Beachbikes.com Cruisers

Ryan from Beachbikes.net shows us how to tighten the chain on beach cruiser bicycle. Sometimes direct from the factory your chain may be not quite tight enough. Also, over time as the chain stretches it will loosen and need to be tightened. Ryan explains how to do it.

Ryan from Beachbikes.net shows us how to remove the fork and re-install it on a Beach Cruiser Bike. Only a few tools are needed and it only takes a few minutes. Visit Beachbikes.net for more help tips on bicycle assembly.

We’re having a HUGE 4th of July sale! Visit one of our three retail locations or www.beachbikes.com to get your beach cruiser for this holiday weekend!

BEACHBIKES PRESENTS: COAST

featuring Amanda Mueller

This is the second of our monthly First Friday Art Show receptions at Beachbikes San Diego. We’re very proud to be showcasing the artistic works of Amanda Mueller at the shop for the month of July and hope you can join us for the opening night party Friday, July 2nd from 8-11pm. There will be a playlist with music from local musicians, a bar serving wine and refreshments, and the artist will be here to mingle and answer any questions about her work . Make sure you RSVP, and invite friends to come! It’ll be a fun night and it’s 100% FREE! Donations will be accepted to send off to help the Wold Wildlife Federation Gulf oil spill cleanup efforts and a portion of all proceeds made by Beachbikes and by Amanda will be donated as well.

Check out some of Amanda’s work here:
www.amandamuellerart.com

Check out the World Wildlife Federation website here:
www.worldwildlife.org

Check out the Facebook event page here:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Beachbikescom/130441212003#!/event.php?eid=123974357644767

Our first monthly Beachbikes First Friday Art Show at our San Diego location was a success and so much fun! We featured local artist Acamonchi. Stay tuned for updates regarding future First Friday Art Shows.

juliaallison:

The new pink beach bike from BeachBikes.com I realllllly really want to get for my parents’ place in Chicago, so I can go riding up and down the lakefront.

They have three bikes in the garage, but none of them are comfortable.  Ugh, mountain bikes.  Yuck.

Beach cruisers > mountain bikes ANY DAY.

We’re having an art show at our San Diego Beachbikes location (1211 Morena Blvd, San Diego, CA 92110). Come one, come all! Friday, June 4th, from 8-11PM featuring the artwork of Acamonchi.

juliaallison:

Getting my pink & white beach bike ready for the season! (if you’re looking for an awesome bike, try BeachBikes.com - that’s where this baby is from)

Thanks, Julia! Your bike is looking great!

juliaallison:

And now I’m outside the delicious East Village vegan restaurant “Caravan of Dreams,” sneaking a superfood smoothie. Mmmmm

Look at that pretty sixthreezero bike with upgraded Electra seat, grips and bell! That smoothie sounds delicious, too. :)

The Every-Part-Of-Your-Bike Blog

Ladies and Gentlemen! Get ready to get schooled. If you’re the kind of person who doesn’t know a hub from a chain wheel, you’re in luck. I’ve condensed my years of bike parts knowledge into one handy blog post .. and you had better take notes! There’s a take home quiz when we’re done.

Let’s start at the top with the grips. Grips attach to the end of the handlebars - or wrap around them - and provide a cushion for the rider’s hands.

Handlebars are next. They are what the rider holds to steer the bike, they attach to the handlebar stem, they come in all different shapes and sizes, and are a convenient place to attach a bell or horn.

The handlebar stem - sometimes referred to as the “goose neck” - supports the handlebars and attaches to the fork of the bike. Once the stem is inserted into the steerer tube (the top portion of the fork), it is tightened and held into place internally by a wedge (shown at the bottom of the stem pictured) and bolt.

The fork of the bike is the portion that holds the front wheel and allows the rider to steer and balance the bike. The top portion is the steerer tube and the two pieces that attach to the steerer tube are the blades. The front wheel of the bike attaches to the blades at the drop outs, which are the U-shaped cutouts you can see at the very bottom of the fork pictured above.

The front wheel of the bike attaches to the fork via the dropouts and it turns left and right when the rider turns the handlebars. The wheel is made up of the rim, the spokes and the hub. The rim is the circular hoop of metal that is connected to the hub by many spokes under tension and the hub is the center of the wheel (inside the hub are the axle and ball bearings).The size of cruiser bikes (20”, 24”, 26”) is derived from the diameter of the rim.

The tire is the rubber ring-shaped covering that fits around a wheel rim to protect it and provide a flexible cushion that absorbs shock. Tires come in different widths, diameters, and treads.

The inner tube is an inflatable rubber tube that is inside of the bike tire and retains air pressure in the tire. When a bicycle has a flat tire, it’s most often caused by a slow leak in the inner tube and not by the tire itself.

The rim strip is a layer of material, usually cloth, plastic, or rubber, that is installed around the outside of a rim (between the rim and inner tube), to prevent the ends of the spokes from puncturing the inner tube.

