Firmstrong Bruiser Men's Single Speed Beach Cruiser Bike - Perfect for Coastal Rides & Casual Cycling

This bike has turned out to be a very good purchase for me. I live on my boat in Los Angles and am able to attend to 90% of my brick and mortar shopping without using my car since this bike is beefy and has no problem handling a couple of saddle bag type baskets as well as a basket on the handlebars. A 36 pack of canned beer rides securely on the rear rack held in place with bungee cordsI bought the three speed model and am glad I did. Even though the area around us is pretty flat there are a few sloped ramps, on our great local bike paths, that make me appreciate the ability to shift down. Down wind on a level surface, or down hill, the high gear is useful. Some days the breeze off the ocean is strong enough to cause me to shift down when headed up wind. The three speed has no derailleur so the bike has a chain guard.This bike is very easy to ride and takes a lot of the back and hand stress out of riding my bike. Im 72 and outgrew dropped handlebars about half a century ago.It took me a few days to get used to coaster brakes again, after decades of cool bikes with hand brakes. But now Im cool with the coaster brake and really like the lack of clutter on the handle bars.I added a bell, lights and a holder for my smart phone. I also added a really nice rear view mirror which is a great safety feature. I got a nice beefy lock on Amazon and really like the fact that I can drop it in my basket instead of going to the trouble of installing it on the mount on the bike every time I take off.Since I live in southern California fenders seemed pointless so I skipped that accessory.The bike is easy to ride with its big tires but is not fast. If you want a fast bike a beach cruiser is probably not what you should buy.Unless I have some compelling reason to get in my car I do all my local travel on my bike. Its easier, faster many times, and there are no parking hassles or cost. I rode it 25 miles round trip to a doctor appointment a week ago. It was along the beach where there is a nice bike path and lots of scenery. It was not an exhausting experience but then I was not in a big hurry.As I ride to the gym every morning Im passed by cyclists on high tech bikes who are bent into incredibly uncomfortable looking positions over their dropped handle bars. As they zoom past I reflect on the fact that I definitely bought the right bike for me and also that some people should not be wearing lycra cycling outfits.The only negative about this purchase was that the packaging on the bike was not adequate to protect it in shipment. The three speed shifter on the rear axel had broken through the cardboard box and got scratched up in shipment. The damage did not look like it was more than cosmetic and I did not want o hassle with repacking the bike to return it so I went ahead and accepted as it was.