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#1
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Does the bike make a difference?
I'm a long time (3 years ) rider of recumbents and have always wondered
if the bike you ride could make that much difference in average speed. Particularly if your an avewrage rider or commuter as I am who is not in racing condition. Well to get to the point, I've been commuting between 12 to 20 miles almost daily on a Burley Taiko set up in the SWB position averaging between 11.3 to 13.1 mi/hr. The average is probably 12.4 mi/hr. I ride as fast as I'm able but restricted by age and arthritis. I could probably go faster, but there is an outside limit that my joints can take. You might even think of this as a biological governor. Recently purchased an 03 left over Vision r-64 and my first commute averaged an astounding 14.9 mi/hr. Later in the week when the novelty wore off and I was closer to my normal pain threshold I clock 14.4 mi/hr average. The vision high racer with 650c wheels is by no means the top of the line nor is it the only fast bike out there. But there it is for you fellow duffers who think that nothing can help, that it's all in the engine. 2 mi /hr represents a 16% increase in average speed. My only regret is that I didn't do this 3 years ago. Gene Cosloy |
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#2
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wrote in message oups.com... I'm a long time (3 years ) rider of recumbents and have always wondered if the bike you ride could make that much difference in average speed. Particularly if your an avewrage rider or commuter as I am who is not in racing condition. Well to get to the point, I've been commuting between 12 to 20 miles almost daily on a Burley Taiko set up in the SWB position averaging between 11.3 to 13.1 mi/hr. The average is probably 12.4 mi/hr. I ride as fast as I'm able but restricted by age and arthritis. I could probably go faster, but there is an outside limit that my joints can take. You might even think of this as a biological governor. Recently purchased an 03 left over Vision r-64 and my first commute averaged an astounding 14.9 mi/hr. Later in the week when the novelty wore off and I was closer to my normal pain threshold I clock 14.4 mi/hr average. The vision high racer with 650c wheels is by no means the top of the line nor is it the only fast bike out there. But there it is for you fellow duffers who think that nothing can help, that it's all in the engine. 2 mi /hr represents a 16% increase in average speed. My only regret is that I didn't do this 3 years ago. Gene Cosloy The Vision is more laid-back than the Burley which is the main reason for your increase. |
#3
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Gene Cosloy wrote:
Recently purchased an 03 left over Vision r-64 and my first commute averaged an astounding 14.9 mi/hr. ... 2 mi /hr represents a 16% increase in average speed. Yep, the bike can certainly make a difference. When I started riding my Tour Easy, my 13-mile commute time went from 55 minutes to 45 minutes, a 22% increase in average speed. -- "Bicycling is a healthy and manly pursuit with much to recommend it, and, unlike other foolish crazes, it has not died out." -- The Daily Telegraph (1877) |
#4
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I doubt that is the only reason Mike. I'm about the same laid back
angle on both bikes, however the vision BB is about 4 " higher than the Burley from the seat heights. I think a combination of air resistance being lower, lower friction from high pressure low width tires, lower roatating mass on the wheels and about 3 lbs. less weight overall all contribute. Oh yes the handlebars on the vision cause your arms to tuck in closer to the body reducing air resistance as well. Any way I'm thrilled I can keep up and even pass some DF bikes now. Gene |
#5
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wrote
Any way I'm thrilled I can keep up and even pass some DF bikes now. So can I, just not the particularly fast ones... %^) Some I can even pass on my BikeE! %^P I seem to be slightly faster on my Volae than on my Tour Easy,-- under similar conditions, maybe as much as 10%... Jon Meinecke |
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