About a quarter of a century ago, beach bike festivals drew only a handful of enthusiastic youngsters. Today, each summer, thousands of biking enthusiasts turn up on the beaches of California and other beaches of the US to celebrate this festival.
Beach bikes are popular not only for fun riding but also as a fitness mantra. Come summer time and people want to do more than swimming and beach bumming. Cruising the shores under the golden sun with the cool wind in your hair is as good an activity as any.
When beach bikes first burst on to the scene, they were known for their looks and their speed. But, by the late 1990s, the beach bike had morphed into a tech-savvy mean riding machine. Fantastic design is definitely a major plus. That apart, balloon tires, gear and rear brakes are other features make the bike more attractive to bikers. Accessories like LED lights, nose seats, funky carriers, cool colors and carrier baskets make the bike itself a fashion accessory. People turn and look at you when they see you cruising past in one of these show stoppers. Young children too may use the beach bike safely as these bikes are armed with LED lights and jingling bells to alert people on the way.
When buying beach bicycles, the first thing to be prepared for is the sheer number of styles and colors. Lots of different options are available to satisfy varying tastes. Since these bikes are lifestyle bikes, variety is only to be expected. So, be prepared to spend some time pondering the finer points of looks and beauty before you find the bike that appeals to you fully. Narrowing down the selection by gender is a fantastic idea as it helps you make a choice faster.
Terrain is another important consideration. Will the beach cruiser be used on hilly terrain or on level surfaces? Multi-speed beach bicycles are a little more difficult to handle. But for those who want to enjoy riding on difficult terrain, geared bikes are best as they give more control and power to riders. Beach bikes used primarily for city riding are single speed bikes.
Most people like to buy branded beach bikes. Names such as Schwinn, Electra and Nirve have a significant presence in the US. Branded bikes are a little more expensive but the extra money may be justified because of the quality.
Beach bikes may have aluminum or steel frames. Aluminum beach cruisers are typically costlier than steel frames. However, people who live near the beach are better off with aluminum frames as these are more durable and lasting. The downside is that steel frames offer more variety of selections. So, those who want to look glamorous on their bikes are better off on steel framed bikes.
The final cost of beach bicycles depend on the accessories attached to the bike. Accessories contribute to comfort and elevate the style factor tremendously. So, you can easily put in as many funky parts as you wish. As they say, the sky is the limit.
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