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Maybe a recumbent

Old 10-15-14, 10:36 AM
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Maybe a recumbent

Just recently, I got rid of my road bike. After fifteen years as a hardcore roadie, it was hard to let go. But not as hard as paying the repair bill on that thing. It just ad too much wrong with it to be worth saving.

I was thinking all along that I would replace it with a CX bike, which would be better for commuting on my deteriorating city streets. And I could still take it for a good road ride.

But last winter I got myself a mountain bike, and now singletrack is my new favourite thing. I'm even doing road rides with a set of urban tires (solo, I'd likely not be welcome on a group).

So instead of buying a gravel grinder, I was thinking that a recumbentmight be a good choice. The purpose of the bike would be for those long distance rides to visit family -- my mom and brother both live 200km west of me.

I can do that ride in about 7-8 hours in summer on a road bike, or 10 hours in winter. I'm thinking that a recumbent with a windshield and a rear rack would be just the thing. Not only more aerodynamic, but I wonder how much nicer the seating position would be.

I still want a CX bike too. And a road bike, and a fat bike. Just gotta keep checkin' those lottery tickets...
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Old 10-15-14, 11:06 AM
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I'm hoping to be able to buy a recumbent by Christmas, but finding out yesterday that i may have a torn rotator cuff may screw up my plans
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Old 10-15-14, 12:03 PM
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A TourEasy with a bodysock will be a little faster than a road bike, and will give some protection against sun, wind, and cold. But I don't know if I'd want to ride one 10 hours in Ontario winter weather. Significantly better speed and weather protection can be had with a velomobile, but that may not be in your budget - and still might not be enough to protect you for 10 hours at sub-freezing temps.
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Old 10-15-14, 12:35 PM
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Would it be worse than a mountain bike in winter? I ride that all year anyway.
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Old 10-15-14, 02:20 PM
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I've been told that having a sock makes a difference of about 10F inside. Face is not inside, and feet are only partially protected.

Basically, a velo is a human-powered car. With one of them, you can be pretty much in control of how much ventilation you get. With a race cap or a hard top, you could limit the 'fresh' air to whatever you need to prevent fogging.

FWIW.
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Old 10-15-14, 07:46 PM
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The more I look into recumbents, the more I like them. My intended purpose for this bike would be long rides between cities, carrying a small load (as much as a small backpack). And for this, a recumbent looks ideal. Has anybody here done a long tour using a recumbent?

I don't know just yet what my budget should be. But if I want one that costs a few thousand dollars, I'll just discipline myself and start saving.
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Old 10-15-14, 08:24 PM
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I just finished some long reading, and there's more to this than I thought. First I have to decide if I want a bike or a trike (delta trike would be better in my case). A bike would have more speed potential, but a higher learning curve. And a trike would offer more all-around utility.

I saw the $8000 price tag on a mid-range velomobile. After the shock wore off, I found a web page saying that a reasonably good recumbent can be had for around $2000, although it won't be a velo. I could probably still get one and put a windshield on it. I think I'm definitely leaning toward a trike; it'll be handier all around.
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Old 10-15-14, 08:42 PM
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Originally Posted by El Cid
The more I look into recumbents, the more I like them.
Ha! Yes. And there's plenty of variety out there.

I am partial to Cruzbikes. I believe they are more power efficient on account of the FWD design. I would look into their Quest or Silvio models. Combine this with a fairing of some sort. If you are the DIY sort, or on a tight budget, you could also try building your own using the conversion kit (I believe these are still being sold).

If exposure is a concern though then the velos are one way to go. Again if DIY is something you like then this might be of interest:

https://texasrecumbents.wordpress.co...ap-velomobile/
Silver Bullet Bodywork and Accessories for Velomobile Catrike - from AEM Consulting, Inc
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Old 10-16-14, 04:55 AM
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Check out bent riders online, too.
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Old 10-16-14, 07:04 AM
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There is no doubt that especially for long trips, maybe riding all day, that a recumbent is the way to go. You may be tired, but you wont be in pain. If you read CGOAB reports, more and more people that do cross country rides do so on a recumbent or trikes.
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Old 10-16-14, 08:55 AM
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Look at bentrideronline. A trike will do what you want- including winter riding. Take a look at the Hase Kettwiesel or Greenspeed Anura for a delta.
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Old 10-16-14, 10:42 AM
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Actually in the last day or two, I've found numerous websites and all the information I could want. I'm pretty sure now that I want a delta trike. Just have to decide on a brand, and how much I'm willing to pay.

