Vik's Crank Forward Blog

RANS CF Family Tree

2008-12-01T16:28:00.001-07:00

Image: Nanda Holz [click for larger view]

RANS RAC System

2008-11-21T04:16:00.000-07:00

Previously I've posted photos of RANS crank forward bikes with Xtracycle Freeradicals attached. Although these cargo CFs are very versatile and can haul a ton they can overkill for some riders who want to keep the feel/size of a single bike, but need to haul more.

RANS has developed the RAC cargo system which is a subframe that bolts on to a RANS crank forward bike and comes with two large bags. Looks like a nice option in between panniers/rear rack and an Xtracycle.

RANS writes:

"RAC (ride and carry)

The bike inspires the commuter, and the short haul shopper, and is a natural for our new RAC cargo system. The bags and rack for the RAC system are custom designed for our CF line, and produced in our Hays plant. The system comes in two sizes, a large and standard.

The large measures 27 X 9 X 15” and the small 24 X9 X15” with cubic volumes of 2.1 and 1.9 cubic feet respectively. All of our current and many past CF offerings should accept the RAC system. The bags feature Lexan shaper panels, with several lighting holes for reduced weight. A maxi and mini bag and rack set adds 11 and 10.75 pounds respectively. Bags weight 4 pounds or less, and racks are 3 to 3.1 pounds typically. It is a worthy weight hit in the form of a very stylish bag set and rugged rack. The tubular frame is designed using alloy aircraft tubing, and our special fittings. This construction has been flight proven on our planes, and is ready for daily street duty.

In case you over buy, the bags contain an extra flap, that will extend to cover the items. I have also found it handy for transporting a bike. To haul a bike: place the front wheel in the bag and tighten the flap over the wheel and your ready to roll. I was surprised how often I used this feature, so I installed a bike hitch. The hitch is made to clamp the front fork., and no, it does not work to try and ride the bike that is attached to the hitch, at least we have not found anyone with the quick reflexes it would take to stay upright! We half jokingly showed the bike hitch at Interbike, but many thought it to be a very useful option, so it may make it into the offerings in due time.

Other features of the bags include: Side mesh pocket, reflector strips, handles on each end, and wide color selection. Constructed of 9.1 ounce Cordura, the bags are carefully crafted at our Hays Plant to endure many miles of use and abuse.

High rack and frame torsion strength allows carefree loading. The bags seem to hold up to this sort of use, but I prefer to balance the load, rather than feel a slight turn tendency. How much can be loaded? About 50 pounds per side seems reasonable. That is a lot of groceries. The RAC system is not really intended for human cargo, but of course, we have tested it, and set the max loading to 175 pounds, so it splits out like this, either 50 pounds in each bag and 75 on top, or a single 175 pounder freeloader. We may have an optional top deck, and runners, similar to the HammerTruck rack. Expect this system to expand with such options to increase utility in the near future."

Zaphoda is cruzing....

2008-11-20T09:34:00.002-07:00

Zaphoda over at BROL recently rec'd her lovely gold RANS Cruz crank forward. I have to say when I first saw the gold colour on the RANS site I didn't love it, but the more gold CFs I see the more I'm starting to see the allure of this paint job.

Congrats on the new ride!

Step Through Fusion

2008-11-19T09:10:00.003-07:00

RANS is offering a step through crank forward bike based on the Fusion. I think this is a great idea as getting your leg up and over the high top tube on a bike can be a serious problem for some. I can get mount a bike with a high TT, but for a city bike that will be used on casual missions I'd be interested in a step through myself.

RANS writes:

"FUSION ST

The Fusion has been one of our most popular CrankForwards, and should continue with the addition of the step through model. Styling of the frame is eye-catching, with the top tube taking the max plunge. Step through height is 19”, as opposed to the standard Fusion top tube height of 25”.

The configuration harmonizes well with the ladies, who immediately understand the advantages and grace of step through mounting. The bike also appeals to anyone wanting an extremely user-friendly bike with a high dose of unique style. The step through design is a natural for a CF, further enhancing the already body smart design.

Based on the Fusion frame geometry, the new frame is only a fraction of a pound heavier. The bike retains all that is fun about a Fusion in handling and performance, with no penalty for having a less trussed frame.

The frame features 7005 aluminum alloy tubing, water bottle holders on the top tube, and of course the seat-post with the inseam gauge. The model is offered in two dazzling colors, a bright metallic red, and an ivory metallic. The ST is spec’d with fast and light Jet wheels and Primo Comet 1.5” tires. There is room for up to 1.75" tires with fenders, and 1.95" without."

RANS Hammer Truck Specifications

2008-10-09T18:53:00.003-06:00

RANS has put the Hammer Truck up on their website with specs. Sounds like production models will hit the street in early 2009 so we'll have to wait a bit to see what owners are saying, but the concept looks promising.

Dom's RANS Fusion

2008-10-01T17:27:00.004-06:00

Photo: Dom

Dom writes:

"1.) I bought a CF for a few reasons. Before owning a CF I had a string of Rans and Easy Racer recumbents. I loved the comfort and speed but they had a few serious drawbacks for me.

I try to use my bike as my main form of transport, I use if for groceries, getting to work, and just about everything you would normally need a car for. While the my Tour Easy was very comfortable it was a real pain to try to park at the busy bike racks around town. Also carrying capacity wasn't very good on the bent. I tried using my bob trailer but I think my total length was around 12ft. Not real good for getting around town.

