Although it takes a bit to master the ride, the Cruzbike's a blast once you get the hang of it. It's a front-wheel drive bike, so it gives you the comfort and speed of a recumbent without the long, long chain (one of the few negatives of most recumbents). The lack of chain in the rear makes it a perfect complement to the Xtracycle free radical SUB (sport utility bike), which is specifically why I bought the Cruzbike. Now I can, as much as possible, avoid having to drive a car entirely.I have the stock 65 psi tires on mine now (I ride the Freerider model), but I'm thinking of upgrading to new wheels with disc brakes and 100 psi tires to make it even more of a cargo-hauling truck.
I first bought a recumbent in 2000 after testing a bunch of them and, a week later, gave my upright to my father-in-law (I knew I wasn't going back). I've since ridden bikes like the EZ-1 and have four recumbents currently: a Rans Rocket (my first), a Rans tandem, a BikeE (for my wife for quick jaunts around town) and the Cruzbike, which I bought last fall. The Cruzbike's grip-shift handles the same as any other bike, and it takes hills pretty well for a 'bent, albeit with the proviso that no 'bent climbs as well as an upright because you can't stand up on the pedals; small price to pay for being able to ride for hours without feeling any pain and for having a pleasurable touring ride experience. It feels great to glide through the world with your head in a normal, comfortable position, at a comfortable height (no craning to see traffic). I find I'm faster because you are more aerodynamic than on an upright, so it takes less work to maintain the same speed. And the Cruzbike in particular feels amazingly light, even with the Xtracycle.
-- John Gear
译文:
躺式单车：克鲁斯单车
尽管一开始的时候，在学习如何驾驭它的方面稍显困难，但是当你熟悉起来，克鲁斯自行车立即就成了一缕疾风。这是一辆前轮驱动的自行车，所以不需要长长的链条（这东西往往不会让人舒服），而且用躺着的姿态骑车，可以让骑者在骑车过程中享受到舒适与速度并存。后轮上链条的缺失恰恰提供了建立一辆基于SUB（实用型运动自行车）想法而出现的Xtracycle（一种可以把座椅到后轮的距离延长从而加宽加长自行车使用空间的一种变形方式）的机会，这也是我一定要买克鲁斯自行车的原因。现在，我尽可能避免外出的时候只开车。因为我现在有了每平方英寸可以承重65磅的托盘在我的轮胎上了（我使用的是可以自由变换的单车），但我还在想将带有盘式制动器的新轮盘浓缩一下，就可以让轮胎的承重达到每平方英寸100磅，这样我的车的承重量甚至可以超过一台货运的卡车。
我第一次买躺式单车是在2000年的时候，那时我已经试过许多种躺式单车了，一个星期后，我把我的直式单车给了我的岳父（我知道我不会再回到过去用直式单车的时候）。我过去曾经骑过像是EZ-1 的单车，现在还有四辆躺式单车：一辆Rans Rocket（我的第一辆），一辆Rans tandem, 一辆BikeE (是为了我妻子在我们镇周围远足用的) 还有一辆就是克鲁斯单车，是我去年秋天买的。克鲁斯单车的变速把手跟其他的单车是一样的，而且它的爬坡性能也很好，虽然跟直式的单车相比，是不如的，因为你不能在踏板上站起来踩。付出不多的金钱，就可以拥有愉快的单车旅行的经历，而且骑几个小时都不会感觉到任何的疲惫。带着平常心，以一种很舒适的方式和很舒服的高度（不用调整头部去看交通情况），四处游走。因为在躺式单车上，空气阻力会比在直式单车上小，我发现躺式打车要快些，所以不用费很大力气，我就可以保持在一定的速度。而且，就算改装成Xtracycle的样式，骑克鲁斯单车还是感觉特别的轻松。
---------John Gear
