbers of fixies to traditional cruisers.

A cruiser in your stable would offer a different riding experience, especially when you want to just take your time, and enjoy the
scenery. I've looked at Micargi bikes, and they are pretty decent.

If you don't want to spend more than X amount, you could always buy a used bike like you said. But let me tell you that I paid
only $75 SHIPPED for my Cranbrook from Walmart. And for the money, it's a pretty decent bike, though it's not an Electra or a Felt.

rudypyatt

I managed to push the VaderBike up to 22.1 mph on the flat, 22.9 downhill.

I'll have to get a photobucket or flikr account to show this thing in its habitat. Ed, I tried to post pics over in the yahoo group; doesn't look as though they took.

LFRanalog

I guess this might count...

I love a coaster brake....