| The latest rage is not a mountain bike with a | | | | several different bikes. The most distinctive |
| new set of gears, or a road bike made of | | | | feature of the chopper bike is its |
| lighter material, but rather lowrider bikes - | | | | handlebars... also called ape hangers, which |
| low seats, high handlebars, and lots and lots | | | | extend high above the head of the rider. The |
| of chrome. As the world around us continues | | | | seat or saddle, meanwhile is situated even |
| to become more and more complicated, even our | | | | lower than normal, and the pedals are pushed |
| toys become more complicated - for example | | | | far forward. The design of the chopper |
| our mountain bikes are more complicated than | | | | doesn't stop there, of course. Enthusiasts |
| ever with dozens of gears and choices between | | | | pile on all the accessories they can think |
| hard tails and soft tails and having to | | | | of, from chrome to gold to fake fur, from |
| decide between disc brakes or v-brakes. In | | | | special paint jobs to sound systems. If |
| such an atmosphere, it's not surprising that | | | | you're mechanically inclined, you can put |
| the "retro-look" is back. Well, actually the | | | | together your own chopper bike out of bits |
| retro-look never goes out of style, it just | | | | and pieces of others, but if you'd just like |
| lies dormant for a decade or so before coming | | | | the look without all that fuss, there are |
| back. There really is nothing new under the | | | | chopper bike shops out there who can provide |
| sun. Today, lowriders and chopper bicycles | | | | you with the bike, and all the accessories |
| are resurging in popularity. They are | | | | you need to customize it to your |
| certainly not for riding cross-country or | | | | satisfaction. The frame Just like beach |
| downhill, but for riding on pavement or | | | | cruisers, you might think that these choppers |
| across soft beach sand, they are wonderful. | | | | with all their accoutrements would weigh you |
| It's more than just the high handlebars, | | | | down, but that's not the case as everything |
| generous seats, and fat tires that provide a | | | | is made from space age materials for |
| comfortable ride, it's the ability to express | | | | lightness. However, they typically only come |
| one's individual tastes by decorating their | | | | with one gear, so riding up hills can be a |
| bikes. These bikes have become fashion | | | | bit of a chore. But that's not what these |
| statements among the youths of the major | | | | bikes are for. They're for riding around the |
| urban areas of the country. Chopper bikes | | | | neighborhood, impressing friends, and |
| first appeared in California in the early | | | | indulging one's creativity. |
| 1960s. They were built by kids, who wanted to | | | | |
| copy the then-popular customized motorcycles | | | | Alastair Hamilton is a syndicated editor of |
| called choppers. Why chopped? Because the | | | | . A website with tips on lowrider bikes, |
| bikes had been "chopped" - put together from | | | | amongst many related topics. |