Recumbent - lowracer as an all-around bike

Hi all.
I am considering buying a Challenge Jester. I consider buying it because it is used, has good price, and
because it is fast.
I am new to bents (riding a DF road bike at the moment)
looking for some info - any help would be apreciated. my questions :

1. Are lowracers good for non-track rides, in public road with traffic, and (possibly) without
a group of other bikes ?
2. can lowracers handle urban riding (traffic lights, heavy traffic, etc.) reasonbly ? I am planning
to do 90% of my rides out of town, but the other 10% are unavoidable...
3. can lowracers handle long steep hills ? I don't care if they do it a little slower than DF, but
is it not a problem in steep inclines where most of your weight is on the rear side, does it ever
happen that the front wheel looses tracking or even raises up in the air ?
any other tips will also be great.
Thanks a lot.

1. Are lowracers good for non-track rides, in public road with traffic, and (possibly) without
a group of other bikes ?
Sure, why not?



2. can lowracers handle urban riding (traffic lights, heavy traffic, etc.) reasonbly ? I am planning
to do 90% of my rides out of town, but the other 10% are unavoidable...
I rode my Challenge Hurricane extensively around central London for 2 years. It wasn't a problem, but it was scary at first. You just need to adjust your riding style - accept that people at junctions may not see you, and that filtering through traffic is probably a bad idea. In heavy traffic any old granma bike will be faster than your fancy lowracer - IF you ride conservatively and safely. But that's only 10% of the time, right? The lighter the traffic, the less visibility advantage a normal bike has. For light to moderate traffic I found I could safely be as fast or faster than uprights.



3. can lowracers handle long steep hills ? I don't care if they do it a little slower than DF, but
is it not a problem in steep inclines where most of your weight is on the rear side, does it ever
happen that the front wheel looses tracking or even raises up in the air ?

I had no problems on hills with my Hurricane. Never lost traction, never had the front wheel in the air. In fact, with the Challenge design most of the weight is over the front wheel. So you will need to be VERY careful with the rear brake or you could lock it up and skid..

./Magnus

'musa said it all. A lowracer isn't the best bike for traffic, but it will work. You may want to get a detachable flag or something for riding in the city.

I have no issues on my Optima Baron. In some ways it's easier than other bikes. I wouldn't say lowracers are good for commuting (the gear haul factor) but urban riding, street, path, tour, makes no difference. I climb just fine - though it's a hurdle every once in a while if the path is a 90* turn THEN a steep incline.

My bike is a "quasi-lowracer" and I ride it year round for my commuting. You are a little less visible, but more noticable, if you know what I mean, on a lowracer compared to other bikes. People can look right at a normal bike but not "see" it while on your bent, they will be staring with their mouths open. I find I get more space in traffic because the cars don't know what they are dealing with. I have heard that some drivers thought I was some kind of handicapped person on a racing wheelchair or something.

I can't speak of the Jester but Iunderstand it is a really fast recumbent. I consider my Baron to be very road-worthy as a bike. It is comfortable and fast but the speed is only appreciable on lightly traveled roads where you can really let it fly. Your low height requires that you pay attention to traffic at all times - assume nothing; make eye contact with drivers when possible. I'd also suggest a flag/spinner and a flashing light in urban situations. As on any bike, you must be vigilant regarding surface conditions - a sunken road repair patch, hit at an acute angle, can take you down quickly - don't let that happen in front of a fast-moving vehicle. I really dislike having tailpipes in my face, though, so I seldom ride in heavy traffic.

As for climbs, the front will not lift. You may have to spin a lower gear than you do on an upright bike, but given enough recumbent conditioning you should climb just fine.

I live on the edge of an urban area and do most of my riding with my Baron on rural roads. However, I venture into downtowns and "stoplight" areas from time to time and really haven't felt threatened any more than I have on any other bent or upright.

I would NOT buy a Jester. Just look at the specs. It says the front wheel WILL derail the chain in a 90 deg. turn. But if you don't plan on turning, then go for it.

I would NOT buy a Jester. Just look at the specs. It says the front wheel WILL derail the chain in a 90 deg. turn. But if you don't plan on turning, then go for it.

If you run the chain alongside the fork, then yes the wheel will derail the chain. That's just a fact of life for lowracers. But it's not a problem in real life - nobody can turn their wheel that far while riding anyway, except maybe for when doing a trackstand, which is unnecessary since you can put a hand down.

