Long time lurker - 1st post Next La Jolla BMX beach cruiser build

[dutchhoffman]

I love this forum! I see so many builds and inspiration here and I'm grateful for all the experience and knowledge shared here.

This Next LaJolla beach cruiser was a freebie from a garage clean out. Also included was a mated blue framed ladies LaJolla beach cruiser (my wife rides it), a 20" Kent girls BMX black/pink thing, and an old school Columbia Pro Am TC-9! Quite a haul, for the price of a van ride.

I've done some very easy entry level mods to the cruiser including: new Kenda Flames, generic rat trap pedals, generic flame grips on the bars and stem from the TC-9, the saddle from a Jamis Aragon hybrid, and a bell

This bike fits me perfectly, it light weight, and the gearing (36/16) is perfect for me. There is no hill I haven't been able to master, yet. I'm 50 and fatter than I need to be, and work from home at my desk ALL DAY, and the exercise has been welcomed, to say the least. I also have impressed my kids that dear old dad can ride so much better than them.

Having ridden it in this configuration for almost a year now, I'm ready for a mild upgrade to the drivetrain. I want to keep the 36/16 ration the same, but want to swap to a more stout bottom bracket, chain ring and cranks. Mostly this is for cosmetic purposes to look a little more dialed in and proper. I'd consider new front/back wheels but right now these are getting the job done. I'm really not interested in going to hand brakes - the mindless simplicity of the coaster brake suits me just fine.

Any suggestions on the new (or used) running gear I could get on here to fluff it up a bit would be hugely welcomed!

~Dutch

 

[Captain Awesome]

Welcome

I like a nice 36/16 or 36/18 setup myself!

Can't go wrong with a nice Lucky 7 sprocket, and of course eBay and Amazon are riddled with crank options. All of the drivetrain on that one came from Amazon.



Your LaJolla is another version of the bike I used as my basis for last year's annual build-off competition

 

[Pestcontrol02]

Welcome!
Nice bike you have there

 

[MattiThundrrr]

I like those next frames, nice platform for exactly what you are doing with it. Looks good already, by the way! Now you can ride it and get a feel for the bike and what it might need comfort and performance eise. Meanwhile, look around here and other bike places to get style ideas and make plans for your future endeavors.

 

[dutchhoffman]

Welcome

I like a nice 36/16 or 36/18 setup myself!

View attachment 225649


Can't go wrong with a nice Lucky 7 sprocket, and of course eBay and Amazon are riddled with crank options. All of the drivetrain on that one came from Amazon.



Your LaJolla is another version of the bike I used as my basis for last year's annual build-off competition

View attachment 225651

I'm totally loving both bikes, but I really would love to know more about the banana seat I'm seeing on this silver bike? That build is really scratching me right where I itch. Do you have a thread on the build you can link to?

 

[ingola]

https://ratrodbikes.com/threads/🍺-anita-brewski-🍺-bullhorns-go-bye-bye.115806/page-13

 

[Captain Awesome]

I'm totally loving both bikes, but I really would love to know more about the banana seat I'm seeing on this silver bike? That build is really scratching me right where I itch. Do you have a thread on the build you can link to?

https://ratrodbikes.com/threads/🍺-anita-brewski-🍺-bullhorns-go-bye-bye.115806/page-13

Thank you good sir

 

[Captain Awesome]

I'm totally loving both bikes, but I really would love to know more about the banana seat I'm seeing on this silver bike? That build is really scratching me right where I itch. Do you have a thread on the build you can link to?

It's a polo style from Husky bikes (available elsewhere of course) and the struts are sissy bar remnants from a large 42" unit I cut down for another build

Here is the top portion mounted on Simple Green with a similar white polo seat

 

[RustySprockets]

It's a polo style from Husky bikes (available elsewhere of course)

Ooo...I like that saddle! It looks much closer to the original Solo-Polo than a lot of the other knock-offs.

 

[Captain Awesome]

Ooo...I like that saddle! It looks much closer to the original Solo-Polo than a lot of the other knock-offs.

https://www.huskybicycles.com/bicycle-saddle-polo-style-vinyl-black.html

 

[ingola]

https://www.huskybicycles.com/bicycle-saddle-polo-style-vinyl-black.html

@MattiThundrrr Brian has a box full of those in the barn

 

[GuitarlCarl]

I've always liked sticking a rear rim with an internal 3 speed and coaster brakes just to keep it clean with minimal cabling and still letting me get on down the road and stop as well. Sometimes I'll spread the rear out and stuff a fatter tire in there as well. If I get to that point I might as well do the opposite with the front end. Personally I like rat trap forks with the rockers flipped and a skinny tire for that dragster look.. But there are many many styles of front end that can be used to give you that one off look.

Now "Wasteland" is an old Westfield frame but the stance is what I was describing... Welcome to the fray.

GC.

 

[deorman]

As a longtime advocate of front hand brakes, I can't help but notice your fork already has a perfect hole to fill with a BMX style long arm side pull. Aside from the possibility of rare but real chain or hub failure, it can also be useful for things like preloading your take-off pedal when waiting at busy road crossings.

 

[dutchhoffman]

I've always liked sticking a rear rim with an internal 3 speed and coaster brakes just to keep it clean with minimal cabling and still letting me get on down the road and stop as well. Sometimes I'll spread the rear out and stuff a fatter tire in there as well. If I get to that point I might as well do the opposite with the front end. Personally I like rat trap forks with the rockers flipped and a skinny tire for that dragster look.. But there are many many styles of front end that can be used to give you that one off look.
View attachment 225769
Now "Wasteland" is an old Westfield frame but the stance is what I was describing... Welcome to the fray.

GC.

That is a great looking build!

 

[dutchhoffman]

It's a polo style from Husky bikes (available elsewhere of course) and the struts are sissy bar remnants from a large 42" unit I cut down for another build

View attachment 225745

Here is the top portion mounted on Simple Green with a similar white polo seat

It's a polo style from Husky bikes (available elsewhere of course) and the struts are sissy bar remnants from a large 42" unit I cut down for another build

View attachment 225745

Here is the top portion mounted on Simple Green with a similar white polo seat

This is slick!

 

[horsefarmer]

They are a nice starting point for a build. Here is mine before I blew it apart for paint last fall...

https://ratrodbikes.com/threads/next-lajolla-aluminum-frame-project.116374/

 

[GuitarlCarl]

That is a great looking build!

Thanks and I know I mentioned a 3 speed or better internals, but I also use 2 speed kickback hubs often which is what I laced on that fat rim.

 

[Kevin B]

I love this forum! I see so many builds and inspiration here and I'm grateful for all the experience and knowledge shared here.

View attachment 225641

This Next LaJolla beach cruiser was a freebie from a garage clean out.

Welcome! Those NEXT aluminum frames are nimble and responsive. You can't beat their handling. Great canvas for a build.

 

[dutchhoffman]

As a longtime advocate of front hand brakes, I can't help but notice your fork already has a perfect hole to fill with a BMX style long arm side pull. Aside from the possibility of rare but real chain or hub failure, it can also be useful for things like preloading your take-off pedal when waiting at busy road crossings.

I like how you think here. Makes a lot of sense.

 

[dutchhoffman]

Welcome! Those NEXT aluminum frames are nimble and responsive. You can't beat their handling. Great canvas for a build.

Thank you for the welcome. I have to agree about the handling. This has been my go-to bike since it came together - it just feels right.