I'm not bent
#1
Muscle bike design spec
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I'm not bent
A recumbent has been on my wanted list for a while. Today I test rode a Bike-E bent (blue). It's the one that looks like an I Beam with wheels It a single front ring, 7 rear cogs, and an internal 3 gear hub for a total of 21 gears. The seat could only be adjusted forwards and backwards.
After an initial issue staying balanced while starting from a stop I got in a few hundred yards. I found the bike to be slow, cumbersome, and not as comfortable as a regular drop bar road bike. She was listed at $250; I might have taken her for $100 as a good deal. I realize the Bike E does not represent the potential of bents. For now, my interest in bents has waned.
After an initial issue staying balanced while starting from a stop I got in a few hundred yards. I found the bike to be slow, cumbersome, and not as comfortable as a regular drop bar road bike. She was listed at $250; I might have taken her for $100 as a good deal. I realize the Bike E does not represent the potential of bents. For now, my interest in bents has waned.
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See my Hyperlite 411 it's the photo model on OutRiderUSA web page
See my Hyperlite 411 it's the photo model on OutRiderUSA web page
#3
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I had the use of a Tailwind one summer. After getting used to it (trying to clip in on an incline, climbing in super low gears because of less leverage spinning my legs like a hummingbird but going about 3mph, etc.) I gave it up. Made me nervous with my head no higher than a truck's tire, couldn't get up off the saddle and so on. Were I injured or disabled, I'd take one up in a minute to avoid quitting cycling. Otherwise, back to my DF.
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$250 is a decent deal for a Bike-E. Those are easy-riding, comfortable bents that are on the slow side. Certainly one short ride isn't going to be enough to evaluate if one would actually enjoy riding a bent. The change is too dramatic to accommodate that quickly.
I was uncomfortable on my first couple or three rides. Now I greatly prefer riding a bent over a diamond frame. Not to say that everyone would, for of course there is no one bike geometry that is best for everyone.
I was uncomfortable on my first couple or three rides. Now I greatly prefer riding a bent over a diamond frame. Not to say that everyone would, for of course there is no one bike geometry that is best for everyone.
#5
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Hers a deal on A recumbent I just saw on craigslist (SMILE)
https://lexington.craigslist.org/bik/1682225310.html
https://lexington.craigslist.org/bik/1682225310.html
#6
just keep riding
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Hers a deal on A recumbent I just saw on craigslist (SMILE)
https://lexington.craigslist.org/bik/1682225310.html
https://lexington.craigslist.org/bik/1682225310.html
#7
train safe
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A recumbent has been on my wanted list for a while. Today I test rode a Bike-E bent (blue). It's the one that looks like an I Beam with wheels It a single front ring, 7 rear cogs, and an internal 3 gear hub for a total of 21 gears. The seat could only be adjusted forwards and backwards.
After an initial issue staying balanced while starting from a stop I got in a few hundred yards. I found the bike to be slow, cumbersome, and not as comfortable as a regular drop bar road bike. She was listed at $250; I might have taken her for $100 as a good deal. I realize the Bike E does not represent the potential of bents. For now, my interest in bents has waned.
After an initial issue staying balanced while starting from a stop I got in a few hundred yards. I found the bike to be slow, cumbersome, and not as comfortable as a regular drop bar road bike. She was listed at $250; I might have taken her for $100 as a good deal. I realize the Bike E does not represent the potential of bents. For now, my interest in bents has waned.
train safe-
#8
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Hers a deal on A recumbent I just saw on craigslist (SMILE)
https://lexington.craigslist.org/bik/1682225310.html
https://lexington.craigslist.org/bik/1682225310.html
#10
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What does DF stand for? I had a friend on a recumbent who referred to "normal" bikes as "upright bikes."
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I found the bike to be slow, cumbersome, and not as comfortable as a regular drop bar road bike. She was listed at $250; I might have taken her for $100 as a good deal. I realize the Bike E does not represent the potential of bents. For now, my interest in bents has waned.
SP
Bend, OR
#15
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I had a Tour Easy bent for a few years. I just never could warm up to it, so sold it and went back to df bikes. I would like to try out one of the performance oriented bents sometime.
Jim
Jim
#16
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robtown, you may never feel at home on a recumbent. Some people don't. But I certainly wouldn't make that determination based on a ride on a BikeE. Try some others.
