Best Summer Rides: Schwinn Cruiser Bicycles for Him and Her

I have a summer daydream that involves me, my mister and a pair of Schwinn cruiser bikes. There is just something so romantic about pedaling through the city or the park with your paramour—perhaps with a French baguette and a bouquet of wildflowers in your bike basket. (Or, in my mister’s case, probably more like a six pack and a footlong sandwich.)

In my particular bike fantasy, my guy and I are cycling through Central Park with a wee fluffy dog tucked into my bike’s basket. Wind in our hair, sunshine on our faces and shiny new bicycles that turn heads—can you imagine a more perfect summer afternoon?

I’m not talking about mountain biking, channeling Lance Armstrong or doing any cycling that involves any kind of serious sweating or even the hint of a chance that I’ll be thrown over the handlebars into a pile of rocks. I’m talking about recreational, lazy day city biking—the kind you can do whilst wearing a sundress and flats.

Of course, we’ll need to spring for the Schwinn cruiser bikes first. After much online window shopping and conferring with my mister, I’ve narrowed down the dream bike list to the final four Schwinns featured here. Aren’t they marvelously retro?

All are built for comfortable cruising, which means I happily will be leaving my car in the driveway when I pedal off on trips to the grocery store, coffee shop, happy hour and the like. Which one would you like add to your list of summer fun cravings?

Bicycles listed clockwise from the top left:

1. Pink Pedals: Okay, I admit that color is a big factor in my choice of bicycles. But this pretty-in-pink number is just too darn sweet to pass up. It calls to mind sugary balls of bubble gum, tufts of cotton candy and the pink poodle who lives next door to me (yes, seriously!). Saccharine sweet color aside, it has a cushy spring saddle and the ever-important storage rack. Plus, it’s a single speed, which makes it an uncomplicated ride that is ideal for spins around the park. Women’s Windwood 26-Inch Bike, Schwinn.

2. Baby Blue Bike: As tempting as the perfectly pink cruiser may be, this bike is just as comfortable but comes with a few extra perks, starting with handlebars that you can adjust and reposition for maximum comfort. And it’s a seven speed, which means hills should be a cinch. Not to mention, how could you resist the lure of robin’s egg blue? Women’s Prestige 26-Inch Bike, Schwinn.

3. Retro Stunner: Its simple coaster brakes and single speed make it easy to use, but its white wall tires, alloy rims, chrome fenders and ’60s styling make this cruiser as timeless and covetable as a classic car. My mister loves its simplicity—I love that it calls to mind images of a Don Draper type pedaling around the suburbs. Men’s Windwood Cruiser 26-Inch Bike, Schwinn.

4. Smooth Ride: If this bicycle were a suit, it would be Armani. This gunmetal gray cruiser is sleek and stylish. With its smooth lines and shiny chrome, it’s stunningly chic. He loves the seven gear speeds and all that shine. I love that it has an understated panache—a smooth modern take on a beloved classic. Men’s Lakeshore Cruiser 26-Inch Bike, Schwinn.