What Is A Beach Cruiser Bike Good For?

With their big tires, upright seating position, and cushy ride, beach cruiser bikes evoke a sense of breezy, casual fun. But beach cruisers are actually much more versatile than their name implies. These practical bikes can be used well beyond laidback shoreline cruising.

So what exactly is a beach cruiser bike good for? While they may be ideal for relaxed riding along the water, they can also serve as great recreational, exercise, and transportation bikes for everything from commuting to touring to hitting the trails.

This in-depth guide will explore the many benefits, uses, types, customization options, and riding tips for beach cruisers. Let’s delve into all the possibilities with these comfortable, durable bikes!

Overview of Key Beach Cruiser Features and Benefits

To understand why beach cruisers excel in various roles, let’s first look at some of their defining features and advantages:

• Oversized balloon tires – The extra large 26′′ or 29′′ wheels feature wide, balloon-style tires that provide exceptional shock absorption and cushioning across various surfaces.
• Upright seating position – The handlebars on a beach cruiser are typically set higher and closer to the seat, allowing you to sit upright vs. hunched over, reducing strain on your neck and back.
• Wide, cushioned saddle – The saddle is wide, generously padded and often features springs, making it extremely comfortable for longer rides.
• Curved steel or aluminum frame – The durable frame supports more weight than a typical road bike and the swooping lines make mounting and dismounting easy.
• Coaster braking – Pedaling backwards engages the brakes. No cables are needed, keeping maintenance simple.
• Comfort-focused geometry – More stable and easier to maneuver than a road bike with responsive steering. The geometry favors comfort over speed.
• Highly customizable – From adding gears to attaching baskets, lights and racks, beach cruisers are designed for customization to enhance their versatility and function.

With these features providing stability, shock absorption and comfort, beach cruisers can take on many functions beyond basic leisure.

Best Uses and Purposes of Beach Cruiser Bikes

Let’s look at some of the most popular activities and situations where a beach cruiser can come in quite handy:

1. Casual Beach Rides

While beach cruisers got their name from leisurely oceanfront or boardwalk cruising, their talents don’t end there. Those big cushy tires work well on loose sand without sinking in too much. The swept-back handlebars allow you to sit upright and look around easily as you ride. The stability and slower speed make navigating crowded shorelines more relaxed.

2. Cruising Around Town

The upright position, stability and smooth ride of a beach cruiser make it a great choice for laidback trips around your neighborhood or downtown area. Their durable steel or aluminum frame easily supports a basket or bag for carrying some cargo or purchases home. The simplicity and low maintenance requirements keep them rolling along the streets with ease.

3. Short Distance Commuting

For relatively flat commutes under 5 miles, a beach cruiser can provide a comfortable and practical transport option. The upright position prevents you from getting sweaty while pedaling. With the addition of rear racks, panniers, or baskets, you can easily haul work items too.

4. Riding with Children

The smooth, steady ride and handling of a beach cruiser work very well for keeping up with kids. The durable frame allows you to attach a child seat, bike trailer, or attachment so the whole family can ride together. The stability and ease of putting a foot down also helps when stopping frequently.

5. Light Exercise

While not built for racing, beach cruisers provide light to moderate exercise, especially thanks to the upright position that engages your core, back, and shoulders more than a hunched-over road bike. Even short 1-3 mile rides can provide health benefits without intense training.

6. Sightseeing Locally

The relaxed pace and comfortable ride of a beach cruiser allow you to meander around your own town or a new destination taking in the sights. They work well for riding through parks, campus loops, or bike trails where you want to go slow and look around rather than race through.

7. Bar Hopping and Errand Running

For quick trips around town where you want to park once or don’t want the hassle of a car, a beach cruiser is very handy. The upright position gives you great visibility at night for safety. The roomy frame and basket options simplify errand running or grabbing a bite.

8. Bike Path and Trail Riding

While not suitable for intense mountain biking, the sturdy frame, balloon tires, and stability of beach cruisers allow them to handle hard-packed dirt trails, canal towpaths, and most groomed greenway trails quite well. The comfort and ease help extend your range.

As you can see, the versatility of beach cruisers makes them useful well beyond the shoreline for recreation, transportation, and more. But there are some variations in cruiser styles and options to consider as well.

Types of Beach Cruisers and Key Differences

While beach cruisers share the same basic comfort-focused DNA, there are some key variations in styles and setups to think about depending on your needs:

• Single speed – Just one gear ratio. Very simple and low maintenance. Best for flat terrain under 3 miles.
• Multi-speed – Typically, 3-7 gears allow added versatility and range. Easier for mild hills. More maintenance.
• Classic style – Evocative throwback styling with swooping lines reminiscent of vintage bikes. Not as ergonomic.
• Comfort style – Modernized with improved seating, tires, and gears focused on optimal comfort and usability rather than looks.
• Stretch cruiser – Extra long wheelbase fully extends legs for tall riders to sit upright comfortably.
• Chopper style – Stylized stretched frame and raised “ape-hanger” handlebars are eye-catching but harder to ride.
• Electric – Motorized pedal-assist models increase power and expand the range. Cost more but require less effort.