One day I was up at Coventry Cycles works in Portland Oregon. I was there actually thinking of maybe getting a SWB bent and on a whim I tried the Fusion they had in the shop. I instantly liked it. It was much more comfy than a DF and still gave me the nice view that a bent did. I ended up not buying it that day but in a few weeks I had sold all my bents on Cl and had no bike at all. I test rode a few DF's but nothing rode as nice as the CF. I ended up buying my Fusion at Paul's Bicycle Way of Life in Eugene Oregon.

2.) I chose this model cause it was all I could get. All my local shops that carried bents only had the fusion. Ordering a different model would have taken about a month. I had ridden the fusion and it was nice. So that's how I ended up with the Fusion. In hindsight, I think maybe the Dynamik Trail may have been a better fit. I like that you can stand out of the saddle with the Dynamik, which is nearly impossible with the fusion. I also like the disc brakes and front shock. The Dynamik looks like it could handle some rough dirt roads or easy single track. In that aspect the Fusion is limited to easy dirt roads. Or rough side walks.

3.) I like a lot of things about the Fusion here a few. It's a lot easier to transport than a lwb bent. I can fit on a regular bike rack and can even go on the front of a public bus. It has a much smaller foot print. I'm sure my co workers enjoyed getting half their floor space back in the office once I switched from bent to DF. It's also much easier to squeeze this bike onto a full bike rack than the bent was and I can use my bob trailer without needing to take every corner like an 18 wheeler!

I have the same view as I did on my bent. I'm looking straight ahead and can see everything, I'm not looking down at my handlebars. This means no sore neck , wrists, or for the most part no back pain. These are the main reasons why I switched from riding DF's to bents.

I also like that for the most part this bike takes off the shelf parts. Other than the Rans rear rack I installed. Everything I put on the bike is just regular bike stuff that can be bought at any bike store.

I couldn't be fair if I mentioned what I don't like about the bike, which isn't much. My main complaint is tires. The bike came stock with Primo comets 1.25. For a bike that can't really be bunny hopped over trash in the road and won't allow you to stand up in the saddle I find these tires a very poor choice. They are very thin and easily punctured. They are also too narrow to provide any real shock absorption. I wish Rans would ship this bikes with a 1.75 tire with some sort of puncture resistance. I'm actually in the process of hunting down a 2.0 tire with flat protection and a reflective sidewall.

Also the bolts on the bike need to be tightened down often. I wish Rans would have used a bit of locktite on some of the bolts on the seat tube and stem. These bolts loosen easily and cause the bike to creak like a wooden sailboat. Not a big deal and only requires a few minutes with the allen key. But on a bike that otherwise is so well put together the small things tend to stick out more. My only other complaint is one of perception.

4.) I use this bike as my main for of transport. So to and from work, grocery runs, shopping and just for cruising on the weekends. I feel it's like a bit of social disobedience to travel under my own power and cruise past the single passenger SUV's stacked up at the traffic lights.

5.) As this bike is used for daily transportation I needed it to be dependable and have decent carrying capacity. So with that in mind I installed the Rans rear rack, a fold able Wall rear basket, fenders, bell,mirror, kickstand, slimed both tubes (cause nobody wants to change a flat in Arizona in the summer) I also installed pedal extenders otherwise my size 13's would be banging against the frame. I also strapped a tiny bag to the handlebars to hold my phone, keys. wallet, and gum. I think that's all for changes made to the bike, as I mentioned earlier I'm
looking for some better tires.

All in all I'm really happy with this bike. It's comfortable and efficient. The yellow color is really nice and bold. The bike is easy to set up with a lot of cargo capacity and unlike a bent almost anyone can jump on it and peddle away comfortably. The learning curve is non existent compared to riding your average bent. I really feel this kind of bike would appeal to a huge amount of people who would never think of riding a bent. What's not to like, they are comfortable but still fast."

RANS Hammer Truck PT3

2008-10-01T08:52:00.003-06:00

RANS has posted an article providing more details on the Hammer Truck spec and pricing on their website here. I like that this bike and accessories are made in small batches in the USA vs. overseas.

The real test will be how it rides with a heavy load. I'll be looking forward to reading owner's impressions when it hits the street...=-)

RANS Hammer Truck PT2

2008-09-27T10:29:00.002-06:00

Photos: Nanda Holz @ Spin Cyclz

I've got a bit more info on the new RANS Hammer Truck. It will haul up to 500lbs - which is 2.5 times the capacity of the Xtracycle/Big Dummy and more than even some of the serious heavy duty cargo cargo bikes like the Yuba Mundo. The accessories you see that are similar to the v-racks and wide loaders from Xtracycle are not compatible with the Freeradical of Big Dummy.

RANS has suggested that a future version of the Hammer Truck may be compatible with the Xtracycle/Big Dummy or at least that RANS may develop some accessories for the Xtracycle/Big Dummy.

Given RANS's track record for high quality innovative products it will be very interesting to see what comes out from this new player in the cargo bike market.

The RANS Hammer Truck should be available for delivery around January 2009.

Jerry's RANS Dynamik

2008-09-25T17:52:00.004-06:00

Jerry has a nice RANS Dynanik crank forward he was thinking about using as a long distance touring bike, but a back problem is making that impossible so this bike is for sale. He'd like $900 + shipping from zip 61401. The bike is a 2008 all stock in like new condition. You can reach Jerry at jerry.wick AT yahoo DOT com.

Jerry's Dad enjoying a cruise on the Dynamik.

