Cruzbike Locals — Advocate Handbook

Welcome to Cruzbike Locals

The single most powerful interaction to get someone off the fence and onto a Cruzbike is a conversation with someone like you — a real owner who made the shift and loves Cruzbike. We’re so glad to have you here.

What Is Cruzbike Locals?

Cruzbike Locals is a network of owners who appear on an interactive map on cruzbike.com. Prospective buyers find you by location, see your profile, and send a message. For a product as unfamiliar to most people as Cruzbike is, connecting to other folks who have made the shift is hugely helpful.

What You Do

Have authentic conversations with people who are curious about Cruzbike.

Most of the time, this will take place via text message. A prospect finds you on the map, sends a message, and you reply with your honest experience.

If a prospect is nearby and you’re up for it, you can meet in person for a test ride or to show them your bike in person.

After a good conversation or test ride, you can share your coupon code (which gives the prospect a discount on a bike or frameset and you credit toward your next Cruzbike purchase).

How Conversations Work

Everything runs through SMS. No apps, no logins.

1. A prospect finds you on the map and sends a message.

2. You get a text from Cruzbike’s dedicated number — includes the prospect’s first name, city, and their question.

3. You reply. Your message goes through the platform. Your personal number is never shared.

4. The conversation continues as long as it’s useful.

Good to know:

• Your phone number stays private. Always.

• No app needed — just texts. You can also use the web dashboard.

• If you can’t respond right away, that’s fine. After a few days we’ll send a gentle nudge. If it’s a busy stretch, let us know and we’ll route the prospect to another local.

Test Ride & Meetup Guide

In-person meetups can be really helpful. Since we don’t have many dealers, this is often the only opportunity for a prospect to actually see a Cruzbike before purchasing.

Before the meetup

• Waiver first. Before any in-person meetup, the prospect signs a digital waiver through the platform. This is required.

• Pick a good spot. Flat, open pavement — a quiet parking lot or low-traffic street. No hills, busy roads, or loose gravel.

• Helmets. Strongly encourage the prospect to bring one. A spare is great but not required.

Coaching a first-time rider

As a Cruzbike owner, you know learning to ride takes time and is best done step-by-step.

• Set expectations: “It takes at least 100 miles to feel confident. That’s normal.”

• Start with the basics. Show them the front-wheel drive, steering, brakes. Let them sit on the bike before they move. Follow the step-by-step Learn to Ride instructions on our website.

• Encourage taking it slow..

• Frame the learning curve positively. It’s really fun to get the chance to learn something new and fun as an adult.

• If they’re struggling, be patient. Not everyone gets it on try one. Encourage them to come back. Never make them feel bad about the learning curve.

After the meetup

• Share your coupon code if it went well. No pressure.

• Log the meetup through the platform so you earn your points.

Expectations

Be real

Share your honest experience — the climbing, the comfort, and the learning curve.

Be prompt

Respond within a day or two. Prospects reaching out are actively considering a $2,000–$6,000 purchase. If you’re in a busy stretch, just let us know.

Be welcoming

Every prospect starts as a skeptic. Share your experience and let the bike speak for itself.

Be safe

Waiver first. Always. Helmets recommended. Safe location. Patient coaching.

Keep it about your experience with the bike

Let the conversation be about the riding experience. Steer clear of medical claims. Feel free to share your coupon code but for any questions about pricing, etc. you can always refer prospects back to us. Avoid pressuring a prospect to buy if they’re not ready.

Dos and Don’ts

Rewards

50 points = $25 in Cruzbike store credit.

A single sale through your coupon code earns you $100 in store credit. A conversation plus a test ride earns you $20 (40 pts — almost at the 50-point threshold).

When you’re ready to redeem, Cruzbike issues a Shopify gift card. Check your balance anytime in the dashboard. Use credit on anything at cruzbike.com.

When a prospect uses your coupon code, they get $100 off their purchase of a bicycle or frameset from Cruzbike.com

Your Profile

Your profile is what prospects see on the map. Make it count.

Bio tips: Include your “why” (what made you try Cruzbike), your experience learning to ride, what you love about riding now, and your riding context (commuter, weekend warrior, touring, etc.). Three or four honest sentences work great. Update anytime from your dashboard.

Your Coupon Code

Every Cruzbike Local gets a unique coupon code in your profile (under account settings — visible to you and admins only).

• Prospect gets: $100 off their purchase at cruzbike.com

• You earn: 200 points ($100 in store credit)

Share it after a meaningful conversation or test ride — not as an opener. Something like:

“If you’re ready to pull the trigger, here’s $100 off: [YOUR CODE]. No rush — text me anytime if more questions come up.”

Content & Social

If you’re already posting about your rides:

• Share riding photos and videos on your own channels

• Use #ridecruzbike so we can find your content

• Cruzbike may feature your content with your permission — we’ll always ask first

Conversations and test rides are the core of the program. Social content is a bonus.

Connecting with Other Cruzbike Locals

• Cruzbike Forum — forum.cruzbike.com — 6,500+ members, 100,000+ messages. Tech talk, ride reports, maintenance, parts marketplace.

• Cruzbike Recumbent Riders Facebook Group — facebook.com/groups/226407825133603 — Photos, videos, ride stories, buying/selling.

• The Cruzbike Locals map — Browse and find riding partners near you.

Both the Forum and Facebook Group are linked in the Library section of your dashboard.

Support & Contact