Velotechnik

Paul said:

What is the group's opinion of Velotechnik, particularly the Streetmachine GT?

It's one of the best bikes for touring and every-day-use. The resale value is very high, you almost
get back the price of a new for a used one, even on German ebay.

Quoted message said:

I'm a tourist and not too interested in speed, though I am interested in climbing ability.

Given the appropriate gearing it will climb as good as comparable upright touring bikes - as soon as
you've got your recumbent legs, which will take a while, I'd say at least 1000 miles.

Quoted message said:

I see they have a new model due out in a month or two - the Grasshopper. It has 20" wheels back
and front instead of the 26" rear like the Streetmachine, and an aluminium frame. Apart from the
advantage of having only one tyre size to worry about what are the other advantages or
disadvantages of having 20" wheels?

Pro: the small rear wheel accelerates faster, it's easier to get really low gearing for a heavily
packed bike and helps for an overall shorter and more compact bike.

Con: the ride is rougher, requiring suspension. 26"-tires are more durable and better on rough
roads or sand.

Quoted message said:

The Grasshopper is a couple of kilos lighter than the Streetmachine too.

Another advantage of the Grasshopper seems to be the new multi-adjustable seat, but since it's new,
there are no experiences to tell till now.

Quoted message said:

How do recumbents pack up for airline travel? Do they end up being quite long?

It depends on the model, Cletus will probably tell you about his Lightning Voyageur with S&S-
couplings, but AFAIK he even took his Stratus (LWB) to Europe by airplane.

Quoted message said:

I've been riding for many years, but never on a recumbent so whatever I choose will be my
first 'bent.

Test rides are highly recommended before buying, at least I'd try to sit on a similar model for
getting the feeling of it.

Regards,
Kurt

"Kurt Fischer" skrev...

Quoted message said:

It depends on the model, Cletus will probably tell you about his Lightning Voyageur with S&S-
couplings, but AFAIK he even took his Stratus (LWB) to Europe by airplane.

Well he took the Voyager to Denmark. Pretty nifty bike and it comes with a solid flightcase AFAIK.
Lightnings are usually said to be good climbers. Not cheap but neither is a Streetmachine in the
US I guess.

Mikael

For a completely biased opinion (he loves them) , go to this site.
sunsite.anu.edu.auTourstories.htmOpen ↗ You better pack a lunch. There's lots of
great reading there. This guy has ridden a StreetMachine thru Europe, SE Asia, Africa, Australia,
and Russia. His bent opinions as well as his travels are reported on his site.

Miles of Smiles,

Tom "Paul" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi there,

What is the group's opinion of Velotechnik, particularly the Streetmachine GT? I'm a tourist and
not too interested in speed, though I am interested in climbing ability. I see they have a new
model due out in a month or two - the Grasshopper. It has 20" wheels back and front instead of the
26" rear like the Streetmachine, and an aluminium frame. Apart from the advantage of having only
one tyre size to worry about what are the other advantages or disadvantages of having 20" wheels?
The Grasshopper is a couple of kilos lighter than the Streetmachine too.

How do recumbents pack up for airline travel? Do they end up being quite long?

I've been riding for many years, but never on a recumbent so whatever I choose will be my
first 'bent.

Any comments about these machines as touring bikes is of interest.

Thanks for any help, Paul.

Quoted message said:

What is the group's opinion of Velotechnik, particularly the Streetmachine GT? <snip>. Apart from
the advantage of having only one tyre size to worry about what are the other advantages or
disadvantages of having 20" wheels? The Grasshopper is a couple of kilos lighter than the
Streetmachine too.

Streetmachine: Expensive, heavy, well-made, VERY comfortable, good climber (considering its weight),
quite easy to ride. The Grasshopper is lower, shorter, lighter (but not much); easier to take on a
plane, easier to get on/off, probably slightly faster. Main difference would be the seat and
steering. It would be hard to improve on the Streetmachine's ergonomics, but the new seat does look
very clever. There's a choice between above seat steering (ASS) and indirect underseat steering
(USS). I find ASS not as relaxed as USS (and the USS steering on the Streetmachine is as good as
they come), but I'm not happy about indirect steering on a short wheelbase bike either; as soon as
you get some play in the steering linkage, the ride gets a bit vague. If you can live with its
weight, a Streetmachine would be a good first bike.

Mark van Gorkom.

P.S.: If you buy a Streetmachine, don't forget to order it with a Rohloff 14-speed hub :-)

(Paul) said:

What is the group's opinion of Velotechnik, particularly the Streetmachine GT? I'm a tourist and
not too interested in speed,

Excellent bike, well made and well specified. I liked it, though I bought something lower, and I
know a couple of people who ride tham and have nothing but praise for them.

Have you also seen the competing offerings from Challenge, Optima and M5?

Guy
===
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
chapmancentral.demon.co.ukchapmancentral.demon.co.ukOpen ↗

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

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

How do recumbents pack up for airline travel? Do they end up being quite long?

It depends on the model, Cletus will probably tell you about his Lightning Voyageur with S&S-
couplings, but AFAIK he even took his Stratus (LWB) to Europe by airplane.

Yes, I took a RANS Stratus to Vienna in 2000. That was it's third flight. By then I had arready
ordered a Lightning Voyager. The Lightning Voyager will pay for itself in Domestic Excess Baggage
fee savings in about two more flights.

If you plan to bike tour a lot by air, an S&S Coupled bike is a good choice. Getting a 40kg 2mX1m
packed bike into and out of an airport is a hassle. There are not many ground transportation choices
at your destination that will even be able to handle a packed DF.

My experience with the HP Velotechnik is limited to sitting on one for about 5 minutes in Baden
Austria. It was well suited for touring, but I though it to be a heavy beast. However, a lot of
Europeans tour on them.

I do not know what your options are in NZ, but if it be in your price range, a Lightning Voyager is
my choice for a fast bike well siuted for travel and adapted to commute or self contained touring.

If you haven't already already discovered it, there is a touring mailing list. Though it tends to be
US centric at times, it is the penultimate source for cycle touring information.

You can find out more here: Touring mailing list [email hidden] Browse and search the archives:
search.bikelist.orgsearch.bikelist.orgOpen ↗ Unsubscribe or list settings: phred.orgtouringOpen ↗

--

Cletus D. Lee Bacchetta Giro Lightning Voyager clee.orgclee.orgOpen ↗
- Bellaire, TX USA -

[email hidden] (Kurt Fischer) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Paul said:

What is the group's opinion of Velotechnik, particularly the Streetmachine GT?

It's one of the best bikes for touring and every-day-use. The resale value is very high, you
almost get back the price of a new for a used one, even on German ebay.

I use mine for my daily commute, and like it a lot. Whatever you put on it doesn't seem to affect
the handling...

Actually, I lie - I once had two fully packed side panniers, and a fully packed 85 litre rucksack on
the back - it wobbled a bit but I was only cycling a mile or two in Oxford, so I went slowly.

Once I got used to the slightly higher than usual centre of gravity, it was OK. If I was going to do
this regularly, I'd get some larger panniers on the side, and a couple under the seat.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I'm a tourist and not too interested in speed, though I am interested in climbing ability.

Given the appropriate gearing it will climb as good as comparable upright touring bikes - as soon
as you've got your recumbent legs, which will take a while, I'd say at least 1000 miles.

Yep - it's OK, though heavier than my mountain bike! I climb about 100 metres in one mile long
section of my ride – steepest bit must be about 1 in 4. Not fun, but doable. As long as you stay
above 3.5-4 mph, it's stable.

However, going *down* this hill, if I freewheel from top to bottom, I can get to 45mph. Don't think
I often got above 45 *peddling* on my mountain bike, and it feels a hell of a lot safer on the
Street Machine! :-)

Quoted message said:

I've been riding for many years, but never on a recumbent so whatever

Quoted message said:

I choose will be my first 'bent.

Test rides are highly recommended before buying, at least I'd try to sit on a similar model for
getting the feeling of it.

Yep – it takes a while to get used to the handling – once I figured out you steer with balance (i.e.
just like you do on an upright), rather than the handlebars, it was a lot easier. Didn't fall off
when I was doing a test ride, but felt like I was going to.

Leigh.

Penultimate means next to last! Some great recommendation.
Cletus Lee <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

How do recumbents pack up for airline travel? Do they end up being quite long?

It depends on the model, Cletus will probably tell you about his Lightning Voyageur with S&S-
couplings, but AFAIK he even took his Stratus (LWB) to Europe by airplane.

Yes, I took a RANS Stratus to Vienna in 2000. That was it's third flight.

By then I had arready

Quoted message said:

ordered a Lightning Voyager. The Lightning Voyager will pay for itself in

Domestic Excess

Quoted message said:

Baggage fee savings in about two more flights.

If you plan to bike tour a lot by air, an S&S Coupled bike is a good

choice. Getting a 40kg

Quoted message said:

2mX1m packed bike into and out of an airport is a hassle. There are not

many ground

Quoted message said:

transportation choices at your destination that will even be able to

handle a packed DF.

Quoted message said:

My experience with the HP Velotechnik is limited to sitting on one for

about 5 minutes in Baden

Quoted message said:

Austria. It was well suited for touring, but I though it to be a heavy

beast. However, a lot of

Quoted message said:

Europeans tour on them.

I do not know what your options are in NZ, but if it be in your price

range, a Lightning

Quoted message said:

Voyager is my choice for a fast bike well siuted for travel and adapted to

commute or self

Quoted message said:

contained touring.

If you haven't already already discovered it, there is a touring mailing

list. Though it tends

Quoted message said:

to be US centric at times, it is the penultimate source for cycle touring

information.

