Crank forward

[europa]

What do you think of these bikes?

crankforward



Very interesting, especially for someone like me who is looking towards recumbents - these seem sort of a halfway house.

Richard

[MichaelB]

And how in the hell do you reach the bars ?????????

Looksl ike a very uncomfotable riding position. Like many Harley's.

Update - had a look at the website and the word "Gooberish" comes to mind.

May work OK, but I'm happy with what I have. Chain stretch would be an issue ? Frame strength/flex - would need to be much stronger/heavier than a roadie due to the long frame sections. Seat tube a long way out might be an issue too with bending moments for a fat bastard like me.

[europa]

Quite the opposite. It sits you upright, little or no pressure on the hands. The feet forward pedalling action is reminiscent of recumbents. You can stand to power up hills or use the bars to pull against when powering up hills. You can sit on the saddle and be flat footed on the ground which seems a nice option. The downside is that you are as aerodynamic as a bread van ... but you don't ride these things for speed. They're touted as the ultimate comfort bike and that may not be far wrong.

Richard

[tuco]

I feel a twinge in my lower back just looking at the picture.

[europa]

I feel a twinge in my lower back just looking at the picture.

Yes, I wondered about that - a recumbent removes that problem by laying you further back and supporting your back.

Richard

[tuco]

Quite the opposite. It sits you upright, little or no pressure on the hands. The feet forward pedalling action is reminiscent of recumbents. You can stand to power up hills or use the bars to pull against when powering up hills. You can sit on the saddle and be flat footed on the ground which seems a nice option. The downside is that you are as aerodynamic as a bread van ... but you don't ride these things for speed. They're touted as the ultimate comfort bike and that may not be far wrong.

Richard

Ultimate comfort would require a bucket seat.

[MichaelB]

Quite the opposite. It sits you upright, little or no pressure on the hands. The feet forward pedalling action is reminiscent of recumbents. You can stand to power up hills or use the bars to pull against when powering up hills. You can sit on the saddle and be flat footed on the ground which seems a nice option. The downside is that you are as aerodynamic as a bread van ... but you don't ride these things for speed. They're touted as the ultimate comfort bike and that may not be far wrong.

Richard

Ultimate comfort would require a bucket seat.

And someone else pedalling

[MichaelB]

Comments on the website fro a female doing a test ride ;


Summary of Fusion Test Ride Impressions as of 7-21-04
1. Easy to climb hills, no need to stand on the pedals to climb, simply pull back on the bars to "dig in" and up you go. It has been giving my shoulders and biceps more definition from doing this! Standing is possible, I use this move to air out my fanny every hour or so, and try to bunny hop holes.

Don't you just love some of the american words for body parts !!!

[Bnej]

Why not just have a real recumbent?

Giant actually have a similar thing to this now, but with a back on the seat.

[Hotdog]

How about a crank forward unicycle? The guy who made it calls it a recumbent unicycle, but it's really just crank forward. A really recumbent unicycle would be quite a challenge...

[Hotdog]

Why not just have a real recumbent?

I'm seriously considering one for my next bike. Good ones are so expensive though.

[europa]

How about a crank forward unicycle? The guy who made it calls it a recumbent unicycle, but it's really just crank forward. A really recumbent unicycle would be quite a challenge...

Young Dom's not bad is he ... didn't look comfortable on that crank forward uni though.

Richard

[heavymetal]

What do you think of these bikes?

The wheels don't have enough spokes

[AUbicycles]

Interesting bike.

The obvious issue here is the frame geometry, they don't actually explain "why" very well. I click on the photo-gallery and the first user and comment mentioned an injury... so the riding position of this bike means he can relaxe his arms which would make riding a MTB or road bike difficult.

I would say this is a specialist bike which wont do things better than purpose built bikes (ie mtb for mountains) however can fulfill requirements of some riders... eg the geometry as a solution for riders with health issues or who are after a fun / different bike.

[LuckyPierre]

I think that Richard hit the nail on the head " .... some sort of halfway house" - halfway to the nut house.
I am actually a tad more tolerant than that, because in reality the concept of 'horses for courses' does apply. I have to admit that I'd rather ride (shudder, quick look over my shoulder to make sure that no-one sees me type this) a recumbent.
I've looked at the site and the photos and I keep coming back to two things. Firstly, the wheelbase must make them steer like a chopped Harley Davidson and secondly, you wouldn't be able to put them on a bike rack, because they'd stick out way past the edge of your car. Maybe that's why 'yank tanks' are so big!

[531db]

Hmmm, I'd definitely need to try one of these out before commenting further.

Although well known for my "retro" attitude towards cycling, I like some 'outside the square' stuff as well.

I am a big fan of the likes of Graeme Obree who reached the top despite the actions of some including the UCI.

[mikesbytes]

How important is it to have the seat in the correct postion for your knees? Is something like this going to cause injury?