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A recumbent has been on my wanted list for a while. Today I test rode a Bike-E bent (blue). It's the one that looks like an I Beam with wheels It a single front ring, 7 rear cogs, and an internal 3 gear hub for a total of 21 gears. The seat could only be adjusted forwards and backwards.
... I found the bike to be slow, cumbersome, and not as comfortable as a regular drop bar road bike. .
... I found the bike to be slow, cumbersome, and not as comfortable as a regular drop bar road bike. .
If I had to choose just one bike now, I'd keep the atlantis. as I get older, though, i suspect a recumbent will look more attractive. I doubt i'll settle on a Bike E, but since I'm in a position to afford a moderately priced bent, i'm at least going to ride a few this summer and shop around. I have some physical issues related to old injuries that haven't limited me in the past, but are beginning to show up, and i think a carefully chosen 'bent will prolong my cycling career.
Anybody in the market for a 64cm Rambouillet?
#19
rebmeM roineS
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Took our Vibe to the tire store yesterday to have the wheels rotated/balanced and rode on home and back later on my Big Buzz hybrid, which spends most of it's timing hanging from a hook in the garage. It was a fun ride but I was reminded of how much more relaxing red lights are on my 'bents: Just put both feet down and relax in the Comfy Chair versus a one-footed tippy-toe balancing act. (I can only trackstand for short periods).
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Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
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There are many happy Bike-E riders. I admire their tolerance, strength and endurance against adversity.
Because of their great price and easy adjustment we considered buying a Bike-E as a guest bike but, after a test ride, decided we did not really want to get into Eight Amendment cruel and unusual punishment suits. <G>
Because of their great price and easy adjustment we considered buying a Bike-E as a guest bike but, after a test ride, decided we did not really want to get into Eight Amendment cruel and unusual punishment suits. <G>
#21
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The Tour Easy bents are not slow bents. People have set speed records on their LWB designs, although while using a fairing. Although many will find a light weight SWB low-racer to be faster. A guy covered 53.43 miles in one hour on a fully faired (enclosed) Tour Easy on level ground. I think there has been something like 40 or 50 world speed records set with their bikes.
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I know my Tour Easy seems pretty quick, even with me on it! I often cruise along at 18+mph in the middle ring (42T) with at least 2 or 3 smaller cogs left to shift up to. If I had the legs to run the big ring that sucker would probably break the sound barrier!
My Volae is no slouch either. I generally run that around 15 to 18 mph in the center ring (39T) with more gears left for up-shifting. I replaced the original 38T and 48T rings with a 39T and a 52T because I was disapointed in the performance. What a difference a few extra teeth makes!
My Volae is no slouch either. I generally run that around 15 to 18 mph in the center ring (39T) with more gears left for up-shifting. I replaced the original 38T and 48T rings with a 39T and a 52T because I was disapointed in the performance. What a difference a few extra teeth makes!
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The Tour Easy bents are not slow bents. People have set speed records on their LWB designs, although while using a fairing. Although many will find a light weight SWB low-racer to be faster. A guy covered 53.43 miles in one hour on a fully faired (enclosed) Tour Easy on level ground. I think there has been something like 40 or 50 world speed records set with their bikes.
Jim
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I thought about getting a bent when I firt got back into cycling. Tried a Semi recumbent Giant Revive. Very comfortable and I would still have it if one of my friend's wife hadn't fallen in love with it when she discovered she could ride it without wrist pain. Still even after getting into a better shape and going to a DF road bike I considered a bent as a N+1. I have seen some of them out on the flat moving at least as fast if not faster than I do on a road bike. But hills are another story and I live in a valley. However if I ever get to the point where a DF is too hard for me to ride I am interested in a Cat Trike. After all you would always have your chair with you even on a hill.
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I thought about getting a bent when I firt got back into cycling. Tried a Semi recumbent Giant Revive. Very comfortable and I would still have it if one of my friend's wife hadn't fallen in love with it when she discovered she could ride it without wrist pain. Still even after getting into a better shape and going to a DF road bike I considered a bent as a N+1. I have seen some of them out on the flat moving at least as fast if not faster than I do on a road bike. But hills are another story and I live in a valley. However if I ever get to the point where a DF is too hard for me to ride I am interested in a Cat Trike. After all you would always have your chair with you even on a hill.