The MBBFWD is the means, the end is engagement of the body's energy potential. But MBBFWD is not the only means. In Sigma I defined another means of engaging more of the body's potential. I validated and formalised the design proven by a friend of mine, Mr Ron Witt. Both he and I are credited with the design. He, for the concept, and me for the design and engineering. The Sigma is also full body engagement, however, FWDMBB riders will have trouble with it, for on the FWDMBB the rider is pulling on the right side while driving the right pedal and vice versa - while the Sigma requires both hands to pull equally on each pedal stroke. Ironically, the internalised training that FWDMBB afficionados have is a disadvantage when it comes to riding and understanding Sigma, hense the nonsense on this page, even from inner-circle cruzbikers.
None of the image's I've seen today, in my brief visit down a musty rabbit hole, show the Sigma with its fairing. I haven't time to look for one. Until you get familiar with it and dress it with its fairing, the Sigma design will not explain itself to you. It will remain an Enigma, which was my initial name for it, and is why the gusset on the rear stays shows a question mark. I would have prefered the Enigma to have been retained, as that is how it presents to the cruzbike community.
During its period of development, I benchmarked the Sigma-with-fairing against the Silvio of that time. They were equal. The benchmark tests were rides taken comparing both bikes in the same conditions at the same time, so parallel rolling tests and so forth. The difference in aero came down to which helmet we chose. So its aero is there, its power transfer is there via the solid construction between crank and wheel, and its capture of human potential is there, due to the universal joint in the steering (which I'm very proud of BTW for its soft and smooth feel). However, unlike the faster cruzbikes it does not require a low seat angle, as long as it is blessed with its proper fairing.
The Sigma needed to go into another production run, to advance it and take some weight off it, and needed to be offered to rear wheel drive recumbent community. At the time, this was not understood, and the mission of FWDMBB was all consuming, so it was understandable. But I stand by the design.
I happenchanced on this forum page after a friend posted me an ebay ad for a Sigma, questioning whether I was connected to it. The answer is yes. I invested many hours. If I'd understood how hard it would be for the cruzbike community to get it, I might have offered it elsewhere, however I did not grasp that until it was too late. No matter, its a nice bike and another piece of evidence as to how hard I pushed the research and development during that period. I'm not bothered if its misunderstood, I'm personally very happy with the Enigma.
Regards to all,
John
