For $149 ($119 on sale at press time) you can amble down to Canadian Tire and ride home on a state-of-the-art single-speed bike. Some folks we know spend more than that for a set of pedals, or a saddle. Based on the motorcycle-inspired cantilever frame from the 1930s (but probably best remembered as the iconic 1950s Schwinn Phantom), this bike glows with nostalgia. Generations of paperboys rode bikes like these: simple, easy to fix, almost indestructible steel “clunkers” that were later stripped down, rebuilt and resurrected as the first mountain bikes that screeched down Mount Tamalpais in the 1970s.
This bike screams to be customized. Put your own ape-hangers and chopper fork, and turn it into a primitive hucker for old-skool downhill thrills. Or strip it down and turn it into a BMX cruiser by throwing on a set of Skull Skates cruiser bars. With the modern quick-release seat post, the bike can be adjusted to accommodate a rider’s height from less than five feet to well over six, making it an ideal bike for a still-growing rider or an adult wishing to recapture the magic of their first ride. The single-speed coaster hub hasn’t changed much in a hundred years, and a 44/19 gear ratio is nice for level cruising. Of course, for bigger hills there are the two hidden gears: standing on the pedals, or pushing when it gets hard to pump with a big load.
The Unpopular Mechanic put this bike together straight out of the box, just like the first SuperCycle his dad bought him in 1969. Nostalgic memories flood in: “What? Five dollars to have it assembled by the store? Bah! You think I’m made of money?” In about half an hour with basic tools from the kitchen junk drawer we had a rideable classic. Today you can ride ride your Supercycle out of the store fully assembled without an assembly charge.
And what a ride this Canadian Tire special is: a stately cruiser with whitewall tires and a sharp red paint scheme. Matching fenders and chainguard make this a beautiful and practical bike right out of the box. The attractively styled and wide, comfy saddle will accommodate even the biggest car-potato butts.
And you get performance here, too. The coaster brake has a nice bite that allows you to lock up the rear wheel and do skidding contests just like you used to do when you were a kid. Accommodation for racks and baskets, wide tires, and a low, stable centre of gravity make this an excellent sturdy shopping or utility bike. The adjustable seat post allows different family members to use the same bike, although city riders are well-advised to deter seat thieves by installing a locking bolt.
For $99 US our American readers can pick up much the same bike, a Huffy “Cranbrook” (where do they get these sexy names?) at Target.
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