MNBentRider
Member
I'm excited to report that my S40 is built! I went with the S40 Gen 6 2025 frameset, and these components:
• SRAM Apex AXS 1 x 12 Electronic Groupset
• SRAM Apex Dub Crankset 165mm, 40t Direct Mount
• SRAM Apex XPLR PG-1231 Cassette - 12-Speed, 11-44t, Silver
• 700 x 32 DT Swiss Tubeless Wheelset
I had been concerned about regular sized wheels as I'm "height challenged" at only 5'3" (see this post here), but I've had no problems so far with the height so I'm glad we went with standard sized wheels. Thank you to everyone who provided feedback on that question.
Lots of "new" things here for me. While I've been riding recumbents for years, this is my first FWD bike. Also my first experience with electronic shifting and with going tubeless. I'm already loving electronic shifting - manual shifting has been harder for me due to the beginnings of arthritis. It is too early to have an opinion on tubeless, but we've had a lot of flats in our household this year, so I'm enthusiastic about not changing tubes every week. And I can't believe how light this bike is; my old bent feels like a tank in comparison.
My inaugural ride on the bike went very well. I spent about an hour practicing in an empty parking lot. Then we came home, made some adjustments, and I rode another 30 minutes or so on my quiet neighborhood streets. The next day, I rode 25 miles on a straight, paved trail with someone else. This was really useful to me, as I got some good practice riding straight, a bit of sprinting, and occasional stops and starts when crossing intersections. I also got lots of encouragement and useful feedback during the ride.
For those considering a Cruzbike, I encourage you to give it a try. My last bike before the S40 was a Burley Hepcat recumbent. The FWD definitely feels different and will take some getting used to, but I was able to get on and put my feet on the pedals fairly quickly. Some of the new rider videos and posts had filled me with FUD (fear, uncertainty, and doubt) prior to riding, but I'm now sure I'll get the hang of it in good time.
And I think the benefits will far outweigh the learning curve. My second ride was as fast as rides on my Hepcat, and that was only day 2. With more practice should be riding faster and more confidently. I felt great riding up the few hills I've encountered so far.
I will likely have questions as I make additional adjustments to the bike and refinements to my technique, but this is a week for celebrating!
• SRAM Apex AXS 1 x 12 Electronic Groupset
• SRAM Apex Dub Crankset 165mm, 40t Direct Mount
• SRAM Apex XPLR PG-1231 Cassette - 12-Speed, 11-44t, Silver
• 700 x 32 DT Swiss Tubeless Wheelset
I had been concerned about regular sized wheels as I'm "height challenged" at only 5'3" (see this post here), but I've had no problems so far with the height so I'm glad we went with standard sized wheels. Thank you to everyone who provided feedback on that question.
Lots of "new" things here for me. While I've been riding recumbents for years, this is my first FWD bike. Also my first experience with electronic shifting and with going tubeless. I'm already loving electronic shifting - manual shifting has been harder for me due to the beginnings of arthritis. It is too early to have an opinion on tubeless, but we've had a lot of flats in our household this year, so I'm enthusiastic about not changing tubes every week. And I can't believe how light this bike is; my old bent feels like a tank in comparison.
My inaugural ride on the bike went very well. I spent about an hour practicing in an empty parking lot. Then we came home, made some adjustments, and I rode another 30 minutes or so on my quiet neighborhood streets. The next day, I rode 25 miles on a straight, paved trail with someone else. This was really useful to me, as I got some good practice riding straight, a bit of sprinting, and occasional stops and starts when crossing intersections. I also got lots of encouragement and useful feedback during the ride.
For those considering a Cruzbike, I encourage you to give it a try. My last bike before the S40 was a Burley Hepcat recumbent. The FWD definitely feels different and will take some getting used to, but I was able to get on and put my feet on the pedals fairly quickly. Some of the new rider videos and posts had filled me with FUD (fear, uncertainty, and doubt) prior to riding, but I'm now sure I'll get the hang of it in good time.
And I think the benefits will far outweigh the learning curve. My second ride was as fast as rides on my Hepcat, and that was only day 2. With more practice should be riding faster and more confidently. I felt great riding up the few hills I've encountered so far.
I will likely have questions as I make additional adjustments to the bike and refinements to my technique, but this is a week for celebrating!
