| The beach cruiser scene has been heating up recently, | | | | bike for $500, when you know you are out of shape, |
| with more brands and brighter colors hitting the market. | | | | and not going more than a couple of miles from your |
| Cruisers provide a very comfortable ride while also | | | | house. It's a lot cheaper to have the mechanics in a |
| being affordably priced. Basic Beach Cruiser bikes are | | | | shop assemble your beach cruiser, and making sure |
| available for under $90, plus shipping, on the Internet. It | | | | that it is safe. You are going to have to get acquainted |
| can be a lot of fun to buy these, and then assemble | | | | with your local bike shop if you do any serious kind of |
| them the way that you want to, if you have the | | | | biking, if you put on a good amount of miles a week. |
| mechanical ability. All the really tough parts, like the | | | | You are better off saving them for putting optional |
| gears are assembled already. Try different types of | | | | features on your bike and for help with routine |
| fenders, from Chrome, to different colors. You can | | | | maintenance. Options can run anywhere from designer |
| have standard handlebars, or even get chopper style | | | | labels electric night lights to rear-view mirrors, to wider |
| straight handlebars. A plain old beach cruiser bike is | | | | fenders that have enough surface to paint some |
| good too. I find this to be a great way to go to stores | | | | angels or devils on. And a bell or horn can be useful, |
| to buy small purchases up to about 1 ½ miles | | | | especially if you have been sneaking on the sidewalk, |
| away. I personally don't like a metal front basket, I think | | | | and you want those pedestrians up ahead to get out |
| it is not that cute for a guy to have, so I put my | | | | of the way. |
| purchases in a backpack. Saving gas by avoiding using | | | | Be aware that if you are doing any sort of speed |
| your car can save you some real money too. | | | | biking you must wear a helmet, which is not that much |
| Probably, the best deal is if your neighbor or someone | | | | fun. You can wear a helmet with a beach cruiser too, |
| down the block is selling one in a yard sale. Then you | | | | but I think it is optional. Don't worry too much is your |
| are all set to get one for under $30. Beware that once | | | | beach cruiser bike has 7-speeds or no speeds, |
| these bikes, like any bike, become rusty, they have to | | | | because even in the hilly country of the North Bronx, |
| be lubricated. And that means not only the chain and | | | | NY, at the speeds I am going, it doesn't make that |
| the brakes, but the inner lubrication of the pedals and | | | | much of a difference. And whether you have |
| even things like the handlebars, which just proves the | | | | multi-speeds or not, you better have a pretty strong |
| old adage that it is hard to get something for nothing. | | | | pair of legs to get up a big hill, otherwise, either way |
| The key thing to avoid is going into a pro-bike shop | | | | you are going to end up walking up it. |
| and getting some fancy mountain bike or speed racing | | | | |