Emeljay
WiskersBlowinInTheWind
Last edited:
Building a Cruz Clone
- Thread starter JW1951
- Start date
3bs
whereabouts unknown
benphyr
Guru-me-not
Check it out: https://www.laidbackbikereport.com/ interviews and reports about recumbents. Pretty neat work. Cruzbike is featured now and then.
Charles.Plager
Recumbent Quant
Very nice! You did a really nice job.
The handle bars took a little too close to you. A further away might help with stability.
The handle bars took a little too close to you. A further away might help with stability.
JW1951
Member
Well I took all the suggestions to heart ... and learned to spell chin - ah - chain. I lengthen the chain stays, lowered the BB to seat level, cut 3 " off of the boom cockpit side. and have the seat about 40 degrees. All of these have made a tremendous difference. The insight is very much appreciated. Took it out for a thirty minute jaunt today - I think I'm gonna love recumbents!! 
. Also found Marco on LBR (got it now) very interesting. He has some pretty cool bikes.
. Also found Marco on LBR (got it now) very interesting. He has some pretty cool bikes.skankingbiker
Member
when do you start taking orders?
benphyr
Guru-me-not
You build fast: 31 minutes to make a Q clone. Cruzbike is going to have to put you to work in their sweat shop... going to try my hand on another one ... More news at 11.
I think I like building better than riding !... still tense up alot.
Tense up: That will come, it is just time. But if you try to relax it can help, if your bars are wide enough give the palm trick a whirl - pushing on the bars with the palm of an open hand so that you aren't pulling max strength and so that you are not doing death-grip. If you haven't already - search out @ratz learning to ride instructions on the forum and @Robert Holler's videos on the main site (near the bottom of the bike product pages).
Bentas
Well-Known Member
Quote:I think I like building better than riding !
I've made this statement myself in the past, you will find with the MBB format that it can take at least 500-1000 miles in some cases more , to get to the point where you forget that you are riding this type of bike , providing you have got your geometry and stiffness in the frame right , and you have got it dialled in .
Pedal steer goes away, white nuckles are not as frequent ( only get those when this silly 63 year old still reaches over 75 Klms hr downhill at times, you would think I would be beyond the boy racer by now)
I started building MBB about 10 yrs ago, started with steel, moved to alu a few yrs later, then carbon fibre a couple of years ago , the carbon bike is an absolute joy, it's my only bike now , I'll never stop tweeking, better brakes, gearing, wheels etc.
I spoke with the legend creative genius of Cruzbike , fellow Aussie John Tohurst, just before I started building my carbon bike, he said, Quote " Go with standard road bike geometry, stiff front end for climbing , stiff rear end for handling, and you can't go wrong" a man few words, and he's right of course.
I've made this statement myself in the past, you will find with the MBB format that it can take at least 500-1000 miles in some cases more , to get to the point where you forget that you are riding this type of bike , providing you have got your geometry and stiffness in the frame right , and you have got it dialled in .
Pedal steer goes away, white nuckles are not as frequent ( only get those when this silly 63 year old still reaches over 75 Klms hr downhill at times, you would think I would be beyond the boy racer by now)
I started building MBB about 10 yrs ago, started with steel, moved to alu a few yrs later, then carbon fibre a couple of years ago , the carbon bike is an absolute joy, it's my only bike now , I'll never stop tweeking, better brakes, gearing, wheels etc.
I spoke with the legend creative genius of Cruzbike , fellow Aussie John Tohurst, just before I started building my carbon bike, he said, Quote " Go with standard road bike geometry, stiff front end for climbing , stiff rear end for handling, and you can't go wrong" a man few words, and he's right of course.
JW1951
Member
Benphyr - I'll give the "palm" trick a try. I do it when starting - I'll try it while moving - good advice thanks. ( why didn't I think of that? )
Think I'll put JT's words on my shop wall !!
Bentas - I find the MBB a fascinating design. I will probably try the carbon fiber at some point, once I graduate to big boy wheels.
The rear stays on mine will fit a 26" - thinking about a 26 fork - we'll see. Love the experimentation. I'm tickin' up against 70 years old and hopefully last another 20 or so to master this thing.
Is your profile pic you're carbon build?
Think I'll put JT's words on my shop wall !!
Bentas - I find the MBB a fascinating design. I will probably try the carbon fiber at some point, once I graduate to big boy wheels.
The rear stays on mine will fit a 26" - thinking about a 26 fork - we'll see. Love the experimentation. I'm tickin' up against 70 years old and hopefully last another 20 or so to master this thing.
Is your profile pic you're carbon build?
JW1951
Member
Did a few more revisions base on input from you all. Shortened the cockpit side of the boom 3", remade the BB attachment point on the boom to be "straight", Lowered the BB to seat height and set the seat ay 40 degrees. Much less pedal steer issue now and I can actually relax just a bit !! Progress!!
I ordered a Performer 700c Fwd Fork today to put 26" Wheels on it. Realized it will only raise my seat a few inches so I thought I would give it a go.
Looking at a Carbon Fiber build in the near future from a couple Carbon Fiber sculling oars I have with Bontrager Radial spoke wheels ,11-42 cassette.
New Soma Gater bars next week.
I ordered a Performer 700c Fwd Fork today to put 26" Wheels on it. Realized it will only raise my seat a few inches so I thought I would give it a go.
Looking at a Carbon Fiber build in the near future from a couple Carbon Fiber sculling oars I have with Bontrager Radial spoke wheels ,11-42 cassette.
New Soma Gater bars next week.
Attachments
marshall2389
Guru
I did a bit of googling and it seems the Nuvinci is quite a bit less efficient than other gear systems: https://blog.lazy-evaluation.net/posts/cycling/cycling-gear-hubs.html
Just something to be aware of.
Just something to be aware of.
