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André Jute: extreme, unsuitable for purpose, dangerous, dull, overpriced
Chalo Colina wrote:
Andre Jute wrote: I don't know the brands you're talking about but I have just learned that the Giant Revive and some others with which I have an acquaintance are called Compact Long Wheelbase Semi-Recumbents to describe bikes with lower seats, and pedals somewhere behind the headset. I'm starting to think I judged the Giant Revive harshly and should give it, or a better bike of the same format (some of my fave makers work in the same format, though at multiples of the price...), another chance. The late, unlamented BikeE was of the same category. It was easily the worst two-wheeled ride I ever tried to make peace with. http://www.bikee.org/ http://rideabike.com/page.cfm?PageID=58 Since there are strong indications that the Giant Revive was based on the BikeE by dint of industrial espionage, it may be no better. But if Mike Burroughs or any other designer for Giant actually rode a BikeE, surely they would have set to work on remedying its afflictions. Even a guy who intentionally makes bikes with wheels that ride inches off center would have qualms about the spastic handling of a BikeE. I accept the veracity (of course) of Chalo's reporting, but not his conclusions. I am opposite of athletically gifted when it comes to balance and coordination, and I find the BikeE singles [1] very easy to ride. I can only imagine both Chalo and his wife were trying to ride the BikeE's like uprights, which would result in grossly over-controlling the bicycles. [1] The BikeE E2 tandem is ridiculously easy to ride solo, but weird and scary with a stoker. -- Tom Sherman - 42.435731,-83.985007 I am a vehicular cyclist. |
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#2
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André Jute: extreme, unsuitable for purpose, dangerous, dull, overpriced
Tom Sherman wrote:
I can only imagine both Chalo and his wife were trying to ride the BikeE's like uprights, which would result in grossly over-controlling the bicycles. This is what I hear about 'bents from true believers. We chopper- building guys can generally accept that a bike with knife-edge handling, that wants to chase its own tail, is simply an ill-tempered bitch. But if it's a 'bent, it just needs the more delicate touch of a sensitive rider. "Stretch out with your feelings": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owvpRNzoaVU [1] The BikeE E2 tandem is ridiculously easy to ride solo, but weird and scary with a stoker. That sounds like the basis for a bizarre-looking but potentially effective longtail cargo bike. I have heard that bike credited for the downfall of BikeE, but I had never heard its idiosyncrasies explained until now. Do you have any other observations about it that might illuminate the reasons some folks think it sank BikeE? I understand that it was the first, perhaps bespoke application for the 110psi 16 x 1.85" Maxxis Hookworm tire. I think that's a great tire to have available, but I don't think I would much enjoy riding with it stuck right under my seat. Chalo |
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BikeE
Chalo Colina wrote:
Tom Sherman wrote: I can only imagine both Chalo and his wife were trying to ride the BikeE's like uprights, which would result in grossly over-controlling the bicycles. This is what I hear about 'bents from true believers. We chopper- building guys can generally accept that a bike with knife-edge handling, that wants to chase its own tail, is simply an ill-tempered bitch. But if it's a 'bent, it just needs the more delicate touch of a sensitive rider. Not so. The BikeE singles are very easy to ride compared to the Hypercycle and its descendants, or a pre-1999 ATP Vision SWB in my experience. Even my RANS Rocket which I am very comfortable on after thousands of miles is much harder for a 'bent beginner to ride than the BikeE single. Ever 'bent I have ridden handles badly if the rider pulls on the bars - the control forces are much lighter since the rider is only supporting the weight of his/her forearms on the bars. "Stretch out with your feelings": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owvpRNzoaVU [1] The BikeE E2 tandem is ridiculously easy to ride solo, but weird and scary with a stoker. That sounds like the basis for a bizarre-looking but potentially effective longtail cargo bike. I have heard that bike credited for the downfall of BikeE, but I had never heard its idiosyncrasies explained until now. Do you have any other observations about it that might illuminate the reasons some folks think it sank BikeE? I have heard BikeE was sunk by its primary supplier, Giant. I am not too disappointed in the company going down, after they let their dealers hang out to dry by insisting everything was fine until the last minute. I understand that it was the first, perhaps bespoke application for the 110psi 16 x 1.85" Maxxis Hookworm tire. I think that's a great tire to have available, but I don't think I would much enjoy riding with it stuck right under my seat. I have exceeded 90 kph with a 35-305 Primo Comet front tire, but much prefer to do so in the future on something like the Maxxis or a Schwalbe Big Apple or City Jet. -- Tom Sherman - 42.435731,-83.985007 I am a vehicular cyclist. |
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