Noob New Yorker Needs Advice on a few concerns…

[Collwyn]

So I've gone through the site, read a lot of the posts in the forum, and I'm just about sold on picking up a conversion kit. I just have a few questions, and maybe the community can help me out.

I'm in New York, and I'm a bit concerned about the "ride height." I've already been hit twice driving my Civic CRX by drivers in trucks and SUV's who "couldn't see me" because my car is so low to the ground. So do any of you city riders have visibility problems with drivers?

I was going to pick up a Schwinn Supersport before I came across Cruzbike. Is that bike too tall for the conversion? If any of you city riders have a suggestion for a better donor bike to convert for city riding, I'm all ears.

Do any of you ride in the winter? How does the bike handle a bit of snow?

And has anybody been able to attach some sort of headrest to the seat?

Any advice is appreciated.

 

[Doug Burton]

Hi,

How tall are you? What is your inseam measurement?

Many of your questions can be answered extensively with that information.

You'll need to add 1.5 inches to the standover height for most frames to estimate the seat pan height for a conversion bike.

The conversion standover height needs to be 2 to 3 inches less than your inseam for you to be comfortable at stops and uphill starts.

Please post any questions or potential donor bikes you are considering. There is quite a brain trust around here. We have learned to make most things work very well!

Welcome,glad you're here!

Best,

 

[Collwyn]

Thanks, Doug, for your reply. I hope to become a regular here!

Well, I'm 6'2". Please excuse my ignorance, but how do you measure your inseam? A tape measure from crotch to floor?

I was only looking at the Scwhinn Supersport before I came across this site. Wasn't even considering a mountain bike. I was hoping to get a few suggestions. I have about $250 to put toward the bike.

 

[JonB]

Collwyn wrote: I'm in New York, and I'm a bit concerned about the "ride height." I've already been hit twice driving my Civic CRX by drivers in trucks and SUV's who "couldn't see me" because my car is so low to the ground. So do any of you city riders have visibility problems with drivers?

If they cant see you there might be other reasons than just being low. Cars and especially trucks do have some blind angles where they just cant see you.
I drive alot in city traffic, but i live in Copenhagen where we have bicycle lanes seperated from the car lanes. I have a stock cruzbike freerider, and i like the seat height. I can see other cars, and they can usually see me if they bother turning their heads. I did have one crash though, but the car and road was turning such that the design of the car prevented him from seeing me until it was too late. He was holding at a stop light and i was comming up from the rear on his inside on the bicycle lane doing 28.8 mph shortly before the impact. Even though i used click pedals and hitting the car at a 25 degree angle, i did not trip over. The bike was very stable.


Peder from Norway rides in the winter with some studded tires. I havent yet, and i doubt i would use studded tires since i dont expect snow and ice in Denmark.

 

[Peder Torgersen]

JonB wrote:
Peder from Norway rides in the winter with some studded tires. I havent yet, and i doubt i would use studded tires since i dont expect snow and ice in Denmark.

We had a mild short winter the Sofrider did well for me on ice and snow with winter tires with studs. We have now hot weather 28° C where I live and some towns 33° C that is much for us. I hope it is a long time before we get winter but when we do I will put the winter tires back on. The Sofrider is very comfortable and practical for summer and winter riding.

Peder

 

[Collwyn]

Yes, Jon, I read about your accident in your other post!

More and more bike lanes are created here in NY all the time. I don't know how drivers are in Denmark, but NY drivers can be maniacal at times. Especially the young ones in expensive cars.

I'll look into those studded tires. Would hate to shelve my bike for the winter.

 

[JonB]

Collwyn wrote: Yes, Jon, I read about your accident in your other post!

More and more bike lanes are created here in NY all the time. I don't know how drivers are in Denmark, but NY drivers can be maniacal at times. Especially the young ones in expensive cars.

Just learn to anticipate traffic and how car drivers would react.

Collwyn wrote: I'll look into those studded tires. Would hate to shelve my bike for the winter.

Yeah, that would suck. But i think it is possible. In Denmark they remove the snow those rare days were it does fall.

 

[MailSeanBell]

And don't forget these for super traction:

https://www.ktrakcycle.com/index.html

 

[Rick Harker]

Hi Collwyn,
Welcome to the forum. You will get many and varied answers to all your questions here and to put it briefly the Cruzbike is very versatile.
I ride mine through the city of Melbourne, Australia. Not even close to how New York may be but you still have to have your wits about you no matter where you ride.
I have a Sofrider V2 and it goes everywhere. It did take some getting used to riding it but as all others will attest here once you're rolling it just gets better and better. They do have a lot of advantages and if you come across any difficulties or want to know what fits where or rack and bags etc. Just ask.

Regards,

Rick.

 

[Collwyn]

Thanks for all your info, guys.

I've decided against that Schwinn Supersport, and I'm off to my LBS to find a nice MTB with good suspension for the conversion!