Russell's RANS Citi

2008-09-25T17:44:00.002-06:00

Russell has a nice RANS Citi crank forward that has been modified to make it very practical as well as comfortable. Great looking bike...=-)

RANS Hammer Truck

2008-09-25T16:27:00.003-06:00

Some info on the new RANS Hammer Truck from the Commute by Bike Blog:

"Rans is known for their recumbents and low seat upright bikes. Rans designer Randy Schlitter schleps around Hays, KS but he didn’t the cargo capacity he needed, so designed the Rans Hammer Truck.

The Rans Hammer Truck is the Rans unique take on longtail cargo bike. The 35 lb bike can carry up to 500 lbs of rider and cargo, with huge bags to carry cargo and optional running boards to support the weight. The Rans Hammer Truck will retail for $1895 beginning in November."

Not sure yet about the details, but it looks good. I hope it will compatible with all the Xtracycle accessories so you'll have loads of flexibility.

Cornell & the Street

2008-09-20T13:53:00.003-06:00

My RANS Street has been visiting with Cornell out in Cochrane for the last few weeks. He's interested in a RANS crank forward and wanted to borrow my Street for an extended test ride. Although I've missed having it around for running errands and cruising it's nice to know that someone else is having a chance to enjoy this fine bike.

Greg's 2008 RANS Street

2008-09-05T14:09:00.004-06:00

Greg [another fine BROL member] has a nicely spec'd 2008 Street built up with:

Aerospoke wheels
Avid BB7 brakes & Tektro Carbon levers
Schwalbe Marathon Racer tires
Greenfield kickstand
Shimano Barend shifters on Paul Thumbies
XTR Rapid Rise rdr
Ultegra fdr
Truvativ Elita EXO 165mm cranks w/Rotor Q-rings
Wellgo platform pedals
Stock Rans bars but with a curved riser
Ergon Grips
Topeak Survival Gear Box
Topeak MiniMorph pump appears to be missing in action, it installs via TwoFish BikeBlocks
I also carry a tool filled Rans logoed Jandd Frame Pac on longer rides

Future mods awaiting installation:

Rotor RS4X cranks w/Rivendell Grip King pedals
Rans B37 handlebar to try on for size/look
oh yeah, I see I need to put the chainstay chain guard back on too

RANS Crank Forward Mountain Biking

2008-09-04T20:23:00.010-06:00

Photo: David Friedman

Several readers of this blog have asked me about using RANS crank forward bikes for mountain biking and unpaved touring. I had some ideas, but haven't used a RANS CF for that mission so I wasn't 100% on how they would perform. David Friedman posted some great info on BROL about using a RANS CF for mountain biking and he kindly consented to let me reproduce his thoughts here. Thanks David! I know some folks will find his experiences very informative.

"As someone who has benefited from BRO but not previously posted, I thought I would share my experiences with using a CF Dynamik as a mountain bike. There have been a few threads regarding this topic in the past, and I hope my thoughts may help those who may be thinking about this option.

About a year ago, hand, knee and neck issues made using conventional bikes too painful. For road purposes, I use a Corsa, which I think is a terrific ride. For mountain riding, I have used a Turner 5-Spot for several years. The 5-Spot is generally considered to be one of the better full suspension frames. However, hand and saddle issues in particular made the Turner too painful on all but the shortest ride.

Although I was tempted to try a Rans Enduro or similar “true” recumbent as a potential mountain biking replacement, the Dynamik seemed like it was worth a try as a kind of “tweener” option. I bought a stock Dynamic, and moved all of the Turner parts over, including a Fox Talas 100-120-140mm adjustable front fork, WTB 2.4” Mutanoraptor race tires (actually about 2.2-2.3” in width), Avid mech discs, a Shimano XT crank with outboard bearings, a SRAM X.9-X.0 drive train, and an 11-34 Ti cassette. Equipped this way, the Dynamic weighed just over 27 lbs, about the same as the 5-Spot. The attached picture shows the bike with the Talas at the fully extended 140mm position.

I live in the Los Angeles area. State parks and national forests in the area offer numerous fire and jeep road and single track rides. I’m 51, and a typical ride includes about 2000-3000 feet of climbing over 15-20 miles (I have one of the Cateye altimeters, which works surprisingly well), a few significantly steep (15%+) climbs and descents, minor “stunts” such as smaller logs, rocks or steep “U” drop-offs and rises, and steep, loose, rocky, rutted singletrack. I don’t do jumps and try to avoid significant (OK, any) “air.”

I’ve taken the Dynamic on several rides, and my impression so far is very good. As others have noted, getting the seat and cockpit set up takes time. Early use generated some upper thigh and butt pain that I think was caused by the having the seat pan too flat. This has largely vanished over time. The bike brakes exceptionally well, which is a real confidence-booster on steep drops. I’ve found I increase speed compared to the Turner on the same smoother downhill runs (where the 5-spot’s full suspension would offer less significant benefits). The Talas makes the Dynamik quite versatile. At 100mm, the geometry is pretty much as spec’d with the stock Trail and Pro models that use an 80mm SID fork. This position allows for better climbing and more nimble handling. At 140mm, the front end comes up and the bike feels a bit more like a LWB ride. The mechanical (and psychological) benefits of this geometry allow for rapid descents and confidence on steep drops. I believe the Talas is a more solid fork than the SID and may enhance climbing; I would think that it performs better in rough terrain and on downhills.

Thoughts on the Dynamik for use as a mountain bike include the following:

1. On flats, downhills, and modest (maybe 5% or lower) climbs, the Dynamik seems to perform at least as well as the 5-Spot. On flats and climbing, where momentum can be maintained, I often find myself using a higher gear than with the Turner. The Dynamik’s braking and handling—especially at speed—are extremely good and comparable, if not better than the Turner. This performance helps maintain the “fun” part of mountain biking—i.e., the few minutes of downhill after the many minutes of uphill.

