Crank forward

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Crank Forward is a category term for a type of bicycle. Other examples of category terms for bicycles are: 'road bike', 'hybrid bike', 'mountain bike'.

The term 'Crank Forward' was created by RANS, Inc., a manufacturer of bicycles based in Hays, Kansas, USA. It is a protected term that RANS uses for a group of bicycles that they manufacture, but the term is used by the bicycle community to describe bikes sharing certain characteristics made by other manufacturers also.

On a Crank Forward bike, the bottom bracket and cranks are set further forward, relative to the seat, than on a traditional upright (diamond frame) bike. The main functional difference is that the seat can be set closer to the ground while maintaining the correct leg extension to the pedals. This allows the rider to place their feet on the ground without getting off the seat. The crank is not so far forward, though, that a seat back is necessary, as in a semi-recumbent or recumbent bike.

[edit] Other Proposed Names

The term Crank Forward is the most commonly used category term for this type of bike, but not the only one. Other proposed terms include Easy Bikes/EZB's, Flat Foot Bikes (from Electra's 'Flat Foot Technology'), Laid Back Bikes, Semi-Recumbent/Semi-Bent Bikes and Ground-Reach Bikes (Lightfoot Cycles).

[edit] Current (2007) Examples of Crank Forward Bikes

RANS Fusion, Cruz, Dynamic, Citi, 700X and Zenetic, Electra Townie series, Lightfoot Cycles Surefoot, K2 Big Easy series, TREK Pure series, Cannondale Daytripper series, DelSol LowBoy series, Raleigh Gruv series, Lightfoot Cycles Surefoot

RANS Fusion

RANS Dynamic