7-speed twist shifter offers smooth, reliable gear changes. Best suited for flat, easy-going rides around the neighborhood or at the beach. The step-thru frame makes the Simi suitable for everyone, especially those just getting into—or back into—riding. You get quite a few extras with this bike (extras often left off other bikes that cost as much or more), such as a kickstand, schwinn dealers fenders, lights, a rear rack, and a bottle-cage mount. With a 7-speed drivetrain and a cassette—not to mention the bonus boost you get from the motor—this beach bike can do more than just hit the flat boardwalk for an out-and-back morning jaunt. A double kickstand keeps the bike from tipping when parked, and the option of grabbing a single-, 3-, or 7-speed is nice.
“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. Companies like Schwinn, also Huffy, way too big of volume to be doing that kind of one-off customization. Different business model, keep prices down, things like that.
Not one to compromise on comfort, Huffy also delivers its Perfect Fit frame, allowing upright riding and full leg extensions typical of cruisers. The lightweight aluminum frame perfectly matches the salty beachside conditions in your favorite beach town. A dual-spring padded seat and soft cork handlebar grips complete the comfort features. Finally, manufacturers have also introduced the “comfort bike” category, to combine the soft ride and upright posture of cruisers with a more conventionally styled bike. Comfort bikes have such features as fenders, suspension seatposts and forks, and large padded saddles with giant springs.
If you go to the In the Barrel or the women’s cruisers, you’re gonna see our seats, the bucket saddle, the stitching, it looks really nice, and it’s all about comfort. Where we differ from Schwinn, is you just look at our color selection. We use a much different pallet, pastels, colors like that, and our speed options. If you look at our women’s cruiser, Around the Block cruisers, you can get all of those in one speed, three speed, seven-speed, twenty-one speed.
Be careful of hills, though, as that one speed also means you’ll have to pedal harder to climb. When our shop re-opens to the public following the coronavirus outbreak, we’ll be happy to discuss schwinn beach cruiser options for fit customization, upgrades, and accessories. Over the years, Schwinn has empowered millions of people, earning a special place in the hearts and minds of generations of riders.
We also recommend the sixthreezero EVRYjourney Women’s Beach Cruiser for riding over hills, commutes, and boardwalks. Many coastal cruisers on the market don’t actually handle well on beaches—the water, salt, and sand are often too much, and seaside corrosion deteriorates the vehicle. The ultralight frame is rustproof, making this bike extra durable. You can also have a custom-built surfboard rack attached at an extra cost. This e-bike also incorporates some of the best features of a mountain bike, with a fork shock at the front of the bike and a seat shock. Together, these deliver smooth riding even on bumpy surfaces.