Recumbent for short people
#1
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Recumbent for short people
I need advice on proper frame size/type.I have a 22 inch in seam and 5ft4. 26 inch rear wheels are best? I am thinking something like a JetStream lll or X Rev.
I made the mistake a couple years ago and bought a Santana tandem for 35 dollars to find it too large for me to be Captain,now I will be selling it and want to try a recumbent.
I also found a Bike E for not to much but I want a fast recumbent,thats why I am thinking 26 rear wheel. If I ride a upright Crossroads by back does not hurt but they are heavy and slow.
It looks like the adjustable boom type the crank will hit if I move it back to fit me.
I made the mistake a couple years ago and bought a Santana tandem for 35 dollars to find it too large for me to be Captain,now I will be selling it and want to try a recumbent.
I also found a Bike E for not to much but I want a fast recumbent,thats why I am thinking 26 rear wheel. If I ride a upright Crossroads by back does not hurt but they are heavy and slow.
It looks like the adjustable boom type the crank will hit if I move it back to fit me.
#2
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Performer makes two lowracers, the Vigorous and the Conquor. The Conquor is a dual-20" wheeled folder, while the Vigorous is a 20/16 lowracer. Since Performer is very accommodating to customization, there's a possibility of getting the Vigorous as a dual-20 - if your inseam will allow it. There are no fast tires in 349mm. The conquor has what I consider to be a very short wheelbase, but it may suit you better. You're unlikely to find either on the used market, but at least Performers are pretty reasonably priced - for recumbents. (There are a few recumbents in the $1K-2K range, but not many are performance models.)
If you're looking at used to save money, Maybe a Lightning Phantom/Thunderbolt or an old Vision? The hard part will be finding something with a lower seat for you. Some of the newer Actionbents weren't too bad (bearing in mind that 'new' ones are a decade or more old,) but earlier ones were disasters of poor design.
If you're looking at used to save money, Maybe a Lightning Phantom/Thunderbolt or an old Vision? The hard part will be finding something with a lower seat for you. Some of the newer Actionbents weren't too bad (bearing in mind that 'new' ones are a decade or more old,) but earlier ones were disasters of poor design.
Last edited by BlazingPedals; 06-15-20 at 01:20 PM.
#3
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I think TourEasys have about a 18" high seat. Confirmation from Jeff? You'd probably need a small-medium size? Test-sits would be mandatory as TourEasys come in many sizes but each size only fits a narrow range.
#4
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Catrike makes some trikes for shorter people, plus has adjustable booms. I agree that Tour Easy made excellent bikes, but test rides are critical as they are not adjustable.
A Santana for $35 was a real steal.
A Santana for $35 was a real steal.
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Seeing as you seem to be looking at two wheel recumbents, Bacchetta reports positively on the use of 24" wheels on the Giro 26 & 26att in this article. At 5'6" I also had trouble finding bent (and upright bikes) that fit. At this point I am riding a Catrike Expedition
#6
half way commuter
Seeing as you seem to be looking at two wheel recumbents, Bacchetta reports positively on the use of 24" wheels on the Giro 26 & 26att in this article. At 5'6" I also had trouble finding bent (and upright bikes) that fit. At this point I am riding a Catrike Expedition
#7
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Bikes: Optima Baron LR, '14 Nishiki Maricopa,'87 Trek 330 Elance, '89 Miyata 1400, '85 Peugeot PGN10, '04 Fuji Ace, '06 Giant Rincon, '95 Giant Allegre, '83 Trek 620, '86 Schwinn High Sierra
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I have roughly a 38" x-seam. Like you, my options are limited.
I do have an Optima Baron Lowracer. For my size, it has been tricky for me. I've found I cannot run a triple up front, at least while using a square taper triple crankset. I had to pull the boom in so far, the front derailleur would touch the frame part of the boom and never get into the smallest chainring. I have alleviated this by going to a double (50x34). Eventually, I'll change out the rear cassette for something larger, though my 11-32t works well enough for the small hills around Brighton Michigan.
As Blazingpedals mentions, the Performer recumbents are quite affordable and nice. Over at BentRiderOnline's forum, a user there named Vangelo has done some of the most amazing work with his dual 20" Performer lowracers. I've almost been tempted a few times to sell my Baron and buy a performer, especially with their paint schemes.
I do have an Optima Baron Lowracer. For my size, it has been tricky for me. I've found I cannot run a triple up front, at least while using a square taper triple crankset. I had to pull the boom in so far, the front derailleur would touch the frame part of the boom and never get into the smallest chainring. I have alleviated this by going to a double (50x34). Eventually, I'll change out the rear cassette for something larger, though my 11-32t works well enough for the small hills around Brighton Michigan.
As Blazingpedals mentions, the Performer recumbents are quite affordable and nice. Over at BentRiderOnline's forum, a user there named Vangelo has done some of the most amazing work with his dual 20" Performer lowracers. I've almost been tempted a few times to sell my Baron and buy a performer, especially with their paint schemes.