Learning Time

John Foltz said:

I don't think a LSB is easier to *ride*, but it may be easier to *learn*. The reasons being that
the seat is usually more upright and the feet are usually closer to the ground.

That should read "a LWB" not "a LSB". Darned fat fingers!
--

John Foltz --- O _ Baron --- _O _ V-Rex 24/63 --- _\\/\-%)
_________(_)`=()___________________(_)= (_)_____

Jay <[email hidden]> wrote in :"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

in article [email hidden], Dave Harney at [email hidden] wrote
on 5/7/03 4:34 PM:

Quoted message said:

I really was intrigued by the tandem trike - especially ones like the Greenspeed with the great
hill climbing ability. The problem for us was the transportation and storage issues of these big
machines. As wife is no longer interested in biking solo under any circumstances, the balance
issue is a moot point on the tandem - as long as my balancing ability is up to par.

If a tandem trike could readily be transported in the back of my pickup and be packed for
European air travel, it would have a lot more appeal. The Vision has some challenges in this
regard, but it is acceptable - not too much different from our daVinci.

The Greenspeed GTV (tandem trike with S&S couplers) breaks down to go into two suitcases and can
be transformed to a solo.

Hase Kettwiesel!!!!!!!! I balked at the tandems for the same reasons. Major garage hogs. Their other
trike is a folder, but I don't know if you can link two of them.

fahrradscheune.deKettwiesel Gespann.jpgOpen ↗

hostelshoppe.comlb ketttandem.jpgOpen ↗

kinetics.org.ukkettwiesel.htmlOpen ↗

I just got my new/used Trek r200 home today and after a few second of twitchy surprises with the handling and a gradual adjustment to fit the seat I had no problem at all with it. I love the looks I get from people.

I'm quite interested in buying a bent and have taken a few test rides. While I've experienced how
relaxing does facilitate the balance, there remains a feeling of vulnerability: I imagine that if I
felt closer to an all fours/ feet on the ground posture, i.e. not "on my back," that in a
fast-moving situation I'd feel more "resourceful," and responsive. Something about feeling 'forward'
and closer to the ground would give a feeling of control.

While the posture may feel ungrounded, I hope my concern is groundless.

Thanks all for any advice.

Hap

[email hidden] (Hap Allen) wrote in
:"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

I'm quite interested in buying a bent and have taken a few test rides. While I've experienced how
relaxing does facilitate the balance, there remains a feeling of vulnerability: I imagine that if
I felt closer to an all fours/ feet on the ground posture, i.e. not "on my back," that in a
fast-moving situation I'd feel more "resourceful," and responsive. Something about feeling
'forward' and closer to the ground would give a feeling of control.

While the posture may feel ungrounded, I hope my concern is groundless.

Thanks all for any advice.

Hap

Not at all. Your body's spent xx years in a mostly upright (when awake) posture. I LOVED the feel of
it, just like I love roller coasters, that rush in the stomach feel is fun to me. At the same time I
think it did compromise my balance to some degree. You get used to it for sure, but I was always
more "nervous" on my two wheeled bents than I was on uprights. Thusly, I, like many others, have
gravitated to trikes 🙂 TRY ONE!

"Hap Allen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm quite interested in buying a bent and have taken a few test rides. While I've experienced how
relaxing does facilitate the balance, there remains a feeling of vulnerability: I imagine that if
I felt closer to an all fours/ feet on the ground posture, i.e. not "on my back," that in a
fast-moving situation I'd feel more "resourceful," and responsive. Something about feeling
'forward' and closer to the ground would give a feeling of control.

While the posture may feel ungrounded, I hope my concern is groundless.

Thanks all for any advice.

Hap

You'll get used to it. It took me almost 1000 miles (5 months) to feel like I was totally
comfortable on my USS SWB 'bent. Now, 4500 miles later, I feel like I've never ridden any other way
(except on some steep hills where I still want to stand up).

I now ride in heavy traffic, on narrow paths, and even occasionally on loose dirt and gravel without
feeling "nervous." It's a matter of building confidence and understanding how the bike responds to
your inputs in varying situations.

Keep riding!

Remember, free advice is generally worth about what you pay for it.

<Chas> Haluzak Hybrid Race -- the inline wheelchair

"Dave Harney" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Actually, we bought two bikes from hostelshoppe.comhostelshoppe.comOpen ↗ a central Wisconsin bike shop that
specializes in recumbents. We traveled 150 miles to buy from them because of their excellent
reputation and willingness to help a new recumbent buyer. We really appreicate their assistance
and the scope of their recumbent oriented products. The bikes are:

Dave. Congratulations on your bents I would like to offere two observations:
1. The Volae Club should prove to be a high performance bent.
2. I believe that you have chosen a bike with a steep "learning curve"

A bike with a 32.5" high bottom bracket would not be my first choice for the average bent tyro. With
most SWB's, as the the Club, I believe, you will have to deal with the issue of "heel strike". I do
not know what minimum recline is for the Club's hard shell seat, however, many riders new to bents
seem most comfortable in an "up right" seating position.

You have a bent that would appear to be challenging for many new riders. On the other hand, you have
a bike with enough speed potential that you probably won't want to trade it in six or a year from
now. You pay your money and you take your choice.

That sounds resonable. I went from DF to bent in quick time. I did a 156 mile ride trading draft
with a buddy at an average of 17mph. Parked the DF and rode a couple hundred miles over 3 weeks on a
BikeE. Then I rode an MS 150. I averged 18mph solo on on the BikeE for 75miles the first day.

Balance came on OK after a couple of rides, but has improved with years (BikeEs are weird at
slow speeds).

I fell like the BikeE was equal to or faster than the DF. The DF was a Miyata TerraLiner, handlebar
and pannier bags, not particularly light. Loaded the BikeE is slightly heavier. BikeEs are not that
great with regards to aerodynamics either, but still better than a DF.

Both rides were pretty flat. I never got to make a like comparison on hilly terrain. But I think
there are some muscles that need retraining for uphills. I never much cared for hills, partly
because I have to go out of my way to find them; so I am never really in shape for them.

Intuitively, I think hills can be about the same on a bent.

Spin don't grind, it makes everything easier including balancing.

Mike

Dave Harney wrote:

Snip

Quoted message said:

I've been told that most people need a month or so and about a hundred miles to develop a decent
sense of balance.