Quoted message said:

You can find out more here: Touring mailing list [email hidden] Browse and search the archives:
search.bikelist.orgsearch.bikelist.orgOpen ↗ Unsubscribe or list settings: phred.orgtouringOpen ↗

--

Cletus D. Lee Bacchetta Giro Lightning Voyager clee.orgclee.orgOpen ↗
- Bellaire, TX USA -

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

Quoted message said:

Penultimate means next to last! Some great recommendation.

Quoted message said:

...it is the penultimate source for cycle touring

information.

Perhaps it should read 'Ultimate Source ...' It is the last (best) source you need for touring
information. However, since I can not say for sure if there are better sources, I settle for
'penultimate' Nothing in the definition of last implies worst.

But then I suggest that in a challenge recumbent race between the two of us, I would be the
penultimate racer. :-)

--

Cletus D. Lee Bacchetta Giro Lightning Voyager clee.orgclee.orgOpen ↗
- Bellaire, TX USA -

Just zis Guy said:

Have you also seen the competing offerings from Challenge, Optima and M5?

There is a site of a guy who tours the world on a Challenge Distance. It's in French, but there is
also a English version. matthieu.monceaux.free.frindex1024 cadres.htmlOpen ↗

My BOAG(best of all girlfriends) recently purchased a used Optima Lynx as her first recumbent. I
rode it a few hundred miles so I'm able to give some comments. It's a very comfy and solid looking
tourer, carrier is very strong(up to 50kg), very fast on the flats and into the headwind, but
definitely no climber. Don't know why, perhaps due to a slight pogoing of the suspension or the
relatively flat seat-angle. (modified) Handlebar comes very close to the chest, too close for my
liking. Frame material is aluminum, therefore it's a little lighter than the Streetmachine. In
comparison a real bargain, especially if you can get it used.

Also the Flux S 600 could make for a very good touring bike, it's lighter, lower and probably a bit
faster, but I don't know about the availability down under. Never heard someone complain about
climbing, seat is quite upright adjustable. Not cheap either.

Regards,
Kurt

Mark van Gorkom said:

P.S.: If you buy a Streetmachine, don't forget to order it with a Rohloff 14-speed hub :-)

And a SON hub-dynamo. ;-)

Regards, Kurt

"Cletus Lee" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

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

says...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Penultimate means next to last! Some great recommendation.

Quoted message said:

...it is the penultimate source for cycle touring

information.

Perhaps it should read 'Ultimate Source ...' It is the last (best)

source you need for

Quoted message said:

touring information. However, since I can not say for sure if there are

better sources, I

Quoted message said:

settle for 'penultimate' Nothing in the definition of last implies worst.

But then I suggest that in a challenge recumbent race between the two of

us, I would be the

Quoted message said:

penultimate racer. :-)

--

Cletus D. Lee Bacchetta Giro Lightning Voyager clee.orgclee.orgOpen ↗
- Bellaire, TX USA -

You must have looked at the race results from Northbrook last summer. Next year I'm getting lower
and I hope faster. You're welcome to make that long drive for the races next year and see what the
transponders say. We can put y'all up on the sofa if y'all come. :o)

On Tue, 16 Dec 2003 22:58:01 +0100, [email hidden] (Kurt Fischer)

Quoted message said:

Mark van Gorkom said:

P.S.: If you buy a Streetmachine, don't forget to order it with a Rohloff 14-speed hub :-)

And a SON hub-dynamo. ;-)

Yep, and a Streamer, and a tailbox; I believe I spend more money on that bike than on all my (very
second-hand) cars combined! And now I'm saving up for a Velomobile...

Mark van Gorkom.

Mark van Gorkom said:

And now I'm saving up for a Velomobile...

Mango? Quest? Or even the heavy Versatile?

Kurt, just curious ;-)

"Kurt Fischer" skrev...

Quoted message said:

Mark van Gorkom said:

And now I'm saving up for a Velomobile...

Mango? Quest? Or even the heavy Versatile?

Fairly cheap Go-One 2 on the dutch list if you can live without luggagespace.
ligfiets.netmarktOpen ↗

Mikael

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Mark van Gorkom said:

And now I'm saving up for a Velomobile...

Mango? Quest? Or even the heavy Versatile?

Versatile I think; I want to keep my head out of the rain too, and Flevobike are working on a
canopy. I've been thinking about a Cab-bike, but I'm afraid it's too high and narrow for all but the
most sedate cornering. Guess I could build a canopy for a Mango (Quest can't be had with Rohloff)
but it would get too hot; the Versatile is rather better ventilated (mesh seat and bigger holes in
the floor). As for the weight: they're all way to heavy to tackle any kind of hill, so now I want a
holiday bike too; something a wee bit more upright than my Baron, and fully suspended, but no
heavier! Anybody wants to donate a Carbon frame ?

Quoted message said:

Fairly cheap Go-One 2 on the dutch list if you can live without luggage space.

Tempting, but actually, I can't.

Mark van Gorkom.