Bike Sebring, recumbent bicycle rotating paceline demo

Video from 2015 Bike Sebring, first 101.5 miles in 4 hrs 14 min. Video taken by Jim Verheul and Gary Christopher. Narration by Jim Parker. More Cruzbike videos at / cruzbike or visit Cruzbike.com.

[@pmag3200]

Found this 6 years after and love it🍺🍺🍺

[@casualguy393]

Nice Video Jim. Hope everyone got more efficient at pace lines since then. This video makes a great example of how much faster recumbents are than Diamond Framed bikes. Not only did you guys beat the top riders, but the age gap makes it even more impressive.

[@LucaMatteis]

Now try uphill

[@ShuttTheFrontDoor]

Great video and great job on the century pace. I was with the B Group, about an hour back.

[@jameschristiansson3137]

Love the video and narration. These races and the videos that follow make a case for Cruzbike like nothing else. Have watched this one several times now.

[@rufusprime99]

Ugh. Right after I finally got my Phantom D built up, someone on Bentrider put an S40 for sale for $1500. I had considered an S40 and the Phantom. Those were my finalists for a build. The Phantom frame was $1000 less than an S40, and now someone had a full bike for $1500. I should have just snapped it up, but I hesitated, and someone else snapped it up. Not to worry, I am really liking the Phantom. But boy, I could have had a low cost S40.

[@SanMiguelBulls]

Ok I am sold, I need a recumbent asap...hopefully next week, these videos just solidify my decision. ..thanks...

[@casualguy3938]

Well, did you get one braddah?

[@rufusprime99]

@@casualguy3938 Don't know if he did, but I got me another bent. I ordered a Lightning Phantom frame and built it up with some light stuff. Carbon cranks, oval chainring, SRAM 1x12, 10x50, hydraulic disc brakes, and a carbon aero rear wheel.

[@Lasvegasmotionpictures]

The Recumbent - There's a new leader of the Pack!

[@bschlinks]

Wow, great footage! Thanks for the video and the dialogue. I'm hoping to bring some "young blood" into the (Cruzbike) recumbent scene sometime in the near future. I've been in love with ultrarunning for the last several years, but have always been interested in having a go at endurance cycling. These are the types of videos that fuel that interest! Great job to everyone who just competed in 2016 Bike Sebring as well!

[@nathanielbode4329]

I dont mean to be so offtopic but does someone know of a method to log back into an instagram account..? I was stupid forgot my password. I love any assistance you can give me!

[@maverickimmanuel9765]

@Nathaniel Bode instablaster =)

[@nathanielbode4329]

@Maverick Immanuel thanks for your reply. I got to the site thru google and Im waiting for the hacking stuff now. Takes quite some time so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

[@nathanielbode4329]

@Maverick Immanuel it worked and I finally got access to my account again. Im so happy! Thanks so much you saved my account!

[@maverickimmanuel9765]

@Nathaniel Bode Glad I could help :)

[@SanMiguelBulls]

You have no idea how much this video has influenced me, I am renting one tomorrow for a week, the Corsa, if I like I am making the purchase, have been off my bike for the last 5 months, slow depression creeping on, I could not move my neck for 2 weeks after my last 50 miler, I want to be able to hang on my group rides, but have been very skeptical, this video helped allot thanks... I plan to do many centuries and maybe get back to racing, wow, this video is powerful, thanks, are u on facebook by any chance?

[@Cruzing08]

bjjbebo Glad you liked the video and are inspired by it to get out there on a recumbent. I'm on Facebook, under the same name, and also on the Cruzbike Facebook page.

[@casualguy3938]

Howzit going braddah? Were you able to get one?

[@TrikeSquadron]

Nice commentary. Great to see bents out there doing a paceline.

[@TheWelshman50]

Thanks for your ride footage brilliant ride and congratulations to all bent riders.

[@jamessteed100]

How about getting all the recumbent riders together next year before the race - determine each goal of each rider - their experience in paceline work & the amount of energy expenditure one is willing to give & the speed the group wants to achieve.based upon the ride - 100 miles -12 hr. or 24 hr.. This may even be done days before the race to get an idea of who might be interested. Also, this may prompt some more recumbent riders to participate next year. I'm 67 & just got a Bacchetta CA 2.0 & am planning on doing the 12 hr. next year. Not up to your speed - yet.- just getting my recumbent legs. You may even be able to set-up a couple of groups based upon desired speeds.

