| Look cool, be cool with a beach cruiser or a lowrider. | | | | the Stingray bike of the 1950s and 60s? That's the |
| New car models come out every year. When you | | | | forerunner of the beach cruiser. It's usually a single |
| look at them, can you really tell the difference between | | | | speed bicycle, and the brake levers aren't on the |
| them? You could do that in the 1950s, for sure, but | | | | handlebars, they're at your feet. The pedals, that is to |
| today? No, they mostly look the same. | | | | say. They're called coaster brakes, which means you |
| That isn't the case with bicycles. Bicycling is more | | | | have to reverse pedal to slow down or stop. Cruiser |
| popular than ever, and new models are being brought | | | | bikes have what's called balloon tires to go over |
| out every year for any type of interest from road | | | | packed sand - hence the name, beach cruiser. |
| bikes to mountain bikes and everything in between. | | | | Like any other bike you care to name, the beach |
| Two of the newest styles gaining interest among a | | | | cruiser comes in styles designed for men, women and |
| larger group of fans are the beach cruisers and the | | | | children. |
| lowriders. | | | | Nearly every major bike manufacturer makes at least |
| A lowrider bike is exactly what it sounds like - a bike | | | | one cruiser model, and there are new manufacturers |
| that hugs the ground. The highest points these kinds of | | | | out there. Check out Electra, Nirve, Kustom Kruiser, |
| bikes are the handgrips, and the seat is down at wheel | | | | and Aero-Fast before you make any decision on what |
| level. Indeed, the pedals are sometimes higher than the | | | | kind of cruiser to buy. |
| seat. It looks like a Harley Davidson! That's why it's also | | | | To take just one example, Nirve has several styles of |
| called a "chopper bike" or a "muscle bike." | | | | Cruisers to choose from, and you can check out the |
| These lowriders got their start in the | | | | styles and specifications at their website. |
| Chicano-American community, but are starting to pick | | | | The "Classic" series consists of the Classic, the |
| up their popularity with the mainstream. It's all about | | | | Fifty-Three, the Knuckle, the Kilroy, and the Forty-Nine. |
| style. Most lowriders have the banana seat made | | | | Cool names, but you'll have to scope them out to see |
| famous by the Schwinn Stingray of yore, "excessive" | | | | if you like them. |
| chrome, "overspoked" wheels, and fur. Lowriders have | | | | Their Islander series consists of the Sunflower, the |
| a culture of their own and their bikes are custom | | | | Island Flower, and the Lahaina. As you might expect, |
| creations to show off their personalities. | | | | these bikes are decorated with paintings of flowers on |
| Aztlan Bicycle is the world's number one lowrider bike | | | | the frame! These bikes are for girls or women, and |
| company - at least according to their website. They | | | | have three speeds. |
| certainly were one of the first companies to come out | | | | So if you're looking for a little different biking |
| with the lowrider. | | | | experience, check out the lowriders or the cruisers, |
| Similar to the lowrider is the beach cruiser. Remember | | | | and you might like what you see. |