I have been riding a Roadrunner Mach I(27 lbs) for a couple of years and I am considering moving to a lighter(I hope faster)high-racer. I was close to taking a 100 mile drive to a dealer and ordering a Bacchetta Aero, but after seeing a picture of the Ti. T-bone 700, I am wondering if that might be the way to go. The T-bone costs less and uses 700 wheels and 'claims' to be around 21 lbs. Do not know, but think there are more Bacchetta dealers and also more Aero bikes out there. Would appreciate any knowledge and thoughts you have. Thanks.
George Reynolds is a great guy, very creative engineer, and good designer, but his bikes do have the "homemade" look about them. They use the astroturf seats, hose clamps on the underseat steering 700/20, etc.
You might find this a plus. I went to visit George in his shop, but had to wait until he finished building a bike to test ride it. He had no demo models. The 700/20 rode very nicely, but I was not used to the underseat steering on the limited ride I had. He did not have an above seat model to try.
there is nothing like the "custom bike" experience, George Reynolds work provide this, plus the option of USS or OSS on the T-bone is a plus.
Gene said:
I have been riding a Roadrunner Mach I(27 lbs) for a couple of years and I am considering moving to a lighter(I hope faster)high-racer. I was close to taking a 100 mile drive to a dealer and ordering a Bacchetta Aero, but after seeing a picture of the Ti. T-bone 700, I am wondering if that might be the way to go. The T-bone costs less and uses 700 wheels and 'claims' to be around 21 lbs. Do not know, but think there are more Bacchetta dealers and also more Aero bikes out there. Would appreciate any knowledge and thoughts you have. Thanks.
I disagree with the "homemade look" I think his bikes are very refined, George now uses an Optima or M5 seat, main boom is ovalized, and his USS is one of the nicest i've used. On the hose clamp issue, see Bob Bryant's most recent comments about "after seeing broken boom bolts, and slipping seats" he no longer is seeing this as a negative.
Jonathan Kaplan said:
George Reynolds is a great guy, very creative engineer, and good designer, but his bikes do have the "homemade" look about them. They use the astroturf seats, hose clamps on the underseat steering 700/20, etc.
You might find this a plus. I went to visit George in his shop, but had to wait until he finished building a bike to test ride it. He had no demo models. The 700/20 rode very nicely, but I was not used to the underseat steering on the limited ride I had. He did not have an above seat model to try.
I disagree with the "homemade look" I think his [George Reynolds] > bikes are very refined...
To me the Reynolds Weld Lab bikes have a look about them that resembles testing equipment - built with a particular function in mind, and form following function.
Contrary to what some have read into some of my past statements, I would consider purchasing another Reynolds Weld Lab bike at some point.
other than the Aero being polished, and the T-bone brushed, what else looks utilitarian about them in your opinion?
Tom Sherman said:
bentbiker said:
I disagree with the "homemade look" I think his [George Reynolds] > bikes are very refined...
To me the Reynolds Weld Lab bikes have a look about them that resembles testing equipment - built with a particular function in mind, and form following function.
Contrary to what some have read into some of my past statements, I would consider purchasing another Reynolds Weld Lab bike at some point.
other than the Aero being polished, and the T-bone brushed, what else looks utilitarian about them in your opinion?
Many of the details on the Reynolds bike seem to say, "How can I do this in a functional and efficient manner", as opposed to a company such as Challenge whose bikes say, "How can I make this both beautiful and functional".
I am not alone in this, several people have on different occasions referred to the Challenge website as "bike [censored]", while I can not recall a similar reaction to any Reynolds Weld Lab bike.
I suspect that George Reynolds definition of a good looking bicycle is one that gets smaller in the forward vision of the other riders. 😉
I would agree 100%, challenge bikes are beautiful [and heavy]. I just think George's original square beam bikes got the "crude" look going, that carries over to his other models. I had a RT wishbone from him, that was as nice looking in fit and finish as a challenge bike, it was powder coated silver, stunning. His Ti frames to be looked very well done.
Tom Sherman said:
bentbiker said:
other than the Aero being polished, and the T-bone brushed, what else looks utilitarian about them in your opinion?
Many of the details on the Reynolds bike seem to say, "How can I do this in a functional and efficient manner", as opposed to a company such as Challenge whose bikes say, "How can I make this both beautiful and functional".
I am not alone in this, several people have on different occasions referred to the Challenge website as "bike [censored]", while I can not recall a similar reaction to any Reynolds Weld Lab bike.
I suspect that George Reynolds definition of a good looking bicycle is one that gets smaller in the forward vision of the other riders. 😉
I was giving up on getting a recumbent bike until I saw George's bikes. I actually like the look of the T-Bone, especially with USS. I like the Challenge bikes too, but as was said their weight penalty took them out of the running. I live in a hilly area were I will have to climb occasionally. I want a light weight bike with USS that is stable at slow speeds and can climb. The Aero seems to put the rider high on the frame with a short wheel base. The T-bone looks as if it is longer and the rider sits lower and inbetween the wheels. I had my heart set on getting a recumbent trike next year, but now I am pondering on the T-Bone. I would like to hear from T-Bone owners out there about the handling of the bike, such as slow speed U-turns, heel/wheel interference, stability on high speed down hill runs, hill climbing, high speed curves. One more thing, would you opt for the disc brakes if you rode alot of hills? I have them on my mountain bike and reallu like them better than rim brakes. For comparison sake Aero riders can answer the same handling questions. Peace
