Cruzbike on Welsh Mountain Roads in Winter - GCN
- Thread starter CruzRider
- Start date
Mathew Fy
GRU
As Hank says, "The F1 car of bikes" is better suited for more open and smoother roads. That route would be better managed by an S40 or Q45.
I'm impressed he was able to do it only falling a few times. It took me a couple of months of riding before felt comfortable enough to do a big ride, and it was nowhere near as tough as his route looks.
I'm impressed he was able to do it only falling a few times. It took me a couple of months of riding before felt comfortable enough to do a big ride, and it was nowhere near as tough as his route looks.
ak-tux
Zen MBB Master
Despite the publicity it gives us, I must confess, I was embarrassed by the ill-fitting bike.
Why such long chainstays resulting in such a high bottom bracket? It's not appropriate for a steep climb, let alone for a beginner. Then add the narrower than usual handlebar .
He was so unstable. It created a bad impression about recumbents.
I wish he'd been fitted properly to a well tuned S40 or V20 with short chainstays and a lower BB.
Mathew Fy
GRU
I briefly tried the longer chainstay, thinking I would have a lower CdA. Bringing the knees up in-line with my head & shoulders (elevated with a Thor seat) should improve aerodynamics, but I didn’t see much change in the mywindsock-calculated CdA. I also felt unstable and was riding a bit like Hank, so I went back. I’m thinking about trying it again, getting used to it, and seeing if the aerodynamics improve.
BTW I’m 5’9” with a 42” x-seam.
Really a bad combination that makes it look very bad. I have left so many comments and replies already to make it known.
The setup is an extreme TT speed setup, that they used on the track. But even there stock chain stays and handle bar would have been faster for the beginners. Bringing that on this course really wasn't fitting.
I don't know, how well other Cruzbikes would have handled this. Surely better. I would have wished for Hank to have the one easiest to ride and with sufficiently low gearing. Thet way he might have gotten through the course without falling and having to push, so he would actually have been faster.
I have four recumbent twowheelers and the Cruzbike V20c is the one I would not have chosen for this ride, even with a few times the practice that Hank has. (Okay well, on the other recumbents I have a multiple of that practice again.) They are all much mkre heavy, but much more capable to smoothen the road and easier to learn to ride.
The setup is an extreme TT speed setup, that they used on the track. But even there stock chain stays and handle bar would have been faster for the beginners. Bringing that on this course really wasn't fitting.
I don't know, how well other Cruzbikes would have handled this. Surely better. I would have wished for Hank to have the one easiest to ride and with sufficiently low gearing. Thet way he might have gotten through the course without falling and having to push, so he would actually have been faster.
I have four recumbent twowheelers and the Cruzbike V20c is the one I would not have chosen for this ride, even with a few times the practice that Hank has. (Okay well, on the other recumbents I have a multiple of that practice again.) They are all much mkre heavy, but much more capable to smoothen the road and easier to learn to ride.
Frito Bandito
Zen MBB Master
SMH. Next up, a monster truck on an F1 course, a TT bike on an MTB downhill course, and Elon's rockets on our submarine.
s40cyclist
New Member
Was excited to see this and then my heart sank after just a few minutes. What a lost opportunity. GCN is a major portal to the traditional cycling world and what a great opportunity for Cruzbike. I feel, however, that this opportunity has been mishandled. I'm not sure what sort of communication occurred but given the poor fit setup during the time trial video and then looking at this V20c setup with the hyper-aggressive stance just to score the best 'possible' time flies in the face of common sense. Most of us had a learning curve with recumbents and a clear program of instruction should have been provided to Hank (and likely been made a condition for even sending the bike over) before attempting anything like the wet, broken and outright sketchy road he trailed on. Furthermore, an S40 or perhaps Q45 would have been a vastly wiser choice. Hank fell down at least three times and finished looking muddy -- a very poor look for those of us that are fans of Cruzbike. No one new to recumbents should be using clipless pedals until they have acquired a decent facility and, having ridden an S40 w/o clipless pedals now for >10,000 miles and set all of my climbing/speed records w/o them, I speak from experience (they simply aren't needed). Someone from Cruzbike should have seized this opportunity, flown out to Britain for 1-2 weeks and at least supervised fit and skills acquisition as part of this engagement. Credit to Hank for getting on well enough on his own; he's actually doing extraordinarily well. However, he's getting over his skis too quickly and this particular V20 setup is suboptimal for a 1st recumbent and learning. Just look at the comments and see the overwhelming sentiment that casual, non-recumbent riders have that this video proves recumbents are awkward bikes with many saying that their desire or curiosity is not satisfied so as to NOT get one. What a shame.
