Bent for time trials?

trailgalore said:

Would like to buy both a used bent and trike to be used in 5k and 10k time
trails, would need size for 30 inch X seam. Would like some ideas of speedy
machines.

There are no "speedy" machines, unless you roll them down a hill.
Bicycles and trikes requires the rider to pedal, so if you want to be
speedy, you have to pedal.

I've time trialed my Lightning and my Tour Easy, both with and withour
fairings. It's hard to compare the times, since my fitness has varied
so much over the years. The Lightning "felt" faster, though. An
extra-small or extra-extra-small Easy Racer bike might be better for
your short legs, though, since it's tough to fit a SWB bike to short
riders.

*30" inch* X-seam??? Are you sure you measured right?:
http://www.hostelshoppe.com/tech_xseam.php

Jeff

trailgalore said:

Would like to buy both a used bent and trike to be used in 5k and 10k time
trails, would need size for 30 inch X seam. Would like some ideas of speedy
machines.

You should consider a european style low racer. Lightning cycle dynamics
has some M5 low racers in stock. Try turning the fork around if it feels
too twitchy.

If you can find a used Festina, grab it. The best handling low racer.

--
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http://home.earthlink.net/~wm.patterson/helicopterthoughts/
http://home.earthlink.net/~wm.patterson/helicopterthoughts/id17.html
http://home.earthlink.net/~wm.patterson/helicopterthoughts/id16.html

See bikes and the first human powered helicopter at:
http://www.calpoly.edu/~wpatters/
Single Track controls at:
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Prof. Bill Patterson said:

trailgalore said:

Would like to buy both a used bent and trike to be used in 5k and 10k time
trails, would need size for 30 inch X seam. Would like some ideas of speedy
machines.

You should consider a european style low racer. Lightning cycle dynamics
has some M5 low racers in stock. Try turning the fork around if it feels
too twitchy.

If you can find a used Festina, grab it. The best handling low racer.

Bill,

Have you ridden an Earth Cycles Sunset Lowracer [1]?

[1] My favorite subject. 🙂

--
Tom Sherman - Post Free or Die!

trailgalore said:

Would like to buy both a used bent and trike to be used in 5k and 10k time
trails, would need size for 30 inch X seam. Would like some ideas of speedy
machines.

What are the rules? Are wheel discs, tail fairings, etc. allowed? Does
the bike have to be shorter than 2 meters? If so, you are limited in
choices, and the Lightning version of the M5 Lowracer would likely be
your best choice.

In general, aerodynamics rules, followed by rolling resistance and
drivetrain friction.

Rolling resistance is deal with by tire choice, so is not really a
factor other than wheel size (a bike that can use an ISO 571-mm or
622-mm rear wheel will be advantageous here, due to tire choice).

You want a bike with a hard-shell a seat reclined in the 20-30° range
(from horizontal), a bottom bracket in the range of 20-25 cm (8-10
inches) above the seat, large diameter chain rollers, and a relatively
straight chain line. Low weight is relatively unimportant on a flat
course.

Unless you have a lot of money to spend, forget about the carbon fiber
reinforced epoxy composite splitter-plate bikes such as the Velokraft
NoCom.

Some potentially reasonably priced bikes would be used Challenge
Jesters and Optima Low Barons.

If highracers have an advantage over a lowracer, it would be on rough
pavement or steep climbs where rolling resistance is more important.
Here you will want the same characteristics as the lowracer, with light
weight a concern. If this is your choice, try to find one that already
has aerodynamic ISO 571-mm wheels.

All of the above apply to trikes, but expect the trike to be
significantly slower than a bicycle with similar riding position.

--
Tom Sherman - Post Free or Die!

Johnny Sunset aka Tom Sherman said:

Prof. Bill Patterson wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

If you can find a used Festina, grab it. The best handling low racer.

Bill,

Have you ridden an Earth Cycles Sunset Lowracer [1]?

[1] My favorite subject. 🙂

I haven't, and I can't find a web site that describes the sunset
lowracer. Help; My life seems to be an IQ test that I, too often, fail.

Bill

--
Some thoughts on Apache helicopter avionics
http://home.earthlink.net/~wm.patterson/helicopterthoughts/
http://home.earthlink.net/~wm.patterson/helicopterthoughts/id17.html
http://home.earthlink.net/~wm.patterson/helicopterthoughts/id16.html

See bikes and the first human powered helicopter at:
http://www.calpoly.edu/~wpatters/
Single Track controls at:
http://home.earthlink.net/~wm.patterson/

Reply to [email hidden]
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Bill Patterson said:

Johnny Sunset aka Tom Sherman said:

Prof. Bill Patterson wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

If you can find a used Festina, grab it. The best handling low racer.

Bill,

Have you ridden an Earth Cycles Sunset Lowracer [1]?

[1] My favorite subject. 🙂

I haven't, and I can't find a web site that describes the sunset
lowracer. Help; My life seems to be an IQ test that I, too often, fail.

I find the Sunset's handling similar to the much more common RANS
Rocket (I own both). A relatively upright seating position (~35-40°
from the horizontal) and minimal foot/wheel interference all help.

However, readers should be aware that my handling preferences differ
considerably from Prof. Patterson's (Google "BikeE E2).

--
Tom Sherman - Post Free or Die!

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Some potentially reasonably priced bikes would be used Challenge
Jesters and Optima Low Barons.

If the 2 metre rule applies, though, the rider would have to be at or
below about 5'9" to get the bike this short. Without the tail fairing,
my Baron X-Low is about seven feet long for 6'3" me, and
appypollyloggies for the mixed units.

--
Dave Larrington - <http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/>
uck Wa