As a recumbent history buff and former part of the industry this is fascinating to hear the beginnings stories while knowing the great strides you both have made with this particular brand. Its always amazing how technology and great ideas created in someone's garage go on to develop into something quite successful in both the recreational and racing circles.
I enjoyed that thorough introduction to Cruzbikes Jim & Maria. I hope it shows up on Facebook so it can be reposted. I think it would have been good from a historical perspective to include a few photos of the original kit version of the Cruzbike. Maybe photos of Cruzbikes from the kit conversion up to the newest lineup to illustrate how the bike has evolved over 19 years?
This has been a success story from the beginning. From kits to top notch Racers. Well done Jim and Maria. I still have my 2008 Freerider. Not used as much as I used to. Greetings from Durban, South Africa. Always Bent, Derek Pirie
I stopped by your house in NC in 2006 or 2007 on the way home from a spring break vacation with our kids, and bought a Sofrider directly from your garage and popped it on our bike rack. . It was fascinating to hear your origin story (which all superheroes need!), and didn’t realize I was an early adopter. I now ride a Q45 and still love my Cruzbike! I’ve long had my eye on an S40, and now that I’m retired, might spring for one soon.
Please, an episode on mods/extras -- especially those we might purchase from someone if we offer them crazy money and beg effectively, e.g. tiliting trike, motor, autoshift, rough-trail suspension, etc. And if such ideas are now history, please explain how we can get any designs needed to help us McGiver our own prototypes.
Also, why aluminium (aircraft grade) and carbon (fibre mesh), is the aluminium part mostly about keeping the bike affordable, or are there hidden practical advantages to this combo?
It takes more guts and hard work than I can imagine to start a new concept bike company and actually be successful. I have thoroughly enjoyed the V20 I bought six years ago and it is still going strong. There is competition in my house from a road bike and a heavy bulletproof trekking bike. The S40 and V20 are great for long comfortable fast riding. If you are prone to falling off your bike then Cruzbikes keep your center of mass low and also the longer frame has tended to protect me.
My ebikes mostly utilize Rans and Bacchetta recumbents. I don't change anything, I just add on parts so I can't help you with frame modifications and I wouldn't attempt to do that. Most of my ebikes are "crank drive" meaning that the motor enjoys the use of all the bicycle gears. That is the key to an efficient ebike. The Cruzbike design isn't well suited for this modification because it would require adding significant weight to the front "triangle". I am currently riding rail trails mostly because they are safer and traffic is getting worse here. Ebikes aren't really necessary on flat rail trails. Ebikes are all about hills.
Wow, you both are so beautiful and articulate. Not to mention you're innovators who are changing the world with a better bicycle. I'm so lucky you're my mom and dad! I hope someone edits these into some vertical you tube Shorts snippets and Instagram reels. They are going to go viral.
Really interesting intro to your story. I have a friend who bought a V20 and struggled with riding it so he gave me a shot. Loved the bike and upgraded the drivetrain and wheels thinking this is going to be the bike to race. Tragically, it was completely destroyed in a highway accident the day before a race. I could not afford the price of the newest version so have gone back to road bikes. I do have another one of my friends projects - an M5 running the original wheels and drivetrain from the V20.
Very nice story. I have been interested in cruzbikes for a long time. You set me up with a local in Haddam connecticut for a test ride. It was weird but I managed to improve within a few minutes. I have about a dozen bikes, mostly recumbent and mostly electrified with my own design. I've been riding electric bicycles for around 30 years. I really liked riding with the "A" riders on group rides. I currently have a hip issue which is holding me back but I will be back. I thought about electrifying a cruzbike but I gave up on that idea. A cruzbike may be in my future but too many bikes right now. I'm a little hung up on the need to counter the tendency of a cruzbike to force steering from the pedaling component and the necessity to counter that force with opposing force on the other pedal. Not sure if this is a built in inefficiency or not. Nice podcast. Cool product. Good luck with it.
So, I understand that the V20 doesn't climb as well as the 40 degree seat angle and I am assuming that the major reason for this is there is less back support on the V20 and you could push away from the pedals. Can you quantify this? Are there any plans to make the angle adjustable? Is there room for a 30 degree angle?
I have three wheel fat tire 20inch I put a rickshaw 750watt 48 volt step through frame I need to put the pedals in front better aerodynamic better weight distribution need your assistance
Awesome, love the history. Q45 rider in the Last Frontier
❤
As a recumbent history buff and former part of the industry this is fascinating to hear the beginnings stories while knowing the great strides you both have made with this particular brand. Its always amazing how technology and great ideas created in someone's garage go on to develop into something quite successful in both the recreational and racing circles.
We miss you Robert.
I enjoyed that thorough introduction to Cruzbikes Jim & Maria. I hope it shows up on Facebook so it can be reposted.
I think it would have been good from a historical perspective to include a few photos of the original kit version of the Cruzbike.