[@daniele_go]

Thanks a lot, excellent video and great to hear the comments too! It's a pity that recording speed was 2x, I think it makes things appear much more "hectic" than it was in reality!

[@wbuttry1]

Diamond framer racers and recumbent riders have really never seen eye to eye I get smart ass remarks when I ride with a group from a couple towns from me I am the only one who rides these and they turn there nose up at me most of the time specially when I show up in cargo shorts and t shirt cause I am not dressed in spandex and jerseys ..

[@itsmejerks]

wbuttry1 i get the same. i went from diamond to lwb bent after a car accident because i simply cant sit in a saddle. i ride a racer much like the one in your profile pic here. and the fact is, a strong rider (or even moderately strong) on a bent is always faster than a strong rider on a diamond particularly on a long flat ride, and it irritates them. not to mention a bit of built in equipment snobbery. i do the same, camo cargos and a regular shirt lol but i also believe that riding a bent has also made me a stronger rider than when i rode diamond frames. i dont have the luxury of using my body weight on climbs like before, it all comes from muscle instead of weight assisted downforce which is something i think d/frame riders totally miss the point on. we dont get to stand up and rock, we can only push from the thigh and its much harder in that respect to ride a bent bike.

[@SuperCanuck777]

steve twigg I am 55 am ridden DF all my life. just waiting for the arrival of 2nd hand challenge taifun off ebay uk.. can't wait to get my cargo shorts and fred perry on lol

[@wbuttry1]

steve twigg that bike in my avatar is what I ride in fact that is mine.

[@SuperCanuck777]

wbuttry1 what, a challenge taifun? the one I got coming has a monoblade front fork+wheel. think it might be called a "kantana" fork.

[@todd92371]

It's so funny how people have to form groups. And you have to be a certain way, dress a certain way and do things a certain way to be part of it. Anything different than that challenges the conceptions of it and it leaves insecure people feeling more insecure. It's like our ego's and self worth is bound in spandex and countless logos. It's about the ride. It's about having fun. And it's about getting on the road and exploring.

[@jaustinkwack]

Amazing video ! Thanks !

[@francisxavier6326]

Good Vid & Commentary. Fun & Useful. Thanks

[@Siravingmon]

Great video, thanks for sharing!

[@thisismyname007]

The Force is strong with this one! ☝️ 😂🎉😂🎉😂

[@barryberland981]

Thanks Jim for critiquing the video.

[@CarlKidd]

Great video. I'd like to know what pace they were holding.

[@SuperPlastered]

That was a big sacrifice to get you a win from riders in the 12 hour. Not sure about the us vs them argument anymore. I ride with a few of the riders in that line almost weekly and rotate freely. In fact, it would be crazy of them to keep you in the back saving energy. That part of the narration didn't seem right. Good video, though. It's nice to see recumbent riders working together! I did see Don Appel in the first half of the video on his blue M5.

[@GregCantori]

Great narration Jim!

[@TrikeSquadron]

Awesome video and commentary. No wonder the DF riders don't like you... you are better. ;-)

[@DAVIDSMITHband]

I wouldn't want to be in a paceline, in a crosswind, with somebody running a disc wheel. They rejected the four of you out of safety concerns, either real or imagined. That's what I think, anyhow. That, and all of you are still trying to learn how to ride in a paceline. I'm happy to see all of you out there.

[@yuliangtsaiify]

Thank you for shareing.

[@Herman47]

Spring, little recumbent getting ready to strike, spring, little recumbent with all your might....

[@whobru]

I am confused, you are all in your 50s and just trying to figure out forming a paceline? From the beginning I could not figure out why the four of you were not already in a paceline, between yourselves, conserving energy????

[@andytrisconismith567]

Only done a couple of rides with df riders and either get respect or raced especially on the hills. Most pretty cool though. Not done any events yet but looking to do a sportive this year to really have some fun

[@danfuerthgillis4483]

With longer rides DF riders expect some kind of team work riding due to head winds. A recumbent can draft a DF rider, but that won't work the other way around. This is a major reason why DF riders don't like to ride long distances with recumbents around them. We all know the advantages of Recumbents on the flats, but for big hills and massive climbs the DF bikes obviously have the advantage.

