2012-09-24, Beach Cruiser Revival

They were obviously trying to get the attention of male Baby Boomers, and they succeeded. Waiting for my oil change at Wal-Mart, my eyes were assaulted by several brightly-painted, 32" (yes, thirty-two inch!) "beach cruiser" style bikes.

They are single-speed, coaster brake, balloon tire, tough-as-a-boot bikes, big enough that I can barely swing my leg over, and I'm 6' 3" / 191 cm. It's a throwback to the 1930s-'50s and my first uncomplicated, pre-English racer, definitely pre-mountain bike two-wheeling experience.

It sits really well. Wonder how it rides?

http://bit.ly/Q166Ja

32in wheel bike? Cruiser sighted at Wal Mart.

bit.ly

Wandering thru Wal Mart on Saturday, saw this monster. 32 in wheels, crazy.

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  Chuck Oates The ten-speed I used in college has 27" wheels, BTW. The common adult-sized bike has 26" wheels.

  56 minutes ago · Like
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  Chuck Oates 
  Some wide-eyed young folks are evidently just as enamored with the fixies as I was when I was a kid, perhaps a good bit younger than those currently infatuated.  It was *transportation* for me!  
  
  Evidently, modern biking aficionados, who were not even a gleam in their (grand-)daddies' eyes when fixed gear ratio bikes ("fixies") were last in vogue are appalled. "They're painted like Ronald McDonald bikes." 
  
  See this video from the German High Command's bunker:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mW9kRgQO-XE
  

  

  
  

  . 
  Hilarious!
  

  
  

  Hitler rants about fixie hipsters
  

  

  
  

  www.youtube.com
  

  

  
  

  
  

  Hitler is informed that fixies have entered Berlin! The movie 'Downfall' is the
  

  property of Constantin Films, and I recommend purchasing and watching the DVD...

  about a minute ago · Edited · Like · Remove Preview
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  Chuck Oates For the less-than-sexagenarians in the group, here's some background:
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cruiser_bicycle
  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Cruiser bicycle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  

  

  
  

  en.wikipedia.org
  

  Acruiser bicycle, also known as abeach cruiser, is abicyclewhich combinesballoon
  

   tires, an upright seating posture, asingle-speed drivetrain, and straightforwardsteel constructionwith expressive styling.