Cruiser bicycles, also known as beach cruisers, combine balloon tires, upright seating posture, single-speed drivetrains

Single-speed bicycle

A single-speed bicycle is a type of bicycle with a single gear ratio. These bicycles are without derailleur gears, hub gearing or other methods for varying the gear ratio of the bicycle....

, and straightforward steel construction with expressive styling. The bikes, noted for their durability and heavy weight, were the most popular bicycle

Bicycle

A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....

 in the United States from the early 1930s through the 1950s, and have enjoyed renewed popularity since the late 1990s.
Schwinn developed the cruiser at a time when U.S.