Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Recumbent
Reload this Page >

Opinions on FWD

Notices
Recumbent What IS that thing?! Recumbents may be odd looking, but they have many advantages over a "wedgie" bicycle. Discuss the in's and out's recumbent lifestyle in the recumbent forum.

Opinions on FWD

Old 06-19-18, 11:19 AM
  #1  
Skankingbiker
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Skankingbiker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 410

Bikes: AllCity Nature Boy, On-one Pompino) , Fuji Roubaix road bike, Niner EMD, Voodoo Hoodoo MTB, Surly Pugsley/Krampug, Performer Midracer Custom

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 58 Post(s)
Liked 5 Times in 3 Posts
Opinions on FWD

I am considering purchasing a performer FWD and am a little worried about reported "wheel slippage" on climbs.

I am looking for experiences from owners of fixed BB FWD and if wheel spin is really a major issue or just a slight annoyance that can be dealt with.

Thank you.
Skankingbiker is offline  
Old 06-19-18, 01:06 PM
  #2  
Leisesturm
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,968
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2473 Post(s)
Liked 722 Times in 513 Posts
Originally Posted by Skankingbiker
I am considering purchasing a performer FWD and am a little worried about reported "wheel slippage" on climbs.

I am looking for experiences from owners of fixed BB FWD and if wheel spin is really a major issue or just a slight annoyance that can be dealt with.

Thank you.
I wouldn't worry about it. On dry ground and on pavement it would have to be pretty darn steep for front wheel slip to be an issue. I don't know, I think I would be off the bike and walking long before that and that's with RWD! So, go for it. Torque steer and right ankle/chain interference are more likely to be the issues you wind up noticing. But people overcome those. FWIW
Leisesturm is offline  
Old 06-19-18, 01:32 PM
  #3  
VegasTriker
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Sin City, Nevada
Posts: 2,879

Bikes: Catrike 700, Greenspeed GTO trike, , Linear LWB recumbent, Haluzak Horizon SWB recumbent, Balance 450 MTB, Cannondale SM800 Beast of the East

Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 521 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 227 Times in 179 Posts
You can read a review of the Performer folding front wheel drive bike here: https://www.bentrideronline.com/?p=11045

I have no opinion, never having ridden or even seen a FWD bike. They are rather uncommon. The most common name for a FWD bike mentioned on Bentrider is Cruzbike https://cruzbike.com/ There are a couple of reviews on the various Cruzbike models 'BentRider Online » Search Results » Cruzbike
VegasTriker is offline  
Old 06-19-18, 02:33 PM
  #4  
Skankingbiker
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Skankingbiker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 410

Bikes: AllCity Nature Boy, On-one Pompino) , Fuji Roubaix road bike, Niner EMD, Voodoo Hoodoo MTB, Surly Pugsley/Krampug, Performer Midracer Custom

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 58 Post(s)
Liked 5 Times in 3 Posts
Originally Posted by VegasTriker
You can read a review of the Performer folding front wheel drive bike here: https://www.bentrideronline.com/?p=11045

I have no opinion, never having ridden or even seen a FWD bike. They are rather uncommon. The most common name for a FWD bike mentioned on Bentrider is Cruzbike https://cruzbike.com/ There are a couple of reviews on the various Cruzbike models 'BentRider Online » Search Results » Cruzbike

Yeah. I am on bentrider and have read the folder review. The Cruzbike is a moving bottom bracket FWD and so is a different beast. The model I am looking at has a fixed boom and twisting return idler.
Skankingbiker is offline  
Old 06-21-18, 07:47 PM
  #5  
BlazingPedals
Senior Member
 
BlazingPedals's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Middle of da Mitten
Posts: 12,474

Bikes: Trek 7500, RANS V-Rex, Optima Baron, Velokraft NoCom, M-5 Carbon Highracer, Catrike Speed

Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1511 Post(s)
Liked 733 Times in 454 Posts
I've tried a Cruzebike and hated it. Early on in my 'bent experiences, I got to test-ride a Zox, which was fixed bottom bracket FWD like the Performers. You could only tell it was different when you were turning at low speeds and by having a little more chain noise. A dual-20", FWD folder would be a great travel bike. Otherwise, I don't see the point in small wheels or FWD.
BlazingPedals is offline  
Old 06-25-18, 11:12 AM
  #6  
bikingbill
Senior Member
 
bikingbill's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Carlsbad CA and Studio City CA
Posts: 176

Bikes: Bacchetta Giro 26, Brompton

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 67 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 1 Post
Originally Posted by BlazingPedals
I've tried a Cruzebike and hated it. Early on in my 'bent experiences, I got to test-ride a Zox, which was fixed bottom bracket FWD like the Performers. You could only tell it was different when you were turning at low speeds and by having a little more chain noise. A dual-20", FWD folder would be a great travel bike. Otherwise, I don't see the point in small wheels or FWD.
I had a ZOX 26 for several years (also a ZOX 20 for my daughter). This was a Z-Frame ZOX 26, quite fast.

In 1999 I raced it at the SDBC Time Trial Series at Fiesta Island. I managed a time of 31:05 for the 20km event, an average speed of 24.12mph (I was 42 years old at the time).

I solved wheel slip by running a 'sticky' tire (Specialized Fat Boys) but I would grind down the front tire in about 2000 miles (steep hills, big rider). A nice bike, fast, but the 26 wasn't a good climber due to fork flex (I've been on Bacchettas since 2004).

