My first bike in Bangkok was a light blue Trek Beach
Cruiser. It was stolen within two weeks. It was such an awesome and good performing city
bike that I didn’t hesitate to buy the exact same bike a few days later.
My bicycle currently in Udon Thani.
To turn it in a practical city bike I pimped it up a little
bit.
First of all I did buy three locks but pretty soon I lost
the keys one by one so that was hopeless.
On a more substantional level I did install a back carrier
and a seat for my baby son. In 4 years of biking to come I biked maybe three of
four times without my son. That seat was well worth the investment.
I also did buy a front carrier on the ‘net. It can carry a
heavy load and the bike can handle it perfectly. I use it all the time for
groceries, and occasionally for <heavy stuff> and <very heavy
stuff>. Turns the bike from a
recreational vehicle into a practical city bike.
On a safety level, I did install two mirrors on the bike. It
gives me a great view of the traffic behind me. At least 30% of the time I
glance in the mirrors to keep my awareness of the scooters, cars and trucks
behind me. No mirrors ? Suicide !
One of the trademarks of the beach cruiser is it’s handle bar.
Replace the handle bar with an ordinary handle bar and a beach cruiser
doesn’t look like a beach cruiser anymore.
Because the handle bar is wide it gives you more control
and precision. Thanks to a rising handle bar you can sit straight (and not
slightly bended) which gives you the <cruising around town> feeling.
Comfortable, especially for longer drives through the city.
Sitting straight (instead of bending over like on a mountain
bike) also gives you a better view.
With a 3 gear the Trek Beach Cruiser can handle speed very
well. Without special effort I speed through the traffic.
The only improvement that I see for this bike would be Disc
Brakes which gives you more control.
In my experience, the Beach Cruiser is the perfect city bike by far.
