EXPERIENCES TOURING WITH GREENSPEED MAGNUM


BACKGROUND

I have just competed my first long distance tour with My Greenspeed Magnum. I am pleased to report that the Magnum performed excellently in all ways.

The tour was a 1100km+ ride through southern Spain. We experienced all road conditions from AutoVias (motorways) to minor sealed roads, gravel roads, rutted farm tracks and washed out dry river beds of loose gravel and sand. I rode over some of the steepest hills I have ever encountered. The Magnum managed all these conditions with ease, climbing steep hills at very slow speeds and taking high speed declines with great stability and comfort. I experience zero mechanical problems throughout the entire trip.

MY PHYSICAL EXPERIENCE

I purchased my Magnum after completing several long distance tours on an upright touring bike. Like most tourers, I experience significant structural pain in my neck, shoulders, back, butt and arms. I was hoping that the Magnum would help reduce the effects and it delivered completely on that promise. I had no physical pains at all while my two riding mates (touring on traditional upright tourers) suffered considerably and required numerous visits to physios as a result. This result alone would be sufficient to justify my decision to purchase a Magnum.

MY TRAVEL EXPERIENCE

Prior to leaving I was very concerned about how the airlines would respond to the Magnum. Whether they would accept it. Whether they would levy significant charges. Whether they would insist on breaking the trike down and having to wrap it up in some way. I need not have worried. I flew with Qantas and Emirates who both accepted the trike without any need to break it down at all. I merely rolled it over to oversize baggage and that was that. When I think about the hassle I used to experience with an upright tourer (having to remove handlebars ,saddle, pedals and wheels and pack everything into a box) this was such a breeze by comparison.

I also found that the novelty of the trike caused many people to acknowledge my presence in very positive ways. Cars tooting and waving, lorries giving me a wide birth and acknowledging me with friendly toots, pedestrians staring with fascination and amusement and giving friendly waves and greetings. All of these added tremendously to the joy of the tour and I do not recall very much of this happening when touring on a conventional bike.

SUMMARY

If you are considering buying a Magnum for touring, go with it. You will not be disappointed. It is reliable, safe, comfortable and fun.