Recumbent - Intro/new guy

Hi All,

I have been on BF for a couple of months but this is my first posting in recumbents.

I usually ride my road bike, but I also have a beloved 1989 Rans Stratus. Blue. Anyone else here ride one? I will try to post a pic of it in the near future. The bike rides well, my only gripe is the long chain and chain "retainers" make for a less-responsive drivetrain.

I am getting snipped in a few weeks, so something tells me I will be riding the recumbent quite a bit more over the next few months.

I do club riding and have not yet shown up with the recumbent....but am considering this soon. How have others been received in similar situations? I am concerned that I might not be able to "keep up" in the hills on the rans.

Doug

Hi All,

I have been on BF for a couple of months but this is my first posting in recumbents.

I usually ride my road bike, but I also have a beloved 1989 Rans Stratus. Blue. Anyone else here ride one? I will try to post a pic of it in the near future. The bike rides well, my only gripe is the long chain and chain "retainers" make for a less-responsive drivetrain.

I am getting snipped in a few weeks, so something tells me I will be riding the recumbent quite a bit more over the next few months.

I do club riding and have not yet shown up with the recumbent....but am considering this soon. How have others been received in similar situations? I am concerned that I might not be able to "keep up" in the hills on the rans.

Doug


It depends on the group you are riding with. If they attack the hills, you'll probably get dropped on a rans. You'd need a speed specific racing recumbent to keep up with then uphill. You would also need about 6 months of time on any recumbent to get your legs developed so as to produce the maximum amount of power needed and to have any kind of endurance.

A couple months on bike forums? it says you joined in december

It depends on the group you are riding with. If they attack the hills, you'll probably get dropped on a rans. You'd need a speed specific racing recumbent to keep up with then uphill. You would also need about 6 months of time on any recumbent to get your legs developed so as to produce the maximum amount of power needed and to have any kind of endurance.

A couple months on bike forums? it says you joined in december

I have been lurking since october, didn't officially "join" until 3 weeks ago.

Thanks for the tips on keeping up on a recumbent.

Doug

If they're not a bunch of testosterone-drenched kids with delicate egos, they probably care more about your skills riding than what you're riding. If they get a rotten draft from you, they might relegate you to the back of the group. You might have to make a few concessions, but it can be done.

I just go on the easy rides, or ride more by myself. Still can't do steep hills yet, but that might be more of a cardiac problem than I previously thought.

Hi Doug. This is my first day to post, maybe second post. I just got a Stratus XP, September, and really love it. However, I ride my Rocket to work; too many students on campus to doge and the Rocket fits in the elevator and in my office. But I love the Stratus XP, just have to have the Rocket too (are you reading this Dear?).
Gary

Hi Doug -- glad to see another Stratus rider. I got my XP last June.

I think once you develop your 'bent legs, you'll be able to keep up with just about anyone. I've found very few DF'ers I can't match. Yes, really long hills are a challenge, but shorter ones are no sweat. The Stratus is one fast machine.

I have to admit, I'm not real comfortable riding in close proximity to other riders. Whenever I get around a large group, I either drift toward the back or go right to the front.

i ride a 15 mile loop at Ft Jackson and find myself riding the opposite direction from most other riders. I enjoy the stares from DF riders but my middle aged ego is too fragile to compete with their multi-color spandex wrapped bodies.

does the term spandex date me?

Bienvenidos! How ou're received when you ride bent can vary widly with the group. I was largely ignored when I started, since I was always spit off the back of the pack. But as I got more-and-more bent time I started being the rabbit to their hounds, and after that I was either hated or loved, depending on the ego of the person who I outpaced. If it's a competitive group, yuo have your work cut out for you!

Your question has been answered...but wanted to also welcome you to the group, good place to share ideas on what is what in the bent world.
peace

The club group usually stayed with me and my fully faired trike. All of the faster riders would wait at the top of the first big hill and try to draft me on the way down. Hey soos, what draft? If I kept going at the bottom it might be half an hour before they caught up.

Thanks for the encouragement....I will consider taking the Rans out on one of the local club rides soon....and will try to pick one that is a fairly flat course.

and will try to pick one that is a fairly flat course.


Why?

Why?

because i am afraid i would get dropped on the steeper/longer hills.

Join us tonight for an unusual ride!. We'll attempt to meet up with the Landskaters ( Philly's in-line skating club;see link below). The Landskaters leave 7:20pm from the top of the Philly Art Museum steps. If we get to the Art Museum in time we'll ride with the Landskaters for a little while before heading back to Conshohocken. We'll leave 6:15 sharp for the Art Museum. If you're an experienced in-line skater consider coming out to ride with the Landskaters

Landskaters: http://www.landskaters.org/ (http://www.landskaters.org/)
Tuesday
January 8th,
6:00pm
6:00 p.m., 14-16 mph, 25 miles, Start CNSH (http://www.suburbancyclists.org/scuguide.htm#LCNSH) "Night Lights" Ride: Conshohocken to Art Museum. The weather forecast for this Tuesday says highs in the low 60s.We'll take advantage of the warm weather and do our standard 25 mile round trip loop ride from Conshohocken to the Philly Art Museum. Meet 6:00pm in the SEPTA lot under the bridge (E. Elm and Harry St. in Conshohocken next to the Outbound Station convenience store). The ride leaves at 6:15pm and will return no later than 8:30pm. Rain, snow or starting temp. below 40F cancels the ride.

Hi All
I've just joined this great forum
So its a big hello from Norwich,Norfolk,UK
For those of you in the know, I am a friend of
the recumbent builder Mike Burrows
try this link http://www.vimeo.com/469647

Have a look at my Flickr site for more pics of recumbents

cheers
bottlemasher
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44642610@N00/542585053/

because i am afraid i would get dropped on the steeper/longer hills.

Incentive to move your behind a little faster! I started riding with a bunch of cat 2s and 3s this year up ad down a fairly hilly course. The beginning of the summer had me the last one back to the parking lot. End of the season meant I was often first to third out of 20 cyclists.

The whole reason everyone thinks bents are slow on any course with elevation gain of any kind is because few bent riders have the moxie to train for the hills! I assure you you can hang with them eventually, but not without practice!