2. On rougher downhills and drops, the bike requires more thought and strategic riding to compensate for the lack of rear suspension. Weight shifting on and off the seat is required to take up the shock from bottoming out at the end of a drop or riding over rocks, ridges and trenches at speed. I find that the CF position makes such adjustment a little more challenging because my knees are lifting from a more angled initial position than on a conventional mountain bike. The need to adjust and think about how to react rather than let the full suspension deal with obstacles makes the rides a bit more involving, but also less forgiving. Like any unsuspended frame, the Dynamik will let you know when a poor line is chosen or body weight is not sufficiently adjusted to handle an obstacle.

3. On steeper terrain, I tend to use a lower gear than used with the Turner. As many have noted, on steeps the CF tendency is to pull on the handlebars to stay more forward and to maintain power to the pedals. This can put some strain on the fingers and biceps during long climbs. I view the additional arm workout as a plus, but it is a noticeable difference. The CF climbing hand pressure is the opposite of what occurs on a conventional bike which related to downward stress (rather than pulling) on the handlebars. I have not found the need to downshift a bit and pull on the bars to be a significant climbing negative in most uphill circumstances.

4. In my experience, the bike performs less reliably on steep singletrack climbs where it is important to maintain a steady line to avoid loose stones, dirt, ruts or vegetation on either side of a narrow path (e.g., one that can be only a few inches wide). I found that the bike would sometimes drift into looser stuff or a rut that I wanted to circumvent. In one case, where the trail is extremely steep and strewn with ruts and broken rock, I skillfully managed to drive the bike into a manzanita treelet that mangled the rear DR and dropout. This section, and others like it, were difficult but almost always makeable on the Turner. They are more of a challenge, at least for me, on the Dynamik.

5. On twisty singletrack, the bike seems to do relatively well. Sections where very sharp turns are combined with deep ruts, off-camber topography or strategically placed rock gardens are generally as makeable as with the Turner. I have found that proactive weight shifting and gear management are more important in these sections than with the Turner.

6. As discussed at Spincyclz dot com, rear chainsuck can occur with a CF running larger rear tires. This problem seems most likely to occur when: (a) the smallest cog in front and the larger cogs in the rear are engaged; and (b) the rider is not pedaling and the chain is not tensioned. Under these conditions, the chain can encounter the outer knobs on the rear tire and be sucked into the rear chainstay gap. The solution suggested at Spincyclz dot com is to place a retainer to catch the chain before it is pulled into the stays. I adjusted the XT cranks as far to right as the chainline would allow to increase the gap between the chain and the outer wheel knobs. By shifting to the middle or outer ring front prior to downhills, the problem has been pretty much a nonisssue for me. I found that chainsuck could occur, however, when riding through a series of short ups and downs when it is desirable to keep the bike in a very low gear for an upcoming steep bit. If this kind of terrain is regularly encountered, it may be necessary to install a physical retainer to preclude chainsuck risks. It appears that chainsuck is related to the longer CF chain which may flex more from side to side than on a conventional bike and potentially hit the rear wheel knobs when untensioned.

7. The Dynamik has proven to be significantly more comfortable on my butt, seat area and neck. It also seems to reduce back strain. The bike appears to reduce, but does not fully avoid, downward hand pressure. Long downhill runs still result in some “traditional” hand strain. The bike also generates more “pull” pressure on the hands and arms for climbing. In general, my hands feel better after a comparable ride on the Dynamik than on a conventional mountain bike. Weight management requirements can stress my knees to a greater extent than on the Turner, possibly related to lifting off the seat with the knees in a more forward angle compared with a conventional bike. I may be more sensitive to potential knee stress than other riders, and varying pedal positions during downhill runs seem to reduce this concern.

The Dynamik, at least as equipped with a 100-140mm Talas, seems to offer a very reasonable mountain biking option for the fire road and most SoCal-style singlerack that I routinely ride. It is not as nimble as the 5-Spot steep on more technical, narrow uphill sections. It seems like the longer wheelbase and lack of rear suspension would also underperform on more twisty trails, but this has not yet proved to be the case. I would be disinclined to use the bike on trails with rocky drop-offs, substantial rock gardens, lots of larger rock fins (or logs) and other conditions where full suspension and a higher bottom bracket seem obviously required. A lightweight suspension seatpost with a lockout for climbing might improve the bike’s overall downhill utility, but so far the lack of rear suspension has not been a significant problem on the routes that I ride.

I hope this summary is useful. My thanks to this website for all of the great information it provides!"

Malynne

2008-08-25T17:36:00.002-06:00

Rebbecca

2008-08-25T17:35:00.002-06:00

Heather

2008-08-25T17:34:00.001-06:00

Anna

2008-08-25T17:32:00.003-06:00

Ian's RANS Street + Xtracycle

2008-08-25T08:54:00.005-06:00

I'm a fan of longtail cargo bikes and ride a Surly Big Dummy when I need to haul a lot of stuff. When I got the Street I started to think it would be pretty cool with an Xtracycle on the back. The Street has very stable handling, a low seat height and a strong frame - all important ingredients for a cargo bike. Add in super comfy ergonomics and you have a great bike to Xtra-fy.

I was quite excited when Ian emailed me and let me know he was building a RANS Street Xtracycle rig. It took a while for him to get all the parts he needed, but his bike is finally rolling and looks very nice. Click here for pictures. Congrats on the new bike Ian.