[@casualguy393]

A recumbent rider is going to get some of the draft off the legs of DF riders, and the DF rider's legs are going to get a bit of draft off the recumbent riders.

[@TheVelomobileChannel]

Nice video! What kind of speed were you able to keep with your paceline?

[@BCRBCRBCRBCRBCRBCR]

Commentator (Jim) said he was only one riding just the century and the others were doing the 12hr ride. He also said "she gets to ride 7hrs 40mins more" as Maria completed the century. From this, they completed the century in 4hrs 20 minutes, which is a 23mph (37km/h) average. Presumably, they were faster in the pace line than their average, especially since they were pulling away. I bet they are much better at pace lines now (3 years later).

[@waterb-doge6122]

Can I put your videos on a Chinese video website? I think they are great for more people to know about recumbents. Thanks a lot : )

[@woodsonpayne8378]

After 58 years of cycling, my neck has given up. Looking to build my own carbon fiber recumbent, however not sure which would be the most stable at low speed urban start stop commuting. I know the low rider racers are sexy at 20+ plus mph, but how stable are they at 1 to 5 mph, typical launch from dead stand still? Thanks for any info you can pass along.

[@robappleby583]

I know this is five years later... but a high centre of gravity is more stable at low speed. Trikes are always stable of course ;-)

[@jameswilkins8530]

Very nice.

[@ytyehyeh]

Cool. I see the Parkers on Vendettas, Kevin on a CA2, what's JV riding?

[@geraldshields9035]

@Jim Parker Two questions (1) How would replacing standard wheels with carbon fiber wheels affect the performance of the recumbent? (2) Would using a recumbent work your core muscles?

[@casualguy393]

Carbon fiber wheels will likely be lighter and more aero, so it would make you not only faster but help in acceleration a little. Mostly your legs are going to get a workout, but not so much in the core.

[@mindciller]

I own a baron lowrider. I'm still learning it. I'm still faster on my diamond frame tt bike. I hope to be fast on a recumbent someday

[@mindciller]

Well. Baron was too slow, slower than my road bike, got a bacchetta 700c corsa and it was slower than my tt bike but I really tried to go faster training for one year to compete in a 200. Crashed the bacchetta in the 200 at 35 mph downhill beam flexed and front wheel bounced up landing one foot to left sending me across the lane into opposite ditch. So I sold my recumbent it just wasn't faster or safe. I'd like to try the vendetta what are your thoughts?

[@stickshiftdriver1832]

I'm just learning to ride a recumbent. I think that the DF had just pulled back purposely and let the vents just have their way up front. Way up front. The two type of bikes ride awkwardly together in a group. Dfs are afraid of having an accident with a bent especially when a bent is riding the DF riders blind spot

[@andy-the-gardener]

bs. those ultra competitive macho df riders would NEVER let bent riders win if they could help it. they were clearly attacking maximally in a group effort and they got dropped badly when the bents used the same tactics

[@danfuerthgillis4483]

@@andy-the-gardener It's a challenge and every DF rider ( even myself) will always go for the challenge with any trikie or recumbent. My main road bike is a 15 kg alloy bike which I challenge even with $8000 tt bikes. For me it's more of the shock value of someone on a $250 road bike closing in on someone with an $8000 kit. I don't yell names when I lose or win, it's more of "Can it be done". 1 month ago I was chasing down a Canadian women's TT 2 team pursuit training with a $250 road bike, beach shorts and a tshirt, the look on their elite level faces was complete shock knowing each of their bikes were well over $8000 each. I ride for fun, not for being called the best, will race anyone on any bike just for the thrill.

