I'm not a recumbent rider, so am not sure if this is a common style of bent bike. I've seen this guy a couple of times on a local MUP rail-trail. It's about the longest, lowest recumbent that I've ever seen -- coming at you from a distance you have to wonder just what the heck it is!
It's the "Formula 1 racer" of bikes, I guess. The rider is basically lying flat on his back with his butt about 2" off the pavement. If I stood next to it, the top of his helmet wouldn't be much above my knee. It certainly looks like a bad angle to have your neck at, but the opposite stretch from me on my conventional road bike.
It looks like it would be fun to try -- so low there'd be about zero wind resistance -- but I think I'd be really nervous about riding it on a road since you'd be several feet below the viewpoint of the SUV drivers. It also looks to me to be a bit wobbly due to small-diameter wheels and the basic geometry, and maybe a bit hard to hold up at a stop since you're almost sitting on the ground to begin with.
So could this be a commercially-available bike, or is it more likely a one-off custom? It almost looks like something you'd put a fairing on and go for some sort of speed record, but then again what do I know. :rolleyes:
NoNaYet
05-16-07, 11:58 AM
Google "lowracer" and see if you find it.
My preference is a trike. Trikes will wobble, but you don't fall down :-)
NNY
EZ-SportAX Curt
05-16-07, 12:38 PM
There's an older black man that rides someting like that here in Dayton, Ohio it's called a YellowBike and he is almost laying on the ground with his head proped up on a head rest high enought to see where he's going.
aikigreg
05-16-07, 01:51 PM
There's an older black man that rides someting like that here in Dayton, Ohio it's called a YellowBike and he is almost laying on the ground with his head proped up on a head rest high enought to see where he's going.
I know that guy - he's not very fast, but he's a nice guy. Rides a Baron Lowracer.
To the OP - there are plenty of commercial lowracers out there. Mine is an M5 Tica, which is just about as low as you can get - and all carbon fiber and titanium. Most are made in Europe, so are relatively rare here in the U.S. I think there are 5 of mine here is the states, though mine is probably the lightest of the bunch.
Michigan is probably the mecca of lowracers, next to Chicago. I'm surprised you haven't seen a ton of them before now. They are incredibly fast. On my last bike I was chip times at 33mph average for one ten mile stretch of thr Hotter N Hell last year.
DougG
05-16-07, 02:49 PM
What I saw was not one of the "lowracers" that I've seen pictures of so far -- even the Optima Baron. It basically had the wheels fully at either end of the bike, with the rider in a prone position down low between the wheels -- not with the pedals ahead of the front wheel like the lowracers that I've found pics of. Like I said, it was extremely long and low, as you might imagine.
The bike I saw made those lowracers look like they're sitting high!
diff_lock2
05-16-07, 03:39 PM
http://www.geocities.com/rcgilmore3/ProneBike.jpg
vik
05-16-07, 05:16 PM
What I saw was not one of the "lowracers" that I've seen pictures of so far -- even the Optima Baron. It basically had the wheels fully at either end of the bike, with the rider in a prone position down low between the wheels -- not with the pedals ahead of the front wheel like the lowracers that I've found pics of. Like I said, it was extremely long and low, as you might imagine.
The bike I saw made those lowracers look like they're sitting high!
Could be a home built bike. I've seen some funky designs that people have made.
countersTrike
05-16-07, 06:02 PM
I'm not a recumbent rider, so am not sure if this is a common style of bent bike. I've seen this guy a couple of times on a local MUP rail-trail. It's about the longest, lowest recumbent that I've ever seen -- coming at you from a distance you have to wonder just what the heck it is!
It's the "Formula 1 racer" of bikes, I guess. The rider is basically lying flat on his back with his butt about 2" off the pavement.
So could this be a commercially-available bike, or is it more likely a one-off custom?
Sounds like a velomobile - length and height (lower than mine- 3' - 6"). I don't know of any commercial 2 wheelers, but have not looked (trikes only for me). Wrong part of the US; but it sounds like the description people have of my kit- what the heck is that thing approaching. It is 4' off the pavement with almost 9' in length, but too wide for a 2 wheeler.
This is Bike Week here-many DF riders. One happy comment: "Hello down there!"
Dr.Deltron
05-17-07, 02:20 AM
This is Bike Week here-many DF riders. One happy comment: "Hello down there!"
