The retro ride is back in style

If anything's led the way for the latest retro movement, it's bicycles, which are back in a big way, thanks, in part, to the efforts and creative designs of the Electra Bicycle Company, Carlsbad, Calif., manufacturers of retro-inspired cruisers, children's bikes, and Townies. Moreover, its flat-foot technology allows riders to feel stable and balanced when standing and prevents knee strain while riding. Upright-but-lowered seating and pedals that are set forward offer riders the ideal combination of power, comfort, and road visibility.

"You can see the difference if you look ... but more, you can feel the difference," says Electra designer and co-founder Benno Baenziger of the bikes' lowered seat and forward pedaling. "Our frame geometry took us 12 years to perfect. We combined the design frame of our Townie in the classic retro look of our cruisers."

With our large family of bikers, we went to the opposite ends of the Electra spectrum for our selections. The ladies' Hawaii 3 Custom Cruiser--with a sunrise fade pink-and-yellow paint job; flower decals; front and back wheel fenders; 24" tires; chain guard; and coaster brake--simply screams "Classic Retro." However, for retro with a modern-day flair, we turned to Ed "Big Daddy" Roth, the consummate free-spirited maverick in Southern California's car culture dating back to the 1950s. Roth always seemed to be inventing and innovating new cars, trikes, and bikes. His latest namesake is the coolest of the cool, the Electra Rat Fink and Pink Fink, adorned with no other than Rat Fink himself, the Roth-created grinning, fly-pestered image who is an icon of the Southern California car scene and beatnik years. The men's and boys' Rat Fink comes in metal-flake green, highlighted by orange tire rims and flame decals on the front bar, seat, handle bar grips, chain guard, and rear half-fender. The ladies' Pink Fink is just as eye catching thanks to the pink paint that's highlighted by metal-flake green tire rims and flame decals.

"Form follows function," Benno concludes, "but it can always look good!"

To learn more about Electra bikes, visit www.electrabike.com.

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