My first bent on order ...

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

Quoted message said:

Hello all,

lurk mode off ...

First, a big thanks to the many people that participate here and all the
advice and discussion. Keep it up.

I just test drove a RANS V2 (after several other LWB bents) and I fell
in love. I discovered however that I needed an extended length model. It
was almost okay with the seat all the way back, but the helpful store
owner recomended I go extended so I wouldn't always ride around with the
seat all the way back and with 95% of my weight on the back tire. So I
special ordered, and since I was special ordering anyway I decided to
upgrade a bit the the V2 Formula. Any V2 formula riders out there?

I got the XL size too (V2 - not Formula) and it is the only way for us 6
footers to go. You never want to be sitting all the way back next to the
rear wheel.

Quoted message said:

My wife is still looking for her bent, but she hasn't taken a look at
the RANS yet either.

My ponderments:

fenders, yes or no?

Fenders are only needed if you are living in the Pacific Northwest and you
are going to be doing a lot of riding in the rain.

Quoted message said:

computers, more than a gimick?

I consider a computer essential for keeping track of my mileage if nothing
else. Also, I do not wear a wrist watch and so the computer is also my
watch.

Quoted message said:

feet hooked/clipped to pedals? (I can see myself in slo-mo falling over
with my feet still firmly planted on the pedals) Note, I do use clips on
my diamond frame.

Yes, use the clips as the crank is slightly elevated compared to a low BB
like the RANS Stratus.

Quoted message said:

do all (male) bent riders really have graying/white beards?

We recumbent cyclists are mostly over 40 and sporting a gray beard is
optional.

Quoted message said:

will my engine ever be tuned properly enough to scale those hills
on my bent?

Hills will always be a challenge on a recumbent. I try to avoid them as much
as possible.

Quoted message said:

eastern united states road touring techniques (i.e. roadside camping
with no BLM land in site ... does tresspassing become a normal routine?)
.. I might start a separate thread on that one.

You will always be mostly trespassing in the East. The trick is to do it so
that no one will ever even know you are doing it. I could write a book on
that subject.

--
Ed Dolan - Minnesota

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

Quoted message said:

Hello all,

lurk mode off ...

First, a big thanks to the many people that participate here and all the
advice and discussion. Keep it up.

I just test drove a RANS V2 (after several other LWB bents) and I fell
in love. I discovered however that I needed an extended length model. It
was almost okay with the seat all the way back, but the helpful store
owner recomended I go extended so I wouldn't always ride around with the
seat all the way back and with 95% of my weight on the back tire. So I
special ordered, and since I was special ordering anyway I decided to
upgrade a bit the the V2 Formula. Any V2 formula riders out there?

My wife is still looking for her bent, but she hasn't taken a look at
the RANS yet either.

My ponderments:

fenders, yes or no?

If you ride in the rain they may help keep you less wet. But at some point
wet is wet and all you can do is to dry out or dry off. Generally fenders
make riding in the rain more pleasant or less unpleasant however you view
it.

Quoted message said:

computers, more than a gimick?

They are an absolute must have for most people. They are especially helpful
for tourist or those training for something. Sometimes I go a for while
between battery replacements and I seem get a different kind of enjoyment
from those no computer rides.

Quoted message said:

feet hooked/clipped to pedals? (I can see myself in slo-mo falling over
with my feet still firmly planted on the pedals) Note, I do use clips on
my diamond frame.

Get some clip-in pedals. Probably the double sided ones with a clip-in on
one side and a regular pedal on the other side would be good. They are easy
to use. This is a safety consideration to keep your foot from slippling off
the pedal and hitting the ground and having things get ugly immediately
thereafter. Start out with you retention set at the lowest level and adjust
upward as you feel you should. Anticipate stops and unclip ahead of time.
If you fall you will surely unclip so don't worry about that. I think you
will like them after a ride or two. Just about all serious riders use them.

Quoted message said:

do all (male) bent riders really have graying/white beards?