The beach cruiser frame is made up of a series of tubes welded together. The steerer tube of the fork (see fork above) inserts into the head tube of the frame, the crank and pedals attach to the bottom bracket shell of the frame, the seat post and seat attach to the seat tube of the frame, and the rear wheel attaches to the rear dropouts (the U-shaped cutouts seen at the far left of the above cruiser frame).

The seat (or saddle) is what the cyclist sits on. It’s attached to the frame of the bike by the seat post.

The saddle clamp or seat clamp attaches to the underside of the seat. The seat post slides into the seat clamp and the clamp is tightened. The angle of the seat is adjusted by loosening and adjusting the seat clamp.

The seat post slides in to the seat tube of the frame and is held in place by the seat post clamp. The seat attaches to the top of the seat post and is held in place by the saddle clamp.

The seat post clamp is the collar located at the top of the seat tube on the frame, which holds the seat post at the desired height. Some seat post clamps have a quick-release lever that allows for easy, tool-free adjustment, while others (like the one pictured above) require a tool to tighten or loosen the clamp.

The bottom bracket is the collection of ball bearings and spindle housed within the bottom bracket shell of the frame (see frame pictured above), which provides the “shaft” mechanism on which the crank arms turn. The crank arms attach to the two tapered pieces at each end of the cartridge pictured above.

This is a single piece crank. The pedals attach to each end of the crank and it is bolted into the bottom bracket. If the bike has a three-piece crank, the crank arms will look like the ones pictured below.

These crank arms are for bikes with a three-piece crank. The larger end of the arm attaches to the bottom bracket and the smaller end of the arm attaches to the pedal.

The pedals attach to the crank arms. These are what the rider pushes with their feet while they’re riding the bike.

The chainring attaches to the crank arm on the right side of the bike. The bike chain fits onto the chainring and onto the cog on the rear wheel, and as the rider turns the cranks by pedaling, the chainring also turns and propels the rear wheel forward.

The chain wraps around the chainring and around the rear cog which is attached to the rear wheel. As the rider pedals forward, the chainring turns and pulls the chain around it, which in turn turns the rear cog and wheel and propels the bike forward.

The rear cassette or rear gear cluster is attached to the hub of the rear wheel if the bike has an external gear system. If the bike has an internal gear system or is a single speed, it will only have one gear or sprocket attached to the right side of the hub in the rear wheel.

The kickstand is a prop for the bicycle to hold it upright while the bike is parked.

The chain guard attaches to the frame of the bike and covers the chain, protecting the bike rider from getting clothing trapped in the chain.

Fenders attach to the frame of the bike near the dropouts via fender struts (shown attached to the fenders pictured). Fenders protect the rider from dirt and water splashing up from the tires.

This is a coaster brake hub for a rear wheel. A coaster brake on a bike allows the rider to pedal backwards to brake. The brake arm or reaction arm (shown attached to the hub above) attaches to the frame of the bike, usually at the left side chainstay.

Direct pull brakes or V brakes are used on some bikes in addition to or instead of coaster brakes. V brakes attach to the front and rear fork of the bike frame and allow the rider to squeeze a hand lever (attached to the handlebars) to slow the bike down.

The brake lever is attached to the handlebar and connects to the brake of a bike via a brake cable. When the rider squeezes the brake lever toward the handlebar, it causes the brake pads to press on the rim of the wheel and slows the wheel down.

The derailleur is the device that is bolted to the frame and it handles the job of moving the chain from one gear to another when the rider shifts gears. The front derailleur handles the shifting on your chainrings and is usually controlled by the left-hand shifter. The rear derailleur handles the shifting on your cassette or freewheel, and is usually controlled by the right-hand shifter.

The gear shifter attaches to the handlebar of the bike and attached to the hub or the derailleur of the bike via a shifter cable. As the rider changes the shifter, it causes the gears to move into higher and lower gear.

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Other terms that are useful to know:

Crown - The upper part of the front fork where the blades and steerer tube attach.

Headset - The assembly that connects the front fork to the frame of the bike and allows the fork to turn.

Quick-release - This can refer to a wheel or a seat post clamp. A quick-release wheel uses a lever so that the wheel can be removed from the frame of the bike quickly and without using any tools. A quick-release seat post clamp uses a lever so that the seat post (attached to the seat) can be removed from the frame quickly and without using any tools.

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Now that you’re all fully briefed on the different parts of a bike, I’m going to go take a nap. We’ll postpone that take home quiz until further notice, but hopefully you feel confident that you can go in to a bike shop and tell them exactly what it is on the bike that you’re having questions or issues with.

Can beach cruisers be ridden on the sand? Beachbikes.com hit the beach to find out.

Watch this video for an explanation of how the beachbikes.com bikes come packaged when they are shipped to you and how much assembly is required.

