Recumbent - Just took the plunge - used RANS Rocket

Well, I just did it. I bought a used RANS Rocket off of eBay today.

According to the description, "it has only been used on one short ride." Even assuming a bit of 'poetic license' there, it should be fairly low mileage. I believe I got a decent deal at $760.00 + $75.00 shipping.

Anyway, I have a few questions about the year model of the bike. It has the "tweener" style handlebars, like the one currently shown on the RANS website, but the paint is not two-tone. It's solid red.

I'm trying to attach a few of the pictures from the auction.

Anybody have any ideas as to what vintage this bike might be?

Can't wait to get my hands on it!

E-mail the serial number to Rans. They can tell you the year.

you'll like it. It's a solid design, and you should be able ot make most of your money back when you decide to get a new one in six months :)

Enjoy your Rocket. You will find to be a fun wee 'bent. I've put about 4,500km on mine since purchasing it a year ago.

The one short ride claim may be close to accurate. By now you may well be riding well. If not, give yourself a few minutes in a big empty parking lot to make your first ride a good one.

I bought mine used for $850 and it is the bike I ride most. I also have a Stratus XP and a Catrike Speed. The Rocket is so easy to commute on, i.e. to ride behind pedestrians at walking speed, to slowly wait at the light with just enough creep to not put feet down, to sit up an look around.

However, be careful with heal strike. I fell not long after getting mine doing a 180 in a parking lot. When turning sharply either point your toes to keep your heels a little higher or stop pedaling.

It may take you a bit to feel comfortable on it.

I love riding mine.

Gary

The bike came in via UPS yesterday. Shipping took a little longer than I anticipated, but I figure that just gave me an opportunity to cultivate patience :)

I put the bike together last night and this evening, and took it for a 'text ride' in my yard, in the dark. Fool that I am, I'll be taking it on my 30 mile round trip commute tomorrow. Assuming that I make it back, I'll let everyone know how it went.

That's pretty brave of you.

That handlebar setup looks weird to me. The stem is in the 'praying hamster' position, but it's using the wide B-39 bars that are meant for the superman position.

The stem isn't backwards, is it? The stem on my V-Rex, like on the newer Rockets, curves forward, not backwards.

Made it! There and back again in the same day.

Didn't fall over at any red lights. Didn't get hit.

I did chicken out this morning and I swapped my SPDs for the cage pedals that came with the bike. I'm not a newbie to clipless - I've got 3400 miles on mine this year - but I was getting the wiggins not being sure if I'd be able to handle it. Anyway, I'll swap them back out this evening so they'll be ready for my next ride.

My average speed on my daily commute is 16 MPH. This morning, I did 14.1, and this evening it was 15.4.

I like my new bike!

BTW - you guys were right about the handlebars. The original owner had them on backwards, but the LBS that shipped it for him disassembled it, and when I put it back together, I corrected it.

Glad you are enjoying...you will have that average speed up and maybe abofe your 16 before you know it. I would be like you on the pedal swap... I'd rathere be safe than sorry....:)

I traded in one of my bents for a rans rocket on Thursday , it's a alot of fun and pretty darn fast but I forgot about the heal strike (which is ALOT more closer than my Hurricane) and dumped it outside of work:lol: http://www.flickr.com/photos/steeker/2912606474/sizes/o/