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Looking For My First Recumbent
Boy, do I have a lot to learn about recumbents. I have been riding a
standard road bike now for a couple years and participated in a couple of MS 150's. I like to put the miles on with good weather. I average between 2 to 3 thousand miles each year. My price range stops at $1500 for a bike that will get me there with some speed and the capability of climbing the hills we have here in SW Missouri. Believe me we have the hills. Flat areas are a premium at times. One thing I have noted in the discussion is the weight of the recumbent. So, far from what I have concluded is the E Z Sport and the Rans Stratus are some of the more popular picks. I am open to suggestions. The nearest qualified dealer are 87 miles away. I also know in standard road bikes you do get what you pay for. Thanks, bill - peddleman |
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#2
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Looking For My First Recumbent
peddleman wrote:
Boy, do I have a lot to learn about recumbents. I have been riding a standard road bike now for a couple years and participated in a couple of MS 150's. I like to put the miles on with good weather. I average between 2 to 3 thousand miles each year. My price range stops at $1500 for a bike that will get me there with some speed and the capability of climbing the hills we have here in SW Missouri. Believe me we have the hills. Flat areas are a premium at times. One thing I have noted in the discussion is the weight of the recumbent. So, far from what I have concluded is the E Z Sport and the Rans Stratus are some of the more popular picks. I am open to suggestions. The nearest qualified dealer are 87 miles away. I also know in standard road bikes you do get what you pay for. Thanks, bill - peddleman Well Bill, I just bought my first recumbent about a month ago. I bought a Sun EZ-1. It's an entry level bike. I also test rode the Sport and the Stratus. Both are good bikes. The Stratus, in my opinion, is probably the best of the bikes you mentioned. About hills, all bents are slower on hills than diamond frames. But what you lose going up hill you gain in the decents and in the flats. The biggest thing I have noticed is riding in the wind. On my df, I was often slowed down by wind gusts to under 10 mph, but rarely drop below 13 on the recumbent. Ken -- You never have the wind with you - either it is against you or you're having a good day. ~Daniel Behrman, The Man Who Loved Bicycles Homepage: now with it's very own domain name http://www.bikesandmoreonline.com/ |
#3
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Looking For My First Recumbent
Ken C. M. wrote:
About hills, all bents are slower on hills than diamond frames. That depends on the 'bent and it depends on the DF. "All else being equal" they will usually be slower as the requirements of a large seat mean more weight than an "otherwise equal" DF. But the important thing is make sure you have an appropriate gear range for what you have in mind and get used to spinning up. 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/ |
#4
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Looking For My First Recumbent
In article , Ken C. M.
) wrote: About hills, all bents are slower on hills than diamond frames. I wonder how I managed to overtake those two lads on the way out of Compton Abdale URL:http://tinyurl.com/lt5b6 back in January. Must have been a trick of the light :-) -- Dave Larrington - http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/ Help me, Mrs. Medleycott, I don't know what to do. I've only got three bullets and there's four of Mötley Crüe. |
#5
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Looking For My First Recumbent
Dave Larrington wrote:
In article , Ken C. M. ) wrote: About hills, all bents are slower on hills than diamond frames. I wonder how I managed to overtake those two lads on the way out of Compton Abdale URL:http://tinyurl.com/lt5b6 back in January. Must have been a trick of the light :-) Perhaps I should have said "all things being equal a diamond frame will be faster than a recumbent. The same rider on the same course under the same conditions etc,etc,etc the df will be faster." I too have beat riders on diamond frames, but was it the bike or the rider? I would have to say it was the rider. The other rider probably don't ride as much as I do. Or perhaps they just were not trying as hard. Who cares, just ride. Ken -- You never have the wind with you - either it is against you or you're having a good day. ~Daniel Behrman, The Man Who Loved Bicycles Homepage: now with it's very own domain name http://www.bikesandmoreonline.com/ |
#6
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Looking For My First Recumbent
"Ken C. M." wrote
About hills, all bents are slower on hills than diamond frames. Probably true as a general rule. I'm faster up hills on my recumbent than I was on my upright. That says more about me riding more than about any inherent climbing potential of a bike design, though. But what you lose going up hill you gain in the decents and in the flats. Well, sort of... Hill climbing is "sunk" time,-- you spend a lot more time climbing than decending. Consider a route where half the distance is acsending. You can be no faster than twice the average climbing speed (and that presumes the remaining distance flat or downhill takes *no* time). I find my downhill speeds are more often limited by road conditions and risk management than the potential maxium of the bike and me. The biggest thing I have noticed is riding in the wind. On my df, I was often slowed down by wind gusts to under 10 mph, but rarely drop below 13 on the recumbent. That's my experience, too. Though it varies from recumbent to recumbent based on frontal area and streamlining... The original poster mentioned a budget of $1500 and two models, E Z Sport and the RANS Stratus. Near that price range and for at least moderately smooth roads, he might also consider a lighter weight SWB. A Volae or Bacchetta "high racer" might get there with "some speed" better than the E Z or Stratus on rolling hills... Lighter weight low racers, also, but likely not in the $1500 price range. Jon Meinecke |