Maybe photos of Cruzbikes from the kit conversion up to the newest lineup to illustrate how the bike has evolved over 19 years?
Great suggestions Bruce. I'm trying to learn to use The software so the podcasts may get better.
This has been a success story from the beginning.
From kits to top notch Racers. Well done Jim and Maria.
I still have my 2008 Freerider. Not used as much as I used to.
Greetings from Durban, South Africa.
Always Bent,
Derek Pirie
I stopped by your house in NC in 2006 or 2007 on the way home from a spring break vacation with our kids, and bought a Sofrider directly from your garage and popped it on our bike rack. . It was fascinating to hear your origin story (which all superheroes need!), and didn’t realize I was an early adopter. I now ride a Q45 and still love my Cruzbike! I’ve long had my eye on an S40, and now that I’m retired, might spring for one soon.
Thank you David.
Enjoyed this and love my Cruzbikes!!! S40, V20, V20c!!!
Thank you!! Customers like you make this a lot of fun.
Very cool story, would love to hear about the interaction with the builder in Taiwan and how that works.
Hopefully we'll get into that in future episodes.
Please, an episode on mods/extras -- especially those we might purchase from someone if we offer them crazy money and beg effectively, e.g. tiliting trike, motor, autoshift, rough-trail suspension, etc. And if such ideas are now history, please explain how we can get any designs needed to help us McGiver our own prototypes.
Also, why aluminium (aircraft grade) and carbon (fibre mesh), is the aluminium part mostly about keeping the bike affordable, or are there hidden practical advantages to this combo?
It takes more guts and hard work than I can imagine to start a new concept bike company and actually be successful. I have thoroughly enjoyed the V20 I bought six years ago and it is still going strong. There is competition in my house from a road bike and a heavy bulletproof trekking bike. The S40 and V20 are great for long comfortable fast riding. If you are prone to falling off your bike then Cruzbikes keep your center of mass low and also the longer frame has tended to protect me.
Thanks Bill!!
I look forward to each podcast. Wishing you continued success. I was out on my S40 today.
Thanks Kevin. I think of you often and your early rides during Covid!
Great stuff! More please
more coming!
Please make the podcasts much longer. 1 hour + and also let us see the bikes live. They need to be more advertising in Europe, and UK area. Thank you.
Thank you. We'll try to incorporate more bikes. We'd love to have more EU and UK sales, but wow taxes and duties are high.
My ebikes mostly utilize Rans and Bacchetta recumbents. I don't change anything, I just add on parts so I can't help you with frame modifications and I wouldn't attempt to do that. Most of my ebikes are "crank drive" meaning that the motor enjoys the use of all the bicycle gears. That is the key to an efficient ebike.
The Cruzbike design isn't well suited for this modification because it would require adding significant weight to the front "triangle". I am currently riding rail trails mostly because they are safer and traffic is getting worse here. Ebikes aren't really necessary on flat rail trails. Ebikes are all about hills.
Wow, you both are so beautiful and articulate. Not to mention you're innovators who are changing the world with a better bicycle. I'm so lucky you're my mom and dad! I hope someone edits these into some vertical you tube Shorts snippets and Instagram reels. They are going to go viral.
Thanks G. You've always been with us on this. Love you.
Really interesting intro to your story. I have a friend who bought a V20 and struggled with riding it so he gave me a shot. Loved the bike and upgraded the drivetrain and wheels thinking this is going to be the bike to race. Tragically, it was completely destroyed in a highway accident the day before a race. I could not afford the price of the newest version so have gone back to road bikes. I do have another one of my friends projects - an M5 running the original wheels and drivetrain from the V20.
That is a tragic ending to your v20 story!
Purchased my first Cruzbike (Silvio) in 2007 and never went back to a diamond frame. Marshall
Thanks, Marshall. Will we see you at Borrego?
Very nice story. I have been interested in cruzbikes for a long time. You set me up with a local in Haddam connecticut for a test ride. It was weird but I managed to improve within a few minutes. I have about a dozen bikes, mostly recumbent and mostly electrified with my own design. I've been riding electric bicycles for around 30 years. I really liked riding with the "A" riders on group rides. I currently have a hip issue which is holding me back but I will be back. I thought about electrifying a cruzbike but I gave up on that idea. A cruzbike may be in my future but too many bikes right now. I'm a little hung up on the need to counter the tendency of a cruzbike to force steering from the pedaling component and the necessity to counter that force with opposing force on the other pedal. Not sure if this is a built in inefficiency or not. Nice podcast. Cool product. Good luck with it.
Thank you!
So, I understand that the V20 doesn't climb as well as the 40 degree seat angle and I am assuming that the major reason for this is there is less back support on the V20 and you could push away from the pedals. Can you quantify this?
Are there any plans to make the angle adjustable?
Is there room for a 30 degree angle?
I have three wheel fat tire 20inch I put a rickshaw 750watt 48 volt step through frame I need to put the pedals in front better aerodynamic better weight distribution need your assistance