Fat tires allowed these bikes to roll on firm, shallow sand. Surfers and beach bums noticed that these low-maintentance machines were perfect for cruising flatland roads and boardwalks on their way to the beach.
They also came to the attention of another subculture. For rolling around flat suburban blocks and level city streets, they served their purpose well. However, in this era, paperboys and couriers noticed the reliability and simplicity of these older bikes. The bike that would come to be known as the ‘cruiser’, would fall by the wayside. This resulted in an increase in popularity of the 10-speed racer and lighter bikes with narrower tires and thinner tubing. With the onset of the 1950s, European trends influenced U.S. shores from Europe in the preceding couple of years.
These large, comfortable tires measured around 2.125” wide and had just reached U.S. The ‘B’ referred to the bike’s ‘balloon’ tires. Schwinn released the B10E Motobike (which didn’t feature an engine). This style of bike gained popularity from the 1930s through to the postwar 1950s. Aesthetically, these bikes took on the flowing curvature that was popular in this heyday of Art Deco design. With this in mind, manufacturers switched to constructing simple, durable models that wouldn’t beg for spare parts at a time when materials were scarce. In the depression-era 1930s, bicycles were seen as a luxury. We can already see the genre’s distinctively wide, swept-back handlebars and humped top-tube in the 1924 Mead Ranger. Where did the beach cruiser come from? How did these big, slow, flashy vehicles evolve to become the United States’ most iconic bike? And how did those distinctive, flowing frames come to be? The beach cruiser’s past can be traced back to the cruisers of the 1920s, 30s and 40s. If you like to roll easy and look good doing it, you can’t lose cruising. Your cruiser is not just confined to the beach. They’re not built for speed or long distance riding, but they can easily cut through a vacant lot or unkempt back-alley to pick up some corner-store groceries and a 40oz. Wide tires easily handle sandy paths and boardwalks.īeach cruisers are usually heavy and stable. At low pressures, they provide a level of comfort that is only now being discovered by mountain and road cyclists. At the beach, cyclists seek comfort and durability in a bike that can handle a sandy boardwalk and short, flat rides.Įnter balloon tires.
Delicate 10-speed road bikes tended to ‘harsh one’s mellow’ amidst this slow-burn lifestyle. Locals Only – Are They Just for the Beach?īeach cruisers were adopted by Southern Californians and other coastal residents in the 1970s. They’re an incredibly popular choice for a simple, comfortable bike. Ungeared options suit flatlands and the coastal, beach-side life. The beach cruiser suits relaxed and casual cyclists, infrequent riders, seniors and vacationers. Most specimens are made from hi-tensile steel, which is resilient, sturdy and repairable. Beach cruisers are heavy, so they’re geared with an easy-going ratio for laid-back rolling down the boardwalk and beach-side path. This keeps maintenance and adjustments to an absolute minimum. When it comes to gears, single is simple. You’ll never be hunched over the handlebars, with your derriere higher than your head. On most cruisers, your legs will be stretched ahead of you, as the crank and pedals sit in front of the seat. There’s no question that the beach cruiser is one of the best looking types of bike out there.īeach cruisers put the rider in a relaxed position, sitting upright with arms extended. Sometimes simply known as a ‘cruiser’, these bikes rock sweeping lines and wide balloon tires for comfort. The beach cruiser is a simple, stylish bike for the unrushed rider. Email to Friend Mail What is a Beach Cruiser?
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