recumbent resources Q

[curious]

A single-boom steel frame will have substantial flex for heavy rider to offer quite a bit of cushion. Once you go to the oversized aluminum tubing or multi-tube steel frame the cusioning effect is diminished or eliminated. One of the reasons I look for bents with a single boom steel frame.

Also I want to immediately take off skinny road tires and put on some monstrous 26x2.5 MTB slicks like hookwarm or similar (rebuilding the wheel on a wider rim if necessary). Yes, that will add some rolling resistance but with a 5304 hub in the rear (and associated losses) the effect is irrelevant. But it adds another restriction to bent selection - the frame must have enough clearance in the dropouts for such tires.

 

[Grinhill]

Here's something you don't see very often:

Lightfoot Cycles Smoothie:
Manufacturer says "specifically designed to elegantly integrate electric assist"

 

[Ricochet]

Being able to install a fairing may be a consideration for some in deciding which recumbent to purchase. I'm not sure how installing a fairing is done with USS. I have ridden a very lwb Rans V2 (no longer manufactured) for many years with a fairing and have found it greatly reduces wind resistance in comparison with a friend who rides one without a fairing. Today I rode my recently reacquired Bike E that doesn't have a fairing, though one could be put on it. Was shocked, almost dismayed at the resistance I found riding into the wind, not to mention being exposed to the "weather," a consideration riding in the winter. Thinking of buying a fairing for it, but they aren't cheap, and I'm more focused now on powering one recumbent or the other--just can't decide which.

 

[GGoodrum]

@Gary: If you happen to be in the Midwest when the Hostel Shoppe holds its Midwest Recumbent Rally, stop on by. Your nerd-o-meter won't just peg out, it'll wrap a full turn around the peg. See the photo. They have dozens of demo bikes and you'll fit right in with the other nerd-o-phobes hoping nobody recognizes them. :wink: Can't imagine you're older than this crowd!

Yipes! I took a look and it not only pegged the meter, it bent my needle!

That one looks like a re"cycled" wooden beach chair.

 

[WonderProfessor]

That one looks like a re"cycled" wooden beach chair.

That frame is made out of wood, right?

 

[davespicer]

The Fusion is both long and low...

...I like the fact that it has a long wheelbase, which makes a big difference if you run up at 40 mph, or so.

Max observed speed on my 2006 Fusion with a 124 inch(!) top gear: 41.5 mph downhill around a curve and it was stable. Spinning like a fiend at that speed

This would definitely be an interesting conversion. I may take a look and see if I can find a dealer around here (Orange County, CA...).

From the dealer list at the RANS site: http://www.recumbent.com/ in Orange! 8)

 

[MidniteTweeker]

Yeah, nearly everything on the entire bike is wood. The only metal is rims, sprockets, bearings, etc that really couldn't be made from wood. Front forks, too, probably because of high stress and shock. If I recall, even the kickstand is wood. The fitting, joining, and finish is excellent. Like a piece of fine carpentry. One of those things that kinda makes you go 'hmmmm...' because it normally wouldn't occur to most people to even consider wood.

MT

 

[WonderProfessor]

Ybecause it normally wouldn't occur to most people to even consider wood.

There's a very good reason why most people do not even consider wood. Just think about all the work it takes to keep that thing maintained! I can't even remember the last time I waxed my car, let alone my bicycle. But to each, their own.

 

[curious]

Yeah, nearly everything on the entire bike is wood. The only metal is rims, sprockets, bearings, etc that really couldn't be made from wood. Front forks, too, probably because of high stress and shock. If I recall, even the kickstand is wood. The fitting, joining, and finish is excellent. Like a piece of fine carpentry. One of those things that kinda makes you go 'hmmmm...' because it normally wouldn't occur to most people to even consider wood.

MT

I understand the metal front fork but handlebars should have definitely been made out of wood, perhaps some twisted root or something of the artistic nature Nothing compares riding a bike downhill at > 30mhp holding to a log or a tree root

 

[davespicer]

Nothing compares riding a bike downhill at > 30mhp holding to a log or a tree root

Next best thing to swinging from a vine and yelling like Tarzan? :lol: