Flevo Bike Racer

[currystomper]

Hi

Found someone selling frames for these bikes on EBAY and I wondered if anyone had ridden one and how they compared one to a cruzbike....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Recumbent-Recumbentbike-Bicycle-Flevo-Bike-Racer-Frame_W0QQitemZ260454884969QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Bikes_GL?hash=item3ca4522669&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyTP5I8hv5Q.

The front pivot seems to be back and raked -- so I would have thought handling would be like comparing a Chopper motorcycle(Flevo) with a sports motor bike(Cruzbke)......

I like the look of the under seat steering but it doesn't have the quickly adjustable leg length of the cruz', the price point is interesting, half way between a Cruz' kit and a Silvlo

 

[John Tolhurst]

G'day currystomper,
There are a few points of difference worth noting. The low steering axis, at 45 degrees or something, is intended to lessen the effect of pedalling on steering. Cruzbike doesn't take that approach. We put the steering axis at the usual axis and engage the fully body in the cycling instead. By getting the design details right, the body counterbalances itself. The Flevo handlebars cant be used much for steering. It takes months instead of days to learn to ride Flevo. People who are familiar with cruzbikes have to learn again to ride a Flevo, for example, Tom Traylor reported to me that his experience with FWD did not assist when he tried a Flevo for the first time. He claimed that the Flevo had put FWD adoption back at least two decades. I've never heard of any particular performance claims or experiences for the Flevo format, apart from the labelling of the Flevo Racer. It originated from a student group building simple bikes and using a 45 degree jig, which is why the bike has 45 degree joints, axis and is built with square tubing, it all makes home production more feasible without any particular welding jigs.

Let me say, I would really not like to be on a Flevo with no rapid and precise steering inputs from the ARMS in anything but a benign riding environment. If you do happen to find a benign riding environment, let me know. The riding we take for granted, in traffic, pacelining, tight road positioning, rapid acceleration or braking, none of this holds much promise in the Flevo design, in my humble opinion.

The Flevo company now make some wonderful products, but not the original design. I think that probably sums up the experiment as much as anything else.

I know two people who have reported a cruzbike-flevo comparison to me. Tom Traylor's view I related above and the second person rides a RWD flevobike today. His brother owns a flevo which he tried riding but after a couple of days gave it up. He happily tested a cruzbike though with narry a wobble.

 

[currystomper]

Hi John

Thanks for that good summary, I thought as much, the flevo is very much like a chopper motorbike. Looks good, but not as dynamical well set up as standard bike.

I do like the look of the under seat steering!!

 

[wpatters]

I have a Chinkara that has the Flevo front end design. I like the amount of trial but not the 45 degree headtube angle. I wish the Cruz bike had more trail, so it would be easier to ride hands free.

http://www.calpoly.edu/~wpatters/movies.html

This tandem has a 60 degree headtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJl9h7XjMcg

You might note that I do the complete ride hands free


Bill