HarryB said:I'm writing to get suggestions for a couple of ladies at work who were
intrigued when I described a recumbent to them. Both ladies are
probably (guessing a lady's age could be hazardous...) in their 40's,
quite trim, and about 5'5" - 5'7". Neither of them presently ride a
bike mainly because they both have back problems which make it too
painful for them to ride a DF. They would both like to ride for
recreational/health reasons and would have no interest in long
distance riding, racing, or high speed club rides.
My wife and I ride an upright tandem so I don't know much about the
'bent world. And I know of only one dealer within a reasonable
distance that they might be willing to drive to for test rides. That
dealer sells some recumbents and from what I recall they stock some
RANS and maybe Burleys.
I have two reservations about the dealer: First, there is not a
parking lot for test rides. The dealer is located in a quiet
residential area, but all of the roads in the area are quite hilly. I
would think that would present difficulties for a beginner trying to
test ride a 'bent for the first time. Secondly, the recumbents are a
side line for that dealer, so I don't know how much he might be
pushing a particular bike he has in stock, rather than working to get
the best possible bike for their individual needs.
Would it be a good idea to suggest that the dealer set up a
prospective bike on a trainer so that they can get an idea of how the
bike feels without having to worry about trying to balance, shift and
brake (because of the hills) and watch out for cars?
Any recommendations of a specific bike would be most appreciated.
This may sound strange to the uninitiated, but short wheelbase (SWB)
recumbents are generally better for taller riders and long wheelbase
(LWB) are generally better for shorter riders. Compact long wheelbase
(CLWB) bikes generally fit most riders.
Most dealers have an account with J&B, so they can order the Sun line
of recumbents. The CLWB EZ-1 SC [1] is fun and easy to ride, and would
work well for the purposes described, but the weight would be a
disadvantage in hilly areas. For about 50% more money, the "Lite"
version [2] offers better components and significantly less weight. The
LWB EZ Sport should provide better performance and ride comfort, but is
a physically larger bike that presents more issue for storage and
transport.
The RANS Tailwind [4] is a surprising fast bike and an excellent value
for the money, and fits riders in the mid 5-foot range very well. It
will do fine for the stated purpose, but is also a capable long
distance bike, so the rider will not necessarily outgrow it if she
expands her range of riding types.
Burley offers the Jett Creek [5] and Koosah which are similar to the
RANS Tailwind in that they should suit both recreational and more
ambitious riders well.
The RANS and Burley bikes have high quality frames and decent to good
components, and both companies have good reputations for supporting
their products.
[1] <http://www.easyracers.com/ez_1_sc.htm>.
[2] <http://www.easyracers.com/ez_1_lite.htm>.
[3] <http://www.easyracers.com/ez_sport.htm>.
[4] <http://www.ransbikes.com/tailwind.htm>.
[5]
<http://www.burley.com/products/recumbents/default73ce.html?p=Jett+Creek&i=0>.
[6]
<http://www.burley.com/products/recumbents/default4269.html?p=Koosah&i=1>.
--
Tom Sherman - Fox River Valley Pedant
