Recumbent Bike, Good News and Bad News

I've got some recumbent bike news to share, and it comes in two flavors. The bad news: after eight years together, my Bacchetta Giro 20 is no longer mine. The good news: it opened the door to my next recumbent, and I couldn't wait to introduce it.

Saying Goodbye to the Bacchetta

If you've watched any of my earlier videos, you already know the Bacchetta Giro 20. I had that bike for something like eight years, and I wasn't even the first owner, so it had some miles on it before I ever threw a leg over the seat. It was just getting old, and honestly, so was I in terms of wanting a change. So I sold it.

A Bike Full of Memories

That Bacchetta earned its retirement. I took it on an overnight bikepacking trip, camping along the way. I rode it 100 miles in a single go. I pedaled it out to the beach more times than I can count, and cruised the neighborhood on it with my wife riding alongside on her own recumbent. There was nothing wrong with the bike at all - it was easy to ride, took me about two minutes to learn, and I really liked the design. I was just ready for something new.

Introducing the Cruzbike S40

Now for the good news. I picked up a Cruzbike S40, and by the time I filmed this I'd already put about 100 miles on it, with rides ranging from just a couple of miles up to 45 miles. It's been a lot of fun getting to know a completely different recumbent design, and I already had some early opinions forming.

More to Come

This was really just the introduction. I promised a deeper dive into how I've outfitted the S40 and how it stacks up against my road bike, and that full review followed soon after. If you're curious how the Cruzbike compares to a classic recumbent like the Bacchetta, stick around - that story is just getting started.