Recumbent - CLWB/LWB Low Crank Recumbents brands

I'm about to head to Florida for a week and plan to check out some recumbents while I'm down there. Cold and snowing here, not the best conditions for a test ride, at least to someone who has spent all of 15 minutes on bent in his life.

I'm primarily looking at CLWB, possibly LWB, bents that have lower cranks, at prices no higher than $2000 (and preferably less than $1500) The ones I know of that are still being made are the Sun EZ-series, RANs Stratus (& LE), Easy Racers, and the Bacchetta Agio. I also know about the ActionBent Manta Ray, but I know that isn't in stores.

Just wondering if anything else is out there that I'm missing.

If I happen to run across a good deal on a Burley, whom I believe had a bent or two like this, are those worth checking out? I know about BikeE too, as one of the guys who works in my LBS's bent shop used to work for them, maybe I'll see a used one.

Lightfoot Cycles makes them at the top end of your price range. I don't think you can test ride, since it doesn't look like they have a dealer list. Most of them have disc brakes.

The Burley 'Checkmark' frames were pretty popular. I think Sandpoint was one model. Also consider Cycle Genius and the Camby Recumboni, if you can find one. If you're willing to consider an Agio, then the RANS tailwind is a 20/20 version - or rather, the Agio is the 26/20 version of the RANS Tailwind.

Yes, the Agio is the highest crank I'd want to deal with. I've ridden a Tailwind but didn't like the gearing, although I know that can be changed. It is discontinued now, but my LBS still has one.

I've seen references to the Cycle Genius bents. but had forgotten about them. That company is no longer around now, right?

I know a person with a Burley Adirondack for sale. But I haven't seen it yet.

I'm about to head to Florida for a week and plan to check out some recumbents while I'm down there. Cold and snowing here, not the best conditions for a test ride, at least to someone who has spent all of 15 minutes on bent in his life.

I'm primarily looking at CLWB, possibly LWB, bents that have lower cranks, at prices no higher than $2000 (and preferably less than $1500) The ones I know of that are still being made are the Sun EZ-series, RANs Stratus (& LE), Easy Racers, and the Bacchetta Agio. I also know about the ActionBent Manta Ray, but I know that isn't in stores.

Just wondering if anything else is out there that I'm missing.

If I happen to run across a good deal on a Burley, whom I believe had a bent or two like this, are those worth checking out? I know about BikeE too, as one of the guys who works in my LBS's bent shop used to work for them, maybe I'll see a used one.

Where or what part of Florida Are you going to in, if your going to be in Central Florida I can tell you a couple of Shops to visit. Hamptons is on the Withlacoochee Trail in Istachatta, Florida (http://www.hamptonsedge.com/home/main.html ) and he has the Bents you are wanting to look at and you can Ride ( test ) to your hearts content. The other shop is in Plant City ( Power on Cycles ) ( http://store.valueweb.com/servlet/poweron/StoreFront ) and Mark also has what your looking for and also lets you ( test ) bikes. Both are Great Shops with great people to deal with.

Thanks. Unfortunately I will be in NE sector, up around St. Augustine and then down the coast one day to Melbourne. I have located some recumbent dealers, using the RANS, SUN, and Bacchetta web pages, and have a list of places to check out. Nothing that looks overwhelming, except that a place down in Indiatlantic has a shop, Beach Bicycle, that is authorized to carry a number of bent lines.

To my surprise, I haven't found an LBS in Daytona that is listed as carrying bents, even though there are many bike shops there. There are places authorized by SUN in Ormond Beach and New Smyrna. And a couple in St. Augustine.

I was planning on calling a few this week to see which actually had bents on their floors. Being authorized to sell SUN or RANS doesn't mean they have any.

Bike Works, a chain around Orlando, advertises recumbents on their web page.

Tom:

What part of florida are you comming too? There is a recumbant dealer here in Port Charlotte, he has used ones from time to time,,deals mostly in Suns,,i think, i bought two used ones through him..they were on consignment..

Mike B,

tom,,

Ok well enjoy your trip down,,and enjoy fla,,hope u find what your looking for.. as i said i bought these two bents on consignment,,one a lightening,,short wheel,,and a tadpole for my wife,,ive always enjoyed biking,,and could never get her on one,,now cant get her off that tadpole :-)),,its my first bent too,,and i really like it..keep the sticky side down.

Mike B

If you're willing to consider an Agio, then the RANS tailwind is a 20/20 version - or rather, the Agio is the 26/20 version of the RANS Tailwind.

What are deciding factors when consider the 20/20 against the 26/20?

What are deciding factors when consider the 20/20 against the 26/20?

I'm a bit of a big-wheel chauvinist, and I believe that big wheels give better gears. By that I mean with cassettes being equal and operating within the limits of front derailleurs, you get a wider range with a big wheel. For instance, going from 42T to 52T is a 23% jump, but on a 20" wheel operating in the same gear range, that same 10 tooth jump means going from a 52T to a 62T - only 19%. Also, small wheels tend to lose momentum quicker, meaning lower cruising speeds. I don't have a good physics explanation for why that is, it's just something that's generally acknowledged.

On the plus side, small wheels make for a smaller package. The bike can be shorter. Small wheels are a lot stronger than big wheels. You can get *lower* gears with a small wheel, if that's important. Also, you only have to stock one spare tire/tube instead of two. Some people like the look of having one size of tire, and a dual-26 might be too tall for them. Even a chauvinist like me will admit that the speed disadvantage is 'small' (sorry!) and that small wheels can still be pretty quick.

BP, while I agree with everything you've said, for me I can climb better on a 20 inch wheel. It's hard to keep this old engine tuned up.;)