aikigreg

here's the link to the mechanics thread:
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...034#post971034

Also, rode the bike for 10 minutes today. Got stopped by three different groups of kids and a chick in an SUV, who literally parked in the road and wanted to try it I gotta say, I never knew I was an attention ***** before today - that was fun (and she was cute!)

LR - still working on finding a local baron owner. What's your location? Oh, and can you show me some moew pics of the tailbox? I'd like to see some with it open, stuff in it, etc.

Thanks so much for all your help in everything so far, fellas.

aikigreg

oh, also, does the tailbox work with the optima headrest? I'm looking to pick one of those up too.

lowracer1

YeaH, the headrest still works with tailbox. Instead of the optima headrest, I would buy the velokraft headrest instead. Much lighter and way nicer ergonomic support. It molds to the back of your neck and you can still put foam padding on it.

you can see what it looks like on the back of my vk2 in this pic.

https://groups.msn.com/BicyclingForum...o&PhotoID=6995

https://groups.msn.com/BicyclingForum...o&PhotoID=6991

https://groups.msn.com/BicyclingForum...o&PhotoID=9348

https://groups.msn.com/BicyclingForum...o&PhotoID=9447

https://groups.msn.com/BicyclingForum...o&PhotoID=9614

https://groups.msn.com/BicyclingForum...o&PhotoID=6615

I tried to find as many pics of the headrest as I could.

heres some pics of the tailbox on the baron.

https://groups.msn.com/BicyclingForum...o&PhotoID=5012

https://groups.msn.com/BicyclingForum...o&PhotoID=4349

https://groups.msn.com/BicyclingForum...o&PhotoID=4348

https://groups.msn.com/BicyclingForum...o&PhotoID=2643

If you think you get a lot of looks on the bike as it is now, just wait till you get a tailbox on it.

lowracer1

https://bentupcycles.com/site/intro.cfm

here is where you can find the velokraft headrest.

aikigreg

Going out to grab some chain links today, hopefully will have the bike back to normal tomorrow. Went out for a couple rides today and just stayed in the middle ring - it's amazing how fast that bike can get - I was hitting 22mph on the flats and still only in the middle ring! Scary fast! Can't wait to hit my first long distance with it next weekend. I've also got to find some pedals to put on the thing. I've only got platforms at the moment. This'll be my first set of clipless pedals as well.

lowracer1

Once you get your recumbent muscles acclimated to the bike, you'll be able to do 28 mph for short durations nonstop of around a mile. 24mph and 25mph though are pretty doable at a nice heartrate. It won't be long. Just get used to the handling of the bike for now. watch out for parallel cracks in the pavement and stuff. Don't peel the skin off your arse. The nice thing about a tailbox is that the bike becomes even more stable at high speed. Wait till you find a hill that you can go down at over 50mph. John hit 54mph in Tennessee at Brat last year and I hit 56mph at the hilly hundred this year.


what brand tires did the baron come with?

aikigreg

jeebus 54mph . The 31mph I was hitting on a couple hills has me nearly crying for mommy as it is. Of course, I'm not used to the bike yet. I'm pedalling more back and forth like a snake than I am a straight line.

The tires that are on it now are Continental grand prix. Also included were primo comets. I have no idea which might be better.

I never could find that headrest on bent up cycles. Gonna give em a call monday and see what I can scare up.

I've been looking at those pictures of the tailbox. How do you actually get stuff IN the thing? There are no hinges that I could see.

Also, I'm not a huge fan of the scratchy foam pad that came on the bike. I thought I saw covers for them on the optima website. Any idea what that's like? It doesn't look like you use that foam on your vk2 or your baron.

lowracer1

I have both a vk seat cover and an optima seat cover. All you do is stuff your scratchy foam pad into the slip cover. The vk is a bit nicer as it straps down to the bike and gives you more options with some of the straps. The tailbox does not open up. you stow stuff down into the box from the front where you sit. I'll try and find some pictures of that setup for you. You can get plenty of stuff in there if needed. I used some wedge corner bags for snowmobile windshields.......zipp tied them to the bike in the fairing towards the back of the seat. they zip up and can hold a 70 oz water bladder. I'm sure I've got some pics somewhere. The front of the tailbox bolts to the seat. The back is supported off brackets near the rear axle. Theres really a million ways to mount it. I also bolted the top of the box to the rear of the seat. I had mine set up where I could actually remove the box in under 4 minutes with velcro also at one point. That was the last scenario before I had the razz fazz box to use.

lowracer1

https://www.jjscozzi.com/Tailbox.htm

here is one method of installing an optima box. A bit elaborate if you ask me. Its not that difficult to mount a box. It doesn't need that much support. I used some expanding foam that comes in a can for a lot of the project. It sticks real well to the inside of the box and holds mounting brackets real well when imbedded in the stuff.

aikigreg

That's kinda weird, just stuffing stuff into a big open box? Does it have a well of some kind so you don't hit the wheel with all your junk?

lowracer1

No, there is no well or anything like that. Its a big open box. You seal off everything you can that will catch wind at the front and you use whatever method you can come up with to keep stuff out of the wheel. I used snowmobile windshield wedge bags. On the vk, I use the fastback system, plus put some spray foam in spots and imbedded velcro strips onto it to wrap around stuff like pump and tubes and stuff.

When you have a well or something built on to the box (ie factory) you just add a bunch of weight for no reason. Everything you throw into the box has a purpose.

Don't think of the tailbox as merely a place to throw your junk. It is a racing tailbox and designed to get you more free speed. The fact that there is room in there to put stuff is just a simple bonus.