Recumbents? (was: Longest wearing 10 speed chain??)

Andrew Muzi mused:
...
Looking for recumbent specialty items in the bicycle industry will prove
frustrating, I agree. As I mentioned earlier, the recumbent business is
different from our own in many respects. Fortunately, they have their
own experts!

True in many respects. Most successful recumbent dealers sell only
recumbents, or have a separate building or store with staff dedicated to
recumbents. The attempt by many LBS to sell recumbents as a sideline in
the late 1990's was typically not successful.

However, except for seats, handlebars and risers and chain management
idlers, about every other component found on most recumbents is a part
originally designed for an upright bicycle.

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
A Real Cyclist [TM] keeps at least one bicycle in the bedroom.

--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

Tom "Johnny Sunset" Sherman wrote:
Andrew Muzi mused:
...
Looking for recumbent specialty items in the bicycle industry will
prove frustrating, I agree. As I mentioned earlier, the recumbent
business is different from our own in many respects. Fortunately, they
have their own experts!

True in many respects. Most successful recumbent dealers sell only
recumbents, or have a separate building or store with staff dedicated to
recumbents.

In the UK several of the Usual Suspects for buying a 'bent aren't
recumbent only, but specialise in any sort of bike you wouldn't expect
to see in a typical bike shop. So you might well find folders,
freighters, cargo trailers, roadsters etc. as well as 'bents but not a
mountain bike or road racer in sight.

However, except for seats, handlebars and risers and chain management
idlers, about every other component found on most recumbents is a part
originally designed for an upright bicycle.

Indeed. My LBSs don't sell 'bents but when I took in my first one to
have a triple put on it was immediately realised that it was going to be
exactly the same job as on an upwrong and the job was happily taken on
and a good job done with everyone happy.

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/