Offroad on a Cruzbike
- Thread starter ozglider
- Start date
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Kim Tolhurst
Well-Known Member
around the world on a cruzbike
A CB Sofrider was used by David Byrne to ride around the world. Check out various titles on Maria's blog. (off road? how many goat tracks? )
K.
A CB Sofrider was used by David Byrne to ride around the world. Check out various titles on Maria's blog. (off road? how many goat tracks? )
K.
Cruzbike recumbents are considered better for climbing than other recumbents, but there is no CB for off-road, with fat knobby tires and real suspensions. Why? Mostly because the drive wheel is in front, so it will lose traction on steep gravel roads. This problem can be solved with 2 wheel drive, like here, only with the possibility to disengage the shaft when it is not really needed, remaining on the more efficient short chain FWD.
“Flexible [rotary] shafts are in general 85 to 95% efficient [see here or 2, 3], which is typically better than gears, universal joints, and belts and pulleys, which lose efficiency because of higher frictional losses. And they have a 3 to 1 weight advantage over these other design options.”
Other AWD is Christini.
I think that a good off-road climber recumbent is needed. Don’t you?
“Flexible [rotary] shafts are in general 85 to 95% efficient [see here or 2, 3], which is typically better than gears, universal joints, and belts and pulleys, which lose efficiency because of higher frictional losses. And they have a 3 to 1 weight advantage over these other design options.”
Other AWD is Christini.
I think that a good off-road climber recumbent is needed. Don’t you?
telephd
Guru
I don't have any experience with a Q off road but have taken my Soft Rider on many off road excursions. Ive got the mountain soft and trail soft versions that sport 1.95" aggressive tread and 1.5 moderate tread respectively. I ride the mountain soft on local fire and logging roads and do pretty well in general but do experience some wheelslip while climbing especially when the route is bumpy or over about 7% grade. My wife and I road 2 rails to trails rides this summer, she on a Bacchetta Giro with moderately treaded tires and me on the trail soft configuration. The trail soft was a blast and I had no problem on any of the grades to 4% or the soft washed out gravel on the trail. In short it was a blast. I owe the forum a write-up on both but will likely wait until snow flies.
Here is the mountain soft configuration:
and some typical roads:
Here is the trail soft configuration loaded for a tour:
and the rails to trails trail:
Here is the mountain soft configuration:
and some typical roads:
Here is the trail soft configuration loaded for a tour:
and the rails to trails trail:
SamP
Guru
I've taken my CruzBike Conversion off paved roads many times. In my experience, the main problems for off road are:
* can't bunny hop over obstacles
* less leverage for balance on unstable surfaces
* loss of traction on steep uphills
* can't use legs as shock absorbers on very rough terrain or significant drops
I believe the Quests have suspension intended to take out the roughness of some paved roads, and not designed for taking the impacts of "serious off-road".
I've gone on serious off-road trails on my Conversion Kit twice (equipped with entry level real mountain bike suspension fork and really low-end rear suspension), after the first time I knew I wouldn't do that again intentionally, the second time I made a wrong turn and didn't turn back when I should have.
* can't bunny hop over obstacles
* less leverage for balance on unstable surfaces
* loss of traction on steep uphills
* can't use legs as shock absorbers on very rough terrain or significant drops
I believe the Quests have suspension intended to take out the roughness of some paved roads, and not designed for taking the impacts of "serious off-road".
I've gone on serious off-road trails on my Conversion Kit twice (equipped with entry level real mountain bike suspension fork and really low-end rear suspension), after the first time I knew I wouldn't do that again intentionally, the second time I made a wrong turn and didn't turn back when I should have.
Charles.Plager
Recumbent Quant
I've never taken either my Sofrider or my conversion seriously off-road, but I've ridden a pretty crappy dirt trail. I can't disagree with anything Sam said here.
Charles.Plager
Recumbent Quant