I figure if Ian really likes this beast he might get the Xtracycle frame painted to match the stunning red metallic of the Street - that would be a sight to behold...=-)

Metalic Red OCD

2008-08-17T17:37:00.004-06:00

I'm terrible for not cleaning my bikes. That's why I pick colours like army green and matte black. It's not that I don't love my bikes - I do - I just rarely find myself motivated to clean them since they are bound to get dirty right away.

For some reason I cannot take the Street out dirty. There is something about the metallic red paint that screams "clean me!" Even a light coat of dust seems tragic enough that I'll grab a cloth and wipe down the frame.

It's sort of like dating a super model - you just can't help yourself when she wants to you to take care of her...=-)

Seduced by RANS

2008-08-17T17:27:00.003-06:00

So I was supposed to stay home and not ride my bikes today. My own orders so I can rest my gimpy left foot that I hurt in a freak dance floor accident at a music festival last weekend. However, I needed some bike parts to work on my girlfriend's bike so I had to head over to MEC. It was only a few blocks and I rationalized that riding the Street would be easier on my foot than walking. It was nice to be cruising the empty Sunday morning streets and I wasn't even put off when I got to MEC and realized I was an hour too early!

Putting the Street away when I got home I couldn't help, but thinking I might have a bike problem if I can't stop myself from riding even when I'm injured...lol....oh well I guess it could be worse!...=-)

Egron Grips

2008-08-05T17:15:00.003-06:00

I'm an Ergon Grip freak - with a set on just about every bike in my stable that has compatible bars. Although the Street doesn't put a lot of weight on your hands my injured left hand is a bit sensitive so I decided to Ergon-ify the Street. With these grips, the comfy RANS CF seat and BMX platform pedals the Street is uber comfortable.

Best of all I received these grips for free for helping someone out with their bike...=-)

As I was installing the Ergons on the Street today I was wondering aloud how I lived with normal grips all these years!

Street Porn

2008-08-05T11:28:00.003-06:00

RANS Libre?

2008-07-31T19:15:00.004-06:00

Photo stolen from here.

The Velo Libre bike rental program in Paris that has inspired several clones around the world is a great idea for busy cities and for people that don't need a bike full time. Riding the RANS Street I can't help but wonder if a step through RANS CF bike wouldn't be ideal for such a program? Easy to ride, very adjustable and comfortable.

Makes sense to me.

Bike Path Comments...

2008-07-31T19:04:00.003-06:00

I've rec'd quite a few comments on the Street. People seemed to dig the design, lots of folks like the colour [pics don't do the paint justice] and some home in on how comfortable it is. Yesterday as I was riding home in the AM I was passed by a roadie on a carbon fiber wonder bike who just said..."...now that seat looks comfortable..." He was gone in a flash, but I replied to myself..."...yes it is..."

Reflecting on a morning commute...

2008-07-30T07:54:00.000-06:00

The problem with a 5 min test ride...

2008-07-26T18:26:00.003-06:00

I've read a few negative comments online about CFWD bikes and one thing each post had in common was the author had based their opinion on an extremely short test ride. Now any short test ride of a bike is problematic since it doesn't give the rider much time to evaluate the bike and there could well be some setup issue that just doesn't get addressed during such a brief exposure, but I think short test rides of CFWD bikes has an additional level of challenge a lot of folks new to these bikes isn't aware of. Almost everyone interested in bikes has owned and ridden a typical upright diamnond frame [DF] bike. So when you go to test an exotic recumbent you inuitively know it is a completely different beast than you are used to. You approach it with an open mind and spend sometime trying to figure it out. You certainly don't try to ride it like you would a mountain bike or your old 10 speed. However, CFWD bikes do look a lot like DF bikes and my hypothesis is many people jump on them and try to ride them like they would a DF. This leads to some confusion and frustration because a CFWD bike simply isn't DF - it's a totally different beast.

I know that I went through a phase early on where I tried to ride my Street like it was a mountain bike. I wanted to get up on the pedals and hammer up hills. That just doesn't work well on a CFWD. I had to learn to work the gears more and use my leverage on the bars to apply more power when I need a burst of speed. This isn't a bad thing, but it requires that you forget your DF riding experiences and learn to ride your CFWD as if it were a whole new kind of bike. Don't worry this won't take long as one of the benfits of the CFWD design is how easy they are to ride. In fact people that can't remember the last time they were on a bicycle will probably adapt faster to CFWDs than those of us that ride DFs a lot.

In the end your efforts will be rewarded with a ride that combines the comfort of recumbents with the agilit and versatility of DF bikes.

Cruising

2008-07-25T23:36:00.004-06:00

Planet Bike Hardcore ATB Fenders

2008-07-25T23:18:00.005-06:00

I finally got around to installing some Planet Bike Hardcore ATB fenders on the RANS Street. I know I'm in the minority here, but I think a bike with fenders looks totally bad ass!

The front fender went on easily although I had to bend the left side strut a bit to clear the disc brake caliper.

A little more Planet Bike Superflash porn.

The rear fender also went on easily once I bent the left side struts around the disc brake caliper. Note that there is lots of coverage and clearance for 2.0" Schwalbe Big Apples. I love having a bike with fenders and lights so I can ride it anytime and in any weather. All the Street is missing now is a rear rack.