I would NOT buy a Jester. Just look at the specs. It says the front wheel WILL derail the chain in a 90 deg. turn. But if you don't plan on turning, then go for it.

That's a good point but not necessarily a problem. My Baron's chain is in the lowered position along side the front wheel but I can still make 90-degree turns without derailment as long as the turn is wide enough and I don't pedal stroke should the front wheel rub the chain. Most street intersections, being wide enough for cars, are not a problem for me but if the turn is sharper and at a location requiring a pedal stroke, then my chain may derail. On the Baron, however, the standard chain routing is raised by idlers up and clear of the front wheel so chain interference is a non-issue (I lowered mine for speed purposes.) I'm not sure what the Jester chain configuration is, but this factor should be considered in your decision.

Like others have said, I have never had my chain derail during any turn, and mine is dropped alongside the fork as well. Mine has only ever derailed while attempting backwards pedaling.

Like others have said, I have never had my chain derail during any turn, and mine is dropped alongside the fork as well.

Same here... it can be a nuisance to some people but in reality, has no bearing on the ability to ride safely.

Dennis

For what it's worth I rode a NoCom lowracer on some very congested Chicago roads. I was learning how to ride the bike the first few miles and was way over into the road than I should have been. I got noticed on the Darth Vader machine let me tell you. It will work. Nice bike and if the price is right as a used bike for you I would buy it. The Jester is a really nice fast lowracer.
I have a review of the NoCom on my Blogsite: www.bacchettaaero.blogspot.com
Check it out. No issues with traffic. The NoCom is more radical than the Jester it's all out speed and low aerodynamics.

MG

I have a review of the NoCom on my Blogsite: www.bacchettaaero.blogspot.com
Check it out. No issues with traffic. The NoCom is more radical than the Jester it's all out speed and low aerodynamics.

MG

Kev, your pictures of the NoCom are very nice and really capture its sleek lines. I've been using the one of the full sideshot of the NC in front of the steps as my wallpaper. Good job.

Dennis

Kev, your pictures of the NoCom are very nice and really capture its sleek lines. I've been using the one of the full sideshot of the NC in front of the steps as my wallpaper. Good job.

Dennis

Thanks Dennis!
But really you should thank NoComAA for this great creation.
The NoCom 3 is soon to be out.
I hope to post some nice pics of that bike also.
On my Blog I will be shifting over to the mountain bike deal for a few posts.
I am going to make a slide show of high rez pics of our great trail system.
I know we talk 'bents here but it will still be worth a look...

MG

I would NOT buy a Jester. Just look at the specs. It says the front wheel WILL derail the chain in a 90 deg. turn. But if you don't plan on turning, then go for it.


Obviously World Tour has never been on a lowracer to make this statement. If you could turn your wheel that sharp you'd be on the ground anyhow. Turning sharper corners on a lowracer isn't that difficult. The nocom may be a different story but I've been on one only once for a half hours time and did have a bit of trouble with that bike as any slight right hand turn and the front wheel would run over the chain. It seems like others haven't had this problem with the nocom however.

Obviously World Tour has never been on a lowracer to make this statement. If you could turn your wheel that sharp you'd be on the ground anyhow. Turning sharper corners on a lowracer isn't that difficult.

I concur. I ride a full-blooded touring recumbent (the Optima Condor) and it's a bear to turn, with a 14 ft turning radius. I think a Baron turns better than a Condor. Yet I ride the Condor anywhere and the turning radius rarely ever bothers me, so it can't be that bad ;)

If a lowracer had been my first "bent" experience, I'm not sure it would have been the best bike for me at the time. I spent 18 months chugging along on a Burley Jett Creek before I bought my first lowracer. It took another 100 miles for me to adapt to it's responsiveness and speed. Having said that, I have never enjoyed riding a bike as much as I do now. I do 95% of my riding on rural roads, watching out for log trucks more than cars.
If your concerned about urban visibility, you can attach a flag to the bike. Climbing hills is easier for me, in part because I can use more of my hamstrings in a reclined position. And the bike only weighs 21#. But be warned, the descent is not for the faint of heart. These bikes are fast! Very, very fast! The Jester was designed for track racing, giving the choices out there, I'm not sure this would be my first choice for urban rides.

Good luck!
Bob
Fujin SL