Ever Ride in City Traffic?

NYC, that is! On a weekday in mid-town Manhattan? I did bike
messenging for almost two months one summer -- only job where I wish I
had more time in the day for (second hardest after Army infantry, no
joke!) -- and now that I'm curious about recumbents, I'm trying to
picture myself in all kinds of situations.

How do you lock up a 'bent, anyway?

Is it good for weaving in and out of traffic?

Does it brake just like an upright?

Is it harder to go real slow?

Ever run red lights with them?

How would they fare on the sidewalk? How well do they go over curbs
and speed bumps?

Ever get mugged on one? (Serious! Twice I had to jet away from some
miscreants in broad daylight in the parks.)

And apparently they make lots of squeaky noises??

And they're actually worse for certain kinds of back problems???

Many moons ago, I commuted into NYC on an upright (over the GWB into
midtown). At the risk of getting flamed, I would not ride a recumbent
in NYC. The reasons are many: acceleration, jumping curbs and potholes,
visibility, etc. Maybe someone here will disagree with me and set me
straight, but that is my 2 cents worth.

"Paul Hobson" wrote in message
...


Paris was easily the scariest. Also, it was my first time riding on the
streets of a major city ever, so let's throw that one out.


Yet I loved cycling in Paris - the Parisian rush hour was so easy! Yes, it
was busy, but the motorists had such an excellent attitude to cyclists,
giving me loads of room. As well as me cycling, my husband and our then 14
year-old son cycled said Parisian rush hour, and we all thought the same. At
the hotel where we were staying was an American (Texan, but no, not that
one) who was also cycling and he too thought cycling in Paris was fun. Are
we talking the same Paris? ;-)

Cheers, helen s

I ride in NYC traffic and I see recumbents from time to time,
especially with the critical mass groups. Even with the 8 foot flags,
the fear I have is cars can't see that low.

I was off the bike for five years and then popped into a shop and test
rode a carbon fiber bianchi through Times Square in rush hour, I was
hooked.

People ask me, but I explain you never forget how to ride, it's just
like riding a bicycle, you never forget!

How is that for clever?

NYC XYZ wrote:
NYC, that is! On a weekday in mid-town Manhattan? I did bike
messenging for almost two months one summer -- only job where I wish I
had more time in the day for (second hardest after Army infantry, no
joke!) -- and now that I'm curious about recumbents, I'm trying to
picture myself in all kinds of situations.

Most of the questions you ask don't have specific answers, because
'bents are not a single functional class of cycle, just a general
description of the seating layout. What goes for a BikeE will not
necessarily go for an Anthrotech touring trike, and what goes for that
probably has little to do with what will go for an M5 Lowracer.

How do you lock up a 'bent, anyway?

Most have some sort of frame/wheel interface where you do it same as you
would a DF. But not all of them.

Is it good for weaving in and out of traffic?

As above, /very/ much implementation dependent. A compact city 'bent
like the HPVel Spirit, pretty good, a lowracer or a long wheelbase
tourer will suck at it Bigtime.

Does it brake just like an upright?

Most of them brake considerably better. With a lower centre of mass
there's far less tendency to disappear over the bars, so usually a skid
is the worst you can manage. Being usually pricier, 'bents are
typically aimed at a market who appreciate more expensive things, like
hydraulic disc brakes, and that can be a factor too.

Is it harder to go real slow?

On a bike, as a rule of thumb the lower the seat is the harder really
slow travel is. On a trike, you can do an indefinite track stand if
you want to.

Ever run red lights with them?

Same as on an upwrong, something that is possible, but I don't do,
'cause it's Very Dumb.

How would they fare on the sidewalk?

Same as on an upwrong, depends on the other population and not something
I go in for.

How well do they go over curbs and speed bumps?

You typically can't hop the front wheel, so going up kerbs is a question
of wheel size and suspension. Going down them isn't really a problem
IME. Speed bumps will also vary with wheel size and suspension, but you
won't go over the bars if you hit a nasty one unexpectedly.

Ever get mugged on one? (Serious! Twice I had to jet away from some
miscreants in broad daylight in the parks.)

I haven't been...

And apparently they make lots of squeaky noises??

Oh. Mine doesn't. No particular reason they should be squeakier than
any other bike AFAICT.

And they're actually worse for certain kinds of back problems???

For /some/, yes. But probably a typical upwrong crouch will be worse
for rather more. If your back problem is made worse by a recumbent
position then something /really/ upright (maybe a Pedersen) would be a
possibility in the other direction worth considering.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

"NYC XYZ" wrote in message
oups.com...

NYC, that is! On a weekday in mid-town Manhattan?

I've lived in and around NYC all my life. When I was riding into Manhattan
on a regular basis it was always on an upright. I would be willing to do the
occasional ride or even commute but I wouldn't want to spend my days zipping
through midtown traffic on a 'bent. For bent riding I'd limit myself to the
extreme west side, extreme east side, and Central Park.

