Noise?
 

One of the things I do like about my DF bike is that when I am riding down a country road, the only thing I hear besides the wind in my ears is the sound of the tire on the road and the natural sounds surrounding me.

I keep looking at the chain arrangements on different bents and I have to wonder - are they noisy when riding? I imagine some are more so than others so how about LWB bents. Are tey more noise prone than other bikes?

Thanks

Mine is a SWB, but it takes 2.5 chain lengths to run it. I don't notice any additional noise from the chain unless I've forgotten to lube it. Then, since I'm closer than I am on the DF, I hear it sooner and take care of the problem.

My main bent is a FWD, 1.5 chain lengths. I don't notice any chain noise at all but I run a rohloff and I do hear the rohloff in gears 1-8.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3368/...7b2f53e146.jpg

Your head is a lot closer to the ground and to the drive train than on a DF bike. If you get a quality recumbent, the drive train noise should not be any different from that of a good DF bike. Any road noise from the tires on the pavement might be a bit more noticeable.

Sometimes you get noise from chain idlers.

As suggested, noise depends on the design and condition of a specific drivetrain. Since many recumbents are very comfortable, you do end up with attention to spare for noises, scenery, etc.

Since I started using Dumonde Tech lube, the chain doesn't make a sound.

My front derailler makes noise, but only when it's on the large chainwheel. I think the cage is rubbing against the chain. When I push the derailler shift lever a tad toward the High direction, the noise goes away. Does this mean I need to increase the cable tension, or decrease it? Or is it some other adjustment to make?

It's a Shimano SIS thumb-flipped derailler off a mountain bike. I have been adjusting and re-adjusting the high limit stop on my FD to keep the chain from overshooting the largest chainwheel. Man, is that annoying!!!!

I get a bit of chatter in certain gears on my Catrike tadpole. The chain is routed through tubes for part of its run, and the power side goes through an idler under the seat.

On the other hand, I have a much better view while riding since my natural head position is straight ahead, not down towards the front wheel.

No noise from my V-2 or V-Rex. I use my old Bike E on a trainer and no noise problems. I took the seals out of the inside of the idlers on my V-2 and Rex so I could oil them easier (no problems with dirt). My wife has a Sun EZ-3 AX and it also seems quite, the last time I rode it.

Ken

Took the idlers off my V-Rex today - cleaned them and put a little teensy bit of tri-flow on the shaft (?) that the idler floats on. The back one is no longer a little noisy sometimes. It's quiet.
Having a hard time imagining the sealed bearings getting funky in any kind of riding that I would ever do.

Actually, my main complaint about my recumbent is that it's so quiet. The derailleur is behind my back, where I can't see it, and I can't hear it, and it isn't feathered right, I can't tell.

What size Q ring are you running? I see on your blog that a 13t cog is on the way, what size is on the Rohloff now?.

~R

That is a 53T Q-ring and I now have the 13T cog on the Rohloff. My gear range is 20 gear inches to 109 gear inches as it is set up now. I just got back from the bike shop so I have all of 1 mile with the new 13T cog. The previous cog was 16T which is the standard. That gave me about 16-88", I really needed more top end gearing.

I noticed the bearings in the stock idlers on my Rans did not rotate very freely and the chain would run over the idlers without the idler moving very much, creating some noise and maybe some friction. I removed the seal on one side of the bearing so I could clean (remove the heavy grease) and re-lube, what a difference. Now the idlers are very smooth and noise free.
Ken

If you have chain tubes you can get a bit of (whirring) noise if the chain rubs on them a bit

My bike has only one idler and no chain tubes. I have not noticed any more noise than usual. The only time I get any undue noise is when I cross chain but thats really more operator error than the bike. At least on my 'bent cross chaining isn't as detrimental as it is on my DF's.

One thing that may keep your chain noise down is the chain isn't anywhere near your head anymore. On my DF it is just a straight shot way down by my feet. On my recumbent I have 2 2/3rd of a chain with one pull right under my tailbone and the RD a foot or so right under my head.

I've got a Sun EZ-3 SX and while riding at 14mph (today) I could still hear the gophers scurrying away from the trail..... as others have said, if it's maintained properly, it's quieter than a .... mouse...<G>

Webskipper,
You are right on...........................
Ken

V-Rex
V2
Bike-E RX
2-Bike Fridays NWT
Wife has a EZ-3 AX

There are two kinds of idlers: toothed and smooth.

The toothed ones have teeth that actually carry the chain's rollers, so they don't make much noise from chain contact while spinning.

The smooth idlers can make some noise, but you can wrap a rubber band around them to eliminate that if you wish. The rubber band will wear out and break off eventually, but it's cheap to replace and pretty easy to carry a spare.

Even with out a rubber-band, some smooth idlers can still run very quiet. The bike I have now only has one idler on the return-side of the chain loop. The idler is right under the seat base, and even with no rubber-band I don't find the noise it makes to be any bother.
~

It's been a few years now, but when I noticed chain noises coming from the idlers on my V-Rex, I checked the bearings and discovered that they had basically self-destructed. Poor things only lasted 15,000-18,000 miles. I bought a set of rollerblade bearings and replaced all 4. No problems since. I think I've still got the other 6 bearings somewhere.

My upright riding friends decided my 'bent was most likely something out of Jules Verne, because of all the odd noises ;)

There's a bit of noise from the chain tubes, and the single idler under the seat usually makes a grumbling noise. I suppose I'd prefer the bike to be whisper quiet, but it doesn't bother me enough to upgrade the idler..

They just don't make stuff like they used to.

Okay, I got my FD adjusted so the chain doesn't rub against the chain. Now my LWB is quiet. I have about 2.5 regular bike chains on its transmission. I just used a pulley off a rear derailler to make an idler wheel. Don't hear anything from it while riding.