Cruising—It’s not just for beaches anymore

Some see them as retro while those who’ve lived through it already may view them as nostalgic – either way, cruiser bikes are ripping up the roads in a strong revival. But why are they so popular again? Insiders credit the comfort issue and the vast choices offered by cruiser-only bike companies.

Coot Callahan, a vintage bike collector in Reno states, “We are in the midst of a full-blown bike renaissance. There is so much going on, so many styles of bikes; it’s really fun to watch.”

Old-style, balloon tire bikes first came on the scene before World War II, but experienced a surge post-war in the baby boomer era. These heavy, often non-geared bicycles gave way to sleeker 10-speeds, before trimming weight in the 1980s to become mountain bikes. With these, off-road options opened up with beefier tires, hand brakes and more gears.

Callahan says, “I worked in bike shops starting in 1982, and the choice was mainly your standard road racing bike. If you wanted to commute or do any type of riding, that’s what you rode. Then mountain bikes caught on, but unless you’re going off-road, it’s overkill for casual riding. A well-built, multi-gear cruiser is great for the riding a huge percentage of the population does. And they have style and personality.”

Cruisers may be gaining popularity due to those baby boomers who first enjoyed them. As that group has aged, hunching over the handlebars of a road or mountain bike isn’t quite as comfortable as the upright position a cruiser allows. And with so many new companies specializing in only cruisers, the sassy designs appeal to a wide age span.

While most riders are content – and even happier – to simply buy a new cruiser from specialty brands like Felt, Sun, Electra or Nirve, there are a handful of true vintage collectors across the nation. Plug in “vintage bikes” online, and you’ll see more than 40 websites.

“I’d say there are about 120 of us,” Callahan said. “And only half of them are serious collectors. The bikes we come across can be pretty beat up. Think, for instance, of collecting sewing machines – these were kept inside and cared for by an adult. Bikes, on the other hand, had the worst of all worlds. They were left outside and cared for most often by adolescent boys.

“When we come across an old bike, we can refurbish or restore it. Refurbishing is simpler – the bike may need a tune-up or a couple of parts that were lost over the years. Restoration is much more involved; it may require stripping the latest paint job, finding original paint and locating the true steel parts – and sources are drying up.

“This can be expensive, since the restoration is all done by hand, whereas the bike was originally a factory production. Nowadays, these new cruisers are improved versions of the old bikes, lighter weight and better gearing. The stuff I collect is pretty – the new bikes are pretty and useable.”

Keep in mind that some of the newer cruisers are still hefty. A steel bike may weigh in at 45 pounds, but the vintage version may have topped 65 pounds! Some companies are now opting for aluminum frames, which drops the weight even more.


Local bike clubs offer something for everyone
Now enter the sass factor – a cruiser may be used for commuting to work or for leisurely exercise along the beach. Either way, young and old cyclers alike bond over their nostalgic look.

Locally, cruiser clubs and leisure rides are cropping up around Reno and Lake Tahoe. Slow Rollers, a South Lake Tahoe club, is the best marketed, with a website (www.slowrollers.net) and weekly social rides.

Reno boasts clubs like Black Label, The Desert Oysters and Gonads and Strife. Gonads and Strife club president, Julia Setzer and her husband Gary, host a group ride, open to all, the first Friday of each month at 5:30 p.m. at Wingfield Park. Besides organizing four fundraising events each year, the Setzer’s have a personal collection of 35 cruiser bikes, ranging from the 1930s to present day. For more info on rides or events, call them at (775)815-4131.

In Minden, The Rusted Chain Gang is run by Mike Garcia, known to most simply as The Bike Guy. Says Garcia, “We ride most evenings, and there’s usually a weekend group ride, too. We can have anywhere from 4 to 25 people, it really varies.”

Garcia has a personal collection of 31 old bikes, and says he’s been cruising forever, since his younger days in southern California. “Down there,” he continues, “people don’t pay as much attention to beach cruisers, because there’s so many of them. But up here, when you have a social ride and 15 bikes pull into a bar or a shopping center, people notice. It’s really fun.” Reach Garcia at (775) 782-8339 for the Rusted Chain Gang schedule.

Big Daddy’s Bike Shop in Garderville is hosting a cruiser ride on July 1 – call them for details at (775) 782-7077. Coot Callahan tours with a group once each month – look on his website www.buzzbombbicycles.com. His site is also a great source for vintage bikes.

Many of the riders involved with cruiser clubs are struck by the magic of their history and the spirit of fun these bikes invoke. If you’re not lucky enough to have a bike in the garage with a name like Monarch, Huffman or Schwinn, take the easy route and test drive a new cruiser bike. But watch out, it seems you can’t own just one…