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Cruiser Bicycles are Your
Prescription for
Stress Relief
Cruiser bicycles provide automatic
relaxation in style
& comfort!
"Hi-O Silver,
Away!!"
Billy - Stephen King's
It
Do you remember the days when playing
in puddles was fun and climbing trees didn't conjure up images of
hospital beds?
Today's world is a fast paced, dog eat dog,
marathon sprint to the finish. And sometimes jumping on a bicycle
offers little escape. Modern 24-27 speed bikes are built to help the
rider push the limits and increase "the burn". While this is good
for you, sometimes it's healthier to just kick back and
relax.
Cruiser bicycles (or Singlespeeds) are
your window to
kinder, gentler times.
Unfortunately, theft is a
big part of life today. I found a great place to protect your bike,
The National Bike Registry.
If want to skip all this wonderful
information and check out cruiser bicycles
right now, go ahead, it won't hurt my feelings.
What makes it a
Cruiser?
Cruiser bicycles are characterized
by several things:
- Fat, balloon tires (usually 26 x
2.125)
- Sleek, curved frames (originally built to resemble
rockets!)
- Wide, comfortable seats (some even have shock
absorbers)
- Handlebars designed to allow rider to sit straight
(no back pain)
- Usually one speed only
This last point is
probably the most important. Having only one gear forces you to sit
back and take in your surroundings. This leads to serious reduction
in stress levels.
Best way to ride a cruiser bike:
A slow, leisurely trip down the boardwalk/park on a Sunday
afternoon.
What to look for in a
Cruiser
Before we go further, I'll go
ahead and admit that I don't know EVERYTHING. You may want to check
out Bike Buying, it's a sweet little book written to
keep you from grabbing your ankles on your purchase. I just ordered
it so I'll be giving a personal review soon.
Okay, now that we've established the wonders of cruisers,
let's get a little technical...
When buying one, you
need to consider two things:
1. Where you'll be riding
2.
How cool you want to look while you're riding
They're
commonly called beach cruisers because basically that's the most
popular place to ride. Hills and rough terrain don't mix well with
crusiers, so naturally somewhere flat is best. If you've got hills
in your area, check into a multi-speed cruiser bicycle. One
speed is also better for the beach because there's no gears to get
clogged with sand.
Frame type is also important.
You'll have a choice between steel & aluminum. Aluminum is
lighter and resists rusting from the salt air, but steel makes for a
smoother ride. I've ridden both, and while I could feel the bumps
more with aluminum, overall it was still a very nice
ride.
Finally, how cool do you want to look?
To make
the ulitmate fashion statement, you've got to go with the beach
cruiser lowrider. Customize it with gold chrome, lighting,
painted art, and cruise your neighborhood! More and more dealers are
manufacturing these types.
Which leads us to
dealers...
 You could create your bike from
scratch, which gives you maximum bragging rights. I
suggest
Atomic
Zombie's Bicycle Builder's Bonanza,
it's a must have for
anyone building a bike.
You could save money and buy
from a department store. I DO NOT recommend this. As with any type
of bicycle, your best bet is to visit a specialty store, online or
off. Cheap bikes break down; I speak from
experience!
Check out Braun's
for some great cruiser bicycles. The site isn't very pretty but,
they've got a good reputation. No matter how you acquire one,
remember this mantra as you ride:
I am not working out.
Repeat as
necessary to get the most out of your soothing ride on your cruiser
bicycle. You'll soon find that you don't even need your
Xanex!
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