By the late 1950s, U.S. manufacturers such as Schwinn ramped up production of the English racer.[12] Schwinn was no stranger to this style. Between the 28 inch wheeled track bikes that they built between the turn of the 20th century and the 1920s and the lightweight offerings they introduced in the 30s such as the Continental, Varsity and Superior, schwinn beach cruiser they knew their way around. These prewar bikes could be had with imported half inch pitch drivetrains with freewheels and hand brakes. In postwar production, Schwinn began producing lightweights again in the mid 40s with models such as the New World. These bikes could be had with Sturmey Archer 3 speeds from England and had chromoly tubing.
Questor/Schwinn later purchased GT Bicycles in 1998 for $8 a share in cash, roughly $80 million. The new company produced a series of well-regarded mountain bikes bearing the Schwinn name, called the Homegrown series.[62] In 2001, Schwinn/GT declared bankruptcy. In the 1950s, Schwinn began to aggressively cultivate bicycle retailers, persuading them to sell Schwinns as their predominant, if not exclusive brand. During this period, bicycle sales enjoyed relatively slow growth, with the bulk of sales going to youth models. In 1900, during the height of the first bicycle boom, annual United States sales by all bicycle manufacturers had briefly topped one million.
But for what it is—a $800 cruiser bike with mounts to add a rear rack and a head tube tall enough to hang a pretty deep basket off the BMX-style handlebar—the Roll 2.0 Low-Entry can double as a daily cruiser and around-town grocery-getter. schwinn beach cruiser But this bike’s relaxed attitude doesn’t discount it as a capable utilitarian ride. Front and rear-carrier braze-ons let you outfit it with racks and bags to carry essentials to the beach or grab a six-pack and sandwiches on the way home.
We know from experience what makes a beach cruiser desirable, so we’ve based our list on value, quality of parts (most of which have been tested separately), user reviews, comfort, our positive experience with brands, and overall aesthetics. We recommend these nine beach cruisers for laid-back rides—no matter where you are. But if your rides are a little more challenging than the flat, coastal roads around your favorite seaside town, consider a beach cruiser with multiple gears. Multi-speed bikes can accelerate much faster than single-geared ones and offer a much smoother ride.
It can hold up to 290 pounds, and the removable lithium battery lasts up to 65 miles before needing to be recharged. Beach cruiser bikes epitomize the saying that the journey is the destination. “A cruiser bike is for when comfort, not speed, is the goal,” says Jeff Shyman, founder and owner of Confederacy of Cruisers, a New Orleans bike tour company. By the late schwinn beach cruiser 70s, Schwinn reintroduced heavyweights, but this time with a blend of BMX parts. The Spitfire was reintroduced as a heavyweight for 1977 and was sold through 1979 with reissue S2s that were made in Hungary. In 1980, Schwinn introduced the Cruiser Series which has survived multiple iterations and has been offered more or less continuously through present.
You also get a bottle-cage mount and internally routed cables. Choose from six refreshing colors (with matching fenders, rims, and a chainguard), including beach-inspired sea glass and matte coral. The Brighton also has a wide gear range for climbing hills, faster acceleration, and comfortable riding. If you need some two-wheeled therapy, a beach cruiser might be just the vehicle.