#7
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Looking For My First Recumbent
peddleman wrote: SNIP I am open to suggestions. The nearest qualified dealer are 87 miles away. Boy, I made a real mistake in choosing a dealer simply 'cause he's the closest one...and if you're doing long-distance, it might as well be mail-order, since that way you save on State sales tax. If I can do it all over again, I'd go with an established business like Hostel Shoppe. In the free market, folks don't get big for no reason, especially in a community as small as this. I also know in standard road bikes you do get what you pay for. Absolutely NOT true. The ActionBent yahoo! users' group is full of satisfied customers! But okay, who knows what's that's about -- obviously there's a moderator there -- but I have heard from two ActionBent owners in a local cycling club who have only good things to say about their rides (and they're experienced 'bent-heads with other 'bents in their stables) and customer service from Randy Shulman, the sole distributor for these China/Taiwan-made bikes. Only problem is you can't do a test-ride, but once you're an experienced 'benter, you'll want to keep this brand in mind for any future bikes, as all you'll really need is x-seam measurements and such. If you're a DIYer, which many 'benters are, this appears to be the best bang for the buck out there. Thanks, bill - peddleman Good luck. Welcome to the dork side! Wish I'd known about 'bents years ago...wait, actually, no I don't -- you and I seem to have come at just the right time, with all kinds of advances in the industry.... |
#8
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Looking For My First Recumbent
peddleman wrote:
Boy, do I have a lot to learn about recumbents. I have been riding a standard road bike now for a couple years and participated in a couple of MS 150's. I like to put the miles on with good weather. I average between 2 to 3 thousand miles each year. My price range stops at $1500 for a bike that will get me there with some speed and the capability of climbing the hills we have here in SW Missouri. Believe me we have the hills. Flat areas are a premium at times. One thing I have noted in the discussion is the weight of the recumbent. So, far from what I have concluded is the E Z Sport and the Rans Stratus are some of the more popular picks. I am open to suggestions. The nearest qualified dealer are 87 miles away. I also know in standard road bikes you do get what you pay for. Does the 'nearest' dealer sell Optima bikes? It's funny to see such an enormous difference between most European and American bikes. In the Netherlands most of the development is dedicated towards SWB 'low racers' like the Optima Baron. I drive one for touring and my daily commute and it's a very nice bike. If you have the chance try to put in a lap on a low racer model bike. I assure you that once you have tried this you won't want any different. Regards, Arnold |
#9
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Looking For My First Recumbent
I agree with Jon. I own a Stratus and a Rocket, and the Rocket climbs better
than the Stratus. My recollection of high school geometry tells me that having almost all of your power stroke in the direction of travel (Rocket) rather than split into two components - forward and down (Stratus) gives more positive results. For the money you're looking to spend I'd suggest a V-Rex, a Force 5 LE, or a Bacchetta Giro 26. "Jon Meinecke" wrote in message .. . "Ken C. M." wrote About hills, all bents are slower on hills than diamond frames. Probably true as a general rule. I'm faster up hills on my recumbent than I was on my upright. That says more about me riding more than about any inherent climbing potential of a bike design, though. But what you lose going up hill you gain in the decents and in the flats. Well, sort of... Hill climbing is "sunk" time,-- you spend a lot more time climbing than decending. Consider a route where half the distance is acsending. You can be no faster than twice the average climbing speed (and that presumes the remaining distance flat or downhill takes *no* time). I find my downhill speeds are more often limited by road conditions and risk management than the potential maxium of the bike and me. The biggest thing I have noticed is riding in the wind. On my df, I was often slowed down by wind gusts to under 10 mph, but rarely drop below 13 on the recumbent. That's my experience, too. Though it varies from recumbent to recumbent based on frontal area and streamlining... The original poster mentioned a budget of $1500 and two models, E Z Sport and the RANS Stratus. Near that price range and for at least moderately smooth roads, he might also consider a lighter weight SWB. A Volae or Bacchetta "high racer" might get there with "some speed" better than the E Z or Stratus on rolling hills... Lighter weight low racers, also, but likely not in the $1500 price range. Jon Meinecke |
#10
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Looking For My First Recumbent
Arnold Ligtvoet wrote:
Does the 'nearest' dealer sell Optima bikes? It's funny to see such an enormous difference between most European and American bikes. In the Netherlands most of the development is dedicated towards SWB 'low racers' like the Optima Baron. While they're certainly a common agenda point for several manufacturers, I'd say that "most of the development" is a gross overstatement. That most development is SWB I'd agree, but lowracers are a minority item in typical product lines and absent from many altogether (Sinner, Rainbow, Flevo don't have one AFAICT). If you have the chance try to put in a lap on a low racer model bike. I assure you that once you have tried this you won't want any different. Horses for courses, I liked the Baron I tried but I wouldn't want one instead of my Streetmachine, or a semi-low like the Speedmachine or my gf's Nazca Fiero. In many circumstances lowracers are not terribly practical machines, though if you want to go fast as a priority they're certainly worth a look. 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/ |
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