neal@druxv.UUCP (Neal D. McBurnett) (11/30/84)
I had a 1 hour ride on one once, and can offer these thoughts: You sure get a lot of attention from the people who see you! Steering was squirrly at first, but not hard to adjust to. I felt like I was using different muscle groups than on a conventional bike, so it would probably take some time to adjust to them to the point where you felt more comfortable on long trips or were able to ride faster on them than on a conventional bike (due to lower wind resistance). I've been told that they are more comfortable for long rides (like centuries) after you've gotten used to them. Do experienced riders feel less visible? Do you use a flag to improve visibility? Do you ride faster? What are the best buys? -Neal McBurnett, ihnp4!druny!neal, 303-538-4852
jin@hplabs.UUCP (Tai Jin) (12/02/84)
what's a recumbent?
trow@uw-june (Jay Trow) (12/09/84)
Forwarded from Bikers^@Xerox.arpa. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 7 Dec 84 13:56:30 PST (Friday) Subject: Re: Recumbents: a few comments and requests for more From: Bruce Hamilton <Hamilton.es@Xerox.arpa> I've been riding a "Tour Easy" from Easy Racers 2891 Freedom Blvd. Watsonville, CA 95076 (408)722-9797 for over a year. It's incredibly comfortable. None of the usual standard- bike butt-wrists-neck twisted out of joint. Visibility is not an issue unless you're on the right side of a semi about to make a right turn. Arguably, any recumbent (except Hypercyle, see below) is safer than a diamond-frame bike, because (1) you're closer to the ground and (2) you can't go flying over the handlebars in a panic stop. I have 18 speeds. The super-low chainwheel means I can climb just about anything. All parts are standard except frame and seat. I bought the bike for about $900 assembled; you can also get plans for about $25. Speed records have been set with an enclosed version of these bikes. Mine came with a Zipper fairing. If I were doing this again, I might go with Alternative Bikestyles P.O. Box 1344 Bonita, CA 92002 (619)421-5118 Ed Roeters Roeters is a junior high school shop teacher who makes what is very close to a ripoff of the Tour Easy, for under $400. He's had his students build this type of bike as shop projects. Roeters says he has also built rail riders (sounds like a fun way to tour -- riding the railroad tracks. Anybody done this?). I've test-driven the Roeters bike; it's essentially the same as the Tour Easy. You can get all sorts of gearing options, from single-speed on up. My biggest gripe with both the Roeters and the Tour Easy is the super- sensitive steering, which I guess is supposed to help make up for the long wheelbase. Basically, you can't ride no-hands. I've tested the Infinity, which has under-the-seat steering (the Tour Easy and Roeters bikes are built more like a chopper motorcycle, i.e. standard steering). I don't like the Infinity as well because you sit up higher and more upright, as opposed to leaning back; but I did like the Infinity's steering better. (I believe the Infinity is what Chistopher Walken rode in "Brainstorm".) The Hypercycle, unfortunately, is still, I think, the only "cheap" recumbent available. It's front-wheel-under-seat makes it dangerously unstable. It steers like the Infinity, but the Infinity puts the front wheel out front and steers through a cable linkage, making it far safer in a panic stop. --Bruce ----------------------------------------------------------------
daves@godot.UUCP (Dave Stefanovic) (12/10/84)
I've owned a Hypercycle for 3 years now and I would NOT recommend purchasing one,unless you enjoy very squirelly steering. Wild ride aside, it is the cheapest recumbent I've yet to see. I purchased the bike when I moved to the San Jose area,CA. The "basic" bike cost me $400, assembled (special deal with a bike shop) The "basic" bike comes with a HARD molded fiberglass bucket seat. For $40, Hypercycle sells a padded cover-- a necessity! I am 6' tall and their large frame was barely big enough when the seat was set to the back of its three adjustment stops. The bike was a pedaling joy on the flat flat roads of CA. The seat positions you directly behind the pedals; putting full power into the bike is trivial. The low center of gravity made the most amazingly sharp turns possible. And the bike was such an oddball that I had more problems from drivers doing stupid things while staring at me than from not noticing me. Specific debits of the Hypercycle: The front wheel is only 14", located under the front of the seat, about 4-5" forward of the line of your backbone. This bike is low on stability--if you take both hands off the steering bar you will fall over. Steering with one hand is possible, if you're not going too fast, if the road isn't too bumpy. The design also puts most of your weight on the front wheel. The weight plus the tiny wheel makes the bike track the road too well. There is no way to "post" bumps; you track the road with the bike. The pedals in front of the bike cause your feet to be on the outside of turns. It takes a while before you can manuever in a crowded parking lot without scraping paint. This also means the bike takes MORE TURNING SPACE than a conventional. Remember, your vehicle is now six feet long! The combination of feet out front, low riding and terrible road-handling causes bad times from small bumps. I was unable to enter Palo Alto driveways (uni-curb design -- 3" drop + 6" rise in about 2') without unseating myself or scraping the chainwheel. A gentle bump (by East Coast standards) knocked both feet off the pedals, onto the ground, and thence behind me as I cruised 15 mph through Palo Alto main street, Saturday noon!! I barely brought the bike to a controlled crash while avoiding running over my legs. Since I've returned to Boston, I've only dared to take this bike out a few times. In summary, you get what you pay for! If you live in a bump-free area without over many cars this bike might be cheap fun. I did commute 8 miles/day for 2 years on "safe" roads--it's not an inherently fatal design. (I think the term is "expert-friendly") More info from Hypercycle exclusive distributor (2 yrs ago anyway) Ava Industries 2937 S.Vail Ave (213)725-6498 Los Angeles,CA 90040 Dave S. (daves@godot.uucp)