Lightning F-40
Does anyone know if this recumbent? Any experience on this type of bike?
Lightning F-40: World's Fastest Production Bicycle |
Yes it's a Lightning P-38 in a fairing. So inside it's this:
http://www.bikejournal.com/images/scooter52bent%202.jpg I have a P-38 and it's a very nice and maneuverable bike. People I know with F-40s like them. They're very fast, can be kind of hot in warm weather and can be a handful in strong winds. |
When traveling with the P-38, will it fit inside a SUV like a RAV4?
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I believe so but you'll have to fold down one of the back seats and maybe remove the front wheel- no biggie. Fits in my Suburban just fine with the middle row seat folded down.
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Originally Posted by delcrossv
(Post 17317940)
I believe so but you'll have to fold down one of the back seats and maybe remove the front wheel- no biggie. Fits in my Suburban just fine with the middle row seat folded down.
I have been thinking about an F-40 for a while now, and this is a hangup of mine. The other hangup is that my lower back doesn't play nice with the super soft P-38 seat. But my back is in better condition that it was when I last tried one (about 3 years ago). |
Originally Posted by Steamer
(Post 17318231)
That's on a naked P-38, correct? I'd think the fairing and tailsock frame would add a lot to the difficulty.
I have been thinking about an F-40 for a while now, and this is a hangup of mine. The other hangup is that my lower back doesn't play nice with the super soft P-38 seat. But my back is in better condition that it was when I last tried one (about 3 years ago). The front "bubble" doesn't add much to the length and the seat is the only vertical clearance issue with these. Also Tim is making a hard shell seat that can be ordered for a P-38 if the mesh seat is an issue. |
From the website up above: "Once installed the entire fairing can be removed for open air riding, or for transporting the bike in just 5-10 minutes."
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Originally Posted by Steamer
(Post 17318231)
That's on a naked P-38, correct? I'd think the fairing and tailsock frame would add a lot to the difficulty.
I have been thinking about an F-40 for a while now, and this is a hangup of mine. The other hangup is that my lower back doesn't play nice with the super soft P-38 seat. But my back is in better condition that it was when I last tried one (about 3 years ago). Here's an old Lightning promotional video. My wife and I appear at about 8 minutes in. |
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^^^ and no pedals. I never understood photos of bikes with no pedals. Yeah, there's the assumption that the buyer will already have a favorite type of pedal, but why not put something generic on the bike? It just looks unfinished without them.
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Originally Posted by delcrossv
(Post 17318476)
BUT, I am pretty sure it won't work with an F-40 fairing. The seat lowers your head too much - you wouldn't be able to see over the fairing, methinks. |
Originally Posted by StephenH
(Post 17318439)
From the website up above: "Once installed the entire fairing can be removed for open air riding, or for transporting the bike in just 5-10 minutes."
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Originally Posted by Jeff Wills
(Post 17318440)
The tension on the seat fabric can be adjusted to a degree. Adding a second layer of fabric behind the lumbar area of my back helped, plus I installed a Thermarest "stadium seat" cushion in place of the foam.
Here's an old Lightning promotional video. My wife and I appear at about 8 minutes in. Oh, about the seat... yeah, I'd prolly end up doing something with a lumbar pad. |
So, looking to get to the controles really early, are you? :D
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I can't imagine how one would compare the stress on the recumbent frame as opposed to a diamond frame. With diamond frames, sprinting puts a lot of stress on the bottom bracket. But with recumbent there doesn't seem to be a need to sprint because they don't race in the traditional sense like up the Ventoux in the TdF.
With recumbents its just long distance riding using aerodynamics to help you along. With diamond frame racing, its about how much wattage you are capable of throwing down without losing it. When I clicked onto that YouTube video, at the end there is another video with Tim Brummer using the P-84 to go up the wall in the Solvang ride. That was impressive on how he was able to ride faster up the wall. That brings up another point, composite materials for the frame. Lightning just has one, the P-84. Is it because carbon material in all its variations just cost too much? Both R&D and layup costs. It would seem that if one could make a recumbent frame at a lower weight, it would be an advantage in climbing and maybe handling. |
Originally Posted by Garfield Cat
(Post 17319195)
I can't imagine how one would compare the stress on the recumbent frame as opposed to a diamond frame. With diamond frames, sprinting puts a lot of stress on the bottom bracket. But with recumbent there doesn't seem to be a need to sprint because they don't race in the traditional sense like up the Ventoux in the TdF.