Dinotte 200L-AA

2008-07-25T23:14:00.003-06:00

Dinotte's 4 AA LED light is bright small and robust. I like how it kind of disappears on the bike until you need it. I generally leave mine on all the time so I have it when I need it. I seem to often find myself out after dark when that wasn't part of the plan in the AM when I left for my ride. Since it uses standard rechargeable AA batteries you can buy new ones cheaply and share them amongst your other battery powered devices - much better than a proprietary battery. The velcro and o-ring mounting system is secure yet allows you to move it between bikes in a few seconds.

Planet Bike Superflash

2008-07-25T17:57:00.003-06:00

My favourite rear light for the past year has been the Planet Bike Superflash. It isn't the brightest red blinkie available, but it's a great combination of inexpensive and effective. I find the strobe mode is ideal for getting driver's attention as it resembles an emerency vehicle flashing light. I couldn't get the mount around the massive seatpot on the Street so I mounted the light to the left side seatstay. If I'm doing a lot of night riding with the Street I'll mount another Superflash on the right seatstay for maximum visibility.

RANS Street in the morning...

2008-07-11T07:58:00.000-06:00

RANS Ride & Carry Cargo System

2008-07-10T20:57:00.002-06:00

EcoVelo Reports:

Ride Report 70808
Date: 7-08-08
Rider: RJS/KAD
Bike: Dynamik Duo

Testing For:
How the new RAC ( Ride And Carry) system works in the real world.

Conditions: Winds ENE 5 temps 84
Ride Distance: 7.25 miles
Calories: 346 (RJS)
Average V: 10 MPH
Max V: 25.1 MPH
Time: 43:24
Ascent: N/A
Average heart rate: 107
Max. Heart Rate: 133

Findings:
The numbers show we took it pretty easy, simulating an average couple out shopping. The distance ridden was not much, again within average reach. The handling is not affected, in fact the bike responds well with the added load. The downhill was fast, and of course the uphill had the feel of added weight.

The load was about 20 pounds of groceries, or $70 bucks. I wanted to haul a watermelon, and now that I know how well the bags keep shape with a load, we will next time.

I like several aspects of using the RAC on a tandem, it gets both of us shopping, and with some concern on how much we buy, that can mean a couple of things, less spending, and more trips. Note the calories even if double (700) is an example of a good return for the energy invested.

We did stop into a take and bake pizza place with the grocery load onboard. The pizza turned out easy to haul intact, simply letting it “potato chip” a bit worked to allow the pizza to fit inside the bag. If I were hauling a baked pizza in box, taking bungees would be wise, so strapping it to the top deck could be done.

I can see an insulated bag as Kelli our HR person suggest, to keep cool things cool, and maybe a built in bungee system to allow top loading. The RAC is the first proto, and has an open space between the bags, which is great for lifting the rear and droppind the kickstand. We will need to figure another way to drop the kick stand when heavy. Perhaps lifting bar the handle bars on a single seater will work.

Conclusions:
So far great, need more testing and try progressively heavier loads. Need to try how to raise and lower the kickstand with a heavy load.

Production should begin in a few weeks with a target price of $375 and some interesting features:

Bags remove easy and fit on either side.
Sides have net pockets and double small pockets for reaching down on a single to grab items like keys, phone, wallet.
There is an oversized load flap that secures the load when an item or item extend above the bag volume.
Reflectors, grab handles abound.
The system will include an insulated bag big enough for a gallon of milk.
They are hoping for a weight capacity in the 75 pound range. Will confirm with more testing.
The rack itself is made of 1″ aircraft aluminum tubing, has two settings for installing on both geometries of their CF’s.
They will be available in many colors with complimenting or contrasting trims, and are home-sewn in heavy Cordura at the RANS factory. All made in the USA.

If you have questions, ask away in the comment section below as I know Randy drops in here and I’m sure he’d be happy to provide answers.

The Street is rolling again...

2008-07-10T20:37:00.002-06:00

I'm embarrassed to admit what an amateur I have been the last month with the RANS Street. I wanted to upgrade the brakes and tires which should have been a piece of cake, but I managed to drag it out in a month long ordeal of incompetence! Getting some Big Apples and installing them was easy. It was the brakes that caused me all the grief. I wanted to get rid of the perpetual squeal of the Tektro discs that were on the bike. It just ruined the whole ride for me to have an ear piercing squeal at every stop. I tried cleaning the rotors and pads which helped, but didn't solve the problem. Perhaps a better mechanic could have figured out what to do next, but in my limited repertoire my best bet was to install some equipment I was familiar with and worked well. My first thought was some Deore V-brakes...they are simple, cheap and for sure I can set them up to work quietly. I got some from my LBS and removed the discs on the Street before I realized the Street didn't have any canti-posts to attach the brakes to....damn! At that point I waffled between getting discs or getting the canti-posts and proceeding with the V-brakes.

In my defense I was really busy and went on several bike tours in this period so my free time to work on bikes was minimal. I eventually decided that I might as well stick with disc brakes after I factored in the hassle and cost of getting the canti-posts I needed. Then I waffled about which discs to use and where to get them from. I'm normally a very decisive person so this was a bit bizarre - nevertheless that's what happened. The whole while I kept reaching for the Street or had friends ask to ride it before I recalled it was out of business.

Well I'm happy to report I finally got everything installed and ready to roll. The sad part was not only did it take a long time, but I ended up using brakes I had in my inventory - a pair of the original Avid mechanical discs from around 2000. Essentially BB7s, but before they called them that. So now The Street is rolling on some comfy Big Apples and stopping fast & quietly with the Avids...crank forward nirvana.

Unfortunately I'm about to depart on a 3 week bike tour to the Canadian arctic, but the lovely and talented Anna has requested the Street to ride to work and to share with her friends. Although I'll have to wait a while to really enjoy the new upgrades at least I'll know that Anna and her friends will be putting lots of miles on this red beauty. Hopefully the Street won't hold a grudge and we can get some nice late summer riding when I'm back.

