If there were a Dictionary Americana full of descriptions and definitions of U.S. cultural icons, a picture of a beach cruiser would undoubtedly be found next to the entry for “bicycle.”
Like apple pie, baseball, and the moon landings, beach cruisers’ swept-back handlebars, and retro, low-slung styling are synonymous with American
culture. The style’s roots can be traced at least back to the mid-1950s, but it burst into mainstream popularity thanks to the California surf scene in the 1970s.
Since then, the popularity of beach cruisers has waxed and waned through the decades, but thanks to the rise of electric bikes, the category is once again surging in popularity.
