Seiran SL & Lightning P-38
12-29-07, 11:36 AM
#3
cyclopath
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Any comments from experienced bent riders about the Challenge Seiran SL and Lightning P-38 as recumbent choices for DF race bike rider? Prefer lighter weight and more upright riding position with the open cockpit bars. What are good bents for around $2500/3,000 (if I go for less expense).
I'll send him an email with a link to this thread and see if he can answer your question directly.
12-29-07, 02:54 PM
#4
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I have owned both
I own a P-38 and early this year I bought a Seiran SL because I wanted a faster recumbent.
Regrettably I didn't find the Seiran was significantly faster than my* P-38 and the P-38 is superbly comfortable where the Seiran was a very stiff ride. On testing the two bents over a short loop within one hour of each other (about 3 months after I bought it) the Seiran was just 1 kph faster and the difference was almost entirely achived on the head wnd section of the loop.
*My P-38 isn't 'stock.' I have a HED Jet front wheel and a Mavic Carbone rear, ceramic BB and jockey wheels. The aero wheels add at least 2 kph and I suspect the lower parasitic drag of the ceramic bearings gives another .5 to 1 kph.
So the Seiran IS 3 to 5 kph faster than a stock P-38 by my testing (using a Garmin Edge 305.)
I sold the Seiran and I was a bit sad because they're a beautiful machine but the riding position didn't suit me. As I posted on BROL, maybe high racers are contra indicated for older riders. Starting on up hills was too exciting for me and I nearly came down a couple of times. One rider on BROL has just fractured a hip coming off a high racer - maybe he would have done the same off a lower height, but you'd think that higher is worse for older bones.
I am 10 years older than the next oldest in our DF group. They cannot beat me to the cafe and it's evident that the P-38 is superior on all terrain except when the grade turns up above about 8%. Be warned though - it does take time to develop the strength to climb well on the bike. At my age it took nearly two years of riding around 150 kms a week but the riding is 'social' - I didn't train. It's been said that the P-38 is equivalent to 3 DFs working in a line. That seems true to me - on one occasion I was chased by three and they did start to pull me back.
A couple of weeks ago I took delivery of an Optima Raptor (carbon Baron) chosen for the ability to have the seat angle high (31 degrees) and the ride quality for the rough roads here. The Challenge Fujin SL is the equivalent and a recent discussion on that Board concludes that the Fujin SL is probably a little faster. Note the lower seat angle though.
Regrettably I didn't find the Seiran was significantly faster than my* P-38 and the P-38 is superbly comfortable where the Seiran was a very stiff ride. On testing the two bents over a short loop within one hour of each other (about 3 months after I bought it) the Seiran was just 1 kph faster and the difference was almost entirely achived on the head wnd section of the loop.
*My P-38 isn't 'stock.' I have a HED Jet front wheel and a Mavic Carbone rear, ceramic BB and jockey wheels. The aero wheels add at least 2 kph and I suspect the lower parasitic drag of the ceramic bearings gives another .5 to 1 kph.
So the Seiran IS 3 to 5 kph faster than a stock P-38 by my testing (using a Garmin Edge 305.)
I sold the Seiran and I was a bit sad because they're a beautiful machine but the riding position didn't suit me. As I posted on BROL, maybe high racers are contra indicated for older riders. Starting on up hills was too exciting for me and I nearly came down a couple of times. One rider on BROL has just fractured a hip coming off a high racer - maybe he would have done the same off a lower height, but you'd think that higher is worse for older bones.
I am 10 years older than the next oldest in our DF group. They cannot beat me to the cafe and it's evident that the P-38 is superior on all terrain except when the grade turns up above about 8%. Be warned though - it does take time to develop the strength to climb well on the bike. At my age it took nearly two years of riding around 150 kms a week but the riding is 'social' - I didn't train. It's been said that the P-38 is equivalent to 3 DFs working in a line. That seems true to me - on one occasion I was chased by three and they did start to pull me back.
A couple of weeks ago I took delivery of an Optima Raptor (carbon Baron) chosen for the ability to have the seat angle high (31 degrees) and the ride quality for the rough roads here. The Challenge Fujin SL is the equivalent and a recent discussion on that Board concludes that the Fujin SL is probably a little faster. Note the lower seat angle though.
12-30-07, 12:17 AM
#5
Recumbent Ninja
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P-38, but if you're in racing mode - meaning you want the most speed but still be at conversation level with your roadie pals, then you need to go with a bachetta aero. The best speed is the lowracer of course, but I also ride a p-38 and it's not close to the speed of the aero.
However, between your two choices, the p-38 is the bike I'd choose.
However, between your two choices, the p-38 is the bike I'd choose.
