It seems as though my previous posts about the Cruzbike come up in searches on a regular basis, so I thought it would be good to write about them again, and see what kind of comments come out of it. It’s not so much that I’m totally opposed to their design - if it works for you, that’s great. But from reading their website, a less-sophisticated cyclist might get the impression that the millions and millions of cyclists riding traditional upright bikes today are putting themselves at risk of neck, back, and hand injuries, as well as possible ED. That’s a bit of a stretch, as far as I’m concerned.

The fact remains that a properly fitted and adjusted bicycle should not cause any of these issues. And there are so many much more affordable alternatives for the casual cyclist, it’s still hard for me to fathom the appeal of a non-traditional design that actually requires a learning curve. While Shimano’s Coasting hasn’t exactly set the world on its head, those bikes certainly seem like a more viable design.

So I’m softening my position on the Cruzbike. Before, I didn’t see the point at all. Now, I’ll give them this - if someone that can’t comfortably ride another design can get around on a Cruzbike, they can’t be all bad.

On a slightly related note, I’m offering this suggestion: If you aren’t comfortable on your current bike, seek out a good bike shop, or a friend/neighbor that rides and understands proper fit. And if you’re the rider that puts in the long hard miles without any issues, take a few minutes to lend a hand in getting someone fit. Because riding should be fun, and being uncomfortable is no fun at all.

Just a little sneak peek of the Santa Cruz that Steve Peat will be racing at the Worlds.

Now, I don’t usually pay too much attention to their sometimes questionable conclusions, but if they guys from Freakonomics say that motorists were the cause of 90 percent of bicycle vs motor vehicle accidents, who am I to argue?

Yeah, there’s that usual disconnect of facts and figures in their article - they mention that in the 80 years that the US government has been keeping track, some 52,000 bicyclists have been killed in traffic accidents. The 90% figure comes from a Canadian study that reviewed 2,752 police reports from Toronto. Who’s to say that Canadian drivers or cyclists are better or worse than Americans when it comes to avoiding accidents?

But it makes for good discussion.

I’m still trying to confirm the details, but it looks likes the Race For Tara will be run on October 11 this year. If you’re going to be in Tahoe, it’s worth checking out.  Should be some pretty intense downhill action.

Rumor has it that Tara herself may be racing this year.

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