A cruiser bike or a beach cruiser has been a trusted bike since the 1920s. For many generations of people that was their first (and only) bicycle.
If you have a cruiser bike, you might be wondering – can you ride a cruiser bike on trails?
Cruiser bikes are not a good fit for trails and should be taken off-road only occasionally at best. Most trails have rough terrain that would be uncomfortable and could damage the cruiser bike. Pick locations that provide the easy and comfortable rides that the bikes are designed and built for.
Why You Shouldn’t Use a Cruiser Bike on Trails
It is okay to take your cruiser bike off-road once in a while, but only on surfaces like sand, or light gravel. If you do it too much, the bike will probably get too damaged or even outright broken beyond repair. There are many reasons not to take it on trails and here we’ll list a couple of good ones.
Sitting position
Because cruiser bikes were built with comfort as their main priority, their main sitting position is an upright seated position. This form will not strain your back and is perfect for horizontal roads.
Because we tend to lift ourselves and move slightly forward when climbing, the cruiser bike that was not built with that in mind is not a great choice for hills or any climbing roads.
Tires
Cruisers are fitted with super comfy balloon tires that are wide and thick and have a certain dose of shock absorption. They are also quite durable when ridden as intended. They are fitted on standard wheels and have a design that can deflect water.
The problem with these tires is that although they are tough, they will not grip the off-road terrain properly, and things like tree stumps, rocks, or branches will make for very dangerous obstacles when on a cruiser bike.
Frame
Let’s face it, cruiser bikes are heavy and rigid. And it’s mostly because of their tires but also their oftentimes steel frame. Steel is heavy as I’m sure you know and although some cruiser bikes are made with an aluminum frame, it still makes for a sturdy and rigid ride.
Speed
When was the last time someone zipped past you really fast on a cruiser bike? That’s right, they were built for a slow, relaxing ride, the same as Harleys. Harley-Davidsons at least have a couple of speeds to choose from, unlike cruiser bikes that are most commonly one-speed bikes. Even the ones that come in up to 7-speed versions pale in comparison with your typical 18 to 24 speeds on a mountain or road bike.
What is a Cruiser Bike Good For?
Cruiser bikes are designed for slow rides and are good for relaxing rides on straight roads and pavement. Their superior comfort shines best when ridden on the beach or on seaside roads.
They’re great for everyday errands or short commutes because their hard tires lower the surface resistance to make the bike easier to drive. And, because they’re fitted with balloon tires, they’re not to be taken on trails or off-road, apart from the beach or light gravel.
And although they are comfortable, they’re not suitable for long road trips as at some point, the seating position and the seat itself start to become uncomfortable.
For longer trips, a road bike is a much more suitable pick as they were designed with speed in mind on smooth surfaces. There are now several types of road bikes:
- Standard road bike
- Cyclocross bike
- Touring bike
- Adventure road bike
Each one of them has a specific use with the adventure road bike or all-road bike being the most versatile.
What Kind of Bike Should You Take on Trails?
This is an easy answer – a mountain bike. They offer great maneuverability, plenty of gears to choose from, tires that were built with off-roading in mind, and offer a great deal of reliability.
It is really hard to break a good mountain bike. They are also suitable for daily use as commuter bikes, although they will be less comfortable than cruiser bikes.
