Well, my wife and I finally bit the bullet and bought new bikes (trikes actually). We had been in the market for a tandem and then decided to go with a bent tandem. Well, we went to the Hostel Shoppe to test ride an XXL Screamer (we are in the Chicago area so it wasn't a huge trip for us). We took it out and it definitely fit me better than the standard frame. When we came back my wife saw the Greenspeed tandem on the floor. It was already fit for a customer so we couldn't test ride it, but we did sit in it. She was hooked. After talking with the sales people a while they also mentioned that two Hase Kettwiesel trikes can be combined to from a tandem. They happened to have an XL on the floor so we took those out for a ride. 30 minutes later my wife was saying, "We'll take two. Can you have them ready for Saturday?"

This provides us the flexibility to take them out individually when around town, but for longer treks, we can hitch them together and our riding differences won't be as much of an issue.

We took them out yesterday for their inagural run at home. Talk about FUN! It'll take a while to get my wife's endurance up to par (she was done after a few miles), but we can always hook them together if we need to.

And now we have a whole new gift category (computers, clothes, lights, ......)

Tim Musa

That's great Tim- My fiance and I are just getting back into riding after 10 years of abusing our bodies. We're getting her a Sun EZ3 USX trike and I'm thinking either the same bike or a cheaper two wheeled bent, depending on cash flow after we finish buying her's. I know what you mean about endurance, I used to pull 100 road miles per day when I was younger, now I'll be lucky to get to the end of the block and back.

These bikes are both our punishments and rewards

. They happened to have an XL on the floor so we took those out for a ride. 30 minutes later my wife was saying, "We'll take two. Can you have them ready for Saturday?"

This provides us the flexibility to take them out individually when around town, but for longer treks, we can hitch them together and our riding differences won't be as much of an issue.

We took them out yesterday for their inagural run at home. Talk about FUN! It'll take a while to get my wife's endurance up to par (she was done after a few miles), but we can always hook them together if we need to.

And now we have a whole new gift category (computers, clothes, lights, ......)

Tim Musa[/QUOTE]


Tim-

How does your Kettwiesel do on hills? I'm considering getting one, but don't have a dealer anywhere near me.
I'm concerned about the 9 speed transmission. I don't live in a particularly hilly area, but sometimes have to go over bridges, driveways, parking lot ramps, etc. I understand it can be ordered with an 18 speed gear train. Which would you recommend, the 9 speed or the 18 speed? Thanks.

John Ingrassia

I haven't run into any place where we live tat I have really wished for the lower gears. However, while at the Hostell Shoppe Midwest Recumbent Ralley we did run into MANY hills where we wished we had them. Around home, though, we are in a very basic suburbia area, so no major hills to speak of. Everything has been pretty much leveled out. We do have one street that slopes good (got up to 40 mph just coasting down the street) and it can be a challenge getting back up. However, it is doable and since we don't have a lot of those we just muscle through in the lowest gear.

Hope this helps,

Tim

Thanks Tim-

Your information is very helpful. I'll probably end up with a tadpole like Cattrike or TerraTrike. My only objection to those designs was the low attitude in traffic, but all the message board postings by people who use them claim they are quite visible and are given lots of leeway by drivers. I'm recovering from a broken femur when my BikeE flipped on some wet leaves at high speed. I have limited power in my right leg, so I don't think I will enjoy "mashing" gears to get up inclines on a KW. I'm back on the BikeE now, but can't yet ride in traffic, and am still terrified to go more than 11 miles per hour.