(Picture of me at the San Diego Velodrome on one of these).


Crazy tailbox I did in 2000.
(Note, that was my new Toyota Echo, the car now has 255k miles on it).

I reviewed the ZOX for RNC as well.



Last edited by bikingbill; 06-25-18 at 11:19 AM.
bikingbill is offline  
Old 06-25-18, 01:35 PM
  #7  
Skankingbiker
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Skankingbiker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 410

Bikes: AllCity Nature Boy, On-one Pompino) , Fuji Roubaix road bike, Niner EMD, Voodoo Hoodoo MTB, Surly Pugsley/Krampug, Performer Midracer Custom

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 58 Post(s)
Liked 5 Times in 3 Posts
Well, I ordered a FWD from performer. I am modding the highracer with 451 wheels, which pushes out the wheelbase and should help alleviate any wheel-slip.



Edit: to be clear, I swapped out 451 wheels for the stock 700cc and will be using a shorter fork.

Last edited by Skankingbiker; 06-25-18 at 02:20 PM.
Skankingbiker is offline  
Old 06-25-18, 02:02 PM
  #8  
bikingbill
Senior Member
 
bikingbill's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Carlsbad CA and Studio City CA
Posts: 176

Bikes: Bacchetta Giro 26, Brompton

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 67 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 1 Post
Originally Posted by Skankingbiker
Well, I ordered a FWD from performer. I am modding the highracer with 451 wheels, which pushes out the wheelbase and should help alleviate any wheel-slip.
You want more of the weight on the front wheel. Just a guess but larger wheels may reduce that. I'd have to do the math, but I think that's right. The larger rear wheel isn't going to move the rear contact patch much. The larger front wheel moves the front contact patch forward a bit. Therefore weight distribution shifted slightly back.
bikingbill is offline  
Old 06-25-18, 02:19 PM
  #9  
Skankingbiker
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Skankingbiker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 410

Bikes: AllCity Nature Boy, On-one Pompino) , Fuji Roubaix road bike, Niner EMD, Voodoo Hoodoo MTB, Surly Pugsley/Krampug, Performer Midracer Custom

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 58 Post(s)
Liked 5 Times in 3 Posts
Originally Posted by bikingbill
You want more of the weight on the front wheel. Just a guess but larger wheels may reduce that. I'd have to do the math, but I think that's right. The larger rear wheel isn't going to move the rear contact patch much. The larger front wheel moves the front contact patch forward a bit. Therefore weight distribution shifted slightly back.

The bike is designed for 700cc wheels. I am going to be running much smaller wheels (451) and a shorter fork (basically the wheels and drivetrain from their folding model), which should spread out the wheelbase, and it will also steepen the headtube angle a bit, which should push more weight forward.
Skankingbiker is offline  
Old 06-25-18, 06:39 PM
  #10  
bikingbill
Senior Member
 
bikingbill's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Carlsbad CA and Studio City CA
Posts: 176

Bikes: Bacchetta Giro 26, Brompton

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 67 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 1 Post
Originally Posted by Skankingbiker
The bike is designed for 700cc wheels. I am going to be running much smaller wheels (451) and a shorter fork (basically the wheels and drivetrain from their folding model), which should spread out the wheelbase, and it will also steepen the headtube angle a bit, which should push more weight forward.
Yes, that will work ... and a shorter fork will reduce the "to and fro" flexing, which improves the climbing.
bikingbill is offline  
Old 07-02-18, 06:49 AM
  #11  
BlazingPedals
Senior Member
 
BlazingPedals's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Middle of da Mitten
Posts: 12,474

Bikes: Trek 7500, RANS V-Rex, Optima Baron, Velokraft NoCom, M-5 Carbon Highracer, Catrike Speed

Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1511 Post(s)
Liked 733 Times in 454 Posts
Going to small wheels might shorten the wheelbase a teensy bit due to the shorter fork not angling out as far. The HR frame will have a longer wheelbase than the folder, though.
BlazingPedals is offline  
Old 07-02-18, 07:34 AM
  #12  
Skankingbiker
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Skankingbiker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 410

Bikes: AllCity Nature Boy, On-one Pompino) , Fuji Roubaix road bike, Niner EMD, Voodoo Hoodoo MTB, Surly Pugsley/Krampug, Performer Midracer Custom

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 58 Post(s)
Liked 5 Times in 3 Posts
I will report back once the bike arrives and I have it up and running
Skankingbiker is offline  
Old 08-27-18, 11:55 AM
  #13  
Skankingbiker
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Skankingbiker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 410

Bikes: AllCity Nature Boy, On-one Pompino) , Fuji Roubaix road bike, Niner EMD, Voodoo Hoodoo MTB, Surly Pugsley/Krampug, Performer Midracer Custom

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 58 Post(s)
Liked 5 Times in 3 Posts
I have owned my performer FWD custom lowracer now for a little over a month. I live in a moderately hilly area. So far, no issues with front wheel slip or traction whatsoever. Also no issue with leg/idler contact. Only traction issues is the rear end going squirrely on loose stuff and under hard braking.
Skankingbiker is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
EssGee
Folding Bikes
7
11-08-17 04:18 AM
EdZilla
Electric Bikes
13
07-29-14 09:50 PM
Amuro Lee
Folding Bikes
1
02-23-12 10:29 AM
schillaci
Folding Bikes
15
10-21-10 12:16 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.