Riding the Red Rover III
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: St Peters, Missouri
Posts: 30,225
Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1572 Post(s)
Liked 643 Times
in
364 Posts
Riding the Red Rover III
Some time ago I decided that my test for recombent competance would be when I could ride from my condo to the biker bar in Defiance for breakfast. I did that this morning. It's a fairly easy 34 mile out and back ride except that the first two miles is all downhill meaning the last two miles up Jungs Station Road is a grind.
It's taken a lot longer than I thought it would to get to this point. I had to figure out how to assemble the recumbent, figure out what the riding position should be like and how to get it there, and I had to learn to ride a recumbent after a prolonged period off of the bike. It surprised me how difficult stupid little things, like learning to use a hydration pack, can be when I'm trying to think about other stuff, like how close to my chest I'd like for my hands to be. Eventually however, and one issue at a time, I think that I've got it solved. Now it's just a fitness issue and I know how to regain that.
Knowing what I do now, however, my only regret is that I didn't start recumbent riding sooner. I think that my peak speed is a little slower, but I think that I'm faster cruising on the flat and I think that my hill climb speed is about the same as it was previously. There is utterly no comparison comfort wise and I feel much fresher at the end of the ride.
I'm not ready to claim the Screaming Yellow Zonker tandem has been tamed quite yet but I'm steadily gaining confidence. It'll come.
It's taken a lot longer than I thought it would to get to this point. I had to figure out how to assemble the recumbent, figure out what the riding position should be like and how to get it there, and I had to learn to ride a recumbent after a prolonged period off of the bike. It surprised me how difficult stupid little things, like learning to use a hydration pack, can be when I'm trying to think about other stuff, like how close to my chest I'd like for my hands to be. Eventually however, and one issue at a time, I think that I've got it solved. Now it's just a fitness issue and I know how to regain that.
Knowing what I do now, however, my only regret is that I didn't start recumbent riding sooner. I think that my peak speed is a little slower, but I think that I'm faster cruising on the flat and I think that my hill climb speed is about the same as it was previously. There is utterly no comparison comfort wise and I feel much fresher at the end of the ride.
I'm not ready to claim the Screaming Yellow Zonker tandem has been tamed quite yet but I'm steadily gaining confidence. It'll come.
#2
rebmeM roineS
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Metro Indy, IN
Posts: 16,216
Bikes: Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 653 Post(s)
Liked 347 Times
in
226 Posts
Good on ya, mate!
It's just a matter of time before my stoker/wife and I ditch the KHS Tandemania Comp for a Screamer or maybe a RANS CF tandem. The only thing wrong with the KHS is all that (dis-)comfort stuff that you don't have to deal with on a 'bent.
It's just a matter of time before my stoker/wife and I ditch the KHS Tandemania Comp for a Screamer or maybe a RANS CF tandem. The only thing wrong with the KHS is all that (dis-)comfort stuff that you don't have to deal with on a 'bent.
__________________
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
#5
Senior Member
Yeah, it's a bit different to be relying soley on your legs for power. No upper body involved.
#6
His Brain is Gone!
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Paoli, Wisconsin
Posts: 9,979
Bikes: RANS Stratus, Bridgestone CB-1, Trek 7600, Sun EZ-Rider AX, Fuji Absolute 1.0, Cayne Rambler 3
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Great to read this. Riding my recumbents have been the most enjoyment I've ever had from riding a bike.