Cruzbike on Welsh Mountain Roads in Winter - GCN

Bill Wightman · Nov 19, 2024

Maria Parker said:
We had 3 in person conversations, 2 zoom conversations and a trip to London to that end, but we were ignored.

Wow, you did all the right things plus some. I cannot see why (unless drama sells) they did not get that BB down near the top of the wheel and practice more. Just think of the advertising in terms of those who never heard of a recumbent. People will forget the details of the video and eventually only remember that there are more choices than just a DF. Life is Good.

My V20 rides at a solid +23 degrees (using a 17.5" chainstay) and is fast, stable (low leg CG), has easier starts and visibility, and is super stiff because of the smaller front triangle.

Keep on Truckin'

Henri · Nov 19, 2024

Bill Wightman said:
I cannot see why (unless drama sells) they did not get that BB down near the top of the wheel and practice more.

The part of the audience, that likes to make fun of recumbents is larger than the part that likes recumbents. It's an "us", that needs to exclude a "them", to define themselves. Also some may actually feel threatened by the performance, because that's how they measure their own worth and success. (They can only discount the recumbent rider's performance, in that they make recumbent riding into something bad, that shouldn't be done, so it is the right thing to do for them tocride slow, to not be bad.)
Road bike riders are their viewers. Recumbent riders are not their viewers as much. Would not be a wise move, to make recumbent riders out of road bike riders. (Actually shrinking the group that is your target group.)
Their industry contacts in the road bike world are more important than those in the recumbent world. Road bike companies wouldn't like the media to report in favor of recumbent bikes. Also the audience is worth more to the advertisers from the road bike world, if the audience is into road bikes.
Effort costs money.
Why listen, if you clearly already know better? - This one is just an idea. I can't say, if it might be a factor. But especially their own prejudice could keep them from acknowledging anything good about the bike. Hank's monologue to the camera in the end still expressed quite an admiration for the bike. I had the idea, that the producers might have maliciously or ignorantly sent him and he realized that it wasn't best practice and did his best to be as fair as possible despite the unnecessary scripted hardships.
Doing it the easy way is weak. (Big chainrings, small cogs. And Don't you dare to use the few smaller gears you have!) - Expect of course if it's "aero bras" or 50g lighter wheels.
"Drama" not only the suspense and struggle and the final achievement against adverse conditions shown in the video, but also the discourse in the comments. (Uhm yeah. I alone have left dozens of replies, trying to explain -in a factual and balanced manner- how the video was missleading and why recumbents and MBBs aren't as bar as the viewers showed to have got the impression. So you can say, tney got me. I feel kind of extorted. They make a bad video and I reward them with a good audience engagement metric, because I want to minimize the damage they caused…)

Frito Bandito · Nov 19, 2024

It's funny. 1 comment I left that links to my Youtube channel showing how stable my V20 is still remains, but I left comments on the video under that account and a different Youtube account in 1 specific thread and they get deleted instantaneously. GCN doesn't like facts or even real information.

ak-tux · Nov 20, 2024

Frito Bandito said:
It's funny. 1 comment I left that links to my Youtube channel showing how stable my V20 is still remains, but I left comments on the video under that account and a different Youtube account in 1 specific thread and they get deleted instantaneously. GCN doesn't like facts or even real information.

I also linked to a video of my S40 and they blocked it.

Oh, well it's their channel and they have a right to.

Frito Bandito · Nov 20, 2024

ak-tux said:
I also linked to a video of my S40 and they blocked it. Oh, well it's their channel and they have a right to.

Yep, they do. It is understandable that they are protecting their interests. It is also unfortunate that they feel the need to polarize their fans and subscribers. I don't agree with it, but you are right that they can do what they want.

With that said I think we as a community should be in charge of our own destiny. This might crash as gloriously as Hank on a V20c on a wet and gravelly ascent, but I am (with the help of a fellow 'bent rider here in Japan) dipping my toe into the pool with the following....

https://globalrecumbentnetwork.com
https://www.youtube.com/@GlobalRecumbentNetwork
https://www.instagram.com/globalrecumbentnetwork/

Flying Dutchman · Nov 20, 2024

Is the bike going back to the States? If not I'm hoping to snap up a slightly scratched super bike for a bargain in the UK

LarryOz · Nov 20, 2024

Mathew Fy said:
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.

I tried this several times, testing with power on a closed course and also with many coast down tests. For me having the boom level was less aero (even though it "looks" more aero) - of course everyone is different (how the sit on the bike, where their shoulders are, BB height with respect to their hip/shoulders/head - so each person truly needs to find out for themselves what makes them more aero.

Maria Parker · Nov 20, 2024

Thanks for everyone's thoughts. I posted a response video on a Crubzike channel.

Bo6 · Nov 20, 2024

Maria Parker said:
Thanks for everyone's thoughts. I posted a response video on a Crubzike channel.

Great response. My DF friends loved the video or were terrified.

Henri · Nov 20, 2024

That reaction was so much more patient and positive than mine was.

