There is peace in riding for miles on a bike. The back roads, or main thoroughfare, a day long trek to nowhere sliding through the gears and passing the world by at a bikes speed. My own stable of bikes is full of the Schwinn 10 speeds of old that make such rides an easy joy.
Then there are those rides where raw simplicity is the most pure form of attraction. Whether its to the beach, or across town to a friends, nothing draws the moments of my youth like a cruiser. Now I never had such a bike as a child, but it was the carefree way we rode as kids that is embodied in the cruiser bikes. As an adult the same 10 speed that I would steel from my brother for the day has become more complicated.. I understand its functions now, and as such, use them. When I was young, whatever gear he left it in was the one I rode around town in. Carefree with energy to spare.
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I have a few old three speeds, and single speed cruisers in the garage, and it is always a treat to take them out for a cruise through the neighborhood just to do it. Maybe a short trip to get an ice cream, or a ride out to get a burger with friends. Sitting back with the grips reaching to you rather than you reaching to them. Comfortable, and relaxing.
Of course with such a style of riding comes some forms of feeling the part of a relaxed rider. Women don the capri's and tanks, and guys in their everyday shorts and button up short sleeved shirts, or t's. It is also one of the few types of cycling that bridges all gaps in society. From the tattooed bald guy with the Biker gang look, Goth's, musclemen, to the more white washed Cape cod style riders. They even share the same paths, coffee shops, and an occasional wave. Only bikes can bring out such abandon of the worries of adulthood. It is a pleasure to even sit back and watch a busy bike path while enjoying that ice cream cone, or coffee. Seeing all the people weave by. Happy, distracted, and lost in their own childhood memories.
So we have been sorting through our cruisers the past week, and purchased a few new, well actually, old ones. Of course certain parts, or features of the original bikes are missing, or too damaged to keep, so I took a look on a few sites and found some replacements. The springer forks, tanks, fat tires, big fenders, a fat seat with springs, and comfy grips. There are a lot of sites that cater to these parts, and an entire social group devoted to them. Awesome.
Even if you don't have a frame to work with you can buy one, or any other part or component to build one from scratch. There are some pre-built ones with a lower price tag than a ground up build with the same end result, so look around. I had posted before about some good cruiser bikes so check that out, and do a search on google, or visit my shop page to see some.
There are many options available for the drive train as well. a 3speed, 5 speed, or 7 speed internal hub can be used, a 7 speed gear set with derailleur, or a lot of different single speed gear sizes. I f you can imagine it, it is out there. The hardest part is buying a pre-made wheel set in anything other than steel finish. You can find some Nirve wheels, but they tend to be rather pricey for a set.
On that note, my own preference is a cruiser with a slightly higher position than most of the lower cruisers out. My Father's Day bike (at left) is a very suitable bike for my own cruiser style, and with the addition of the sears/ Murray flightliner bikes we recently found, there is now a decision as to go full restore on one, or make them into ratrods.
The bike at left is at best guess an old Schwinn DX frame or a 30's rollfast. It has a four digit serial stamped on the BB, and as yet I have not been able to discern anything exact about it. This one is surely going to be ratted out.
Cruising is also one of the rare occasions that I like to dress a little more jazzed than my usual nerd gear and comic book t-shirts. I have my button up flame shirt, similar to the one pictured below, which has a story of its own, and my "tribal" black. Any bowling style shirt would work, or for that matter anything you want, its cruising, no rules.
I wore this shirt to a small "Blues Traveler" concert. I met the guys afterwards, and they approached me and began asking about the shirt. After about 10 questions all at once, I had to laugh, and when they stopped and looked at me puzzled, "Walmart, 10 bucks". After that, I was pulled aside and chatted with them as the line of backstage pass holders walked through and BS'd for a half hour. A great group of guys, and of course, an awesome band. A friend and former coworker has actually recorded with them...Awesome huh? well, I think so.
Back to bikes...
Of course the proper helmet must be applied as a typical road bike helmet just looks wrong. Many do not even bother, but I'm a believer in the brain buckets. Thanks to Skateboarders, and thrill seekers, there are a lot of helmets styles with cool designs to fit however you want to express yourself.
..