Hybrid Cruiser Bikes

Hybrid cruiser bikes aim to blend some speed and efficiency features with cruiser comfort:

• Aluminum frame reduces weight
• Slightly narrower tires
• Flat handlebars allow aerodynamic positioning
• Often have more gearing options

Good middle-ground for longer commutes but less stability than a beach cruiser.

As you can see, considering the overall bike geometry, speed, gearing, and styling are important when selecting the optimal beach cruiser for your needs.

Customizing Your Beach Cruiser Setup

One fantastic aspect of beach cruisers is you can customize them in many ways to enhance their capabilities:

• Add a gear system – If you’ll ride hills or want more versatility, add an internal hub gear system. 3 speeds are common, but 7+ speeds are available too.
• Install a rear rack – Rear racks allow you to securely strap on panniers, bags, or a wire basket to carry cargo.
• Attach a front basket – A front basket provides handy storage reachable while riding. Wire or wicker styles have a vintage vibe.
• Add suspension – Front suspension helps smooth out bumps and keeps the ride comfortable on uneven terrain.
• Upgrade the saddle – Replace the seat with an extra wide, plush saddle with springs to maximize comfort.
• Modify the handlebars – Opt for raised, swept-back, or chopper-style handlebars to customize fit and style.
• Get fun accessories – Customize with cup holders, phone mounts, horns, chrome details, and lights to make it your own.
• Change the tires – Larger, treaded, or solid tires can provide more cushion and versatility for different conditions.
• Add pedal assist – An electric assist motor boosts your pedaling power to ride faster and farther with less effort.

With the right additions and accessories, you can truly customize your beach cruiser to meet your needs and reflect your personal riding style.

5 Tips for Riding a Beach Cruiser Safely and Comfortably

Here are some key tips for riding your beach cruiser safely and comfortably:

• Maintain proper tire pressure – Keep tires inflated to the recommended PSI range printed on the sidewall to prevent flats and optimize cushioning.
• Adjust the seat height correctly – With the pedal at 6 o’clock, your leg should fully extend with just a slight bend at the bottom of the stroke.
• Wear appropriate, fitted clothing – Avoid loose pants that could get caught in the chain or spokes. Choose breathable fabrics.
• Watch your turning radius – Beach cruisers generally need wider turns than road bikes, so give yourself more room maneuvering.
• Use front and rear lights if riding at night – Increase your visibility to others when riding on roads after dark. Reflectors alone aren’t sufficient.

Following these basic tips will keep your beach cruising experiences safe, comfortable, and enjoyable mile after mile. 

Related Post You may be interested to Read:

What Size Cruiser Bike Do I Need?

What Is a Cruiser Bike? A Comprehensive Guide

How Much Does A Beach Cruiser Bike Weigh?

Frequently Asked Questions

Let’s also go over some frequently asked questions.

Are beach cruisers good for exercise?

While not high-performance road bikes, the upright position engages your core, back, shoulders, and glutes for a light workout. Even short 1-3 mile rides benefit your fitness, especially if done regularly. They are great recreational exercise bikes.

Can you ride beach cruisers on trails?

The balloon tires and stability make beach cruisers adept at handling hard-packed dirt, gravel trails, and most groomed greenway trails. They work well for riding moderately rugged canal towpaths and park loops too.

How far can you ride on a beach cruiser?

The comfortable saddle and geometry enable riding a beach cruiser for moderate distances of around 5 miles comfortably. Single-speed models are best under 3 miles. Multi-geared cruisers expand the practical riding range significantly.

Are beach cruisers slow?

Beach cruisers are designed for casual riding at speeds around 10mph or less vs. 15-30mph for road bikes. But options like more gears and electric assist can provide a speed boost when needed.

Can you commute on a beach cruiser?

For relatively short commutes, approximately 5 miles or less on mostly flat, paved terrain, a cruiser can be quite practical with racks, baskets, or bags added. Electric models expand the feasible commuting distance.

Conclusion

While beach cruisers were originally designed for laidback riding along the sandy shores, their comfort, durability, and customization potential make them extremely versatile bikes suitable for much more.

From casual neighborhood cruising to basic commuting to hitting the trails, a beach cruiser can provide the perfect set of features to cruise in comfort. Their relaxed geometry also makes them accessible and easy to ride for beginners.

With the ability to add components like gears, cargo racks, suspensions, and even electric assist, you can create a beach cruiser tailored to your needs, from recreation to transportation.

So don’t think of your beach cruiser as limited to ocean boardwalks. These comfortable, stable bikes can provide enjoyable riding anywhere from the park to the campus to the trail. Just pick your ideal features, customize it to suit your needs and then let the smooth beach cruising begin wherever you roam!