If you haven't been to California, you're probably blissfully unaware of the cruiser-bike culture that grossly outnumbers even fixie-dorks. They're omnipresent and ridden by everyone from pre-teen girls to gnarled old men to roided-out bruisers in Venice. It's a lifestyle statement as much as it is a mode of transportation. And where there's a lifestyle statement made related in any way to transportation, Carroll Shelby isn't far behind.
Enter the Shelby Cruiser. Built by California-based Felt Bicycles, the Cruiser features 36-spoke wheels with "blue DOT" tires that look like racing tires, an aluminum tank frame, internal three-speed gearing, springer fork, Wimbledon White paint with Guardsman Blue trim -- like the GT350 -- and, of course, a special numbered plaque from Shelby-Felt LTD. The limited edition (of course) Felt / Shelby Cruiser will cost $999.
"Felt Bicycles is a world renowned competition and high performance bicycle manufacturer and designer. The team at Felt understands the passion that drives many Shelby enthusiasts, which is similar to the spirit of competition in many Felt bike owners. Now enthusiasts can take their love of Shelbys to the bike trails, streets and beach boardwalks," Tracy Smith, VP of Carroll Shelby Licensing said in a statement.
Now, as much as I tease Shelby for selling out (again), the bike is certainly one of the cooler cruisers I've come across. Would go well in the garage with a certain reader's flat-black "beach bomber" cruiser. Though, so would Felt's $629 MP. (pictured after the jump)
Felt MP
mrb5091 says:
10:06 AM, 05/ 5/11
Except that they're trendy and some idiots are riding without a brake, what's wrong with fixed gear bikes?
moparbad says:
10:19 AM, 05/ 5/11
Sell out.
Shelby was already a sell out.
firstwagon says:
10:35 AM, 05/ 5/11
I've never heard of cruiser bikes (or fixie-dorks).
It doesn't appear to have a brake, does it use the old style coaster brake? (pedal backwards).
It does look like a nice clean design but I can't see why it would be a life style statement or trendy.
Mike Magrath replied to comment from mrb5091
10:40 AM, 05/ 5/11
Nothing, really. The hipters who ride them too fast /poorly in traffic are the problem. Fixies are pretty hard to ride and pretty fun, too.
-mm
Mike Magrath replied to comment from firstwagon
10:41 AM, 05/ 5/11
Consider yourself lucky
-mm
mrb5091 says:
10:51 AM, 05/ 5/11
firstwagon,
Yes, that bike has a rear coaster brake. To me, though, that's almost as bad as riding a brakeless fixed-gear. One should always have a backup method of stopping in case the first one fails. In either of my examples, the rider is screwed if their chain brakes.
throwback says:
11:27 AM, 05/ 5/11
Really Shelby? Do you need the money that badly?
fuel_on_fire85 says:
11:38 AM, 05/ 5/11
Those bikes are awesome. I would much rather have the olive drab than the shelby.
Good post. There are others who read this blog that love bikes as much as it seems you do.
greenpony says:
01:21 PM, 05/ 5/11
There is a sour taste in my mouth that only a Camaro ZL1 in flat black can eliminate, as it gleefully runs over anyone riding this bicycle.
desmolicious says:
02:04 PM, 05/ 5/11
Even though it has a "Felt, LLC, Irvine, CA" sticker, is it made in the USA or China like most Felt bicycles?
If China, this bike cost maybe $30 to make. Turn around, sell it to some sucker for $1000.
dubfan says:
03:06 PM, 05/ 5/11
Shelby a sellout? No kidding....remember crappy turbo-charged Dodges in the eighties, the Shelby badged Dakota pickup (and 'ol Shel saying it had "a ton more character" than a BMW), the Series 1 fiasco, "finding" a bunch of Cobra chassis, and trying to build and sell them for ridiculous prices, questions about his charity for child heart transplants....and Z-Max! For the love of God, Z-Max! The man is nothing but a snake oil salesman, and has been for years, making the Cobra moniker rather apropos. Let's face it, he got lucky with the Cobra (we'll put a big engine in a little car...genius!) and has coasted on those laurels for fifty years. Whatever crap he's peddling this week, it'll be something else next week. The man has no shame. Go away Shel, just go away...
firstwagon says:
10:26 AM, 05/ 6/11
"remember crappy turbo-charged Dodges in the eighties"
Ever drive one? He did an amazing job of transforming that car. I had a 79 Horizon back then and had a chance to drive a GLH turbo for a day while my car was being serviced (clever salesman thought he could sell a new car to an unemployed college student).
It was still crude but wow did it go. (which descibes the original Cobra too) It would have been nice if he had a better platform to work with (like an 80's RX7 or Supra) but he only worked with American cars.
ptcdawg says:
11:08 AM, 05/ 6/11
A guys gotta make money.
I dig cruiser bicycles.
nwng says:
12:49 PM, 05/ 6/11
in five years, ther will be shelby badged aluminum walkers, with performance wheels, no less.
trmckin says:
08:51 PM, 05/ 6/11
Cruiser's rock. Gotta go single speed though. You want gears?? Get a mountain or road bike. Cruisers are for lazy Sunday's. Nothing better. Here in Colorado, it's better to find an old schwinn frame for dirt cheap and fix it up yourself. The new cruisers are nice but you are buying character. Building it and making it your own is the way to go. Old frame for free, new wheels, tires, handlebars, rattle cans of your color choice, masking tape, new chain and sprockets, you are good to go for less than $150.
patengineer says:
12:21 PM, 05/11/11
Why stop with bikes?
Shelby could make underwear. That way, you could take your love of Shelby products to work with you, wear them around the house, and slip out of your "Shelbies" when your getting frisky with a lady friend.
rdla says:
06:12 AM, 05/17/11
Carroll has been a snake oil salesman from the beginning, if he hadn't been the the Cobra would have never come to light. If you think licensing his name is new then you haven't seen his 60's era products like Pit Stop, a real man's deodorant.
The reality of this bike is that neither Felt or Shelby had anything to do with the introduction of the two brands or the design of the bike. (Yes Felt built it and yes Shelby approved it) We, Racing Division Inc., introduced the two and designed the bike because I saw an opportunity for two brands to work together and we saw an opportunity for enthusiasts to have another well branded and quality piece of merchandise for their collection. Over the years of working with Carroll Shelby I have deepened my respect for the guy ON HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS not on what those do in his name.
Anyway, you guys don't have to worry about the bike as I'm sure they will be all bought by 65-66 Shelby owners.
rdla says:
06:14 AM, 05/17/11
oh, it is a three-speed with front and rear brakes.