Donors for big guy

[biggdawggnt]

Hello all!

I have 2 questions I need help with.

First, can you not use standard male frames with a cruzbike conversion at all?

Second, if I am to seek out a new donor frame, I am informed that a y-frame dual suspension is the way to go.
I incurred significant injuries to my back and knees some time ago so that seems even for true for me.
The thing is, i've thyroid issue that has caused me to become very heavy.
Doctors tell me that walking, running or cycling will help controll my weight.
Problem is, with my knees I can't walk for long and can't really run at all, and my back makes upright bike riding agony. From my research, I believe the cruzbike setup would allow me to cycle.

So, I need potential donor frames that will support my 380 bulk but also fit into a budget of $200 or less.

Can anyone help me?

Thanx very much in advance.

 

[John Tolhurst]

I hope we can put together

I hope we can put together something that will get you rolling back on track. You are over the usual weight limits for most bikes, in cluding any donors and any frames we make. So ... what to do. We need a heavy duty frame at the lowest cost we can get it. that says to me that a hi-tensile steel frame from walmart, plus you need to enlist a bike mechanic who can monitor your frame for you. You need a suspended frame, because the suspension takes the sharpness out the bumps, so more comfortable for you, but for our task here, more comfortable for the bike frame. Put a piece of wood on a mattress then try to put a nail into it, you'll see what I mean - the suspension takes the sting out of the hammer and the nail won't go in.

Can others chip in with any steel frames they have seen? i say steel because alloy cracks where as steel bends. If something does let go, wih steel you can see it deforming and there is more chance you or your mechanic will spot the problem before it lets go. What we are doing is trying to roughly double load capacity.

We will be as careful as we can, but in the end, to solve this means going outisde usual weight limit restrictions. You need to accept there are risk that advise on this forum cannot control.

biggdawggnt, I think for you and for many, this is an important task you have set. I hope we can make progress on it. If we get it right, there's a real chance your life will be shunted onto a new pathway.

 

[Doug Burton]

Perhaps this is a place to start...

http://www.handhelditems.com/micargi-full-suspension-hiten-steel-frame-18speed-mountain-bike-mblack-p-112134.html

Hi-ten steel frame, strong gusseting on the top tube, fork should accept the adapter brackets, most if not all of the components should fit the conversion kit.

The addition of a high-quality, large cross-section tire (such as the Schwalbe Big Apple) should add to the resilience of the bike.

Let us know what else we can do.

Cheers,

Doug

 

[boogusdog]

For a little less green

But probably not hi-ten.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/NEXT-Power-X-Men-s-26-Mountain-Bike/17132924

BD

 

[John Tolhurst]

It is actually steel.

It is actually steel. http://www.walmart.com/ip/NEXT-Power-X-Men-s-26-Mountain-Bike/17132924#Specifications

Is the cross bar to high for biggdawggnt ?

Probably the cross bar on Doug's find is not too high: http://www.handhelditems.com/micargi-full-suspension-hiten-steel-frame-18speed-mountain-bike-mblack-p-112134.html

 

[boogusdog]

Donor Bikes


I found this. Looks pretty good to me and thought someone might be interested.http://www.ebay.com/itm/Gary-Fisher-Joshua-Z1-Mountain-Bike-Frame-Medium-Large-/220976026499?pt=Mountain_Bikes&hash=item3373329383

 

[boogusdog]

http://www.amazon.com/Polaris

http://www.amazon.com/Polaris-Ranger-Dual-Suspension-Mountain-26-Inch/dp/B001G7QG8G/ref=sr_1_26?ie=UTF8&qid=1333241816&sr=8-26

 

[biggdawggnt]

Thanks For the advice

Thanks For the advice guys.
Sorry I have been so long replying, life has been crazy of late.
I have to find a new job and place to live in the next 2 months.
I will certainly make use of the advice when I get back on my feet.
Anybody on here hiring in Columbus, OH? lol
At any rate thanks again and I'll try to keep updating when I can get rolling.

 

[bruce rutter]

possible donor bike

The 26" Ladies Pacific Horizon -is a Hi Ten steel Y frame bike with a very promising looking frame layout. It has a very low and fairly level top tube. Adding H.D. shocks and wheels ought to get the job done. seat braces could be easily welded or bolted on. I see them on Craigs List for a pretty cheap price. (Sorry I dont know how to post pictures on here)

 

[nerys]

Big boy conversion

OK some questions. I NEED to get into recumbent cycling. I LOVE cycling but the seat MURDERS my butt and too long a ride murders my back.

I never get tired. even after a 3+ hours ride I am not tired but my back and or butt just kills me.