Randy's Citi Ride Report

2008-06-24T17:13:00.003-06:00

RANS Citi

Randy Schlitter sent me this ride report:

Ride Report 61208

Date: 6-12-08
Rider: RJS
Bike: Citi…stock all the way!

Testing For:

Testing for ease and efficiency of stand riding, and simulate single speed riding, and what gearing would work.
Conditions: Winds N 8 to 10 to temps 76
Ride Distance: 20.16
Calories: 941
Average V: 12.1 MPH
Max V: 26.3 MPH
Time: 1:04:22
Ascent: N/A’
Average heart rate: 140
Max. Heart Rate: 175

Findings:

Heading north on the bypass I found lots of hills perfect for pulling in the stand position. I rode most the distance both ways, about 12 miles in the tallest gear. I found grinding was easy if you used you body weight, and are happy with 9 to 11 MPH. Ron Lieker was with me on his MTB, and tended to catch me on the climbs, but once I decided to put the hammer down I could put on the drop, it was hard not having more gears on the downwind leg, and the climbs really boosted my heart rate to the 170 level. If I climbed at an easy pace I could keep the rate down to 155.

What I like about this set up with the paperboy bars, and curved FWD riser, is the freedom of movement. I allows for very easy stand riding, which is handy to zip across an intersection or run up a hill. It would be the way to go if wanting to go single speed. Now what gears are right is a tough one. Almost every start with a standing ride, you need tall gears, but high winds and hills could be trouble if too tall. I am thinking somewhere around 34/18 and just living with less top end. A lot depends on the wheels, the big apples suck lots of power. But they do ride like you are on air ( you are! about 30 to 40 psi of it)

I did note an effective tuck with the bar set up, and I may try it on a Z-Pro. Even just the curved fwd riser is a good set up for those who want to stand ride and tuck at lot. ON my Z -Pro I do stand ride a lot, and tend to bang the thighs against the bar.

Conclusions:

As a stand ride model the Citi is one of our best, mostly due to the bars, and frame geometry. This could be had on any of Dynamik geometery bikes by installing the same bar and riser stock to the Citi.

This test confirms for me a single speed would be practical and fun. I think we should build one!

Xtrafied Street

2008-06-24T16:04:00.002-06:00

I found these photos of an older RANS Street [note the straight down tube] on BROL. The resulting rig looks great. It's a smart combination of comfort, stability and cargo hauling capacity.

BROL member Zyzzyx is in the processing of buying a new Street + Xtracycle kit. I'm looking forward to seeing photos of the finished product and getting his review on how it rides.

Hanging Out

2008-06-08T17:22:00.000-06:00

Stairs

2008-06-01T14:10:00.001-06:00

Dwayne rides the RANS Street

2008-06-01T07:45:00.001-06:00

My friend Dwayne is staying with me at the moment. He was immediately interested in the RANS Street when he saw it hanging in my repair stand and has been riding it extensively ever since. Dwayne is a fairly picky performance cyclist so I was a bit surprised to see him so smitten with a more laid back - dare I sat comfort bike. Talking to him about why he likes the Street he commented he was impressed with the quality of the bike and how much fun it was to ride. The only downside to his enthusiasm for the Street is I haven't had a chance to ride it since he arrived in town!...=-)

Crankforward Xtracycle?

2008-06-01T00:40:00.000-06:00

Combining these two types of bikes could be very cool!

Street Blurr

2008-05-29T22:06:00.000-06:00

Biking Crowchild Trail Bridge, Calgary, Alberta

Ian's RANS CFs on EcoVelo

2008-05-24T08:12:00.000-06:00

Photo: EcoVelo

Alan Barnard's blog EcoVelo recently featured Ian's sweet RANS CF bikes including this S&S coupled steel Fusion. Crank forward bikes fit in very well with Alan's new focus on practical cycling. The problem with most "serious" bikes is that they are not ideal for the casual cyclist in many respects. Although I love my fleet the most approachable bike I have at the moment is my RANS Street. I can get just about anyone rolling on it without any drama.

I've had a S&S coupled bike project bouncing around my brain so seeing the photos of this nicely coupled Fusion is making it hard to resist the temptation to S&S a bike.

A week with the Street

2008-05-20T21:25:00.000-06:00

RANS Street waiting patiently outside the bank, Calgary, Alberta

I've had the Street a week now and we are getting to know one another better. It takes a little time for two strangers to become friends. The Street exudes the sort of quality I'd expect from a company like RANS. The welds are clean and the frame is both strong and artfully designed. I like the beefy tubes that they used and the red metallic paint is amazing in the sunlight.

I had some issues with the disc brakes squealing quite loudly so I cleaned the rotors with rubbing alcohol. That helped a lot and I'll pull the pads for a bit of sanding which should completely resolve the problem. Other than that the Street has run well out of the box. Since my bike isn't built up with the stock specification I'll post some info on what I've got hung off the frame and any mods I'm thinking of.

I've already had a few friends and my boss inquire when they can borrow the Street for a test ride. It will be interesting to see what they think about the crank forward concept.

First Ride

2008-05-15T07:55:00.001-06:00

Relaxing by the Bow River, Calgary, Alberta.

My first ride on the RANS Street quickly reminded me of being a kid again. The riding position was relaxed and the handling was effortless. The bike wants to be in motion and to explore, but there is no urge to go really fast or to get anywhere particular. The joy was in just pedaling down the road.

