New Convert

[chiefdan92]

Hi,
I am new to Cruzbike and not so new to recumbents in general. I got started with recumbents due to the same reasons many people have, joint problems! I commuted for years in Washington, and just recently started again here in California. I switched to a recumbent in September of 2008, it was a Rans V2. Loved it, made cycling fun again. While riding one day met up with a person fron te local cycling club that was riding a Bacchetta Corsa. He mentioned that he had a Strada he was trying to sell, and a couple of months later I bought it from him. I rode it at the end of June on the Climb to Kaiser

I was the only recumbent this year and only the 2nd recumbent to finish in the history of the event.

I had run across Cruzbike when doing research that led me to recumbents and have always been intrigued with the design. When talking to people about recumbents and the comfort etc... the subject of price always comes up and when I tell them of the cost, they kind of check it off of their list, and resign themselves to the pain of the wedgie

The more I talked to people about the Cruzbike, the more they were interested in the design, and especially the price point is much more palatable!

To make a short story long... I decided to bit the bullet and get one to see if it was as good as the hype I had been reading on the forums!
I picked up a conversion kit off ebay, and a donor Trek Y-26 (which I drove 6hrs to pick up!)

I assembled it over the course of 4 nights, and rode it to work this last Thursday (Aug 27th)
My commute is 8.5 miles each way so I am getting a good workout on the bike. There is a definite learning curve with this bike over the others I have ridden. But I can say that I am loving it more and more each mile I ride!

I have had numerous people ask me about the bike and how they can get one, and am considering making a side business out of converting and building Cruzbikes! The area where I live is very conducive to bike riding in general and there is practically no recumbent presence in this area.
As with many builders I am constantly looking at what I can change to improve the bike. I already have another frame (Iron Horse Sinister Sport) that I am getting the parts together to build.

Thanks for reading my story.
I look forward to interacting with everyone on the the forums in the future.

Dan Caton

 

[buyagain]

I have a way of getting right to the point. :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
I'm green with envy.

 

[WhiteSilvio]

chiefdan92 wrote:
Thanks for reading my story.
I look forward to interacting with everyone on the the forums in the future.
Dan Caton

Hi Dan,
It was both interesting and a pleasure to read this piece introducing yourself. Good stuff. Great pix.
I live in a part of the world where there are few recumbents (Brisbane, Australia), so it is always good to come to this forum (among others) and find "like minded"/recumbent folk.

I'll be interested to hear how you find the FWD MBB concept compared to your previous recumbents. My introduction to recumbents was buying one of the first batch of Silvios off the production line. I had only very briefly ridden some recumbents, for a matter of half an hour or so, and none of them were FWD. A long wheelbase device, I found fairly unwieldy, but that I did actually manage to get up and down a bikepath a few times, and a SWB USS unit with small wheels. I quite liked that, in fact that ride that sort of got me hooked on the idea of recumbent riding. I had the idea that recumbent riding was a good idea, this ride started to confirm it.
Then I happened to "run across" someone on a Cruzbike conversion, not dissimilar to your bike (good looking bike you've put together there, by the way ). I spoke to the rider and he told me Cruzbike were on the net. And the rest, as they say, is history.
I had originally toyed with the idea of getting a Trek Y26 bike and converting it, but then came the announcement of the Silvio, (One of the few times when procrastination proved advantageous!! ) and I bit the bullet.
Apart from the initial learning phase it's been all good. But if I want to go on group rides I have to ride with DF riders. I would be lucky to see 1 recumbent every couple of weeks while out riding around here.
So anyway welcome to the forum. Looking forward to hearing your experiences with Cruzbikes.
John R.

 

[Mark B]

Hi Dan!

Welcome to the forum and welcome to cruzing! You have a nice looking bike there, but maybe go for a little more recline on the seat. I'm anxious to hear what you think about the Cruzbike's climbing prowess after you get a few miles. I'm also anxious to hear what you think when you try to flip flop back to the Strada. Like you, I had a Strada prior to building my conversion and I found my conversion to be the more desirable bike. I sold my Strada and my beloved Vision R42 to finance my Silvio. No regrets, man.... None whatsoever.

Again, welcome aboard!

Mark

 

[chiefdan92]

Mark B.

I have already sold my Rans V2, and am seriously considering selling the Strada. I did lay back the seat more and found it much more comfortable. I would be interested in comments on how to upgrade the seat cushion, as it is a little on the hard side
I also have about 3 people interested in me building them a conversion. So that will help finance the Silvio! :lol:

Dan

 

[Peder Torgersen]

chiefdan92 wrote: Mark B.

I have already sold my Rans V2, and am seriously considering selling the Strada. I did lay back the seat more and found it much more comfortable. I would be interested in comments on how to upgrade the seat cushion, as it is a little on the hard side
I also have about 3 people interested in me building them a conversion. So that will help finance the Silvio! :lol:

Dan

I put some more cushions inside my seat pads I used a training mat.
You can try with one or two layers. http://www.flickr.com/photos/sykkel-bent/sets/72157603313704669/
I use my Sofrider as my commuter. I also started to ride a unicycle after I learned to ride my Sofrider just took me more time to learn. The downside of a unicycle is that the seat not very comfortable.
I have a daytime job but I’m also a dealer for Cruzbike http://www.sykkel-bent.no/index.html
Welcome to the forum I’m located in Grimstad Norway.

Peder

 

[Mark B]

I haven't modified my seats, at all. I've found them to be very comfy for me, even on all day rides.

Mark

 

[defjack]

Welcome and nice bike all it needs are cruiser bars ha ha. Like Mark said the seat is just fine.I only get butt pain if the seat pan is too flat or the seat back angle is too steep.I set up my seats like this. Seat pan 3 1/5 to 4 1/5 rise from back to front. Seat back at least 45 degree tilt. But thats just me. Jack

 

[chiefdan92]

Thanks Jack,
I have reclined it a little more, and it is better!
Where would one get the handlebars that I see on the Softrider and on some of the other conversions?

Dan

 

[Gromit]

chiefdan92 wrote: Thanks Jack,
I have reclined it a little more, and it is better!
Where would one get the handlebars that I see on the Softrider and on some of the other conversions?

Dan

I'm not in the USA so do not know where to buy the handlebars but if it any help, here is a picture of some Sofrider style handlebars.

The picture above is of a Kalloy AL-030 handlebar. I believe that this is the Sofrider's standard bar perhaps John Tolhurst would confirm that?

 

[defjack]

calhoun cycle has some nice Evo sport bars. You could also get a Rans B38 bar or just use cruiser bars.The cruiser bars are pretty wide around 26in and I have been cutting 1 1/5 in off the ends but they work for me. Jack

 

[Doug Burton]

Hi,

This is what you want. If you can't find it, let me know, my LBS stocks them...

http://www.origin-8.com/product_detail.php?short_code=Space&cl1=HANDLEBARS

I have them on my SR Proto. Wide, right down angle, lots of knee clearance...

Nice bike!

Best,

Doug