Chilli, We bought the V-Rexs new from the Village Bike Shop in Jenison, Michigan during their sale last week and are waiting on Judy's bike to come from Hayes. We love the way the V-Rexs ride and were able to get them for less than MSLP.

Started my conversion to the 'bent way on a used Radius Peer Gynt, very much like a Ryan Vanguard: USS/LWB, rear-suspension - great-riding bike, but HEAVY! Next, bought a lightly used RANS V-2, 2001 model with the good components and fairing. Really comfortable bike, FAST on the downhills, but I never could get up those hills very fast. So today, I test-rode a RANS Force 5XP dual 650, and man, is it one sweet ride! Light, fast, easy to handle...I'm buying it! So now I have three 'bents in my stable, no room for them, really, but I can't bear to give any of them up. Guess I'll have to build a shed to house them all.
I'm wondering if anyone out there has done any touring on a dual highracer, like the Force 5...pulled a trailer, used a mid-ship rack, or? I know I can't do loaded touring on it (unless I go with the trailer), but I would like to use it for shorter trips, or non-camping ones...

I'm still riding my first recumbent, a used Ryan Vanguard purschased several years ago. I'm adding a second recumbent soon and it's probably going to be the Longbikes Eliminator.

I started my bent life off on a Bacchetta Giro 20 however I could never get into it. I had recumbutt and my knees hurt. I redialed the seat several times, listened to the suggestions and implemented the changes recommended from other Bacchetta bent riders and even from Bacchetta themselves. Great bike, great support but the higher BB was not for me.
I found a used Gold Rush gathering dust in bike store in the U.S. I was only looking for sizing on a Tour Easy. The Gold Rush and I have not looked back. I retired to cycle and the Gold Rush has fulfilled this dream. I ride almost daily and my speed now exceeds anything I could accomplish on a DF
Life is great on a bent

Wow! Almost 2 years later and I see what I wrote. Things have changed for me and I really have "settled" quite a bit after that time.

I now own a Wizwheelz Terratrike tadpole trike and a RANS Fusion crank forward bike. I really, really love both of these and can't see myself ever letting go of either one of them. I am finally content in my ride choices after experimenting with SWB, CLWB, and LWB bikes. Nothing was really "right" until these two.

I will say that I would not mind a GRR or TE in my stable, but that might be a while down the road, if ever. For now I am in my "niche" with the two that I have. For me, that is quite an accomplishment!

Deb

I'm on my second 'bent only because my geographical location necessitated that I purchase my first traditional SWB without the opportunity to try a vast array of models. I've settled down for the forseeable future with my Baron (lowracer). One thing is sure, each of these bikes seem so unique from one another that they don't last long on the used market; most enthusiasts are only limited in the number of models that they own by economics and/or storage space. Other than claims of neck pain (which I don't experience even w/o a neckrest) and dubious claims that lowracers are less visible to motorists, I feel they embody the best of 'bents, great comfort--without recumbutt issues, awesome speed, and superb handling.

Wow! Almost 2 years later and I see what I wrote. Things have changed for me and I really have "settled" quite a bit after that time.

Same here, Chili. Since my first post in this thread, I added a Bacchetta Aero and an Optima Baron and then sold the Aero. So, I've settled, as it were, on one highracer (Volae Team) and one lowracer, the Baron.

Dennis

Commuted and toured on a Bacchetta Strada - switched to a Cat Speed. Love the trike. Had knee replacement surgery last Nov. and find the stability and balance improved.

When I asked that question more than 2 years ago, I was wondering if there was a better way than my EZ Sport. I still do like the bike, but it's heavy, doesn't climb hills well, hard to transport and while comfortable, I moved in the seat too much.
Well it took me over a year but the Catrike Road I now have is just the ticket.
I suspect that all of us will change models as time goes on.

I started out on a LWB Jett Creek, put over 2000 miles on it but decided I wanted a bent with better performance. The bike was very comfortable and easy to ride but it did give me some annoying knee and lower back pains that just seemed to linger. I went full circle and now ride a lowracer. It lacks the comfortable feel of a flexy LWB but with its reclined seat( 2" foam pad) and high bottom bracket, I don't suffer from any physical discomforts. And..........its very, very fast!
I sold the Jett Creek last month and now wake up in the middle of the night dreaming of new roads to travel. These bikes are great!

Bob
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