With recumbents its just long distance riding using aerodynamics to help you along. With diamond frame racing, its about how much wattage you are capable of throwing down without losing it. |
Originally Posted by Garfield Cat
(Post 17319195)
I can't imagine how one would compare the stress on the recumbent frame as opposed to a diamond frame. With diamond frames, sprinting puts a lot of stress on the bottom bracket. But with recumbent there doesn't seem to be a need to sprint because they don't race in the traditional sense like up the Ventoux in the TdF.
With recumbents its just long distance riding using aerodynamics to help you along. With diamond frame racing, its about how much wattage you are capable of throwing down without losing it. When I clicked onto that YouTube video, at the end there is another video with Tim Brummer using the P-84 to go up the wall in the Solvang ride. That was impressive on how he was able to ride faster up the wall. That brings up another point, composite materials for the frame. Lightning just has one, the P-84. Is it because carbon material in all its variations just cost too much? Both R&D and layup costs. It would seem that if one could make a recumbent frame at a lower weight, it would be an advantage in climbing and maybe handling. Lots of maybes. Climbing speed really depends on the fitness of the rider. One of the things that 'bent riders have to put up with is that recumbent bikes are more aero, so they're faster on the flats and downhill for the same amount of power. When the road turns upward, the advantage goes away. In other words, they'll hang with the fast guys on the flats, then get dropped on the climbs. (On one ride a few years back, I was cruising in high gear on a long, long downhill. I looked in my rear-view mirror and saw I had a line of 5 upright riders drafting me. Then there were 4. Then 3, then 2, and the last guy hung on until the road flattened out. When he pulled alongside, he looked pretty fit, but was breathing hard. He finally said he'd been trying to pull out and pass but couldn't. Made me feel pretty good for an obsolete rider.) |
Originally Posted by Steamer
(Post 17318877)
Cool. How does it feel to be in an obsolete video? ;)
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Originally Posted by Jeff Wills
(Post 17320282)
Hells bells, sonny... I've been into recumbents since before recumbents were cool: Aerocoupe Cyclecars
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Originally Posted by Garfield Cat
(Post 17319195)
I can't imagine how one would compare the stress on the recumbent frame as opposed to a diamond frame. With diamond frames, sprinting puts a lot of stress on the bottom bracket. But with recumbent there doesn't seem to be a need to sprint because they don't race in the traditional sense like up the Ventoux in the TdF.
With recumbents its just long distance riding using aerodynamics to help you along. With diamond frame racing, its about how much wattage you are capable of throwing down without losing it. When I clicked onto that YouTube video, at the end there is another video with Tim Brummer using the P-84 to go up the wall in the Solvang ride. That was impressive on how he was able to ride faster up the wall. That brings up another point, composite materials for the frame. Lightning just has one, the P-84. Is it because carbon material in all its variations just cost too much? Both R&D and layup costs. It would seem that if one could make a recumbent frame at a lower weight, it would be an advantage in climbing and maybe handling. |
Originally Posted by Steamer
(Post 17320539)
yeah, but did you ride one before you turned 20? ( I had a DeFelice before I left high school).
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Originally Posted by Steamer
(Post 17320539)
yeah, but did you ride one before you turned 20? ( I had a DeFelice before I left high school).
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Originally Posted by Jeff Wills
(Post 17321322)
Went to my first IHPSC when I was 16, then I helped start Aerocoupe Cyclecars when I was 19. Nyahh...
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Originally Posted by delcrossv
(Post 17321145)
Lucky you! But #2 daughter has you beat- Gritters lowracer at age 9 :D
I am the only cyclist in a family of non-cyclists. With no other bent riders for miles around..... |
Originally Posted by Steamer
(Post 17321596)
It doesn't count because you were 'there'.
I am the only cyclist in a family of non-cyclists. With no other bent riders for miles around..... |
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