Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Any Clydes ride a Sun EZ-1?

There's a Sun EZ-1 recumbent in my price range on the local Craigslist. I'm wondering if any of you have ridden one and if It can handle a clyde. I'm 6'4" 290lbs give or take. Right now I'm torn, but leaning toward 'no', but only because if price were no object I would not gravitate toward this bike, but would favor a recumbent with a larger wheel set. It's also heavy and low-end for a recumbent, yet I think I may try to go ride it to see if I change my mind.

Any and all thoughts and opinions are welcome

How much is it? You're right that the Sun is an entry-level recumbent and I'd give it some serious thought before buying, but I'm riding a Bacchetta Giro 20 right now. The Giro is a SWB bent (20" tire in front and 26" in back). FWIW, I'm a daily commuter on that bike and love it. I'm 240, though, so I'm a little lighter than you are.

they say it's only been ridden 10 times or so, and are asking 350.00 $$ is an issue with me and I can pull some strings to make it happen, but I'm not sure. Just being not sure gives me pause, and makes me think I should wait and stick with my upright bikes.

Alright, I got it, and rode it 15-miles back to home stopping after 7 to visit my mother and have lunch, the the remaining 7 miles back home. It was awesome. Not as awesome as in this is the last bike ever, but I have absolutely NO back pain, and that is awesome. It's doggy on the hills, and I had to get off and push 1/2 way up the big hill, but I'm pretty sure I'd have had to do that on a regular bike. Balance is interesting, and I'll need to get used to it, but nothiing like a nice long ride to break it in. I'm going to be able to put some extended miles on this bike.

Man, you have had the longest search ever for the right bike. The way you have stuck to it is impressive. I hope it works out to be the answer.

Soooooo, whatchy gonna do with your Puch?

Oh, btw, pics?

The Puch currently has antlers. I was experimenting last week with the Puch, I put mtn bike bars on it and 2 sets of bar ends. On the very outside are my drop bar ends, and just inside of those are the kind that stick up and in that you normally see on mountain bikes. I also put on an old Brooks saddle that I dunked in a bucket and re-formed back into shape. The saddle was miserable, my other old Brooks--the one I put new rivets in--gave me a basis of comparison. I also recently got a new-to-me brooks from fellow Bicycle Forum Memeber Lubers, who I believe frequents the C & V forum. So, the experiment with the Puch continues, but I'll need to be sure not to ride this handlebar setup during deer season.

I keep thinking I should thin the herd, but I have these emotional attachments to certain biks, unrational to be sure, but non-the-less I am very fond of the Puch and my Motobecane and my Armstrong and my Schwinn and the Nishiki is growing on me daily, but they are all really too small. Still, I'll keep a few around to have for when friends visit and I talk them into going riding.

Does it look like this

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff168/cyclearkansas/bike/100_1748.jpg

This is actually my brothers, but I got to play with it for a couple of weeks. I may be getting it from him soon if he doesn't start riding it a lot more.:innocent:

It was a little loose on the front for me, I think with the wheel base so short. But I got use to it pretty quick.

It looks like this:

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f223/BigPolishJimmy/supercruiser_front.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f223/BigPolishJimmy/supercruiser1.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f223/BigPolishJimmy/supercruiser_back2.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f223/BigPolishJimmy/supercruiser_back.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f223/BigPolishJimmy/supercruiser_sunset.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f223/BigPolishJimmy/Sun_and_Puch.jpg

I need to add a mirror to it. I rode some fairly busy roads home today and a mirror would have been very nice to see what the traffic behind me was doing. I'm new to riding recumbent, so it was tough keeping it over to the very edge of the pavement, there are no bike lanes on this road and the posted speed limit is 55-mph. I could have taken lesser traveled roads, but they also are 55-mph with no sholder and more hills.

I need to add a mirror to it. I rode some fairly busy roads home today and a mirror would have been very nice to see what the traffic behind me was doing. I'm new to riding recumbent, so it was tough keeping it over to the very edge of the pavement, there are no bike lanes on this road and the posted speed limit is 55-mph. I could have taken lesser traveled roads, but they also are 55-mph with no sholder and more hills.

