Cruzbike for beginner?

[alpine fenlander]

Hello Recumbent Riders!
Could you please give me some advice and wisdom?

I've finally had enough of regular saddle sores and back aches and I'm seriously looking into a recumbent. Inspired by Mings report showing that long rides are quite doable it would be great if you could give me some starting points.
I'm in Ely, Cambs and had a chat with the guy in Lt Thetford a long time ago. I don't think he still trades, does he?

This is generally what I'm looking for:
- 90% of my riding is on long + flat roads in the Fens. Ideally, I'd like something that is at least as fast as my road bike, ~ 20mph average.
- 10% is bike touring/packing/ pootling around where speed doesn't matter and comfort is more important for up £130 miles per day
- I'm a pretty heavy 90kg so I'd need something that can take my weight+luggage (although that could go in a trailer?). Probably something that can fit decent gravel or MTB wheels?

I quite like the look of Cruzbikes, in particular the S40 seems to tick all my boxes. I like the idea of being able to use fairly standard modern components and as I have a garage full of that stuff I could get the frameset and save quite a bit of money.

So the questions is: Is that a really dumb bike to start with?
Would it be really slow and I should look for something more aero?
Or is the position too extreme for a newbie and I should get something more comfy?
(Yes I'm happy to do a few hundred miles to get used to it etc)

Any other things I should consider?

 

[rydabent]

When talking recumbents, any stick bike will have the lowest drag, and be faster.

 

[classic33]

No to it being a dumb bike to start off with. We all start somewhere, and the first recumbent I rode for any distance was a Peergynt. I was given the chance to ride one years ago, for more than a hundred yards.


Storage was always going to be a consideration.

 

[alpine fenlander]

Thanks - yes that puts it into perspective doesn't it!
Is that where your avatar pic comes from? The grim reaper always follows you when you ride a bike without handle bars

 

[Ming the Merciless]

There is a learning curve and some take longer than others. Cruz is a front wheel drive moving bottom bracket which I heard is harder to learn. But you maybe a natural at it. If you go for nicely reclined then you should exceed 20 mph average in fens.

 

[alpine fenlander]

Thanks that puts my mind at ease! As long as there is a chance of going faster and further eventually, then I'm happy to put the slow training miles in over autumn+winter...

 

[classic33]

Thanks - yes that puts it into perspective doesn't it!
Is that where your avatar pic comes from? The grim reaper always follows you when you ride a bike without handle bars

It's underseat steering.
That's the purpose behind the rod to the front wheel. You can make out the handlebar end just below the base of the seat.

 

[alpine fenlander]

It's underseat steering.
That's the purpose behind the rod to the front wheel. You can make out the handlebar end just below the base of the seat.

Oh I see! Not sure that makes it much less scary looking!

 

[classic33]

Oh I see! Not sure that makes it much less scary looking!

It's a position much closer to where your arms and hands would be in, when seated.
Like anything different it can look odd/impossible when first viewed.

 

[a.twiddler]

Extremely comfortable, works very well. Your hands rest naturally, with fingertip control. More common on touring orientated recumbents as for those who want to maximise speed, above seat steering gives more options for a narrower, tucked in riding position.

 

[alpine fenlander]

Thanks yes that makes sense :-)