A hot new trend in the biking world today is the rise in popularity of kids beach cruiser bikes. While beach cruisers have long been the bike of choice for many adults, cruisers for kids are quickly catching on for the same reasons that adults love them: comfort, style and functionality.
Today's bicycle manufacturers are in tune with the fact that boys and girls want bikes to reflect their gender awareness and personal style, to make a statement about who they are as they cruise around town. Yet, in order for a bicycle to provide years of riding enjoyment, its selection has to be about more than just looks. Some kids beach cruiser bikes offer classic retro design paired with important modern comfort and safety features that should not be overlooked during the purchasing phase.
Whether buying for a boy or a girl, make sure that the bike has adjustable handlebars that can be placed in just the right position for the rider to sit comfortably upright. The bike should also have an adequate chain cover to prevent pant legs and shoestrings from getting entangled in the chain. A padded seat is a given, but a seat that easily adjusts for the height of the rider should also be part of the package.
Beach Cruiser Bikes for Girls
Beyond the required safety features, bikes built for girls and boys differ in significant ways. Cruiser bikes for girls should have shorter frames with shapes specifically designed to allow for easy mounting and dismounting. The handlebars may need to be smaller to match a girl's shorter reach. But most important to many girls will be the color of the bike and the decorations on it.
Girls generally are not impressed with primary colors. Girls want bikes that have modern, fancy shades, such as pearlescent pastels and vibrant variations of exotic hues. They want flowers, sparkles and colored spokes, but they don't want to be gaudy or extreme. Girls want to be cool as they cruise around the 'hood, and bicycle manufacturers are learning to provide the right style and look.
Beach Cruiser Bikes for Boys
Boys have different preferences from girls when it comes to bicycle design. Boys want their bikes to have gears and handlebar brakes and as many other gadgets as they can add. Boys' cruiser bikes are more masculine in design, streamlined and bold rather than light and curvy. Boys desire a bike that lets them go fast on the open road yet is durable enough to take across country if the mood strikes them. Boys also have specific color preferences, trending toward darker primary colors, no pastels, and instead of flowers or bangles they like flames and celebrity-related decals.
Kids beach cruiser bikes have come a long way since they were first designed decades ago yet many of their original features are still the most popular. Their upright riding style and sensible seats mean that kids are likely to ride more frequently and for longer periods of time, getting much needed exercise while enjoying the open air.
