So you’ve been on a cruiser ride or two, and you’ve considered getting yourself a new bike but you really want to get into something older, something “classic.”
First we should look at what exactly a “classic” cruiser is: According to the, a classic cruiser is an American bicycle made between 1920 and 1965. Bikes of this era soon became recognized by their increased streamlining and loads of accessories: lights, speedometers, suspension forks, horns, luggage racks, faux gas tanks and more. These included Schwinn, Columbia, Elgin, Iver Johnson, Silver King, J.C. Higgins and Western Flyer, to name a few.
We think there are a slew of other bikes out there that deserve the moniker “classic” even if they haven’t been wheeling around since the beginning of time. Consider the John Deere series of bikes by Nirve, and the limited edition cruisers New Belgium puts out each year. Those are surely classics today and we think future generations will agree.
Whether you’re looking to start a seriously expensive hobby or just straddle something with a unique patina, Scott McCaskey of The Classic & Antique Bicycle Exchange https://thecabe.com or the National Bicycle History Archive of America http://www.nbhaa.com offer their advice and opinions to help you get rolling on some vintage steel.
