Fort Collins-Walden 200: Riding a Double Century on a 1-Speed Huffy Cruiser

By the late 1950s, U.S. manufacturers such as Schwinn ramped up production of the English racer.[12] Schwinn was no stranger to this style. These prewar bikes could be had with imported huffy nighthawk half inch pitch drivetrains with freewheels and hand brakes. In postwar production, Schwinn began producing lightweights again in the mid 40s with models such as the New World.

With a range of sizes and styles available, you can find the perfect Huffy beach cruiser to suit your personal style and preferences. These bikes are built with sturdy frames and reliable components, ensuring durability and long-lasting performance. Whether you’re cruising on the boardwalk or navigating city streets, these beach huffy cruiser cruisers provide a smooth and enjoyable ride. Discover a wide selection of Huffy beach cruisers at Kohl’s, perfect for enjoying a leisurely ride along the coast or exploring your neighborhood. These beach cruisers offer a comfortable and stylish way to get around, with features designed to enhance your riding experience.

The release of the 1985 film Pee-wee’s Big Adventure[15] highlighted the main character’s cross-country search for his lost custom-built heavily-accessorized horn-tank bicycle. Only two blocks away from Walden’s Shell gas station—the official turnaround point of the ride—I rode by three guys having a chit chat in front of someone’s garage when there was a loud bang. It sounded like a gunshot but I instantly realized exactly what it was when it happened. My butt knew from the way the rear of the bicycle was squirming around. Wearing glowsticks on the neck and wrists and reflective orange bands on the calves, I set out onto dark roads illuminated only by the super-bright headlight of the cruiser.

These bikes usually feature a lower center of gravity, suspension forks, hot rod paint jobs, and large rear tires. These bikes feature a relaxed riding position, allowing you to sit back and enjoy the scenery. With comfortable padded seats and wide handlebars, these cruisers offer a comfortable and ergonomic riding experience for riders of all ages. One of the first uses of the term “cruiser” for motobikes may have been in the WW2 era, by Mead Cycle Co., who sold via mail-order bicycles of the brand names Ranger, Pathfinder and Crusader.

The Public C7 is also another lightweight and easy-to-ride cruiser bike. The look of the Public C7 is similar to the Nel Lusso cruiser with an upright riding position and a step-through design. This is a classic cruiser with a front basket, a built-in rear rack, a cup holder, and a matching set of fenders to keep you dry. It features a coaster (aka pedal-back or foot brake) that is easy to use and requires minimal maintenance.

The Varsity was offered between 1960 and 1962 as an 8 speed and as a 10 speed between 1963 and 1982. I’ve experienced this before, a result of over-inflating the Huffy’s tires. The rims on this bike were not exactly machined to military precision and don’t seem to “grab” onto the tires’ wire beads very securely. If the tire pressure is too high, the tires unseat from the wheels, allowing the tube to escape and pop like a balloon.

Cruisers are popular among casual bicyclists and vacationers because they are very stable and easy to ride, but their heavy weight and balloon tires tend to make them rather slow. During the late 1950s and early 1960s, bicycles imported from Great Britain and Continental Europe became popular, especially lighter and more nimble sports roadster models or “English racer”. These models featured three-speed gearing, taller wheels, narrower tires and lighter weight[11] and greater hill-climbing ability.

huffy cruiser

So the night before I inflated the tires right up to what I thought was the “safe threshold,” which experience told me was 40 PSI on this bike (still 15 PSI under the maximum pressure labeled on the sidewalls). I wanted to have the lowest possible rolling resistance for this ride, after all. The Electra Townie 7D offers an upright huffy cruiser riding position like the Huffy Nel Lusso cruiser bike. This position results in a lower center of gravity and allows you to place both your feet on the ground when you stop. The wire basket at the front of the Nel Lusso cruiser bikes is hollow and spacious for carrying items like your phone or sweater when riding around town.

If you think getting around Aspen is difficult in your car, try living in Los Angeles. During the five years I lived in Santa Monica, an 8-square-mile beach town on L.A.’s west side, I think I put only about 1,000 miles on my car. If you need help with installation or troubleshooting, kindly use our Builder Locator to find builders near you. If you’re running a script or application, please register or sign in with your developer credentials here.

One great thing about setting out at this cricket-chirping hour was that there were very few cars on the road. Beyond serving as a practical mode of transportation, Arianna has given me plenty of good times riding along the Pacific Ocean on the famous strand that stretches from Malibu to Manhattan Beach. Now she takes me on long rides along the Roaring Fork River on the Rio Grande Trail.