Doesn’t it suck to spend money on something you’re not too sure about? If you don’t live by the beach, beach cruisers aren’t always something you might be super familiar with. Perhaps you might have recently moved down by the beach and couldn’t help but notice all the cruisers around and how convenient they are to get around on. However, buying a beach cruiser can be quite pricey if you don’t know what you’re looking for.
Bike riding in a beach town is essential, and since you’ll be getting your very own beach cruiser soon, we have 5 things to know before buying a beach cruiser.
Frame – There are male vs female style frames as well as colors. Most “male” beach cruisers have chunkier frame bars throughout, they are usually a little longer in size and have matte/neutral colors, black or chrome. In contrast, female bikes have thinner frames, more soft and bright colors and are generally smaller in size. Female cruisers begin with a height range of about 5’0 to 5’6 and the tall range goes from 5’7 to 6’ with 6’ being the max height in female bikes.
Rack & basket – It is most convenient for your bike to have both a rack in the back and a basket in the front. However not everyone likes to have both and it is not necessary to have both. Having space to carry stuff on your cruiser is essential when living by the beach because most of us that live here prefer riding than driving in that crazy summer traffic therefore a little basket for your stuff is always handy. If you prefer having a basket, you’ll want to find ways to either mount it or lock it onto your bars to avoid the basket being stolen. It can be welded on as well. Most baskets come with hooks or straps for easy installation. I personally use bungee cords which are super convenient for keeping things secure on your bike rack in the back.
Size – You will choose your perfect size bike based on your height. See chart here for reference https://sickbeachcruiser.com/beach-cruiser-size-guide/
Handlebars – When you go test ride your potential new bike, you want to ensure the handlebars are not loose and that they are straight in line with the front wheel and frame. You also want to make sure you can reach them comfortably. There are different style handlebars such as drop bars, mustache bars, flat bars and riser bars depending on your preference. Customize your bars, get creative with it, see below for examples 😉
Seat – Sit on your potential new bike and jiggle around to ensure comfort and safety, ensure it is not loose and that your feet are able to touch the ground. Height and angle of seat are adjustable based on your preference.
These are the main things to consider for yourself prior to buying a beach cruiser. Beach cruisers are also super fun to customize. You can add fun LED lights to your frame, to your wheels, you can customize your basket and handlebars. If you read to the end of this article, you deserve to know a top secret, I bought a hand me down beach cruiser from offer up and saved even more money this way. You can find bargain deals everywhere and save lots of $$$.
