Opedaler

Took the leap yesterday. As Dr D said when the opportunity presents itself be ready to jump.....so I did. A LBS was closing doors (a real loss to a small community) was the last day and and the owner wanted everything gone by the next day. Didn't want to deal with straggling sales and clean up.....just wanted to walk away and start an exciting new job the following week.

He had a new Stratus LE that his wife was going to ride but with some medical situations that she was going to deal with, she didn't want to even think of riding for a bit. So for 850 walked away with a relatively new bike. No bike shop to support the sale but knowing this guy if anything happens I'm sure he'll do his best to help out.

Had to convince my wife......although I did notice a big smile on her face as she rode it around. Hopefully, we'll be looking for another before the summer is over.

Just wanted to thank everyone here for the helpful information that armed me with the information necessary when the time was right......thanks all.

STEEKER

I am heading down to the LBS to test the ransrocket and the Giro20 today, and hopefully will be riding one of them home :-D

Mooo

That's a screamin' deal! And a very good bike. Not the fastest, but no slouch. I'm nearing 10,000 on mine, 2/3 commuting.

Bummer about the shop though.

d2create

Giro 20 all the way!
That rocket rides like a rock.

STEEKER

I bought the Giro20 from Urbanes today,, what a blast to ride lot's of fun in traffic too , write more later after another ride ziiiiiiipp

Opedaler

"Bummer about the shop though"

It really was. Great shop ,nice people and a loss to a small community. No bike shop withing a 100 mi radius and bent shop even further. At least the owners are moving on with good new jobs and hopefully will still be around.

Kudo's Steeker........I guess we can change the title of this thread to two more bentriders join the club. Have fun.

STEEKER

First ride fun

OKies I'll try to make sense typing this , I went to Urbanes on Saturday to test ride some bents in my price range, I took out the Giro20 with the EuroMesh seat and was going to ride up to the park and ride around in circles and go up and down the paths , outside the store I sat on the bike and wondered how it all worked so after a lot of false starts and for F*CKS SAKES I took off up the sidewalk and away up the road to the park, Well wobble doo daa scared myself and every one else near lol but sure enough I got the hang of the recumbent balance quick ( learned from fixed gear driving) I was having a blast BUT! some one neglected to tell me about heel strike on the front wheel which stops you REALLY freaking fast , then I decided to up the speeds and found out the the grip for the gear changer was loose , I headed back to the shop and asked if I could try the ReCurve Seat , once that was on I took off again and it was AMAZING ! I went all over the park and side streets way cool I mean I was grinning like a tosspot, and the second seat was wayyy more comfortable so I bought the Giro20 with the recurve seat , as I was sitting outside the shop waiting for some extras to be put on the bike I suddenly thought about how am I going to drive this bike home, I mean I just had my first two rides on a bent and now traffic filled streets await me BUT ! when I pulled out the credit card paid for the bike I took the recumbent outside and headed into the citycore south on John Street and east along Front Street then south near Sheborne to the lake paths and had a totally amazing bike drive it was soo much fun to sit back and look around with out any neck straining and to see everything ,, what a BLAST, this voice in my head said to soak it all up relax and enjoy the ride , I drove into the beach area and made it up beach ave without stopping and ripped along Queen Street home,, what I learned is cars give you PLENTY of room ,, and NOT to try streetcar tracks yet (which I didn't) people stare at you ,,, alot of people wave ,, a recumbent is FAST and dives into corners like a fighter plane CARVES over in corners with a low wicked lean and peeps in cars beep and wave at ya ,,,I am hooked on Bents ,, just waiting for fenders and rear and midship rack then commuting to work to get my bent legs,,

BlazingPedals

Is this the Urbane Cyclist, in Toronto? It sounds like you had some great fun doing test rides.

Recumbomatic

Steeker:

Did you get a mirror? Turning your head to look back is not really recommended.

Grinning: bents will do that to you.

JanMM

Wait a minute.......you gave it to your wife? What were you thinking about?? Or, did you just let her ride it around for a minute?

Opedaler

The latter. I really want her to get one but so far it's " If you go bent, you go alone".

Dr.Deltron

Congratulations!!
You & Steeker, welcome to the 'bent world!

Recumbomatic

Once she sees how much fun you're having, she'll come around.

JanMM

Come home from riding too often with a grin on your face, and she'll think you're up to no good.

STEEKER

FUN , I bought it at Urbanes in Toronto and had a small mirror put on and I put a second one on later, the larger turning circle is something I have to get used too and the twichy steering, I take the bent out late at night after work and ride around my street to get used to slow speed turns and balance, I need coffee

STEEKER

yuppers gonna be alot of fun ( legs are sore)

Recumbomatic

Steeker is going all the way. He's selling his uprights!

STEEKER

yes I am because they are not worth the pain , I will miss my 1988 Pinnarello with full campi set up ,,,BUT DAM this is FUN stufff these recumbents ,, next test is Randonneuring once the bent legs kick in then the two Vic's and I will do the 1200K Bevret ride

megaman

Isn't it, Congrats on getting bent?

Anyway, Congrats!