[@andy-the-gardener]

@@danfuerthgillis4483 roadies are anal about minor upgrades and differences between their bikes. but the differences between a 25lb basic road bike vs a super expensive lightweight carbon road bike is going to be pretty trivial compared with individual rider motivation, fitness and strength. the humble wheel cover seems the best bang for buck upgrade. people spend stupid money on their super light racing bikes, when its aero that really matters. beats me why velomobiles are not a common sight

[@danfuerthgillis4483]

@@andy-the-gardener The reason why you don’t see many velomobiles here as you do in Europe is due to the nature of the mentality. In Europe many people have and ride velomobiles, ebikes etc as as transportation to work and back. Their distances are much smaller and the infrastructure there was setup decades ago to handle these smaller vehicles. Here you have to drive a Tank 😂

[@andy-the-gardener]

@@danfuerthgillis4483 i live in the uk and nobody owns velobiles although cycling isnt too unpopular, although it is compared to driving. there is no real reason cycling couldnt be the dominant form of transport here, the usa and everywhere else. the real reason is car obsession, constant subsidise to make them ridiculously cheap and governments doing the bidding of the ultra powerful car lobby. i dont buy the impracticality argument. making cars unattractive and unaffordable by punative taxes or just imposing a rapidly escalating car ban over say 5 years, would force the necessary change in lifestyles and rearrangenent where they live in relation to their work allocations that are required if humans were to have a future. of course it would be brutal. but humans are adaptable and pretty much deserve some major hardship for they have done. i say were to have a future, because the sacrifices wont be made, its too late anyway, and they dont have one.

[@TrikeSquadron]

Sure looked more than 2x sped up... but i guess you were really moving!

[@gilbama]

Hi Jim, what is the measurement of the crank? How tall are you?

[@farrellsprofessionalwetcleaner]

I like it.

[@dougmaverick3287]

What model recumbent Cruzbikes were you gents riding?

[@Normalhowaboutyou]

very cool. I'm new to Bents. Bought a used VRex a few months ago, just upgraded my Idlers w/ the help of Angletech / Jersey Bents and Teracycle. For a Racer will another Rans do? Which model? - thx

[@Cruzing08]

+Geoff Kole Of course I'm partial to Cruzbike. If you want to go fast in road races, get a Cruzbike V20. If you want to stick with RWD, go M5 CHR which is nearly as fast on flats but will be slower in climbing races. www.cruzbike.com

[@CharlesPlager]

Not as crazy as a pro peleton, but still plenty insane. :) Thanks for sharing!

[@haralaboslukatos6734]

what crank size and cassete size have the recumbent bike. Is looks go real fast. Trikes bikes can go fast?

[@renaissanceman410]

What were the four recumbent bikes in the paceline? You mentioned one was a V20--the others?

[@くまをたいせつに-o9r]

自転車の世界の。。。 T-34ショックみたいですね。 新しい時代はとっくに到来して居ました。 最近手に入れたV2Kを高速化しようと思います。 o(^o^)o✧︎*。

[@albertoflora5402]

muinto top

[@seove1]

2 observations. The 'bents are wondering why the diamonds don't want them in the paceline, yet when the 'bents formed a group, they didtn't seem know how to work together. (2). The narrator seems to think it's uprights against the 'bents but it's a time trial where everyone is going up against the clock. Of the many 12 and 24 hours that I've raced, there was more cooperation, especially if you are in a different classification. From my personal experience, it's very awkward to have a 'bent in the paceline because you get the feeling that if you crossed paths, you aren't going to be shoulder bumping.

[@traianima]

definitely not 2x. more like 4x. still nice video

[@polyrhythmia]

It's hard to beat a 'detta Cruzbike...

[@kenelliott6073]

I’ve ridden it many times on the front and no drafting, I don’t consider a recumbent a bicycle its aerodynamic advantage. I’ve done the 24 hr raam qualifier and have seen these guys cheat and draft. When I can no longer ride a diamond frame you won’t see me on a recumbent. Jin’s commentary that we left them is ridiculous. That’s why you get attitude.

[@Cruzing08]

I ride with traditional bike riders regularly and there are no problems. Mostly they just let me pull, and you absolutely can draft behind a recumbent, but just not get as much draft. I've also seen recumbent racers cheat in non-drafting races, but no more than traditional bike racers. People are people. Bikes are bikes. Pick one you like and ride it. I like recumbents because they are faster, more comfortable, don't increase the risk of ED, and are much less likely to throw me on my head if I hit a dog or a pothole. ALL of my serious cycling friends on traditional bikes have had serious end-over accidents. Due to our COG relative to the front axle, those are incredibly rare on a recumbent.

[@neilcowie2329]

Great interesting video. What model of recumbent were you on? Did you all have the same bike?

