Beach Cruiser Blog

As a Beach Cruiser enthusiast I’m often ask about the difference between an Aluminum Beach Cruiser and a Steel Beach Cruiser. This article will highlight the differences in various beach cruisers and make some recommendations.

Years ago most bicycles were made in the United States. Beach Cruisers by Schwinn, Electra, Nirve and many others held a strong presence in the United States Beach Cruiser Market. Those days are gone.

Almost all bicycles are made in either China or Taiwan. The same plant that is making baby buggies today may be retooled and making beach cruisers tomorrow. This has had two dramatic effects on the USA Beach Cruiser Market. First, the price of Beach Cruiser Bicycles has fallen dramatically over the last thirty years when adjusted for inflation. Unfortunately so has quality. Today’s market is very much a “buyer beware” type of market and is full of bicycles that years ago would not have passed quality control standards. Part of this is due to the throw away nature of our society. Few people anticipate keeping their bike more than 1-2 bicycle seasons. Most beach cruisers will see a usable life cycle of 1-2 seasons and then set in the back of the garage or carport until discarded.

However, for those looking for quality I suggest two approaches. First, examine the welds on the bicycle. Cheaper bicycles show weld puddles at the joints and do not have the smooth fine welds made on your quality models. Second, (and maybe this is just me) I have observed that bicycles produced in mainland China do not have the same quality controls implemented as beach cruisers produced in Taiwan. Although, controversial as to the reasons I have attributed this to the relatively new introduction of the mainland Chinese to free enterprise markets. Hopefully, in a few years Chinese manufactures will implement quality controls so that all “runs” of beach cruiser bicycles will be quality controlled and not just a few. For now buyer beware.

As to the difference in steel and aluminum beach cruisers you can expect to pay slightly more for an aluminum beach cruiser. If you are looking for a light weight beach cruiser that will be rust resistant then aluminum beach cruiser may be exactly what you are looking for. People living on the beach or who take their beach cruiser to the beach regularly will benefit from this technology. The downside is that most manufactures have a far wider selection of steel beach cruisers than aluminum beach cruisers. As a result most customers who have a limited life expectancy for their beach cruiser will be happier with the greater selection of steel beach cruisers.

While more and more customers are thinking about buying a beach cruiser – or are actually making the purchase – most bicycle stores seem to be falling behind. Although the beach cruiser bicycle has been a solid seller for years and has recently even become more popular, many bike shops continue to stock the basic bikes and mountain bicycles. It is truly too bad, because many customers who are looking to enjoy a beach cruiser bike and are having trouble finding the product they want.

Luckily, the internet is helping customers find stores selling beach cruisers. If you are having trouble finding a beach cruiser bike in your local stores, consider going online to find beach cruisers. You may find some companies – including Copacabana Bikes – will be willing to help you find a bike in your area. Many are even able to ship your beach cruiser to you.

If you are having trouble finding a beach cruiser bike at a local store, you may find that many stores have only a tiny selection of beach cruisers. Don’t be tempted to buy your beach cruiser bicycle from a store with virtually no selection. There are so many types of beach cruisers out there, that you really should look at a wide selection and even test out several before you find one that feels best for you. It really makes a big difference, so don’t settle for the first bike you see simply because you finally do find a beach cruiser.

One other common complaint of customers looking to buy a beach cruiser bike is that sales staff at most bike stores simply do not know much about these types of bicycles. You should certainly never buy your cruiser from sales staff who do not even know what a Schwinn beach cruiser is. You need a knowledgeable person to help you understand the various options you have when buying a beach cruiser bicycle. You will also want someone who can help you find a bike that will best suit your intended routes and your lifestyle. Of course, you will need help finding a bike that suits your style and your budget. While beach cruisers are less expensive than mountain bikes, they are still an investment. You don’t want to buy one just to have it go rusty because it is not ideal for you. You want to buy a beach cruiser bike that you ride all the time. The only way to get this is to deal with sales staff who really understand beach cruisers and who can help you track down the perfect one for you.

Anyone buying a new beach cruiser bike quickly learns that prices and quality range widely. Low-quality bikes can be purchased at any major department store or discount store, but the low-range beach cruiser bikes can provide a less fun riding experience. Many customers who opted for a low end beach cruiser bicycle find that parts fall off easily, replacing parts or getting accessories is more challenging, and the ride is not as smooth, resulting in aches and pains.

Midrange beach cruiser bicycles are often not much more expensive than a low-end bicycle, but the difference in quality can be immense. A middle range beach cruiser tends to keep aligned, rides smoothly, and is created so that parts do not fall off as easily. Plus, with a middle range beach cruiser bike, accessories and component parts can be replaced or added with little expense. Is actually makes a midrange beach cruiser far more cost-effective, since any small problem can be replaced with a part, rather than having to place the bike.

The top quality beach cruisers can still save you money over a mountain bike or other expensive bicycles. However, high quality beach cruisers make a big difference. They are far easier to ride and cause far fewer aches and pains than either the low-end or the midrange beach cruisers. In many cases, the best quality bikes are carefully made so that the bike component parts require minimum maintenance. This means that you spend less money repairing your bicycle and trying to get it fixed, which can save you both time and money. Inexpensive bikes have a tendency to have misaligned wheels and friction within the parts. This results in problems with coasting and with pedaling. The pedals don’t move as smoothly, and there are often squeaks and groans when you try to break. This simply does not occur with the higher quality beach cruisers. Higher quality beach cruisers also require very little exertion on the pedals, which can save your knees and your joints.

The main problem for many customers is they are not sure what’s the differences are between a low grade beach cruiser and a high quality beach cruiser bicycle. The first clue is where you purchase your bicycle. Discount stores and discount franchises tend to stock up on the cheapest bicycles, which are designed mainly to look attractive. If you want to buy a high quality beach cruiser that will be easy on your joints and will provide you with hours of fun rides, you want to speak to someone who is expert at the beach cruiser bicycle. For example, the friendly and knowledgeable staff at Copacabana Bikes specialize only in beach cruisers, and can help you select from the hundreds of styles available so that you select the right beach cruiser for you.