Cruzbike
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2024}}
Cruzbike ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|r|uː|z|ˌ|b|aɪ|k}} {{Respell|CROOZ|byke}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azIMsN_dJeU|title=S40 2021 Rear and Under Seat Rack Installation | CRUZBIKE|work=YouTube|date=May 17, 2021|access-date=July 11, 2021}}) is a brand of recumbent bicycles based in Newburyport, Massachusetts, United States. The company was founded in 2005 and all models are now designed in the United States and manufactured in Taiwan. Cruzbike started life in Australia and was featured on the ABC show The New Inventors.{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/tv/newinventors/txt/s3236719.htm|title=CRUZBIKE−invented by John Tolhurst|publisher=ABC New Inventors|accessdate=February 22, 2016}} It is fairly unusual in that it makes a front-wheel drive recumbent bicycle with a Moving Bottom Bracket (MBB). The bottom bracket is the piece that the pedals attach to, and in this case it moves (or pivots) left and right with the front wheel when steering the bicycle.{{cite web|title=Quest review|url=http://www.bentrideronline.com/?p=5420|publisher=Bentrider online|accessdate=October 25, 2015}} This design allows for better climbing ability (due in part to some involvement of the upper body as well), and eliminates "heel strike" on turns, but comes with (for some people) a slightly longer learning curve as there is a pedal-steer effect.
History
In 2004 John Tolhurst developed a kit to convert a regular (diamond-frame, or upright) bicycle to a front-wheel drive recumbent.{{cite web|title=Conversion kit history|url=http://www.cruzbiking.com.au/corker/conversionkit|publisher=Cruzbiking AU|accessdate=October 25, 2015|archive-date=February 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160227100118/http://cruzbiking.com.au/corker/conversionkit|url-status=dead}} The purpose of the kit was to provide a means to circumvent the high purchase price of recumbent bicycles.{{cite patent | country = US | number = 2006226630 (A1) | status = application | title = Assembly for converting standard bicycle into a recumbent and a bicycle incorporating the assembly | pubdate = 2006/10/12 | inventor = John Irven Tolhurst }} The conversion kit served its purpose but had several disadvantages including the aesthetics of the converted bicycles, the difficulty of fitting the bike to the rider, as well as concerns about the longevity of a frame not designed for the stresses encountered in recumbent bicycles. A further concern was the lack of a direct connection between the handlebars and the bottom bracket, a problem also seen in previous recumbent bicycle designs. John Tolhurst designed the Silvio to overcome these shortcomings and was awarded a US patent for the front wheel drive moving bottom bracket Silvio in 2010.{{cite patent | country = US | number = 7753388 | status = patent | title = Front Wheel Drive Recumbent Bicycle | gdate = 2010/07/13 | inventor = John Irven Tolhurst }}
Jim and Maria Parker joined the company in 2005 and started producing recumbent bicycles in addition to the now discontinued conversion kits. In January 2015, the Parkers bought out John Tolhurst's interest in the company and became the sole owners.{{cite web|title=Changes at Cruzbike|url=http://cruzbike.com/blog/2015/01/28/changes-at-cruzbike/|publisher=Cruzbike|accessdate=October 25, 2015}}
Records
Maria Parker attempted the women's 12-hour record on October 12, 2009, on a Silvio.{{cite web|title=Woman Attempts 12-hour World Record on New Front-Wheel-Drive Recumbent Bicycle|url=http://www.prweb.com/releases/2009/09/prweb2952704.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091006111520/http://www.prweb.com/releases/2009/09/prweb2952704.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 6, 2009|publisher=PRWEB|accessdate=February 22, 2016}} She achieved 240.01 Miles in 12 hours. This set the WUCA 200 Mile Road Record - Women Unfaired Recumbent and WUCA 100 Mile Road Record - Women Unfaired Recumbent records. In 2011 she broke her own record.{{cite web|title=Cruzbike records|url=http://cruzbike.com/records|publisher=Cruzbike|accessdate=February 22, 2016}} In 2012 she set the adult female 24-hour time trial recumbent record with a distance of 469 miles.{{cite web|title=WRRA records|url=http://www.recumbents.com/wrra/records.asp?MoreInfo=Yes&ID=79|publisher=World Recumbent Racing Association|accessdate=April 6, 2016}} She also rode a Cruzbike on the 2013 Race Across America and took first in the women's category.{{cite web|title=RAAM 2013 - A year of records and inspiration|date=June 26, 2013|url=http://www.bikemag.com/pavedmag/raam-2013-a-year-of-records-and-inspiration/#kdPLKXIyZ3cQSkr5.97|publisher=bikemag|accessdate=February 23, 2016}}
On May 16, 2015, Lief Zimmerman established the WUCA recumbent record crossing the state of Washington, north to south, 254.8 miles in 12h 28m.{{cite web|title=UMCA WA N-S record|url=http://www.ultracycling.com/wp_news/?p=590|access-date=April 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170405175259/http://www.ultracycling.com/wp_news/?p=590|archive-date=April 5, 2017|url-status=dead}}
In October 2015, Larry Oslund set the 100 mile TT world masters record for unfaired recumbent, by riding 100 miles in just under 4 hours.{{cite web|title=WRRA records|url=http://www.recumbents.com/wrra/records.asp?MoreInfo=Yes&ID=97|publisher=World Recumbent Racing Association|accessdate=April 6, 2016}}
In January 2016, several Cruzbike riders entered the Bike Sebring race, held at the Sebring Raceway. Kevin Gambill set a course record for the 12-hour division, riding 276.6 miles on a Vendetta (V20).{{cite web|title=Bike Sebring race results, 2016, 12-hour|url=http://www.bikesebring.org/raceresults.php|publisher=Bike Sebring|accessdate=April 6, 2016}}
Models
- Q45 {{Cite web|url=https://cruzbike.com/products/q45|title=Cruzbike Q45}}
- T50 {{Cite web|url=https://cruzbike.com/products/t50|title=Cruzbike T50}}
- S40 (formerly Silvio) {{Cite web|url=https://cruzbike.com/products/s40|title=Cruzbike S40}}
- V20 (formerly Vendetta) {{Cite web|url=https://cruzbike.com/products/v20|title=Cruzbike Vendetta V20}}
The number in the model name indicates the backrest angle (Q45 and T50 are adjustable). T50 has option for electrification. Previous models include the Sofrider, Quest, QX559, QX100, and the conversion kit.
References
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