Cruiser bikes are meant for long, leisurely rides on the beach or through the country, keeping you comfortable while transporting you for miles. Cruisers typically feature a lower top tube, larger tires and fenders to keep you dry. Some even come equipped with racks for carrying groceries or picnic lunches. The best cruisers are comfortable, easy to ride and handle well on roads, sidewalks, grass and hard-packed sand.
Pacific Shorewood Women's Cruiser
If your dream cruiser features whitewall tires, this might be the bike for you. Pacific Shorewood's women's cruiser is the top-rated bike for 2010, according to Beach Cruiser Bikes. Instead of the coaster brakes of your youth, this bike features hand brakes as well as seven full gears to help you navigate long, flat cruises and hilly terrain. A wide, spring-loaded seat keeps your backside comfortable while its rear fender and chainguard keep your clothes clean and rip-free.
Huffy Karaoke AMP
Huffy offers a cruiser bike for men that integrates retro style with modern technology. Made with traditional coaster brakes, this bike has a comfort spring saddle, steel frame, steel wheels and whitewall tires. The crowning feature, however, is its portable music player. Kept in a removable handlebar bag, it is compatible with any iPod, MP3 or CD player, features adjustable volume and even comes with 10 free music downloads. The bike ranked in Beach Cruiser Bike's top 10.
Specialized Globe Live 3
The Globe Live 3 from Specialized has cruiser style and all-purpose bike sensibility. It has disc brakes and a quiet Gates Carbon drive belt, rather than a chain, which never needs to be oiled and will not rust. It earned "Bicycling" magazine's 2010 Buyer's Guide thumbs-up. Able to handle 55 pounds of baggage, the bike comes with front and rear racks with a spring and kickstand that prevent a full front basket from toppling the bike. However, this spring does hinder your ability to turn sharply at higher speeds. Fenders keep you dry in rainy weather and the whitewall tires complete the classic styling.
Schwinn Classic AL 3
The Schwinn Classic AL 3 is "Bicycling" magazine's Editor's Choice winner for 2009. With its large, comfortable seat and flashy, brightly colored fenders, the bike is the epitome of classic cruisers. Available in standard and step-through frames, the bike's chainring caught the attention of reviewers at "Bicycling" magazine. Its three-speed internal gearing outpaced its competitors, offering a "fun ride with solid handling and a front brake for extra stopping power."
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