I found you can get out of the saddle and climb up hills with the Street, but I think the bike is better suited to the intelligent use of its wide range gearing. Like my Big Dummy it rewards consistent effort on the pedals more than sharp accelerations. Being able to put your feet down at stops while staying in the saddle was nice and adds to the relaxing nature of the ride.

I tend to be a fairly aggressive rider - even when I don't want to be - so sitting on the Street was a revelation. The riding positions made me shift gears mentally and put me in a very relaxed head space.

I lent the Street to my friend Kurt and was pleased how easy it is to adjust the bike for different riders. The angle of the seat post is really laid back and results in the seat height and effective top tube length changing at the same time. Another nice feature is the engraved scale on the side of the seat post. This lets you quickly set up the bike for a variety of different riders. I'l l probably note down what setting works for each of my friends so when they want to ride the Street I'll have it ready for them just the way they like it.

Rather than ride our normal routes we ended up just zooming around back streets we don't usually think about. Looking around and chatting - it was definitely a social ride. Eventually we stopped at a Vietnamese restaurant for dinner and Kurt remarked that our ride felt exactly like the way he used to ride bikes as a kid. I agreed and pointed out that instead of stopping by the corner store for a pop & candy we were grabbing some asian food and green tea. I'm glad I have a credit card now and don't have to ask for an allowance from my parents...=-)

RANS CF Flavours

2008-05-14T17:46:00.001-06:00

Nanda Holz posted the following explanation of the various varities of RANS CF bikes on Bent Rider Online. It was really useful to me so I've reproduced it here:

"Regarding the micro flavors of the CF line-up, the base/foundation geometry are the Fusion, and Dynamik, from which all the other model sprout from.

The Fusion, and Cruz share the same lower LWB geometry except for the two curvy tubes, full length cables, and X7 vs. SX5 components on the Cruz. The Fusion Step Through prototype is a the same geometry but with a 9spd setup and easy use entry/exit frame design to make even the most noobie cyclist feel right at home. All will run disc and v-brakes and the standard Fusion and Cruz have rear 700c road caliper mounts (and the front fork fender hole can be drilled for a caliper...although it's not perfect, and only a 23mm tire will clear w/o filing the fork)

The Dynamik, Street, Citi, Trail, 700X, and D-Pro all share the same frame feature/geometry, except the Street has beefier curved tubes as does the Citi, and the Citi has no FD post. Also the Dynamiks have clearance in the rear stays for larger rubber and fenders where the Zenetik does not (28mm max). The Dynamik family will also accomodate disc, v-brake or caliper brakes.

The Zenetik, Road, Z-Pro, are all pure road bikes with straight rear stays, rear caliper mount, and rear disc tab. The Zen's do not have the downtube gusset that is present on the Dynamik, and have taller/longer headtubes then the Dynamiks...but are at the same angle." __________________
Regards,
~Nanda Holz
925.301.7043
www.spincyclz.com
onyourleft@spincyclz.com

Why a RANS Street?

2008-05-11T10:47:00.000-06:00

RANS is a small company located in Kansas that designs and manufacturers recumbents, crank forward bikes and planes. Attention to detail and a love of bicycles is evident in all their pedal powered creations. Having owned a RANS Rocket recumbent and enjoyed it - I had confidence that their crank forward bikes would be equally fun to ride. Nanda Holz really sold me with his enthusiasm for RANS CF bikes and his latest touring CF which just happens to be a Street.

The Street intrigued me because it has a geometry that is part way between the more laid back CF bikes like the RANS Cruz and a typical diamond frame [DF] bike. I think it is going to be ideal for running errands, commuting and going on social rides with my friends. I also know quite a few people who want to come biking with me, but don't have a decent bike to use. I think the Street's wide range of adjustment will allow me to loan the bike to these folks and its comfort/ease of handing will hopefully convince some of them to get their own bike.

The folks at RANS were kind enough to send me a lovely metallic red Street to ride and review - thanks!

Why a crank forward?

2008-05-10T07:40:00.000-06:00

I live in downtown Calgary and have quite a few friends that aren't serious cyclists. Maybe that's incorrect - they aren't performance cyclists. They love their bikes and they love riding, but our typical rides are very social, fairly slow and all about smelling the waffles not crushing your opponents in an aero tuck! My bike choices of late have been heading in the direction of more practical rides [Bike Friday Tikit & Surly Big Dummy] and they have worked very well for diminishing my need to drive and ramping up my enjoyment of practical cycling.

I get asked to help a lot of people find the right bike for them. I enjoy the process as I get to research bikes, test ride them and help someone find a ride that puts a smile on their faces - all without actually having to buy another bike...=-) Since most of the people I help are not looking to win the Tour de France or break the HPV land speed record they don't need a racing machine. What they do need is a comfortable, practical bike that is easy to ride, attractive [to them] and versatile for the typical urban cycling missions. Naturally crank forward bikes have become one of the obvious options I recommend to people.

The shape and concept of the crank forward appeals to mainstream cyclists who aren't ready to embrace the recumbent form factor no matter how comfortable and efficient. In an urban environment the upright seating and ease of stopping and starting are appreciated. The [almost] one size fits all adjustment range means more than one family member can ride a crank forward ensuring it sees lots of use. Best of all the relaxed handling of most crank forwards inspires confidence in new cyclists and those who ride infrequently.

Most people don't break down their enthusiasm for CF bikes to this level of detail, but they do know they feel relaxed on one and it puts a smile on their face. For a bicycle I'd call that mission accomplished....=-)