Any ideas where by "crank forward" bike fits in??
12-30-20, 03:07 PM
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Any ideas where by "crank forward" bike fits in??
LOL, well I ride what seems to be quite an "odd ball" when it comes to bicycles, it's a 2007 RANS Fusion, called a Crank Forward bike but I can't figure out where it FITS here on Bike Forums?? It's not a true recumbent, hybrid, road, MTB, etc. I rudely 
stuck myself on Family and Recreational topic as it's as close as I can figure but that topic area is 95% "what bike should I get for my KID", alas at 65 I ain't no KID! So I'm looking to all you WISE riders, let me know where YOU think I fit into the current flow of bicycling! Thanks have a excellent day and a very Happy New Year's!
My 2007 RANS Fusion CF bike
stuck myself on Family and Recreational topic as it's as close as I can figure but that topic area is 95% "what bike should I get for my KID", alas at 65 I ain't no KID! So I'm looking to all you WISE riders, let me know where YOU think I fit into the current flow of bicycling! Thanks have a excellent day and a very Happy New Year's! My 2007 RANS Fusion CF bike
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12-30-20, 03:48 PM
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"Alt Bike Culture," "Beach Crusiers," or "Recumbent." I'm guessing you'd be accepted by all three.
12-30-20, 03:56 PM
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What is the trail and wheel flop?
12-30-20, 03:58 PM
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From the BentRider Online forum Crank Forward sub-forum...
Crank Forward
Not quite recumbents but close enough that they seem to attract a lot of us recumbent guys.
Based on the above, I’d go with recumbent.
John
Crank Forward
Not quite recumbents but close enough that they seem to attract a lot of us recumbent guys.
Based on the above, I’d go with recumbent.
John
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12-30-20, 04:02 PM
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12-30-20, 04:16 PM
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12-30-20, 05:36 PM
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Post in the 50+ forum, and don’t sweat the little details.
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12-30-20, 05:48 PM
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For many topics, go to the appropriate Forum... electronics, mechanics, nutrition, over 50, etc. For the most part, your just another human riding another bike. Even most of the bike components are generic. For matters of fit, or the seat, or just to discuss the uniqueness of crank forward, go to recumbents.
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12-30-20, 08:15 PM
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RANS bikes are neither "fish nor fowl" being low-CG, uprights, but without the hardware and handling idiosyncrasies of a full-on recumbent.
As to the OP, I'd say that most of your questions would fall under what kinds of riding you're doing rather than what your bike looks like, so like most of us; General Cycling
As to the OP, I'd say that most of your questions would fall under what kinds of riding you're doing rather than what your bike looks like, so like most of us; General Cycling
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12-31-20, 08:52 AM
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bjjoondo
Apparently they fit in at the Manitou Skate Park...
https://goo.gl/maps/15rA56mC41AwYM1q6
Howdy Neighbor!
Apparently they fit in at the Manitou Skate Park...
https://goo.gl/maps/15rA56mC41AwYM1q6
Howdy Neighbor!
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12-31-20, 08:04 PM
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Nope, CF bikes aren't recumbent bikes but the best ones are made by RANS, a recumbent bike company. I thought the RANS Mini of about a decade ago was pretty cool. (Have never ridden a CF of any sort.)
General Cycling, 50+, Touring, Recumbent.............wherever you wanna hang out.
General Cycling, 50+, Touring, Recumbent.............wherever you wanna hang out.
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01-01-21, 10:19 AM
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Wheel flop is the steering behavior where a bike or motorcycle tends to turn more than expected due to the front wheel "flopping" over when the handlebars are rotated. Wheel flop is caused by the lowering of the front end as the handlebars are rotated away from the "straight ahead" position.
The flop factor is proportional to trail and also depends on head tube angle. Decreasing head tube angle (as on CF bikes) will also increase wheel flop. The CF bike above has a head tube angle of roughly 45 degrees, which I believe maximizes wheel flop for a given amount of trail.
You can see more about it here: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicy...cycle_geometry
Otto
Last edited by ofajen; 01-01-21 at 10:28 AM.
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01-01-21, 04:23 PM
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Don't know the stats, but it does have the "front wheel" flop like the Sunseeker EZ-Sport AX I owned back in 2011, not quite as bad but it's there. It's very long wheelbase as it won't let me fit it in my old 93 Ford Ranger PU with a 6 ft. bed and fully close the tailgate!!
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01-01-21, 04:27 PM
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LOL, well I'd NEVER want to ride the BOWL on my bike that's for SURE! It's one of favorite little parks along the Midland and Creek Walk Trail when heading to Manitou Springs from our home in Colorado Springs! 
It's one of favorite little parks along the Midland and Creek Walk Trail when heading to Manitou Springs from our home in Colorado Springs!
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01-01-21, 04:30 PM
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Do we have a subforum for Willful Iconoclasts, and if not, why not?
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01-02-21, 10:18 AM
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I have been on recumbents both bike and now trike for 15 years. I guess if I ever decided to ride dirt trails, which I dont with my bents, I would go to a crank forward bike.
I know that "gravel grinding" is a new fad but 75 years ago when I had to ride my bike to school on gravel roads, I pretty much got my fill of them. Its fine for city boyz that love this "new" thing, but as for me ---------------been there, done that had my fill.
I know that "gravel grinding" is a new fad but 75 years ago when I had to ride my bike to school on gravel roads, I pretty much got my fill of them. Its fine for city boyz that love this "new" thing, but as for me ---------------been there, done that had my fill.
Last edited by rydabent; 01-02-21 at 06:48 PM.
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01-02-21, 12:10 PM
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My brother has a Raleigh Gruv that he bought to ride with his wife. I have tried it and like most CF bikes (as for acronyms, does anyone make a CF CF?) the steering is pretty wonky.
IIRC, CF bikes were marketed as flat foot bikes. The premise was to move the the crank forward enough that the saddle could be lowered so the rider could sit and put his/her foot on the ground at a stop. This also allowed for leg extension. Not a bad idea, but the execution was pretty horrific to the bike’s handling.
I would think if the primary reason was a the flat foot, or ball of foot, touching at a stop, it could be achieved with by designing a seat post that could slowly drop and slowly raise the saddle.
John
IIRC, CF bikes were marketed as flat foot bikes. The premise was to move the the crank forward enough that the saddle could be lowered so the rider could sit and put his/her foot on the ground at a stop. This also allowed for leg extension. Not a bad idea, but the execution was pretty horrific to the bike’s handling.
I would think if the primary reason was a the flat foot, or ball of foot, touching at a stop, it could be achieved with by designing a seat post that could slowly drop and slowly raise the saddle.
John
01-02-21, 03:30 PM
#20
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In function, crank-forwards are most like flat-foot cruisers such as Electra. They are neither recumbent nor hybrid. Since RANS is a recumbent manufacturer, 'BentRider Online has a forum dedicated to them. That's where you should be to post specific questions about them. Or, you're welcome to post generic bike-related stuff here.