Sadly, not one bike shop in my area has a recumbent in stock, so I won't be doing any test rides.
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Old 10-16-14, 11:46 AM
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I don't think you will be disappointed with the comfort level of your rides. I ride a two wheeler, but from what I can tell tadpole style trikes are more popular than delta style these days. If I was in the market it would be for the tadpole.
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Old 10-17-14, 01:38 AM
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I have a Carbon Quest XS Velomobile due in the next week or so that I have been waiting 5 months for, it will be the tadpole style ("2" 20" wheels in front "1" 26" wheel in the rear). As I have been waiting for the Velomobile I got a Catrike Road (tadpole) trike to help prepare my muscles for the recumbent position like the the Velomobile. The trike is so comfortable and so much fun I can't wait for the Quest XS!

I very seldom ride my regular 2 wheel bikes anymore and think at some point it would be nice to also have a 2 wheel recumbent. I had never rode a velomobile or any recumbent bike before ordering the Velomobile so I went to a local recumbent shop and test rode a Catrike Pocket (tadpole) in the parking lot to give me an idea of what the Velomobile would feel like.

It is a little slower on hills as you can't stand up on a recumbent like you could on a regular 2 wheeled bike. But for me the comfort and the fun factor out weigh the little bit slower speed. I do think the Velomobile will be more comfortable and faster than the trike because of the aerodynamics of having the shell around me. I had never really gave recumbents to much thought before, but now after riding the trike I seem to be enjoying the trike more than my other bikes.
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Old 10-19-14, 07:16 PM
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I see that you're in ON. You may want to look at BlueVelo & set up a test ride (since they're also in ON & a velo would be great for what you want). If you have the time, head down to the BicycleMan in upstate NY - they have loads of bikes & trikes so you can test ride everything & get some real feel for what you can get. Depending on where you are in ON, you might want to check out the Hostel Shoppe as they also have a great selection.
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Old 10-19-14, 07:43 PM
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Try this place. Much closer! Her name is coramuis on Brol.

Mobile Bicycle Services of Hamilton
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Old 11-05-14, 08:35 PM
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I got pretty lucky. I found a real nice Catrike Expedition right around the corner from where i work. It was easy to try out and I dug it. No more of that numbness that morphs into pain. One thing though- my feet turn out and with clipless pedals my ankles get intensely sore at the outset (but that fades out as I go along). That should vanish totally the more I ride the trike though. So now I ponder its two wheel version, the Musashi. Nonetheless I still like the experience of riding a DF new and old, so I won't be throwing those out.
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Old 11-06-14, 08:31 AM
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Looking into and blindly getting a trike can be fun....lol, I did it with a pair of Catrikes for myself and the wife.
I might suggest looking into CrazyGuyOnABike. There are a ton of blogs there and searchable within bent's and trikes with loads of good info about packing and traveling with one.

Typically you will see people mention 'bent legs'. There is quite a difference between pedaling a DF and a 'bent. Give yourself a few rides to work out the kinks and get used to it
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Old 11-06-14, 03:19 PM
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I'm not trying to be the dash of cold water in the face, but a trike is going to be slower than an upright. Yes, slower than a mountain bike. And delta trikes are, for the most part, the slowest type. In your first post, you wanted something that could be more streamlined, and presumably that's so you could go faster with less effort, not slower with more effort. I'm afraid you're setting yourself up for disappointment.
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Old 11-06-14, 07:57 PM
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This is a rather long read, but worth every word IMHO. https://bicyclepatents.com/road-biker...cumbents/2067/
While I agree with many on this thread, it's not always about speed. I have an Expedition and except for climbing, I can hold my own on the flats and am much faster on the downhills
than I was on my DF. For me, it's about the ride, the comfort, the view and the enjoyment. I rode the Waterfront Trail from Niagara Falls to the Quebec border on my Catrike in 2009
and finished each 100 km+ day in relative comfort. I could care less about going fast all the time. Mike
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Old 11-07-14, 09:27 PM
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Originally Posted by mchell
While I agree with many on this thread, it's not always about speed.
I've said my piece. I'll let the trike evangelists take over now.
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Old 11-07-14, 09:50 PM
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OP asked about touring on a 'bent. I've done a bit - nothing longer than a week - fully loaded. I've also ridden brevets from 200k to 1500k. All on a two-wheel 'bent. I rode a V-Rex for a long time, and switched to a Volae high racer about a year ago. For me it's a matter of lower back and neck issues that make riding a DF unbearable for any distance, but cause absolutely no issues on the 'bent. I have no experience with trikes, so cannot comment on that topic. As far as speed, on brevets I'm typically a middle to front-third finisher, but that's really more about the rider than the bike.

I'd like to give a fairing a shot, to see if it would increase my cold weather riding. For me it's primarily about hands and feet, though.
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Old 11-10-14, 09:10 PM
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For the long distance rides the OP mentioned, I'd suggest a high racer type bent. I have a Rans f5 for longer faster rides. It's way faster than my trike, and comparable in speed to a road bike. For winter riding and commuting I use a trike, a Catrike speed. I have not missed a day of work due to weather since I got the trike in 2008. I have a fairing in front which really helps keep warm in winter.
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