ABSOLUTELY put a mirror on that bike. Once you're reclined and comfortable it's too hard to turn to look over your shoulder too often.

I took me several dozen miles before I could go in a straight line on my 'bent. I'd recommend finding some quieter roads to practice on, even if you have to drive to get to them.

I need to add a mirror to it. I rode some fairly busy roads home today and a mirror would have been very nice to see what the traffic behind me was doing. I'm new to riding recumbent, so it was tough keeping it over to the very edge of the pavement, there are no bike lanes on this road and the posted speed limit is 55-mph. I could have taken lesser traveled roads, but they also are 55-mph with no sholder and more hills.

Mirrors should really be standard equipment for road oriented bicycles, it allows you to expand your area of view from about 200 degrees to over 300 degrees, better then ANY motor vehicle.

You should never ride on the very edge of the pavement, it's not safe, the general rule is give yourself 1m or 1yd, on the side toward the edge of the pavement. This accomplishes 2 things:

1) It gives you a safety zone, if you see a car is going to pass too close, then you can always shift to the right, to give yourself more space.

2) It puts you out far enough that drivers will better see you, a bright orange flag should be mounted at driver height, on a 'bent. I sometimes think better then a flag would be a slow moving vehicle triangle with retro reflective background or surround.

A often think bicycles should have rearward firing photon torpedoes, but that would be a little heavy. :D

Congratulations, Jimmy! Welcome to the Dark Side. The comfortable, laid back, pain-free dark side :)

Yes, you need a mirror! Preferably two. I see you've already got a light, and that's a good thing. The unusual shape of the thing will make you stand out more, but everything you can do to improve visibility will help.

I couldn't tell if you were clipless. If you're not, become so. On a bent, clipless will let you get power through 60-70% of the stroke, since you can really get some power on the backstroke. That and spinning will be the way to get up those hills. Don't be afraid of the lower gears, but do feel comfortable with your balance before you attack a big hill.

Like I said, I commute on mine and I love it. I didn't go to work today, but did go out for a 3-hour ride this moring before it got hot. It was a very pleasurable way to start the day.

Thanks everyone. I have plenty of lower-traffic roads to ride on, but pardon the pun, I was 'Bent' on riding it home. A trial by fire sort of thing. I test rode it last night for about 3 miles wearing jeans and got a feel for it, but my biggest concern was the different feel of the range of motion in my knees. Today I wore shorts and since my knees didn't hurt in the morning I decided to buy it. I had been planning on building one--still am--and figured that I'd easily spend over 300.00 making mistakes until I hit apon a design I liked. Now I have one that already works, not only fun to ride, but also a good design to work from.

In the future I think I may go clipless, but not any time soon unless I put an outrigger on it or some type of retractable landing gear. It's just too tough to get going right now and I don't dare dump it at a stop light.

Alrighty then I've got mirrors, lights, bottle cages and bags to put on this baby. My next big goal is to ride the 25 miles home from work. I think I can, I think I can I think I can.

Don't think, DO!

Good choice on a first 'bent, in my opinion. I ride a Sun EZ Sport, my bride is on a Sun X-1, and we share a Sun EZ Tandem. They are rock solid, heavy, but rock solid excellent entry level recumbents.

I also ride a Volae Tour (SWB) and an Easy Racer Tour Easy (LWB), both I purchased used at half their original cost. Each bike has it's strong and weak points. The SWB is very nimble and quick. I love using it in crowded places and commute on it. The EZ Sport is an indestructable tank of a bike and great on crushed limestone trails and riding through the hood with my bride, and the Tour Easy is a great over the road-long haul bike. Your EZ-1 seems like it posses some of the characteristics of all three of my bikes; tough durability, LWB to iron out the rough roads, yet small enough to still be quite nimble. It should serve you well.

As you gain experience and meet other riders with 'bents, you'll have many opportunities to try other bikes and eventually you'll be able to decide if you want a faster, lighter recumbent or not. Meanwhile have a blast on your EZ-1.