Recumbent - I Love Craig's List!

Even without the exrotic ads!

Well, I've been looking for a bent for a good month. I went from not knowing squat to standing on the shoulder's of giants. I thought I was going to have to settle for a new bent when a gentleman put a 2006 Blue Giro 20 in St Louis' CL this morning. Four e-mails, three phone calls, and one round trip and I have it! Its beautiful and in great condition. Needs some new grips and I might get new handlebar tape, but it in tip top condition. It even came with Bacchetta fenders and rear rack. I threw on my Bike Planet light set and cruised the night. The tires were allot faster than the stock ones on the new ones I test rode. Hills came and went, I just down shifted and pedaled away. I rode for an hour! Haven't done that for two weeks! Its just a great feeling. I'm still a little twitchy, but I'm sure I will improve.

I'm off to bed. got to get up and go riding in the morning! Now I get to see that the country side looks like instead of the road!

Jerry

Congrats! You have a very sweet bike there! I was riding my all afternoon in the sun!

Very nice Jerry! Welcome to the 'bent side. :)

Very good!
What kind of tires are on it?

Congrats on your new ride. :thumb:

I too found my SWB Volae Tour on CL, co-incidentaly it's blue also.

Very good!
What kind of tires are on it?

The seller had bought a set of Schwalbe Marathons for it, but the back one was not 1.5", so it rubbed the back fender badly. He replaced it with a Primo Comet and added a Mr Tuffy wheel liner as well. Very fast and smooth ride compared to the stock Kendals I rode on.

Jerry

Very nice.

I got up and did a short route this morning. The backroads were clear and the morning crisp. I went to the gym to weight in and due some core exercises. Came back through the country and buzzed around the lake and campgrounds.

I know I shouldn't have...but I hit a few hills this morning. I guess I was slower going up a few steep ones but I really couldn't tell. The downside WAS FASTER for sure!

I rode around town when I got back to pratice low speed handling and turns. I think I did good. Still learning the "tightest" turn possible, but getting better.

So, after two hours on the bent I find myself.......converted. I don't think I can ride another DF bike again! No expensive padded shorts, gel gloves, or fittings to waste my money on. Guess I can always save up for my next bent!

BTW, I'm down to 265 (started at 310 on January 1st) as of this morning. I'm only 35 pounds away for ANY fast performance bent! Look out roadies!

Jerry

Welcome to the laid-back world! I bought/sold a lot on CL; everything from tools, recumbent trikes or a velomobile, my 3-wheel micro-car- to getting rid of my 4-wheel full sizee car. No bum deals at all. Two items were overpriced and owners would not lower prices, but I just nicely said "OK, bye"!

I've been searching St Lou's CL for quite awhile. There is plenty of Sun trikes and other lower end bents on there, mostly by folks who rode once and gave up.

Saw a few high end trikes as well. Way high end! Still cheaper than buying new and most of the times they have upgraded parts or add ons.

Jerry

You managed to find a very versatile bike! I like the idea of tire liners. If properly installed, the thin ones do a good job with little penalty. I use Spin Skins Vectran and Kevlar. They are a pain in the butt to get right, but once you do, they roll no differently than a naked tire. I had one sidewall flat since I put them in; the glass missed the Vectran belt.

I also have a 20"/26" format bent and believe that it is the optimal format for performance. The downside is that you have to carry tubes in two sizes.

The downside is that you have to carry tubes in two sizes.

Not really. A 20" tube can usually be installed in a 26" tire. Vice versa, not so much.

Downhills on a bent are similar to downhills on a tandem: Yee-haw!
As you lose more weight, however, you will lose progressively more gravitational assist. Don't get too lightweight!

Not really. A 20" tube can usually be installed in a 26" tire. Vice versa, not so much.

I think you got that backwards. You can fold a 26" tube to fit inside a 20" tire, but you can't stretch a 20" tube around a 26" rim.

You can fold a 26" tube to fit inside a 20" tire, ...
That's going to make for a lumpy-bumpy tire and an equally bumpy ride.:p


... but you can't stretch a 20" tube around a 26" rim.
I can, just add enough air! :D

(Granted, it's a bit of effort to do, but it IS doable.)
I first learned this back in '86 when I got my Cannondale SM700 mountain bike. The model with the 24" rear wheel & a 26" front. I always carried just a 24" tube. I also have a 20 x1 1/8 presta tube in my Tour Easy bag. It'll reach the 700c rim on the back, .. if I stretch it enough.

YMMV! ;)

Well, I'd have never thunk you could stretch an inner tube that much, but now I'll have to try the next time I have a chance. OTOH, I have fitted a larger tube into a smaller tire. You can either simply fold it over or you can 'sleeve' it. The lumps are not noticeable. I folded it on the far side from the stem on the theory that the stem and the extra rubber being opposite from each other would help balance the wheel a bit.

[QUOTE=

BTW, I'm down to 265 (started at 310 on January 1st) as of this morning. I'm only 35 pounds away for ANY fast performance bent! Look out roadies!

Jerry[/QUOTE]

Congrats!!

I think the Gold Rush will handle 265 lbs. and I think it has proven to be fast. Fast Freddie Markum set a speed record on one several years ago. Now he owns the company.

Fast Freddie Markum set a speed record on one several years ago. Now he owns the company.

No longer involved with Easy Racers, from what I've read.

No longer involved with Easy Racers, from what I've read.

Did a google and you are right. He is with a DF company called RR Velo.
http://www.roadrunnervelo.com/html/about_us.html