Going ultra on the S40?

[Alex]

@Damien: Thank you for sharing this refreshing perspective! Very encouraging to hear that you did not run into any comfort problems despite doing some pretty insane rides, and despite riding the more upright S40!

I would like to circle back to one question that is especially relevant for long-distance rides and that I always get asked when explaining the Cruzbike to non-Cruzbikers: Isn't the bike lower than upright bikes? Doesn't this make the Cruzbike harder to see for drivers and hence less safe? Isn't rearward visibility very limited? These are certainly concerns I share. When I commute on my upright bike next to oversized SUVs and trucks, I am not sure how safe I would feel riding closer to the ground.

 

[Damien]

@Alex
That’s a great question, and I’ll admit I had the same concerns. However, my experience has been the exact opposite. In 2025, I rode over 7,500 miles (12,000 km) on a Cruzbike, and I actually feel much safer on it than on my standard upright bikes.

From a distance, a recumbent rider looks a bit unusual—almost like someone in a wheelchair—and that unique look works in your favor. Drivers tend to slow down and pass me more carefully. Sometimes they even pull up alongside me so kids can wave or someone can take a photo.

As for the height, models like the Cruzbike S40 or V20c aren’t 'low riders' where you’re scraping the ground. With 28-inch wheels, the seat height is about 24 inches (61 cm). You aren't invisible.

I’m personally obsessed with safety and visibility. I almost always wear high-visibility clothing and use a Garmin Varia along with at least two rear lights. My advice: always mount your lights as high as possible

My picture during London - Edinburgh- London 2025 (aka. London - Floris - London).

 

[Frito Bandito]

@Alex
That’s a great question, and I’ll admit I had the same concerns. However, my experience has been the exact opposite. In 2025, I rode over 7,500 miles (12,000 km) on a Cruzbike, and I actually feel much safer on it than on my standard upright bikes.

From a distance, a recumbent rider looks a bit unusual—almost like someone in a wheelchair—and that unique look works in your favor. Drivers tend to slow down and pass me more carefully. Sometimes they even pull up alongside me so kids can wave or someone can take a photo.

As for the height, models like the Cruzbike S40 or V20c aren’t 'low riders' where you’re scraping the ground. With 28-inch wheels, the seat height is about 24 inches (61 cm). You aren't invisible.

I’m personally obsessed with safety and visibility. I almost always wear high-visibility clothing and use a Garmin Varia along with at least two rear lights. My advice: always mount your lights as high as possible

Damien, I found this set of battery powered 30cm long LED lights for about $15 in an autoshop for drivers to customize their car, and bought 'em on a whim just to show them to some recumbent riders who want to be more visible. They are flexible enough to put them under the seat or on the rear wheel stays, and on an S40 they are probably visible from the rear. There are 8 (button activated) color choices and they are IP6 rated so they'd be fine in the rain but the battery would have to be in a bag. Not sure if you or anyone else is interested in the idea because it is a bit Blingy, but something to think about.

Just in case, I am not trying to sell these, just showing the idea for those who ride at night and want a bit more visibility.

 

[vmi1056]

As it relates to rearward visibility, if you are referring to you as the rider being able to turn to see what is behind you, mirrors on a recumbent are a must. Honestly, I’m not sure why most upright riders don’t use them as well. It’s one thing to know a vehicle is approaching from behind, it’s entirely different knowing where they are in relation to you on the road. I have mirrors and radar so I feel very comfortable with my rearward field of vision.

I also never bought in to the idea that recumbents are harder to see because they are lower to the ground. I used to ride a trike on roads prior to riding two wheel recumbent and because they look so different as @Damien pointed out, they grab the attention of drivers much more than someone on an upright bike, thus drivers tend to give you much more room. I certainly understand the concern but ultimately if a driver isn’t paying attention or looking, it doesn’t matter what you ride.

 

[Alex]

@Damien: You look so comfy on your S40! This is exactly how I would like to feel on a long ride. And if the bike feels even safer than on the upright, all the better.

 

[Boreen bimbler]

@Alex
That’s a great question, and I’ll admit I had the same concerns. However, my experience has been the exact opposite. In 2025, I rode over 7,500 miles (12,000 km) on a Cruzbike, and I actually feel much safer on it than on my standard upright bikes.

From a distance, a recumbent rider looks a bit unusual—almost like someone in a wheelchair—and that unique look works in your favor. Drivers tend to slow down and pass me more carefully. Sometimes they even pull up alongside me so kids can wave or someone can take a photo.

As for the height, models like the Cruzbike S40 or V20c aren’t 'low riders' where you’re scraping the ground. With 28-inch wheels, the seat height is about 24 inches (61 cm). You aren't invisible.

I’m personally obsessed with safety and visibility. I almost always wear high-visibility clothing and use a Garmin Varia along with at least two rear lights. My advice: always mount your lights as high as possible

My picture during London - Edinburgh- London 2025 (aka. London - Floris - London).

View attachment 19815

@Damien: You look so comfy on your S40! This is exactly how I would like to feel on a long ride. And if the bike feels even safer than on the upright, all the better.

I'm just wondering where the big fat cruzbike smile has gone? Must have been a hard day. Nice looking setup.

 

[IyhelM]

Basically I’ll just repeat what @vmi1056 just wrote: regarding visibility by other road users, a Cruzbike is not a lowracer (and even then…), if they don’t see you it’s not because they can’t but because they don’t care.

This is one of the first topic people ask about when I ride my trike, which much lower than a 2-wheel high racer like the S40. And actually drivers pay *more* attention to me when I’m on the trike as it is more exotic.
A 2-wheeler, DF or recumbent or otherwise is just that : another bike; and they’ll pass just inches from you as if you were a ‘normal’ bike.

The one thing I found that helps it to have lights always on. I have a dynamo hub so I never have to worry about low battery, sure it eats a bit of power (8 W… not that much but considering that on a brevet I’ll average 160 W, that’s 5%) but safety wise it’s worth it!

 

[Damien]

@Boreen bimbler That's better? (AI Slope - an this isn't my face lol)

 

[Robert Holler]

@Boreen bimbler That's better? (AI Slope - an this isn't my face lol)
View attachment 19825

LOL! Scrolling upon this just about made me spit my morning coffee on my laptop. Perfect.

 

[Boreen bimbler]

LOL! Scrolling upon this just about made me spit my morning coffee on my laptop. Perfect.

I think you have a new cruzbike AD pic there.

 

[bromclist]

I use a sun visor cap for sun protection.
In one of the earlier rides, I didn't and paid the price. Except for the place around my eyes (that were covered by sun glasses), rest of the face had distinct red marks that turned maroon within 2 or 3 days due to the sunburn.