I got a nice big seat so the butts a bit better but my back still hurts. so I want to go recumbent to relieve my back. then I can REALLY ride and start losing some weight hard core.

one thing that really bugs me about your conversion kit is its SO affordable and you don't have one single picture or video ???

where can I "SEE" some of these conversions?

also WHY does it have to have a suspension. I would prever to use one WITHOUT a rear suspension. because of the "method" they use to add the rear suspension I fear the frame won't hold my mass (400 pounds 6'4")

why does it need to be a Y frame?

my other issue is I want a trike. a trike will spread my mass over 3 footprints reducing the load on the tires and tubes (I squash them badly enough that its dangeorus to run the tire squishes and rolls on me)

what donor frames have people SUCCESSFULLY converted for larger critters like me ? I can find LOTS of sub $50 Y frame MB's on CL but which will work ? how do I KNOW if it will work or not ?

since your conversion moves power train to the FRONT wheel I am thinking it might be pretty easy to convert the REAR to a "trike" ie also make it a 3 wheeler at the same time since power no longer runs to the back now.

was also thinking of using a "chair" so to speak for the seat so I can use a chair "sized" to me better.

any suggestions help etc.. would be greatly appreciated. anyone have pictures of CONVERTED cruze bike conversion kits?

my issue with the y frame is I might not be able to install the seat far enough "back" for me to ride it. I am tall and I have big legs.

whats the reason for needing a y frame? a video SHOWING one of these bikes being "converted" might explain a lot of these questions.

I am really intrigued by the cruzbike conversion for a very simple reason. I can freaking afford it !!

 

[nerys]

Ok been reading up random

Ok been reading up random listings for a few hours now

I managed to find one picture of a "converted" bike and now have a better idea of why it works better with y frames and why it really does NEED to have a suspension.

I am thinking of goin trike so I might eventually weld up some "suspension front forks" to the "rear wheels" so I can used a more solid frame. I think to get going I will just convert either a solid or the beefiest sus I can find and stick to smooth roads (rear suspension won't be much of a suspension when I stick my 400 pound butt on the seat anyway) till I can figure something out.

Normally I prefer to rid in a 90' seating position. ie UPRIGHT like sitting in a chair. its the most comfortable position for my butt and back.

but these conversions tend to get you "lying back" is that going to be ok ? is the "seat back" going to make the difference for comfort here? even driving my car I hate "leaning back" but then again with me PEDALING I will be apply back pressure and this might make a big difference IE leaning back might be ok on the bike.

guess in reality I am just going to have to "try it" and see what happens

 

[John Tolhurst]

Yes, the suspension protects

Yes, the suspension protects the frame (and rider) from road shock, so allows a heavier rider.

You'll gradually adjust the recline of the seat down as you get more used to the format, no drama there.

You will indeed have to try it. Have a look at this thread: http://cruzbike.com/donors-big-guy

 

[nerys]

yeah on reading I did not

yeah on reading I did not realize how much shock absorption work ones legs did. that was new to me.

fyi the thread you posted is "THIS" thread the one you replied too hehe

soon as I sell this old wing I got out back I am ordering the conversion kit.

is there a list of "confirmed" compatible bikes for conversion without difficulties? especially compatible with "big guys"

thinking maybe I can get someone to weld up a bracket to hold "TWO" of those rear shock absorbers to better handle my weight.

figure if one can hold a 200# rider 2 should hold a 400# rider adequetely enough.

it also dawns on me the lean back might not be so bad. when you lean back in the car its not the same thing. the SEAT BOTTOM stays put and only the "SEAT BACK" leans but in a recumbent your still 90/90 essentially you just lean "BOTH" the seat bottom and back. so it might work out nicel (I hope)

I really love cycling and I know if I can get rid of the pains I can lose a lot of weight doing it and retake one of my favorites activities.

 

[John Tolhurst]

You  need only get a shock

You need only get a shock with a stiff spring, even if it rides half compressed, it still operates perfectly. You can wind the preload on the shock so the back of the bike is not sagging.

 

[KrautKontrol]

Titan Glacier


This is another nice one. It's an 18" frame, high-tensile steel and as you can see has both caliper and disc brake attachment points (bosses) front and rear, while it does come with front disk and rear caliper. So you can either swap or replace the front with caliper during conversion. Additionally, the drive train is and components are partially black, which should look very nice with the conversion kit. The only thing I would be a bit weary and possibly consider to modify is the rear frame, which looks like it isn't a complete triangle. I am over 300 lbs., so I would probably gusset it or complete the triangle with a strut on each side. The Y-part of the frame is already gusseted and should be fine. These sell at Walmart for $280 and Overstock for $300. They also make a model called "Fusion" which is almost identical, but for the orange paint job (*shudder*).

 

[John Tolhurst]

Don't worry about the rear

Don't worry about the rear having no triangle. In fact it has several.

 

[KrautKontrol]

Triangles


LOL ... yeah, I know there are triangles. What I was talking about - pardon me if I was being vague in my original post - was that in this particular rear sub-frame there is no direct connection/brace between the upper end of the seat stay (where the shock pitvot arm attaches) down to the chain stay/bottom bracket. So, under certain conditions (especially with 50-100 lbs. over design weight capacity) the rear sub-frame might flex and warp around the dropouts.

 

[John Tolhurst]

forces are contained

As I said, my view is that the forces are contained within the triangles present, that is, as I understand that design, forces are resolved into compression and tension. And if that is the case (I could be wrong) there there won't be any bending (or warping). The failure mode would be by shear at the pivots or by material failure under compression or tension. Or if the slenderness ratios are too tall, perhaps bending along the length of an element under compression, but I don't think that is the case. In any event, it good to be cautious or conservative in expectations.

 

[John Tolhurst]

I'll add that if you block

I'll add that if you block out the shock, you will increase the likelihood of failure, IMHO.

 

[KrautKontrol]

Resolved Forces / Cautious & Conservative

Thanks for your input...