Then there are those rides where raw simplicity is the most pure form of attraction. Whether its to the beach, or across town to a friends, nothing draws the moments of my youth like a cruiser. Now I never had such a bike as a child, but it was the carefree way we rode as kids that is embodied in the cruiser bikes. As an adult the same 10 speed that I would steel from my brother for the day has become more complicated.. I understand its functions now, and as such, use them. When I was young, whatever gear he left it in was the one I rode around town in. Carefree with energy to spare.
.jpg)
I have a few old three speeds, and single speed cruisers in the garage, and it is always a treat to take them out for a cruise through the neighborhood just to do it. Maybe a short trip to get an ice cream, or a ride out to get a burger with friends. Sitting back with the grips reaching to you rather than you reaching to them. Comfortable, and relaxing.
Of course with such a style of riding comes some forms of feeling the part of a relaxed rider. Women don the capri's and tanks, and guys in their everyday shorts and button up short sleeved shirts, or t's. It is also one of the few types of cycling that bridges all gaps in society. From the tattooed bald guy with the Biker gang look, Goth's, musclemen, to the more white washed Cape cod style riders. They even share the same paths, coffee shops, and an occasional wave. Only bikes can bring out such abandon of the worries of adulthood. It is a pleasure to even sit back and watch a busy bike path while enjoying that ice cream cone, or coffee. Seeing all the people weave by. Happy, distracted, and lost in their own childhood memories.
So we have been sorting through our cruisers the past week, and purchased a few new, well actually, old ones. Of course certain parts, or features of the original bikes are missing, or too damaged to keep, so I took a look on a few sites and found some replacements. The springer forks, tanks, fat tires, big fenders, a fat seat with springs, and comfy grips. There are a lot of sites that cater to these parts, and an entire social group devoted to them. Awesome.
Even if you don't have a frame to work with you can buy one, or any other part or component to build one from scratch. There are some pre-built ones with a lower price tag than a ground up build with the same end result, so look around. I had posted before about some good cruiser bikes so check that out, and do a search on google, or visit my shop page to see some.
There are many options available for the drive train as well. a 3speed, 5 speed, or 7 speed internal hub can be used, a 7 speed gear set with derailleur, or a lot of different single speed gear sizes. I f you can imagine it, it is out there. The hardest part is buying a pre-made wheel set in anything other than steel finish. You can find some Nirve wheels, but they tend to be rather pricey for a set.
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| Check out this power nerd |
The bike at left is at best guess an old Schwinn DX frame or a 30's rollfast. It has a four digit serial stamped on the BB, and as yet I have not been able to discern anything exact about it. This one is surely going to be ratted out.
Cruising is also one of the rare occasions that I like to dress a little more jazzed than my usual nerd gear and comic book t-shirts. I have my button up flame shirt, similar to the one pictured below, which has a story of its own, and my "tribal" black. Any bowling style shirt would work, or for that matter anything you want, its cruising, no rules.
I wore this shirt to a small "Blues Traveler" concert. I met the guys afterwards, and they approached me and began asking about the shirt. After about 10 questions all at once, I had to laugh, and when they stopped and looked at me puzzled, "Walmart, 10 bucks". After that, I was pulled aside and chatted with them as the line of backstage pass holders walked through and BS'd for a half hour. A great group of guys, and of course, an awesome band. A friend and former coworker has actually recorded with them...Awesome huh? well, I think so.Back to bikes...
Of course the proper helmet must be applied as a typical road bike helmet just looks wrong. Many do not even bother, but I'm a believer in the brain buckets. Thanks to Skateboarders, and thrill seekers, there are a lot of helmets styles with cool designs to fit however you want to express yourself.
..
One of the earliest forms of the bicycle in design, after the high-wheel that is, would be the cruiser. It wasn't until some guy thought he could race some other guy that bike evolved into more bio mechanical extensions of speed and carbon that we have out there today. Consider that the next time you take your cruiser out of the garage for a trip around the block, your doing it the way it used to be done. Enjoy the ride.
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| Hulk ride bike! Only paper, Hulk Mad!!! |
Ever seen this guy out on the trails? No? well, your not looking hard enough for me yet.. keep your eyes peeled. I may look all soft and mushy beneath my nerd-o-flage comic book t-shirt, but once it comes off, the above pic is all me. Road bike flimsy...hulk mad...