[@Cruzing08]

The recumbents models in the paceline were two Cruzbike V20s and two Bacchetta CA2s.

[@mindciller]

Take a look at my post below. Maybe you have some ideas for me

[@PeterOldwood]

Recumbents rule! They're poor at climbing hills though.

[@brucewmclaughlin9072]

Actually the recumbent is not to blame it is the rider. Get some out of shape rider on a carbon DF and set him up for a race with a professional on a 53 pound Walmart bike , will you then say the carbon bike is slow?

[@mv80401]

Actually, the Cruzbike ridden by the Parkers are front wheel drive and allow for unrivaled climbing. I have one and it's better than my ultralight Carbent Seadragon on hills.

[@cliffcox7643]

I think the "diamond frame" riders, in a normal century, are expecting to ride with other bicyclist, not recumbentist. The recumbent in inherently more aero, so not an appropriate bike to ride/race with. That's why the UCI doesn't allow these in events. But in fun rides like this, I suppose anything goes. Bike riders are in a "C" shaped position that cups the wind. This will always be the case as traditional cycling will only allow a test of the man, not technology to the extreme of positional change. And it WILL always be so. The Recumbent folks are in a torpedo position. When I get older, i'll get a recumbent or electric. But put a recumbent in any race and they''ll be dropped in a heartbeat.

[@kufman01]

If they would get dropped in a heart beat, why did the diamond frame guys not pass them all and keep going? Why did they finish behind them overall in the race? Diamond frames are like watching antique car racing. They aren't that fast but people will never let go of them. The UCI is a silly organization that loves to prevent progress. They even ban cycling shoes that, in their opinion, are too aerodynamic. They hold back the sport of cycling and it shows.

[@cliffcox7643]

@@kufman01 this is why cycling will always be great, cause it is stable and tests the cyclist, and only minor changes in equipment allowed. That is why it is great.

[@rossbrumby1957]

@@cliffcox7643 if they were just testing the rider, all the bikes would still be cro-moly.

[@cliffcox7643]

@@rossbrumby1957 That doens't make any sense. The topic here is the radical shape, not the material. The recumbent shape is what allows the great advantage.. Standard bikes, if steel, aluminum, or carbon are still upright machines.. The only thing that changes with those materials is not inherent aero, but just transferring efficiency and stiffness. You're still a block riding into the wind vs a recumbent.

[@bingrusginckle]

Normal cyclists “diamond frame riders” hate you guys because of the ridiculous aero advantage of the position that those bikes give you, meaning that weaker older people can smash cyclists that are far superior in fitness, even though they aren’t as strong!

[@brucewmclaughlin9072]

I love comfort and speed and I get both on my touring recumbent. Up hills not a problem but I am not competitive and could care less about getting to the top fast. I have not found a hill yet that I would get off and push the bike up.

[@whobru]

Nobody is stopping them from riding a better bike.

[@brucewmclaughlin9072]

Peer pressure from their riding buddies? Several riding groups in Vancouver BC will not allow any noncompliant UCI bikes to ride with them. Only one diehard recumbent cycle shop in town too.

[@KurtVogel88]

Bicycling racing is not a feat of strength, bruh. I don't see you bitching about how much harder it is to stop, start, balance and climb on bents. You're perfectly fine with that.

[@brucewmclaughlin9072]

Dragases I have had this conversation before about how bicycle racing is all about team effort and drafting ? You have to be strong physically and have great endurance to push yourself to win and yes it is about power and speed otherwise just anyone could enter the Tour de France on any bike and draft the fat guy in front. I certainly do not measure up to the feats of strength that trained athletes do, how about you? " I don't see you bitching about how much harder it is to stop, start, balance and climb on bents. " It seems you have a very different experience on bents than I have . I have no trouble stopping , or balancing at below walking speeds, or starting on hills. As to climbing hills I have very low gearing as my bent is built for touring , and my first gear is 16" and when you are loaded with all your camping equipment and a hill looms before you , it is nice to enjoy the scenery as it crawls by. Yes it did take a while to get to the stage of riding below walking speed, just as starting in a higher gear when you did not have the time to gear down.

[@velosapien]

Diamond frame riders????...you mean "uprights"😁