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Bents on Ragbrai

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Bents on Ragbrai

Old 08-14-07, 12:38 PM
  #26  
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Originally Posted by chennai
I like recumbents and was amazed at the number of different designs I saw on RAGBRAI. It would be nice if the folks riding those very low ones used flags - like the banana man's, particularly if they are going to be on the faster part of the road.
Why don't you get and use a mirror to see what is behind you? I can't see behind my Fujin, but I don't ask roadies to wear bear bells so I'll hear them coming. I use two mirrors and check them before changing road position.
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Old 08-14-07, 01:57 PM
  #27  
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I don't think I'd like RAGBRAI anyway - too many other bikes clogging the roads and making it all but impossible to do my 'happy speed.'
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Old 08-14-07, 03:37 PM
  #28  
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Originally Posted by lowracer1
coming up from behind, it wouldn't be very likely you would catch a small flag in your field of vision anyhow. If you can't see a full size person laying down on a low bent, why would you be able to see a small orange triangle any better?
Yes, you're right, and that's not where the problem really is.

One problem is when one is behind a bunch of riders who encounter the recumbent. When I'm behind a bunch of people, I try to keep an eye on what might be up ahead. I think a flag would help.

The other time I think a flag would help with would be when a low recumbent is drafting or about to pass. I think it would help the rider in front see the things.

But, I really commented only to say I was amazed at the variety of different recumbents not to talk about flags.
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Old 08-22-07, 06:51 PM
  #29  
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RAG, bents, Flags

Lots more bents then I thought there would be. Lots of Visions. Did hear some complaining from DFer's about the bents being slow and many were. I was surprised by the number of high racers going very slow. But then it is a ride and not a race.

I agree about the flags. If you can't see the person, why would you see that little flag?

I agree about the mirror. I use one all the time and would not ride without. But, did you see the number of DFer's out there with mirrors? Lots of them. But I don't think any of them used the things.
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Old 08-27-07, 03:34 PM
  #30  
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Originally Posted by Glasspacker
One guy carried a huge wooden cross, with his water bottle taped to it. I don't think he made it the whole way, but what a statement.
Funny, I never thought of bicycling as a cross to bear.
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Old 05-08-22, 08:45 AM
  #31  
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Bents on Ragbrai

*bump*

Anyone else here doing RAGBRAI this year on a bent? This will be my first time doing RAGBRAI, and on a, just recently acquired and still trying to adapt to the twitchy steering and handling of it, bent, an old mid-90's SWB USS Vision R40.
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Old 05-09-22, 08:29 PM
  #32  
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Zombie Thread Alert!

Feel free to start a new thread asking about riding bents on RAGBRAI. this year. You might get more responses that way.
I've never ridden RAGBRAI. Other than mine, very few bent bikes spotted on last October's Hilly Hundred Weekend in Southern Indiana. RAGBRAI quite a different animal than the Hilly, of course.
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Old 05-10-22, 10:09 AM
  #33  
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I did it in 2008, the year after this post originally ran. As expected, there were way too many slow bikes on the roads for my liking. Sometimes they were running 6 across, completely covering the 2-lane road. Anyone going over 15 mph is considered a "racer," but 15 mph is painfully slow for me. I came to the conclusion that RAGBRAI is for those who like to party, and maybe ride their bikes; rather than for people who want to ride their bikes and maybe party a little. This is not a ride for introverts. It's all about the crowds and the party atmosphere.
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Old 06-27-22, 01:47 PM
  #34  
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Originally Posted by Glasspacker
Well it was a fun week! 15,000 plus riders, 485 miles, and probably 200 bents.

Among the bents I noticed-

Two "NoComs" - with custom paint jobs (husband and wife team)
A polished TiRush
A classic red Tour Easy with some chrome
Rans Force 5
Lightning P38 - looked older
Lots of Bachetta's - one Aero
Volae's - a few, not too many
Quite a few Visions, some lwb, some swb
Many Stratus and a few V2's
Bike Friday and a Bike Toosday (spelling?)
Tandem recumbents
Many trikes, including several hand-crank ones
A few Bike-E's still plugging away out there
One uni-cycle - yes, he went the whole distance!

Sorry no photos!!!! Too busy saying "On your Left"!!!! Hee hee
This thread was started in 2005. I bet this years ride had a lot more bents and trikes.
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Old 06-27-22, 03:56 PM
  #35  
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Originally Posted by rydabent
This thread was started in 2005. I bet this years ride had a lot more bents and trikes.
It's hard to say that, since it doesn't happen until late July, a month away. For many years, the trend was more bents each year; but lately as trikes have taken over, seeing bents at an event has become less common. Apparently very few white-haired FOGs on trikes are willing to ride on a road.
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Old 08-01-22, 02:59 PM
  #36  
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Originally Posted by Glasspacker
Well it was a fun week! 15,000 plus riders, 485 miles, and probably 200 bents.

Among the bents I noticed-

Two "NoComs" - with custom paint jobs (husband and wife team)
A polished TiRush
A classic red Tour Easy with some chrome
Rans Force 5
Lightning P38 - looked older
Lots of Bachetta's - one Aero
Volae's - a few, not too many
Quite a few Visions, some lwb, some swb
Many Stratus and a few V2's
Bike Friday and a Bike Toosday (spelling?)
Tandem recumbents
Many trikes, including several hand-crank ones
A few Bike-E's still plugging away out there
One uni-cycle - yes, he went the whole distance!

Sorry no photos!!!! Too busy saying "On your Left"!!!! Hee hee
Love your post script!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Old 08-03-22, 01:16 PM
  #37  
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I'd like to hear a post-ride recumbent report from this year. The two Nocoms were a year or two before I did it. When I went, my buddy was on a Nocom and I took my Baron. At that point I had a Nocom but didn't take it due to lack of familiarity. Nocoms have what I'd call "advanced handling characteristics." They can be a handful at low speeds.
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