Recumbent - Volaes and Rans's

Was at the annual fly in at Oshkosh and stopped at the Hostel Shoppe in Stevens Point on the way back yesterday. First off I'll have to say what a nice store and exceptionally nice people who are working in it. Very impressive place! Great folks there.
I have a LWB bent that I love and have put thousands of miles on, but it is a bit heavy and now that I'm experienced enough I'm looking around a bit for a lighter more nimble road bike.
I rode one of their Volaes, (I don't remember which one) and after a half mile or so I started to feel comfortable with the high BB. This was my first time on a SWB high BB bent. Seemed like a nice bike with great components, but I wasn't sure I could get used to the reclining position forcing one to hold your head up forward to see down the road. Not quite chin on the chest, but sort of... Maybe I'm just used to the lower BB and more upright seat of my LWB bent and could get used to the different position on the Volae? What is everyones thoughts on this?
I then road a Rans Velocity 3, an aluminum longer wheel base bent which I absolutely fell in love with, too. I saw the titanium edition of this at the Rans booth (airplanes) at Oshkosh and was impressed with its lightness so was glad to get a chance to try out the aluminum one. I had no problem with the more upright position with this bike. Anyone have one of these and how do you like it?
Thanks Bob

Hi Bob!

Nope, I don't have a Rans, but I have had a SWB-high-BB. I didn't ever get used to the high BB and eventually sold it. I briefly had a Catrike Speed (trike) and really loved that puppy. I'm "crash-averse" and strongly tend toward either low BB 'bents or (preferably) trikes. So far as I know, Rans' reputation is sterling. You probably can't go wrong with any of their products, from what I've read. Happy Shopping!

RANS (It's all caps) has been making bents for a long time and makes good, solid bikes. Many bents are a little finicky and require some tender loving care to make them ride well and/or keep up. Not RANS, nor Volae or Bacchetta. These are solid, well built bikes that are designed right and ride well with minimum fussing over.

My first bent was a RANS V-Rex and the thing was bullet-proof. The only real problem that I ever heard of much was some people have problems with a slipping seat mount and an occasional squeaky idler. There is a fix for the seat mount, if necessary, and the company has the reputation of replacing things like the occasional idler with no argument.

All said and done, I'd recommend a RANS to anybody, as I would a Volae or Bacchetta (I've owned them too). Good bikes all.

I own two bikes by RANS (2005 V-Rex, 2007 Stratus XP). I have no problem recommending the company.

I own 5 RANS bikes and can say with a straight face they have the best recumbent bikes for the $$$$ and they do stand behind their product with VERY good service.

You might get in touch with Nanda at www.spincyclz.com and ask him. He's my Rans dealer. He stopped by the other night, but the V3 he was on wasn't aluminum, it was a steel prototype. He might have ridden an aluminum one, though. He'll tell you how the different models feel to him.

I too found myself in Wisconsin early this month, so I managed to head up north to the Hostel Shoppe. I had the same opinions of the place and the people working there (all great). I test rode the Expidition Pro (high BB) and the Century (low BB) both SWB. I ride a Rans Vrex (SWB) and a Catrike Road. I really like the Vrex, but I'm looking for a SWB with a longer wheelbase and tweener bars. I really liked the Expidition (highBB) for the short ride and since the roads are flat. I'm not sure how I'd like it for longer rides and climbing the hills here Vermont. The Century was great, and was what I'm looking for to replace the Vrex. Not sure about the hardshell seat and the front steering seemed a little squirely at times. So I'm looking at the Barcroft Dakota.

Brian

Thanks, Brian. I wasn't sold on the hardshell seat either, although I have to admit it was comfortable. Guess it was more the reclining position that I wasn't used to.

I should have a t-shirt made like those ones about books - "So many bikes, so little time" And money too, I guess!