FAQ and Other Web Site Updates

The site has been restructured and uses css instead of frames, so you can link to any web page and it loads with the site navigation. Sorry to those how linked to the temporary /homepage content, I did say when I posted the link that it was a preview! :)

Also added is a FAQ. Most questions are about riding the moving bottom bracket type FWD. Happy to field suggestions for this page.

Next on the list for developing the site is to ensure pages can print properly - a feature that I need myself and may be convenient for surfers. And then, to add a credit card enabled shopping cart. Its a work in-progress, like all good sites. :)

Gearing Explained

I have just added a page on gearing. Because the Sofrider and Freerider have a single chainwheel, many assume that this means a narrow range of gears. Not so! Using an 11-34 megarange rear cluster gives gearing comparable to a road bike which is more what you need. MTB converted cruzbikes typically have a rusty small front chainwheel and lack top end gearing. The Sofrider and Freerider gearing rectifies this. You can read the new page here.

Saddle Injuries

I just updated the medical references on the cruzbike health page. If you needed a few more reasons to climb off your saddle and get on a comfortable Cruzbike seat, check this page out. Just think of the money you'll save from never having to buy Viagra.

Testing the New Fork

We are particularly excited about the all new front wheel drive fork. This is a headshock fork with 40mm travel. I replaced the steel telescopic forks and FWD brackets off my cruzbike (goodbye 6.2lbs) and fitted the new fork (hello 3.1lbs). It looks very smooth and slender and more bike-like. It also makes it feel more bike-like in the way it handles. It handles more quickly, with less effort and with better precision.

I've been testing this production fork now on my own cruzbike for the last week. The handling is faster, the suspension is less plush, more firm and there is less movement than what I was getting with the telescopic shocks. I don't maintain the bike is designed for riding down steps, but I did it anyway down a 5-step stair case. The centre of gravity on this particular cruzbike conversion is the real issue in riding down a staircase rather than the performance of the suspension or fork. The new Sofrider and Freerider have lower CoGs.

The fork is manufactured to the usual standards for a bicycle, then when used in the cruzbike, body weight is transfered via the pedals and the trailing arm chainstay to the front axle, relieving some of the bending moments. It will easily cope with the job.

Welcome to the Cruzbike Blog

With more and more enquiries on the cruzbike, its time to use a blog.

Its a very exciting time here at Cruzbike Inc as we put together our first full production bike. I'll make postings about specific new parts of the bike and how they are turning out and that way it will be possible for everybody to keep track of what they want to know about the new bikes - and the new kits too.