CruzRider · Nov 20, 2024

Adding my two cents now. I thought that GCN video was great publicity. Regular GCN watchers are familiar with these attention grabber videos. I had watched their original recumbent videos (in the same vein) as a DF rider many years ago and I still bought my first Cruzbike.

Hank was very positive describing his experience. I think it was a great endorsement in was advertised as a underbiking video. That V20c looked rather rad in the video. And all those glamour shots …

I do look forward to the next video, hopefully on a great American road. Let’s encourage GCN to make more of these! All publicity is good publicity because for every one user that is scared away, there are many that will learn about these great bikes.

Rampa · Nov 20, 2024

CruzRider said:
Adding my two cents now. I thought that GCN video was great publicity. Regular GCN watchers are familiar with these attention grabber videos. I had watched their original recumbent videos (in the same vein) as a DF rider many years ago and I still bought my first Cruzbike.

Hank was very positive describing his experience. I think it was a great endorsement in was advertised as a underbiking video. That V20c looked rather rad in the video. And all those glamour shots …

I do look forward to the next video, hopefully on a great American road. Let’s encourage GCN to make more of these! All publicity is good publicity because for every one user that is scared away, there are many that will learn about these great bikes.

So much this! Hank was a trooper and it looked super cool. Remember most GCN viewers are only going to shop for a recumbent if upright bikes become unfeasible for them in some way. They will remember the cool looking, fast recumbent that Hank rode. Especially because there was both honesty and humor in the presentation.

Henri · Nov 20, 2024

I have just sent an email, trying to make suggestions for videos, that might work in their channel. A story about Hank's journey to succes, actually putting in the practice and commuting daily (and setting up the bike correctly on the tech channel) before revisiting this video's route. An actual race challenge about what it would take them to win against a recumbent or even velomobile while riding their upright road bikes. Alternatively entering a British Human Power Club race. Visiting Spezi (chained to some epic and scenic riding through the mountains or along the river Rhine to its amazing waterfalls). Battle Mountain land speed record events, world championships, 6/12/24h record events in Germany, Australian Pedal Prix,…
Maybe some more voices from the community might help. I also described, how I've been watching, despite not having sat on a roadbike even once and know that others are watching too and how I am getting tired of how they never show a recumbent used to its potential.

Frito Bandito · Nov 20, 2024

Maria, you are a lot more gracious and kind than I would have been lol. Loved your video though.

ak-tux · Nov 21, 2024

Maria Parker said:
Thanks for everyone's thoughts. I posted a response video on a Crubzike channel.

That was a gracious response. Thanks Maria.

All that bike needed was a 17 inch chainstay and the result would have been way better.

Terrarium · Nov 21, 2024

Maria Parker said:
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.

Come to my house in Chandler AZ. I'm hotter than all the models you've used so far and I have a radio voice. I'm like a teenage Eugene Levy.

LarryOz · Nov 22, 2024

Maria Parker said:
Thanks for everyone's thoughts. I posted a response video on a Crubzike channel.

I just watched Maria's full commentary on Hank riding the V20C in those incredibly harsh conditions!
As stated by many already - Maria is so gracious and nice to both Hank and GNC. Sure it could have been better (better fit, better model (S40), nice day, better route, etc, etc) - but in the end - Hank did the complete the ride as a novice rider - so Kudos to him. He could really only get better at it if he rides more - time will tell.
Sure - some elements almost poke fun at recumbents in general - but I think for me what I am going to take away from this is how awesome the Cruzbike V20C experience was for Hank (even though so many things against it going well). Sure because of UCI, culture and peer pressure over 99% of upright riders are not ever going to consider a Cruzbike until they just hurt too much riding their upright bikes. The other 1% - well they have been introduced to how much fun it can be - as we all know!
Go Cruzbike!

Frito Bandito · Nov 23, 2024

I agree Larry. Hank making it up the wet hill with leaves and gravel, behind a rolling roadblock (camera car) should be recognized as a feat in itself, especially by those who have ascended on any 'bent under similar conditions.

Anyway...
I don't think of myself as an"Influencer", but sick and tired of the way the road bike influencers are more interested in entertainment than factual presentation when it comes to recumbents, I took it upon myself to make a new Youtube channel named Global Recumbent Network, as well as a Facebook page and changed my Instagram account to the same name at the spur of the moment. For those of you who kindly watched some of my videos on my personal Youtube channel, thank you, I appreciate it so much, you likely noticed that I tend to keep my face and voice off the video because me as a person is pretty irrelevant. I am not the face or voice of anything, including recumbents. All I know is that I like recumbents. Yep. I am the weirdo who might look like I am paying attention, but my mind is probably on recumbents in some way or another.

With that said, I made these this because I feel the recumbent community as a whole deserves to have someone, even if it isn't me in the foreseeable future, present recumbents in a way that highlights the pros and cons of them without bias as much as possible. My main hope is to show the benefits and strengths of recumbents, and that no HPV is perfect... that some things have to be sacrificed if you want other things.

This isn't the usual optimistic channel introduction but I am pretty unconventional. Feel free to check them out.