Tips to buy beach cruiser bikes

If you like cruising on the beach and look forward to enjoying your ride at a leisurely pace, then, a beach cruiser is your best bet. This bike is not really built for speed but for supreme rider comfort.

So, how do you buy the best beach cruiser?

Almost the first question you will be faced with is single or multi-speed. Depends on the terrain really. Single speed is ideal for long leisurely rides on slightly rough terrain like sand. This cruiser bike is not built for speed. These are really simple machines that suit riders who do not want to ride for long periods. This bike has a coaster brake that facilitates good control over small speeds. It is suitable for people who like uncomplicated things as these models are without gears. This is the bike that is best suited for people who want to enjoy their ride without shifting gears or worrying about problems like sand getting stuck inside the gears and so on. Just hop in and start cruising!

A multiple speed beach cruiser bike is ideal for rough, difficult terrain and for long rides. This is because the gear system is designed to accommodate various levels of difficulties. Most multiple speed bikes have between three and seven gears. The thumb-rule is, the fewer the number of gears, so much lesser is the flexibility of the bike as far as speed, resistance and control are concerned. So, for instance, cruiser bikes that have three gears will have only three levels of speed, while those with seven gears are more receptive to your needs. So, in case you are going up a hilly terrain, you can shift to a low gear and enjoy greater speed. If you are on level land and you want greater speed, shifting to the seventh gear will give you great speed, much like shifting to fifth gear in a car does. The latest models of cruiser bikes are equipped with hand grip shifters, which enable the rider to shift gears simply by twisting the hand.

The next big question that will be staring at you when you are ready to buy a cruiser bike is the material of the bike. Cruiser bikes may be made of steel or aluminum, so which one should you choose? Your choice depends on the place you stay in. If you are exposed to the salt spray from a beach or if your bike will be kept outside most of the time, then aluminum is recommended as this is resistant to rust, while steel is not. But steel cruiser bikes have a little more weight which helps riders keep a good balance while they are riding in high speed conditions.

Rims of tires could be made of steel or aluminum. Spokes made of steel are stronger while aluminum rims give more control when braking, particularly in wet conditions. Steel rims are prone to rust. This is why cruiser bikes made from aluminum or alloy material are pricier than those made of steel.