This page is about my Nordic Track Forerunner

This page is here so that anyone looking for other Forerunner owners can find me.

My Forerunner

I own a four wheel bicycle known as a forerunner (sometimes spelled ForeRunner, fourrunner or even fourunner). It is pictured above in its original, invisible, dark purple-brown, ridden by a Dutchman who shares my name!
If you have never seen one, you probably never will, and it's just as well, since Nordic Track doesn't make them any more, and they ceased to provide any support for them long ago.

These comments are historic!
In November, 1998, Nordic Track declared bankruptcy, and was subsequently purchased by ICON Health and Fitness, so it is now under new management. You should be aware that any negative comments here about Nordic Track and the Fourrunner are historic now, and pertain to the company under the old ownership, not the current company. ICON has a new Web page up for Nordic Track, and for service on products purchased before December 31, 1998 they advise you to call 1-877-651-6119. So with new owners everything may have changed, and you can regard the comments below on Nordic Track as just ancient history about the old company. The record of the product itself remains unchanged, and this page is about the bike, not the company.

The Bike
I bought my Forerunner in 1994, and it has been a constant headache. Its most recent (January, 1999) problem was a break in the frame tubing, described below. (By that time Nordic Track had declared bankruptcy.) The problem before that was the gear mechanism, a poorly executed version of an old design. It stripped its gear teeth in normal riding. Nordic Track had no replacement parts and would not do anything for me because this $600 bike was out of its one year warranty. I was forced to convert to conventional gearing, which cost me about $150, and it took me some time to get up the nerve for that. But when the first snow fell, I could see that it was time, since this is my snow and ice bike.
What scared me about investing another $150 in this bike is that I busted the frame on my first one. One of the tubes in front connecting the front wheels just gave up and died, sagging nearly to the ground and leaving the right front wheel riding up in the air! At that time Nordic Track still had replacements, and they very nicely shipped me a new Forerunner, after first arguing that the guarantee was invalid because I had repainted my first one. So I didn't want to put $150 and a lot of time in a bike that will break eventually. But Rodney Moseman had said that he can fix the frame if it breaks, perhaps just replacing the whole front end with something more robust, so I went ahead and sprung for cranks, deraillers and shifters. Then I had to figure out how to add a multi-speed freewheel to the back axle and how to mount the deraillers. That done, the bike runs much better. Now I just have to find a second brake for the thing. (Imagine fast downhills on a heavy bike with one not-very-good drum brake, overheating, working on only one wheel, controlled by only one wire. Exciting stuff!)
I had a time doing the conversion to a normal triple crankset and five speed freewheel. It works. The details are in my Forerunner diary, I am now very happy with the way my Forerunner runs, except for when the frame breaks. All it needed was to strip the fenders, chainguard and various other heavy parts, replace the crankset, freewheel, front derailler, rear derailler, bar-end shifters, pedals, chain, and tires, and fix the busted seat. How many hours do you think I have worked on this stupid bike! But when it's icy or wet outside, I love it.
Perhaps I should add that thankfully I do not work for Nordic Track and have no connection with them other than owning one of their products which has caused me enough headaches to make me put this page up to relieve my frustration. Since putting it up I have heard from one ForeRunner owner who had an almost identical experience and finally threw his in the trash (wish I had his wheels--my hub bearings are wearing out). And I heard from the purchaser of another Nordic Track exercise product who also was told that the model had been changed and there were no parts for his $795 machine. Then two others who have hardly had any problems at all. Their messages are on this page. Go figure.
In June of 1997 the seat on my ForeRunner broke entirely off, with the four lousy welds all giving way one after another. I fixed that by drilling the seat frame tubes and re-installing it with four bolts. At least I don't have to worry about voiding the warranty--that's long gone!
My next project is to add that second brake, repaint it a more visible color and maybe some day convert to 700C wheels. Despite all this bellyaching, I do like riding the thing now that I have rebuilt most of it. It's just the thing for icy days.
January, 1999 - - Well, it's not "just the thing" any more. The frame broke, at a strategic joint right below and in front of the seat. (Not related to my seat repair described above.) Foo. But there was a way to fix it, detailed in my Diary.
March, 1999 - - Well, it's just the thing again! My carbon fiber patches fixed the frame break and reinforced the other spots I knew were weak because they had been overheated in the framebuilding process. The ride is somewhat more firm with the reinforcements, and hopefully the carbon fiber will last for a long time. With that settled I am going to add a second brake, and might even convert it to easier-rolling (larger diameter) 700C wheels.
Real soon now.
If you are looking for a four-wheeler, here is a list of manufacturers.
If you have a Forerunner of your own I would be delighted to hear from you. Please send me an email to info@helmets.org. We even have started a list of Forerunner owners. Some of them have had no problems!
Here is a Forerunner manual, scanned in by Adrian Nicholas. It is a two meg .pdf file, and the download will be very slow unless you are on broadband.
In July of 2007 I got this email:

From: "Dave Gustafson"
Subject: Forerunner
It appears the last 'Forunner experience' comments were made some years ago. I hope my comments will create some response.
I purchased my Forerunner in 2006 at a garage sale near Mora, MN. (I live in Eden Prairie, MN). I knew nothing of the problems....just though I had a fun 4 wheeler to ride. I can live with the weak frame, weak gearshift pin, weak brake, and single wheel drive. At age 70, I can't live with the gear ratio. The lowest gear is geared too high for moderate hills. The explanation in your diary to switch the gearing is over my head. So...two possibilities: 1) can I get conversion instructions for the novice? (I can repair car brakes and lawn mower engines).
or,
2)Might someone want to buy my forerunner. It is so 'new' that the nipples on the original tires are not yet worn off.
I'm Dave Gustafson, dgus@jimcarlsonleasing.com, or daytime phone 952-941-8081.

Please respond to Dave if you have comments for him.

Here are some photos of a mint ForeRunner belonging to Brad Wallace. He added a basket in the rear. He also removed the front fenders, making the front end really light. With weight in the helmet I would have problems on some steep hills with the front end lifting up, but Brad lives in Illinois and doesn't have steep hills.

Randy Swart

This page was last updated on: August 7, 2008.