Fifty Plus (50+) - Switched to a CF, and am so much happier now!

Just had to share with anyone who'd "listen.":)

I started out with a Cannondale Comfort 400, and still don't know what was wrong, but I could never make that bike work for me. Think the frame was too short horizontally, but whadda I know? Not much. It was the large Fem frame.
Also am dealing with carpal tunnel syndrome.

A year ago looked into getting a Rans Zenetik, but just didn't proceed. Last week, the Cannondale became a real pain in the a, so I said that's it, and went over to the only bent shop in town, and Rans dealer. Came home with the Zenetik. Also came home realizing my tailbone is either broken or bruised. I'd fallen a few weeks back, on my rear, but didn't notice any real pain until I got on the Cannondale last week in what became my last ride on it ever.

At the bent shop, wasn't experiencing much pain on the Zenetik or any of the other CFs I rode, but when I got home I noticed it was really hurting me to rise from a sitting position in a chair. So I only rode a few miles the day I brought the bike home. :D

Yesterday didn't ride at all, giving my bum a rest. However, today was too good a day to pass up--to heck with the tailbone pain! The weather was a cool 60, so my SO and I took off for a ride. Guess he and I rode about 5 miles, came home, and I took off again by myself. And yes, by that time my tailbone was really hurting, but the sheer joy of riding far exceeded any pain, and I probably rode another 3 miles before caving in to the wishes of my backside.:eek: The Zen is that fun to ride.

I can't believe I suffered so long trying to make the Cannondale work for me, Never completely eliminated the carpal tunnel problem I had on it either. This Zen is the answer to my prayers for a bike. I had the bike shop switch out the handlebars that came with it for the swept back ones they put on some of their bents before taking delivery of the bike. No carpal tunnel problems now at all.
I'm not a happy cyclist; I'm an ecstatic one!!!

I share your joy with CF.

If they only made CF tailbones.....

Thanks, Weak Link!

Getting the crank forward has changed my life. I like riding in a more upright postion than a bent, and a bent was probably the only alternative left to me outside the crank forwards.

My bad. I had thought CF stood for Carbon Fiber until I pulled up the Rans website. The Cranks Forward are cool-looking. I don't think I've ever seen any on the road in my neck of the woods. Since I see a 'bent in my future, I'd be interested in hearing a "compare and contrast".

My "CF tailbone" remark must have seemed a bit weird, but I was thinking of carbon fiber body parts, which I would be in favor of.

My bad. I had thought CF stood for Carbon Fiber until I pulled up the Rans website. The Cranks Forward are cool-looking. I don't think I've ever seen any on the road in my neck of the woods. Since I see a 'bent in my future, I'd be interested in hearing a "compare and contrast".

My "CF tailbone" remark must have seemed a bit weird, but I was thinking of carbon fiber body parts, which I would be in favor of.

You're not the only one who thought CF meant carbon fiber:o

Wren - I would be interested in how it does climbing hills. I'm sure there will be a recumbent in my future and I worry about being able to climbs hills on one. I've also seen people having problems getting started on the recumbent with the cranks level with the seat. The crank forward position should eliminate that worry.

There's no reason they can't make a carbon fibre crank forward, a CFCF

I'm sure there will be a recumbent in my future and I worry about being able to climbs hills on one. I've also seen people having problems getting started on the recumbent with the cranks level with the seat. The crank forward position should eliminate that worry.

Not to dissuade you from getting a CF, because I think they're a good option for someone who can't ride a 'standard' safety bike but doesn't want to go the full recumbency route. But the hill-climbing aspect has been way over-emphasized over the years, probably by people who have an interest in doing so. Fact is, climbing on a recumbent is slower for most people. That does not mean they cannot climb. In fact, I prefer to think of it as the safety bike being at a disadvantage on downhills, flats, headwind, and tailwind. Or to put it another way, a safety bike is a machine that's optimized for climbing at the expense of performance everywhere else.

Some recumbents have low bottom brackets, e.g. TourEasy, RANS Stratus.

edit: due to the upright, semi-standing body position, safety bikes are also good at very slow speeds or slippery conditions.

I thought about the confusion using CF, and will repost this thread with crank forward spelled out.

Rans makes a Fusion which is closer to a bent ride than the Zenetik I bought, but it's still not a bent, kind of a halfway measure. If you get a chance to try one out, I'd say go for it. The diff between the two bikes mentioned here is that you can't stand on the pedals on a Fusion. I've yet to go up more than one small hill on mine, but that will change here shortly.