Anyone else loving "crank-forward" bikes?

[Sayre Kulp]

RANS makes a line of crank-forward bikes. The frame geometry allows the rider to sit back more (on a comfier seat) but ride like a normal two-wheeled bicycle. It's hard to explain, so please see the attached image if you don't know what I'm talking about.



Anyways... I'm not quite sure how to describe this thing. It's like the perfect marriage between a recumbent and a road bike. It's lightweight and very fast, yet extremely comfortable, even for long rides. Heck, it even climbs well! Does anyone else ride one of these amazing machines?

[-SEAN]

I just helped one of my friends get one a few weeks ago...she loves it...the geometry of the bike just works and feels better then a normal bike...she has a Townie by Electra...

[chvid]

I've got a Giant Revive, and at first the geometry seems strange, with neither the virtues of a wedgie or a true recumbent. After a while though, a curious thing happens - you just feel excellent after riding this geometry.

[juniorswv]

I have a sun sunray and a raleigh gruv. I have had the sun for 3 years and the raleigh for around 4. Happy wiyh the bikes.

[Northwestrider]

I have ridden one before, they are comfortable but in my case I still prefer my bent.

[AlexZ]

No.....

[cyanemi]

I like my townie but I love my fuji.

[scottogo]

I like being able to put my feet on the road at stops.

[andychrist]

How do they handle potholes? With so much of your weight on the rear wheel and no suspension... That's the trouble I have with my LWB-- I can ride with a flat in my front tire and hardly notice it, but going over a good bump with the rear wheel can send me flying up out of the cockpit.

[Sayre Kulp]

I like being able to put my feet on the road at stops.

Me too. I still can on this ride.

[Sayre Kulp]

How do they handle potholes? With so much of your weight on the rear wheel and no suspension... That's the trouble I have with my LWB-- I can ride with a flat in my front tire and hardly notice it, but going over a good bump with the rear wheel can send me flying up out of the cockpit.

I'd be lying if I said it wasn't a bit rough. That said, it's no worse than any other road bike I'd ever been on.

[davehbuffalo]

You need fenders.

[rodar y rodar]

You need fenders.

Plus small fingers and a very narrow spoke wrench?

[Shimagnolo]

I'm wondering what Psimet charges to build a set of those wheels.

[rodar y rodar]

Less than I would charge, I bet
One saving point is that with so many to spread the load, I`m sure you could tension them plenty with just a screwdriver, and not even need a spoke wrench. For whatever that`s worth.

[juniorswv]

davehbuffalo I love the stretch cruiser. How does it ride? I am building a cruiser from a 62 schwinn frame. But the stretch cruiser really seems to bite my butt.

[BlazingPedals]

You need fenders.

Needs more chrome.

[JanMM]

Needs more chrome.

Forgot to chromeplate the saddle.

[JanMM]

I find myself strangely attracted to the RANS mini.
http://www.ransbikes.com/Mini-N.htm

The general aero profile of crank forward/flat foot bikes reminds me of a strategy of how to slow a tandem on a long downhill, in order to avoid brake overheating: Sit straight up and pretend that you are an [airplane, not truck] airbrake.

[trestlehed]

<Anyone else loving crank forward bikes?>
Yes. When I'm not riding my Easy Sport LE I'm riding my Electra Townie 24 speed.
I upgraded my Townie with Avid BB7 disc brakes, the Electra Bullhorn cruiser bars, platform pedals and the Hobson Easy Seat 2 (version 1). I call it the "Holy Grail of Beach Cruisers". It is ridiculously comfortable compared to a regular DF. It will probably be the last upright bike I ever buy.

[ChiliDog]

Lovin' mine!

[Doug5150]

I have had a RANS Fusion since 2006.
They are much more comfortable to ride than a normal upright bike is, but they have a couple disadvantages.
One is that you cannot really pedal it while standing at all. I can raise up standing on the pedals momentarily, to lessen the shock over bumps though.
Another is that the carrying capacity is not that great, unless you can build a custom rack.

The upright position is also rather draggy in the aerodynamics department as well, but that's the cost of no hand numbness or neck strain. You won't win many races on it.

------

The RANS bikes are considerably more capable than just about any other brand out there.... The RANS bikes have a better (special!) seat that doesn't require padded shorts, and the frame design places the pedals about twice as far forward as the Townie, the Day6 or any of the other "similar" bikes from other companies do. Plus, the RANS bikes also come in three different sizes, while the others only offer one frame size.

[trestlehed]

The Rans Hammertruck looks really cool.

http://www.ransbikes.com/Hammertruck-N.htm

[bike eagle]

I owned a Zenetik Road for awhile and found it very comfortable. I sold it though, because the crank felt just a little bit too far forward to me. Now that the Alterra is available, I am planning to try to get a test ride on one, to see if it fits me better.

[BlazingPedals]

Just thought I'd mention, RANS has a crank-forward discussion forum on its site, as part of its "Into the Ride" forums. Of course, it's meant for RANS issues and discussions!

http://forums.ransbikes.com/index.php