Recumbent - Got my bent

Yesterday the weather finally cooperated here in PA and I took the trek to NJ to test ride and purchase my first bent. I tried the Giro 20 and Rans VRex, but found the seat height on the VRex a little high and was not comfortable with the "praying hampster" bars. I came home with the Giro 20 as it just felt right. The shop guy was great and since I was paying cash threw in some nice extras. Now if the weather will just cooperate and I can get some riding in. I've never seen any recumbents in my area, except on the MS 150 so I'm going to be conspicuous, but I don't care. Already had some neighborhood kids ooohing and aahing last night when my daughter and her boyfriend were test riding it in the alley.

Pat

Welcome to the bent life, Pat! Ride proud, and be sure to wave.

Congrats

once you get used to the bike you could drive it up North to Lake Ontario and meet us half way, and we'll all do a long ride

just in case no one mentioned this ---> on SWB ( short wheel base recumbents ) such as your Giro20 you will get what is called heel strike on the front wheel doing sharp turn if you peddel during those sharps turns, no one told me about that when I first started on a recumbent ,

Thanks, Steeker. The guy at Jersey Bents told me and how to avoid it. Looks like rain here but is 60 something degrees out. Hopefully the rain will hold off til I can get home and take a short ride.

Pat

...I'm going to be conspicuous, but I don't care.

YES, you will, so that's a good 'tude to have! :D

I'm hard of hearing, but the kids relay comments that they hear when we ride the bike trail.
Apparently, thay are numerous AND positive, from young & old alike!

Welcome to Recumbent World! ;)

Here we are aboard our Winnetriko...affectionately known as Tigger!
Get it? T-I-double*-Guh-Rr. :p

*double = tandem speak for a 2 person tandem. The teenager & I refer to the little ones as "cargo". :rolleyes:

We added the trailer when the twins came along.


Have FUN Pat, I'm sure you're gonna LOVE it! ...Word of caution though....

DON'T try a tadpole TRIKE! At least not until you have 5000+ miles on your 20.

WHY????

Weeeell, just ask any tadpole rider! ;):p ...and have your Platinum card READY! :roflmao:

My GF and I will be riding out bents anyday soon near Valley Forge area, Schulkill Trails, Manyunk.. keep in touch if interested.

My GF and I will be riding out bents anyday soon near Valley Forge area, Schulkill Trails, Manyunk.. keep in touch if interested.

Will do. I will be in the area on the last Friday in April for sure, but dh and I do ride that trail...need more control on the bent first though. We usually park at Upper Perkiomen Park? and head toward Philly.

Good choice with the Giro 20. It's an easy to ride, tough bike.

Now get out there and be conspicuous.

GF and I usually start off from BetzWood or Oaks just off of Rt. 422, ride into Manayunk for lunch and head back.

Later this year we're talking about a 5-day ride on the Towpath between Washington DC and Pitt. PA.

Hope you can get used to people looking at you kinda funny. And kids pointing at you.

Welcome from another newbie..... I've had my bent for 2 weeks and have only driven my car twice during the time. I live in a smallish city (Chambersburg, PA) and I'm the only 'bent in town that I know of - so yeah, I'm conspicuous too, and I commute on it. I've gotten my first holy sh*t, whoa, lots of staring and people asking me what it is..... but I've got a heck of a grin on my face goin' down the road.

Sit back and enjoy your's cause I do mine. :D

just in case no one mentioned this ---> on SWB ( short wheel base recumbents ) such as your Giro20 you will get what is called heel strike on the front wheel doing sharp turn if you peddel during those sharp turns, no one told me about that when I first started on a recumbent ,
Gee, I wish people had told me about that before I started riding bikes. A pedal strike and a large pole vault was my first experience with pedaling in a sharp turn at age 7. After that bruising experience I learned to stop pedaling with the crank in the right position while the bike was leaning over.:)

Congrats on the new bike. We need pictures of the new ride. Be prepared to stop frequently for questions.:D

[QUOTE=charly17201;6287058]Welcome from another newbie.....I live in a smallish city (Chambersburg, PA) and I'm the only 'bent in town that I know of

Thanks for the welcome. I know Chambersburg. We used to go camping out your way at Caledonia and Pine Grove Furnace.

So Mindy0611 , How much fun are ya having on the new bike ?

Will do. I will be in the area on the last Friday in April for sure, but dh and I do ride that trail...need more control on the bent first though. We usually park at Upper Perkiomen Park? and head toward Philly.

It has taken me about 2 weeks to get comfortable on my bent. I kept trying to oversteer --- and the touch is so light compared to the upright. Last evening's commute was the first time I felt confident enough to try and pace traffic going through part of downtown. What a blast and a heck of a burn in the legs for 3/4 of a mile in the 'big' ring/gear.

Just some advice - if you're experiencing twitchy/oversteer, then you're probably not doing it right. Grip the handlebars lightly and let your entire upper body relax. The weight of your arms resting on the bars should naturally pull on the bars and center them. Do not push on the bars the way you would on an upright; instead, drop the inside shoulder to gently *pull* the handlebars the direction you want them to go.

Just some advice - if you're experiencing twitchy/oversteer, then you're probably not doing it right. Grip the handlebars lightly and let your entire upper body relax. The weight of your arms resting on the bars should naturally pull on the bars and center them. Do not push on the bars the way you would on an upright; instead, drop the inside shoulder to gently *pull* the handlebars the direction you want them to go.

I know. But, knowing what you're supposed to do and getting your body to do it..... took me two weeks. :) I was so used to the upper body pressure on the upright bars and 'lightly' on the 'bent was a change to get used to.

just thought I'd chime in as I saw some local bent riders. I live in Phoenixville and ride the VF trail to betzwood as part of my commute. I've logged many many miles on that trail over the past 10 years or so. I have a lot of bikes and use bent (vision r40 lwb) for long tours, but you will see me on the trail with it every once in a while. I'd be up for a commuty ride with other local bent riders if anyone is interested. I only know a few bent riders in the area, and most of those people are members of my family (literally) :).