Cruiser bicycle

A cruiser bicycle, also known as a beach cruiser, is a bicycle which combines balloon tires, an upright seating posture, a single-speed drivetrain, and straightforward steel construction with expressive styling. Cruisers are popular amongst 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. They are associated with the larger category of hybrid bicycles.

The bikes, noted for their durability and heavy weight, were the most popular bicycle in the United States from the early 1930s through the 1950s, and have enjoyed renewed popularity since the late 1990s.

History

Development

Schwinn developed the cruiser at a time when U.S. bicycle sales had declined sharply due to the Great Depression; adults purchased few bicycles, which were seen as luxury products intended largely for sport or recreation. In response, Schwinn conceived a sturdier, affordable bicycle designed for the more resilient youth market—originally marketing the Schwinn B-10E Motorbike—which resembled a motorcycle but carried no motor—in 1933. Schwinn adapted features from the Henderson and Excelsior motorcycles his company had built during the 1920s, including a heavy "cantilevered" frame with two top tubes and 2.125-inch-wide (54.0 mm) "balloon" tires from Germany. The resulting bicycle could endure abuse that could damage other bicycles. Within two years, other bicycle manufacturers in the USA introduced competing balloon-tire bikes.

Beach Cruiser

Beach Cruiser is the debut studio album by American rapper Glasses Malone. It was released on August 29, 2011, by Glasses Malone's record label Blu Division Music, Hoo-Bangin' Records, Cash Money Records and Universal Republic Records, distributed by Suburban Noize Records. The album's release has been postponed several times between its initial announcement and its eventual release.

Title

The album's title is named, after the beach cruiser bicycle. In an interview Glasses Malone said, "It's called Beach Cruiser, everybody loves a Beach Cruiser. People love those bikes in the 'hood. It's classic, also when y'all gonna hear the music on the record it gonna be dope to a point where you just feel like there is some kind of cruise which you just ridin to the beach, so again I called it Beach Cruiser."

Singles

The album's first single, "Certified" featuring Akon, was released on November 6, 2007. The song peaked at number 85 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and peaked at number 24 on the US Hot Rap Tracks charts.