I manage to **** off enough drivers in the 'burbs by taking up a lane of
traffic on my trike. I could only imaging how the Manhattanites would find
it.


How do you lock up a 'bent, anyway?


I use a lock that is shaped like a large pair of handcuffs and I use a
supplimental cable to go through the wheels. Still I wouldn't lock up my
bike or trike in NYC where it wouldn't be in my constant view.

Is it good for weaving in and out of traffic?
Does it brake just like an upright?
Is it harder to go real slow?
Ever run red lights with them?
How would they fare on the sidewalk? How well do they go over curbs
and speed bumps?

I think that for this type of riding an upright is going to be better.

And they're actually worse for certain kinds of back problems???

That is what I've heard although I don't have back problems. I ride them for
comfort. If I were working on my bike in NYC I doubt it would be a 'bent.

There have recently been a lot of Pedicabs in NYC and they are almost all
upright. I think you want the kind of power and control afforded by an
upright when you are trying to get through traffic. Bikes are not well
respected by either pedestrians or drivers in NYC.

NYC XYZ wrote:

How do you lock up a 'bent, anyway?

U-lock around the frame or steering riser

Is it good for weaving in and out of traffic?

Depends on the bike. The Speedmachine I use as my #1 commuting bike (in
central London) is not very good at this; the Kingcycle I ran for many years
was almost as handy as an upright.

Does it brake just like an upright?

Better.

Is it harder to go real slow?

Not with practice, though track-stands are out.

Ever run red lights with them?

No. Nor on an upright bike or in a motorcar.

How would they fare on the sidewalk? How well do they go over curbs
and speed bumps?

I neither know nor care, coz I ride on the road.

Ever get mugged on one? (Serious! Twice I had to jet away from some
miscreants in broad daylight in the parks.)

No.

And apparently they make lots of squeaky noises??

No.

And they're actually worse for certain kinds of back problems???

Can't say I've noticed...

--
Dave Larrington - http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/
Apparently Guy has now got a Brompton. I'd never have guessed.

On 17 Jul 2005 17:33:54 -0700, "NYC XYZ"
wrote:

How do you lock up a 'bent, anyway?

I use a Master Street Cuff round the main tube behind the steerer.

Is it good for weaving in and out of traffic?

Not particularly, a higher bike, maybe with USS, is probably better
for that than a sports bike like mine.

Does it brake just like an upright?

Much better :-)

Is it harder to go real slow?

Not really.

Ever run red lights with them?

I imagine it's not different than running them on a wedgie, but no I
don't (on either)

How would they fare on the sidewalk? How well do they go over curbs
and speed bumps?

I have no idea, I have never felt the slightest urge to find out!

Ever get mugged on one? (Serious! Twice I had to jet away from some
miscreants in broad daylight in the parks.)

No. I've never met anyone who could keep up for long :-)

And apparently they make lots of squeaky noises??

LOL! So do any bikes if you neglect them! Mine runs pretty much
silently

And they're actually worse for certain kinds of back problems???

Allegedly.


Guy
--
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

"Let’s have a moment of silence for all those Americans who are stuck
in traffic on their way to the gym to ride the stationary bicycle."
- Earl Blumenauer

I'll go out on a limb here and volunteer the name of a very nice gentleman
who runs a messenger service in downtown Manhattan that you could talk to
and possible test ride one of his several recumbents.
Shelly Mossy
I borrowed his EZ1 last August for the day
Any *head first* style vehicle is out of the question for this person no
matter what the reason.
LWB oss works well in the tight confines of NYC, SF, Seattle, L.A., Indy
and Portland
the only big cities I have had the chance to ride.
Speedy

NYC XYZ wrote:

NYC, that is! On a weekday in mid-town Manhattan? I did bike
messenging for almost two months one summer -- only job where I wish I
had more time in the day for (second hardest after Army infantry, no
joke!) -- and now that I'm curious about recumbents, I'm trying to
picture myself in all kinds of situations.

How do you lock up a 'bent, anyway?

Is it good for weaving in and out of traffic?

Does it brake just like an upright?

Is it harder to go real slow?

Ever run red lights with them?

How would they fare on the sidewalk? How well do they go over curbs
and speed bumps?

Ever get mugged on one? (Serious! Twice I had to jet away from some
miscreants in broad daylight in the parks.)

And apparently they make lots of squeaky noises??

And they're actually worse for certain kinds of back problems???


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I never owned a recumbent, not because of any adversity to the design,
but because I wouldnt like riding that low in traffic. Even with a flag,
you are even more invisible, and in NYC, this would be like lying doun
in the middle of the street. IMO

- -

"May you have the winds at your back,
And a really low gear for the hills!"

Chris Zacho ~ "Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"

Chris'Z Corner
http://www.geocities.com/czcorner