A culture and product journalist for over ten years, he’s an expert in men’s style, technology, gaming, coffee, e-bikes, hiking, gear, and all things outdoors. He most recently worked as the Style Editor for Reviewed, a top product recommendation site owned by USA TODAY. He also helped with the launch of WSJ’s Buy Side commerce vertical, and has covered the music and podcast industries for Mass Appeal, Genius, Vulture, Leafly, Input, and The A.V. Club. Equally passionate about leisure as he is his penmanship, Kevin dedicates his spare time to graphic novels, birding, making cold brew, and taking long, meandering walks. There are, unfortunately, bicycle manufacturers out there who do take shortcuts in things like component quality. Other brands might include features or components that are highly specialized and thus hard (expensive) to replace or repair should you have issues in the future.
You might even score a good used cruiser at an exceptionally reduced price at your local bike shop. The Vado 4.0 is one of the best commuter bikes on the market. Exceptionally well-designed, the Vado 4.0 has an SRAM NX, 11-speed drivetrain, powerful SRAM Level brakes, and an SR Suntour Mobie A32 suspension fork for a smooth feel. Power settings are adjustable via an easy-to-manage phone app, plus all of the needed accessories for commuting—rack, fenders, and lights—come standard. While the Vado is pricier than some other bikes in the class, it has a refined feel, a strong global dealer network in case of motor issues, and is a thrilling e-bike to ride. That said, electric bikes like Around the Block from sixthreezero have some pretty massive advantages that may very well swing those sitting on the fence between traditional v. electric over to the motor side.
For the casual bicyclist, there may not be a big discernable difference between different frame materials and so, may not play the largest role in your new bike purchasing decision. That said, there are differences and it can be helpful to understand why you might choose one type of frame material over another. Disc brakes are considered the schwinn beach cruiser safest style of brakes, with hydraulic disc brakes being the absolute best in bike braking technology. Both of these brakes are beefy options that will overall weigh your bike down and may take away too much from the maneuverability benefits of beach cruisers for you. They are also more expensive and will require more routine maintenance.
It boasts the company’s proprietary Future Shock, a coil shock positioned above the head tube that provides 20mm of suspension to eat bumps and bobbling gravel, reducing rider fatigue. We deem this an upgrade due to its better-than-most components, but if the Sirrus X 4.0 is too steep for you, check out one of the brand’s other 20+ Sirrus models. If, however, you plan on taking your beach cruiser to hillier schwinn beach cruiser locations, or if you want to go faster than just one speed, then consider buying a beach cruiser with more gearing options. Even a cruiser with just three sprockets, or three gearing options, in the rear can offer a cyclist a nice array of options to tackle different road and path gradients and conditions. Of course, these physical differences are all general differences and there will be outliers.
If so, then you will probably need to add a basket at some point or a rack from which you can hang panniers. Do you plan on riding your new cruiser bike a lot at night or in the early morning hours? If so, then you’re going to want to make sure you have some type of front and rear lights equipped before you take it out on the streets. Are you envisioning yourself cruising around neighborhood block parties or across large campgrounds in the summer? If so, then a solid handlebar drink holder and a nice horn or bell will prove quite helpful. If you’re interested in purchasing an antique or vintage bicycle made by this iconic company, you’ll have plenty of options.
Fabulous and functional, the front and rear fenders add that vintage flair while helping to protect you – and your clothes – from splashes and dirt while you ride. The padded spring seat is soft and supportive, while the upright riding position is easier on your lower back. Rear coaster brake, also called a pedal brake, provides intuitive stopping power. All you need to do is pedal backwards to slow or stop – it’s that easy. I’d been spending a lot of time riding my old man’s original late 40s-early 50s Roadmaster Luxury Liner around.
The Bad Boy is Cannondale’s fast-riding city and urban commuter. Sporting the brand’s signature Lefty fork, the Bad Boy 3 stands out from the crowd, featuring a fully blacked-out look designed to blend in. Other features include a Shimano Altus 2×8-speed drivetrain with a wide gear range, powerful hydraulic disc brakes, and 650b wheels that blend durability and speed. However, if you are considering an electric beach cruiser bike, a multi-geared beach cruiser bike, or are otherwise planning on taking it in hillier terrains, then we recommend looking for a model with a better braking system. Because while cruiser brakes are effective at low speeds and in flat terrain, if you try to slam backward and brake when going at high speeds or down a hill, the momentum risks you skidding out in a dangerous fashion. So, for these cases, we recommend looking for a beach cruiser model that either pairs the coaster brake with a front v-brake or disc brake, or one that completely swaps the coaster brake for a full set of v-brakes or disc brakes.
The CTY 1.1 is offered in two colors, five sizes for the standard frame style, and three sizes in a step-through variant. This is your ticket if you want a fantastic deal and a well-featured bike. Just as there is no one type of commute or commuter, there is no singular type of commuter bike. It used to be that a typical city bike had upright geometry, flat pedals, minimal gearing, skinny tires, and a relatively comfortable seat. But thanks to new technology and a greater demand to live a two-wheeled lifestyle, the category of commuter bikes is sprawling.