IyhelM
Active Member
@Jim Parker I understand the bike was sent by Cruzbike? How come it was such a poor fit? Did they sent you Sy’s measurements (he must be half a foot taller than Hank)?
As much as his previous trial made me cringe due to the poor fit, it left a positive impression; this one, not so much. A pity.
As much as his previous trial made me cringe due to the poor fit, it left a positive impression; this one, not so much. A pity.
Have you seen any of the other GCN videos on recumbents? They managed to make a Milan look slow on a race track. They shy away from comparing a presenter on their upright bike to a recumbent rider in a recumbent bike. They make fun of recumbents often enough. By now it looks like it's on purpose.
In between the first GCN video and this one, the bike has been borrowed by a very tall rider who needed the extra-long chainstay. I agree, the chainstay was too long for Hank. But moreover, he needed to practice a lot more on the bike before tackling such a tough route. We had no control of what they decided to produce, and no input into the setup of the bike. The video is an honest portrayal of what it is like for a beginner taken on too much too soon. I hope viewers realize that, and can see the potential of the bike.
ak-tux
Zen MBB Master
Now it all makes sense. Thanks Jim.
Ah, that possibility didn't occur to me. How unfortunate.
Judging from the comments: Many don't.
Maria Parker
Administrator
Thanks for this. We wish all the things you do. We were very insistent that whatever rider was going to ride the V20c practice and let us fit them. We had 3 in person conversations, 2 zoom conversations and a trip to London to that end, but we were ignored. However, the video is a great example of a newbie rider on a V20c and I love Hanks enthusiasm and kind words. The bike didn't look great, but we have some good videos on the V20c that we made at Borrego Springs. We'll push those out into the world and those that get it, will get it, and the rest can have sore bums.
They worked with the British Human Power Club and a British velomobile Youtuber. I am sure, they had PLENTY opportunity to show the good sides of recumbents with LOTS of knowledge and potential participants for any number of actions at their free disposal. By now, I would try to start a boycott, if I thought I could mobilize any meaningful number.
ak-tux
Zen MBB Master
Marco Ruga , the MBB recumbent expert from Italy has also chimed in through his youtube channel and he was not impressed. (I used subscripts and enable translation).
He almost believes there is a conspiracy
. He wonders, why a channel with such a big following as the GCN, would take such an extreme recumbent TT position for a climb? ...
He almost believes there is a conspiracy
. He wonders, why a channel with such a big following as the GCN, would take such an extreme recumbent TT position for a climb? ...Boreen bimbler
Member
To put it nicely, I think GCN extracted the Micheal.
I did send the video to my DF riding buddies and most understood that Hank was a learner. Bet they'll give more room when we ride together from now on. Too bad GCN didn't listen to maria and Jim's advice and pick a better day as well. It did increase recumbent visibility in the biking community. Not what I would have liked, but not a total loss.
It also marks the importance of just being out and riding with people so that it becomes normal. @Randyc3 and I ride with a group of DF bikers. They just don't like to ride behind us because they don't get any draft and our rear lights are too blinding.
I get into the paceline sometimes if I feel tired or going straight away. Otherwise it's all good.
