How to Choose the Ideal Cruiser
Best Overall
Electra Townie Original 7D, $630
California-based Electra has been making 1 cruisers since 1993. Its Townie model, with seven-speed shift and pull brakes, is the top seller at Lee Oldak’s Amagansett bike store; on the opposite coast, it’s offered to guests at all SoCal Hyatts. The ingenious “foot forward” design, says Oldak, lets riders touch down with control: “Unlike most bikes, the Townie’s seat is positioned behind the pedals, so when you’re resting at a
stop sign, your feet are flat on the ground.”
Most Comfortable
Tuesday August 1, $500
According to rental-company co-owner 2 Rocky Wood, Tuesday’s August is built for a relaxed ride: Like the Electra Townie, it has an elongated frame that minimizes knee strain, and the placement of the seat and pedals allows the rider to touch down for quick stops. “Riders who haven’t been on a bike in a long time feel much more comfortable when they can do this,” Wood says. Plus the wide leather seat, like the matching handles, molds to the rider for a better fit over time.
Best Less Expensive
Sixthreezero Around the Block, from $350
Bike-shop co-owner Hayley Shaw says her 3 store’s entire fleet is made up of these affordable cruisers. “They have a fabulous crank,” she says—bikerspeak for how far each push of the pedal will get you. And while they don’t have multiple gears, they hold up remarkably well to daily use on both flat and sandy paths. “Our first fleet lasted three years,” Shaw says. “No maintenance, just some oil on the chain, fill up the tires, and wipe her down.”
Best Electric
Retrospec Beaumont Rev Electric City Bike, $1,300
Those with bad knees (or who simply 4 enjoy the assistance) should consider a battery-enhanced cruiser—and while most electric bikes’ bulky batteries can be an eyesore, the Beaumont discreetly tucks its power supply under a rear wheel rack. Hotel owner Alix Umen purchased a fleet for her guests to use when exploring Catskills state parks. The battery charges in a couple of hours, she says, plus the luggage racks are perfect for hauling picnic bags.
Best Looking
Linus Dutchi 1, $499
With its elegantly curved frame and pastel 5 colorways, the Linus is what hotel regional manager Matt Wright calls “very photographable.” “People see them and just want to ride them,” says Wright, whose California hotels provide the cruisers to guests who want to pedal around wine country. “People immediately start taking pictures of each other on the bikes.” They work well on concrete and dirt alike, he adds, and can be upgraded to three speeds for efficiency.
Best Retro-Inspired
Huntington Beach Bicycle Company Cruiser, $360
In his past life as a bike-shop owner, bikemagazine 6 editor Brad K. Evans sold hundreds of these single-speed Huntington cruisers—which happen to be one of his favorites. “They’re slick, sturdy, and cheap,” he says. “It’s the best affordable cruiser that’s also durable.” The classic frame is reminiscent of old Schwinns, he adds. “It feels like an old bike, but it’s brand new. If I were going to go buy a bike today, it would be this one.”
Best for the Beach
Sun Bicycles Drifter 1, $650
Every boardwalk expert we spoke to 7 recommended Sun Bicycles. “They’re built for a salt environment,” says Charles Kulp, citing their aluminum frame, crankset, and handlebars, which are “going to hold up the best, rust-wise.” “They just last,” agrees Rocio Cabas, whose Governors Island rental shop has had
Sun cruisers for years. “They’re easy to operate, and not a lot can go wrong. We sell a lot because renters end up liking them so much.”
Best Low Maintenance Priority Coast, $599
With its sealed bearings and rustproof 8 aluminum frame, this three-speed cruiser is designed to stand up to the sand, salt, and moisture of a coastal climate. “Rust is one of our biggest enemies on the island, and I’ve never seen any of them rust,” says Bettina Landt, whose Nantucket hotel employs a fleet of Priority Coast bikes. She also likes how they come with a belt drive instead of a chain, which makes them extra easy to clean and maintain.