Beachbikes.com - Adjust SRAM internal multispeed hubs

Fun Facts About Sixthreezero

We at Beachbikes LOVE Sixthreezero cruisers and are the exclusive dealer of the brand. Although we have info on various websites - including www.beachbikes.com - about Sixthreezero, I did an informal interview with the new Head of Sixthreezero to see if I could find out any new interesting tidbits for our customers.

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Beachbikes: Hi! I hope you’re enjoying your new position at Sixthreezero! Do you have a specific title with the company yet?

Sixthreezero: That’s a good question. Head of Sixthreezero? Distribution Manager? We’ve never officially recognized any “title” here. [Laughs] King of Bikes?

B: Oh, that one’s good! So, what can you tell me about Sixthreezero cruisers? What are Sixthreezero cruisers. 

S: Sixthreezero beach cruisers are, in my mind, the cream of the crop in the beach cruiser bike industry.  We have a very solid stable of cruisers that combine quality, comfort, style and detail.  Each of our bikes have been custom designed by us and we offer them at a very affordable price to the average beach bike rider.  As a business, we naturally want to do well, but we never lose sight of the individual consumer.  They are important to us because they are just like us.  Yes, we are selling bikes, but in our free time, we are also out at the beach, cruisin’ around on our favorite Sixthreezero bikes, soaking up that incredible lifestyle too.

(sixthreezero G Malone Signature Cruiser)

B: What one thing specifically makes Sixthreezero cruisers better than other beach cruisers on the market right now?

S: I would say the most important thing in regards to a beach cruiser bicycle is the comfort level.  People just want to have a smooth, easy-going cruise, plain and simple.  That is why all of our bikes come with the most comfortable saddles and grips and that is why we use only high level components.  These, coupled with simple frame designs, give you the smooth and comfortable cruise that everyone desires.  And if the bike is stylish on top of that like ours are, then more power to you.

(sixthreezero Dreamcycle)

B: How is Sixthreezero different, as a brand, than Firmstrong or Micargi or Nirve, for example?

S: We are different in that we understand the individual consumer very well, particularly those in our target demographic.  We are beach bike enthusiasts.  We know what we like, we see what other people like, we live the beach bike lifestyle.  Just because you want to have a comfortable bike, doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style.  Just because you want a reliable, stylish and comfortable bike doesn’t mean you have to pay an arm and a leg.  We have been able to create very unique beach cruiser bikes that people love and at an affordable price too.  We couldn’t be more proud of that.  

(sixthreezero BE)

Quality, price, comfort, and style all bundled into one beach cruiser by a company that lives the lifestyle that they promote, too. Check out www.sixthreezero.com for more information on the company and to see some of their cruisers. Visit our website www.beachbikes.com to purchase a Sixthreezero cruiser for yourself!

Your Bicycle’s Serial Number

Every bicycle has its own unique serial number. This serial number is useful for a couple of different reasons: 1) so the bicycle owner can register the bike with the manufacturer 2) so the bicycle owner can register the bicycle with the local police/fire station after purchase and 3) so the bicycle owner can register the bike with the local police if the bike ever gets stolen. The serial number is stamped onto the frame of the bike. You can find the serial number on YOUR bike by flipping the bike upside down and looking under the crank (the metal piece that the pedals are attached to).

With every new bike that you purchase, it’s always a good idea to snap a couple of photos of the bike and the serial number. Store the serial number in a couple of different places, just in case. I like to snap a couple of digital photos, print out duplicates of each of them, write my serial number and a description of my bike on the back of the photos, and then keep one set and mail the second set to my mother. (She’s way better at keeping track of things than I am!) I also save a copy of the photos on my hard drive of my computer.

There are a few different options for registering your bike. You can send in your bicycle registration card that came in your owner’s manual if you have it. You can also register your serial number with the National Bike Registry for a set amount of time, and for a cost of between $10-$30. You can do your own documentation like I described above, and in the event that your bike gets stolen you can register your serial number for free at www.stolenbicycleregistry.com. Last but not least, you can take your bike to your local fire or police station right after your purchase it and register your bicycle serial number with them. It’s also a good idea to see if your insurance provider accepts stolen bicycle claims, and if they do you can register your new bike and its serial number with them.

Aside from that, you should keep in mind that you should ALWAYS lock your bicycle up if you’re leaving it outside. Even if you’re just running inside for a minute to grab something, it’s worth it to take the extra 30 seconds to lock your bike up. If you look around and don’t see a sign post or a bike lock-up location near you, at least lock the wheel to the frame of the bike. There is no guarantee that this will prevent your bike from getting stolen, but it’s a good way of making your bike less appealing to potential thieves.

Now that you know what and where your bicycle serial number is, you can register your bike! It’s always better to be pro-active than re-active when it comes to taking care of something that you love, and we all know that a new bicycle is something that you fall in love with quickly! Happy cycling!

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