Vacuum Velocipedes... They're baaaaaaaack!

[AverageCommuter]

While I can't deny that the temptation was strong to keep it to myself in the interest of keeping the bidding low, that wouldn't be very nice of me. The Vacuum Velocipedes are back on ebay.

The red one...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=106949&item=7166278286&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
http://image.inkfrog.com/pix/nsb2000/red_trike_side.JPG

and the blue one...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=106949&item=7166270905&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
http://image.inkfrog.com/pix/nsb2000/P6250790.JPG

I want one of those things badly, but I can't imagine that they will remain cheap enough for me to get.

[jeff-o]

According to the auctions, one pedal on the blue one is bent.

And... don't these things have a learning curve almost as steep as a unicycle?

[AverageCommuter]

Yes, I noticed the first time they went up for auction that the blue one appeared to have a bent pedal.

From what I've been reading, learning to ride it depends on the person. For some people it takes a long time to get used to it while others just get on and go. Don't know which category I'd fall into, but I'd make myself learn it if it wasn't intuitive.

[jeff-o]

Also, I fisited the website of the guy who originally built these (or their inspiration). He said that they are not really suited for commuting or even long trips, rather they are best for simply showing off. So, if you're looking for a cheap 'bent for everyday riding, this may not be it.

[bentbaggerlen]

I had a chance to ride one, I had stopped by a bike shop along the Northampton Ma. rail-trail. They had a customer that gave it to them to cover his bill at the shop, I don't know what became of it, I do know that it was for sale.

The bike dose have a learning curve. I was able to ride it, but I also dumped it three times ending up with two bloody elbows, and ripping my shorts almost up to the waist. It was a breazy ride home.

[meb]

Yes, I noticed the first time they went up for auction that the blue one appeared to have a bent pedal.

From what I've been reading, learning to ride it depends on the person. For some people it takes a long time to get used to it while others just get on and go. Don't know which category I'd fall into, but I'd make myself learn it if it wasn't intuitive.

Which pedal is bent and how did you notice?

[johntolhurst]

The bent cranks on both red and blue bikes indicate they have the linear drive. You can generate lots of power, but its not a particularly ergonomic or mechanically efficient pedalling style, so not so good for long trips.

[AverageCommuter]

Which pedal is bent and how did you notice?

If you go to the auction and look at the 4th image the pedal does not line up with the arm which connects to the crank. It wasn't mentioned in the description the first time but there it was. Can't tell from the image if the problem is with the pedal itself or the threads on the arm.

[meb]

The bent cranks on both red and blue bikes indicate they have the linear drive. You can generate lots of power, but its not a particularly ergonomic or mechanically efficient pedalling style, so not so good for long trips.

Are you saying the bent cranks were fabricated that way to accomodate the linear drive and as such is a normal attribute of the trike?

[jeff-o]

Are you saying the bent cranks were fabricated that way to accomodate the linear drive and as such is a normal attribute of the trike?

No, the bent pedal we're talking about is damage to the bike.

[ChiliDog]

WOW! A bike that incorporates my 2 favorite pastimes: bent riding and napping! :D

Seriously, I think this is what I saw on my local trail last year...I never could figure out what the guy was riding, but now I think this was it!

Why are they so hard to ride?

[jeff-o]

WOW! A bike that incorporates my 2 favorite pastimes: bent riding and napping! :D

Seriously, I think this is what I saw on my local trail last year...I never could figure out what the guy was riding, but now I think this was it!

Why are they so hard to ride?

There are two steeting mechanisms. One lever causes the whole back to pivot, allowing you to steer. The other lever is for balance, it causes the bike to lean to the left or right for high-speed cornering. It does so by lifting one rear wheel higher than the other.

Apparently many first timers get on the vacuum and are immediately dumped on the ground because they didn't secure the balance lever (or push on it too hard, causing it to lean over).

It's hard to steer because the style of riding changes depending on how fast you're going. At slow speeds, you keep the balance lever secure and steer normally. At medium speeds, it's a combination of both. At high speeds you must use the balance control AND steering for cornering, or you'll fall off.

Basically, it seems to require more effort to ride than any other bike, and is therefore useful only as a showpiece.

[Carey]

Man you guys are bumbing me out. That is a nice bike and it looks like a dream to ride. Now reality is setting in, oh man. Are there recumbent with the larger ten speed style wheels. I would preffer something that is still lower to the ground if possible. Ok not the bumb scraper that we were just looking at but still low.. Bi or tricycle are both good. Thanks for any info...

[geebee]

Man you guys are bumbing me out. That is a nice bike and it looks like a dream to ride. Now reality is setting in, oh man. Are there recumbent with the larger ten speed style wheels. I would preffer something that is still lower to the ground if possible. Ok not the bumb scraper that we were just looking at but still low.. Bi or tricycle are both good. Thanks for any info...

Try searching for Lowracer in google, very low and very fast. There are some low racing style trikes as well have a look at greenspeed.com.au, or search for 2005 speed on catrike.com.
Not 26" wheels but they can have strength issues (side load) with trikes, Greenspeed make a trike with a touch over 2" ground clearance if you are into low.

[jeff-o]

Try searching for Lowracer in google, very low and very fast. There are some low racing style trikes as well have a look at greenspeed.com.au, or search for 2005 speed on catrike.com.
Not 26" wheels but they can have strength issues (side load) with trikes, Greenspeed make a trike with a touch over 2" ground clearance if you are into low.

Also look at Trice recumbents, out of the UK. They build both generic (and relatively inexpensive) trikes, as well as custom-fitted ones.

[aadragna]

Ok, I had a red one. Bought it form the man himself around 1989. Sold it because of apartment living. What a dolt I was. I have been reading these pages on the velocipedes for a while now and I need to speak up. The learning curve is about one good day on the trike. You'll need some tough gardening gloves and tighten the rear shock to prevent the rear wheels from oversteering during a turn or sudden manuever. This trike kicked ass. 72 tooth ring in front. Dave wouldn't sell me the 92. Drove it into the ground for a good year. Oh, yah... Bought it at the time for $800.00. Rode it around Livermore. My hobby was touring the Lab at around the time all the tech geeks got off work and rode home. The fun was listening to them try to keep up with me at around 35mph. The trike kicked ass.

[NZLcyclist]

The listings are gone :(

[meb]

Ok, I had a red one. Bought it form the man himself around 1989. Sold it because of apartment living. What a dolt I was. I have been reading these pages on the velocipedes for a while now and I need to speak up. The learning curve is about one good day on the trike. You'll need some tough gardening gloves and tighten the rear shock to prevent the rear wheels from oversteering during a turn or sudden manuever. This trike kicked ass. 72 tooth ring in front. Dave wouldn't sell me the 92. Drove it into the ground for a good year. Oh, yah... Bought it at the time for $800.00. Rode it around Livermore. My hobby was touring the Lab at around the time all the tech geeks got off work and rode home. The fun was listening to them try to keep up with me at around 35mph. The trike kicked ass.

Did you have the reciprocating pedals or cranks?
If the former, what was your opinion on that approach vs. cranks?

[aadragna]

The linier drive just felt right. Once you got into the groove you couldn't beat it. I tried the circular drive and it felt crazy at high speeds. I was glad to get back to the drive I learned on. I really miss my tricycle.