:D
That IS a happy comment! I like that.
Did you ride the train to Felton, and pedal back down 9 last Saturday?
geebee
05-17-07, 06:11 AM
Something like this? It is a homebuilt design long wheel base (LWB), the lowracers have all but replaced the super low versions.
http://www.atomiczombie.com/gallery/bradgraham/marauder.jpg
EZ-SportAX Curt
05-17-07, 06:25 AM
I know that guy - he's not very fast, but he's a nice guy. Rides a Baron Lowracer.
To the OP - there are plenty of commercial lowracers out there. Mine is an M5 Tica, which is just about as low as you can get - and all carbon fiber and titanium. Most are made in Europe, so are relatively rare here in the U.S. I think there are 5 of mine here is the states, though mine is probably the lightest of the bunch.
Michigan is probably the mecca of lowracers, next to Chicago. I'm surprised you haven't seen a ton of them before now. They are incredibly fast. On my last bike I was chip times at 33mph average for one ten mile stretch of thr Hotter N Hell last year.
If he's the same guy he also rides a little yellow tadpole too. I talked to him once on the LMT while he was rideing the tadpole and I think he said it was an older Greenspeed. I told him about this site and BROL but I don't think he's on the net.
countersTrike
05-17-07, 09:10 PM
:D
That IS a happy comment! I like that.
Did you ride the train to Felton, and pedal back down 9 last Saturday?
No, Westcliff bike trail or west side streets exclusively for me with that monster! It is 77 pounds, so it would need a seperate flatcar! Highway 9 is a near perfect downhill. Although Bike Week, the only event I will catch is the parade Saturday. My middle name should be 'stick-in-the-mud'!
DougG
05-18-07, 06:21 AM
Something like this? It is a homebuilt design long wheel base (LWB), the lowracers have all but replaced the super low versions.
Yep, that's basically what it was, or at least close to that design. I didn't get a chance to take a close look, but maybe I'll stop the guy and ask him about it next time I see him.
aikigreg
05-18-07, 06:36 AM
by the way - my new street luge. and I mean LUGE. I sit almost flat on my back on this thing:
I would say a good chance is that you saw don smith on his nocom. Don lives in the area. heres a short vid of the bike. maybe this is who you saw.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMGN94NVU3k
lowracer1
05-18-07, 07:19 AM
Then again, if the bike was yellow in color, it is mike on a homebuilt ultra low racer.
NoNaYet
05-18-07, 08:20 AM
I would say a good chance is that you saw don smith on his nocom. Don lives in the area. heres a short vid of the bike. maybe this is who you saw.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMGN94NVU3k
Slightly OT, I saw a vido of Don Smith on the NoCom in another string and tracked down the hand mirror he was using. I now use one on my Catrike, and it works great. I hardly glance at the mounted mirrors anymore, relying mostly on the hand mirror.
World Tour
05-18-07, 11:08 AM
It's not my recycled trike is it?
DougG
05-18-07, 11:14 AM
Michigan is probably the mecca of lowracers, next to Chicago.
I'm not surprised; could have something to do with the $#%^ wind that's always blowing around here! :mad:
geebee
05-18-07, 10:06 PM
Very nice new toy Aikigreg, drool, drool.
lowracer1
05-23-07, 08:54 PM
so, Greg........ how bout you bring your luge down to Tennessee in September for Brat. It's looking like we might just have a few lowracers flying around on that ride. I'm pretty sure I'll be taking the nocom there this year. Hopefully I'll be able to climb on it half as well as my vk2
aikigreg
05-23-07, 09:02 PM
I've got it in my plan. My school admin will not like it for sure, but I've been wanting to ride with you guys for years!
BTW - here's a link to my photos from this weekend's ride. I'll have video of me snoking roadies as soon as I get the music entered and upload it.
Dr.Deltron
05-23-07, 09:05 PM
and tracked down the hand mirror he was using.
OK, GIVE!!
Where does one get such a mirror? :)
NoNaYet
05-24-07, 07:30 AM
http://www.alpha-sports.com
Enter "hand mirror" in the search window.
NNY
Leisesturm
05-24-07, 09:49 AM
There are several pictures and drawings of a bike like the OP saw, if in fact he really meant the rider was prone (face down) and not supine (face up). I've never learned how to post a picture directly so here is the url: http://www.recumbents.com/WISIL/copeland/stevecopeland.htm .