I purchased a used EZ-1 from my local bike store. Here are my major impressions now that I have a whole 10 miles on the bike.
1. You have to steer. The old body english does nothing for you. Steering is key to keeping my skin off the concrete.
2. The steering is lightning fast. With the smaller front wheel a little tilt is all it takes to make corners.
3. Clipping in is slightly more difficult. I imagine this will change as I gain more experience.
4. I can see things so much better. I'm not looking at the 20 feet of road ahead of me. In the recumbent riding position I'm a better observer of my environment.
5. I can really feel the downhill speed build quickly. Way Cool!
6. What a dog it is going up hill. I see this as a minor downside for all of the other upsides.
7. People are very friendly towards the "bent." I let four total strangers ride it yesterday. It is a friendmaker. As an typical Type-A, outgoing, chatterbox, I can now talk to even more people. (My wife's number one beef with me is I talk to total strangers - and they seem to enjoy the conversations.) Way Cool.
8. I can bolt stuff almost everywhere on this thing. And, I do so love to "accessorize" my bicycles.
9. I'll need 2 spare tubes instead of the usual one because of the different tire sizes.
10. My pockets need to be on the front of the jersey now.
Just my $.02 - You're opinions will differ. :)
Bikewer
06-11-05, 02:16 PM
Hehe- with my limited (mostly development and testing rides) on my homebuilt, I find all your points to be true. I have a toolbag and a bottle carrier screwed into the back of my seat, and like you, find the rear pocket on my jersey to be annoying.
Didn't think about the two tubes...good point!
I have to carry an odd toolkit, as I have a strange amalgum of metric and US bolts, nuts, and fasteners. With Version 2.0, I will go all metric.
ChiliDog
06-12-05, 09:16 AM
Joe, it's FUN isn't it? :D
1. You have to steer. The old body english does nothing for you. Steering is key to keeping my skin off the concrete.
I NEVER COULD RIDE MY DF "HANDS OFF", SO SAME FOR ME.
2. The steering is lightning fast. With the smaller front wheel a little tilt is all it takes to make corners.
TRY A SHORT WHEEL BASE IF YOU WANT TO EXPERIENCE "TWITCHY" STEERING!
3. Clipping in is slightly more difficult. I imagine this will change as I gain more experience.
YES, IT WILL. OR YOU MAY TRY SOME MORE RELAXED BMX PEDALS IF YOU REALLY WANT TO GET "LAID BACK".
4. I can see things so much better. I'm not looking at the 20 feet of road ahead of me. In the recumbent riding position I'm a better observer of my environment.
THE SWEETEST PART OF ALL, I THINK.
5. I can really feel the downhill speed build quickly. Way Cool!
YEEEEHAWWW!!!!!
6. What a dog it is going up hill. I see this as a minor downside for all of the other upsides.
GOT TO GET YOUR "BENT LEGS"...TIME AND PRACTICE, IT WILL GET BETTER.
7. People are very friendly towards the "bent." I let four total strangers ride it yesterday. It is a friendmaker. As an typical Type-A, outgoing, chatterbox, I can now talk to even more people. (My wife's number one beef with me is I talk to total strangers - and they seem to enjoy the conversations.) Way Cool.
YEAH, IT'S FUN NOW...IT MAY GET TO BE ANNOYING!
8. I can bolt stuff almost everywhere on this thing. And, I do so love to "accessorize" my bicycles.
THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS...
9. I'll need 2 spare tubes instead of the usual one because of the different tire sizes.
YEP.
10. My pockets need to be on the front of the jersey now
I RIDE MY REGULAR JERSIES AND USE THE BACK POCKETS FOR SMALL STUFF. MOSTLY I RIDE IN TEE SHIRTS. IF IT BOTHERS YOU TOO MUCH, GET THE "SEAM RIPPER" AND LOSE THOSE POCKETS. BETTER YET, GET RECUMBENT-SPECIFIC JERSEYS.
Welcome to the fun! :D
tornadobass
06-12-05, 08:33 PM
I just finished my second 10 mile ride on a bike path with my Rans Rocket (short wheelbase). Some things I've observed match up to this top 10 list, others I find different.
Steering seems to complicate things on the Rocket. Body english covers the small manuevers, while steering covers the tight turns...it can almost turn sideways. I find the bike rides easiest if I hold the bars with a light grip just enough to stabilize them.
The view, as noted, is great. Even when I rode behind my wife tonight, I saw some interesting sights. And when I was ahead of her, it was close to flying through the open fields...the downhills almost spooked me. As for flats and uphills, I'm trying to avoid pushing the pedals and spin faster/more evenly. No bent legs yet, so the bike nearly feels like it stops on climbs. I'm still working on relaxing and sitting back into the seat, too.
As far as spare tubes, the Rocket is a 20/20 bike, so one tube will do. I imagine that I'm paying for that by feeling the bumps more. The little accessory mount on top of the front derailer tube is handy. I have a light on the front one and am looking into mounting a computer on the back one. (Photo in another thread).
megaman
06-12-05, 08:46 PM
1. You have to steer. The old body english does nothing for you. Steering is key to keeping my skin off the concrete.
9. I'll need 2 spare tubes instead of the usual one because of the different tire sizes.
I dunno about the steering thing. I've got an EZ Sport and to steer all I mainly do is lean.
I've ridden over 2000 thousand miles on my bent but I've never had a problem at all with the front tire. The back is another story. Now I use tuffies tire liners. Hopefully that will take care the flats.
Osco
10-19-05, 02:58 PM
Joetown244gl
I have about 75miles on my ez-1 getting my bent legs, grades are still a work out but thats cool my wife thinks my legs look better already.
I ride it hard on a tight curvey trail, I can throw it in and out of sharp turns with confidence and i have sucesfully controlled several small front tire skids in curves without crashing GO BENTS