I've seen a few with darker beards. They are the young guns. I see you made
it a point not to ask about the women. That was smart. [Just kidding
ladies - y' all know those DF guys would never carry on about bents if more
women rode them]

Quoted message said:

will my engine ever be tuned properly enough to scale those hills
on my bent?

Here's the deal - expect the hills to be hard a first - harder than they
were on your DF (you are using different muscle groups now) - but know the
hills will come to you if you continue make the effort. Keep at it - don't
give up and don't take the easy route to avoid them. Before know it you'll
be able to climb mountains and enjoy it.

Quoted message said:

eastern united states road touring techniques (i.e. roadside camping
with no BLM land in site ... does tresspassing become a normal routine?)

I've probably been in that situation, even though I don't have any idea what
BLM land is. It's always good to ask owners if you can camp on their
property. Tell them who you are, what you'r doing, and that you'll leave in
the morning without a trace. I've never had anyone turn me down - not many
serial killers travel by bike and everyone seems to have forgotten all those
traveling salesman jokes. Usually they offer hospitality - food, drink, and
some interesting conversation which makes bike touring the really good thing
that it is. If it's ten more miles to BFE, you want to camp right now,
and if it's possible to get out of sight at least a 100 feet off the road
it's unlikely you will be disturbed - haphazard camping it's called. Keep a
low profile and don't start a camp fire - that's a real no no with out
permission plus it's a sure to be a negative attention getter. I've camped
with permission in places such as the field in the back of an all night
convenience store. Also, in one town I camped in the town cementey without
being disturbed. A few minutes the next morning checking out the tombstones
provided a bit of the town history.

Hope this helps.

skip

On Wed, 7 Jul 2004 14:37:25 -0500, "skip" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

If you ride in the rain they may help keep you less wet. But at some point
wet is wet and all you can do is to dry out or dry off. Generally fenders
make riding in the rain more pleasant or less unpleasant however you view
it.

In the DC area, wet off the ground can be a lot more unpleasant than
wet in the form of falling rain, especially if heading to the office.
I wouldn't commute on a bike without fenders and my shopping recumbent
has fenders as well. So does the Double Vision tandem, but they turned
into a pain to install, so maybe some day. Right now they're in the
box in the garage.

Don't have them on the Vision single because I'm not bothered by mud
and sludge on bare legs.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

computers, more than a gimick?

They are an absolute must have for most people. They are especially helpful
for tourist or those training for something. Sometimes I go a for while
between battery replacements and I seem get a different kind of enjoyment
from those no computer rides.

I plan to reconnect my computer any year now. Have a whole new set up
purchased last year and it isn't an issue. Yet.

Curtis L. Russell
Odenton, MD (USA)
Just someone on two wheels...

Thanks Ed,

Quoted message said:

I got the XL size too (V2 - not Formula)

Had it long? gripes?

Quoted message said:

Fenders are only needed if you are living in the Pacific Northwest and
you are going to be doing a lot of riding in the rain.

We're hoping to do some extensive touring, and in not so dry states. I'd
think Minnisota (where Ed is apparently from) would be inclement enough
to justify fenders, but maybe not.

Quoted message said:

You will always be mostly trespassing in the East. The trick is to do
it so that no one will ever even know you are doing
it. I could write a book on that subject.

Ed, I'd read it. Being a westerner transplanted in Ohio I've found the
whole camping / backpacking experience to be rather foriegn territory
for me here in the east. Now our desire to do a little bike touring is
also going to be challenged. It's very much a different experience
from the west.

Thanks

--

Curtis L. Russell said:

On Wed, 7 Jul 2004 14:37:25 -0500, "skip" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

If you ride in the rain they may help keep you less wet. But at some point
wet is wet and all you can do is to dry out or dry off. Generally fenders
make riding in the rain more pleasant or less unpleasant however you view
it.

In the DC area, wet off the ground can be a lot more unpleasant than
wet in the form of falling rain, especially if heading to the office.
I wouldn't commute on a bike without fenders and my shopping recumbent
has fenders as well. So does the Double Vision tandem, but they turned
into a pain to install, so maybe some day. Right now they're in the
box in the garage.

Unless someone rides only when the streets are dry, I would consider
fenders almost a necessity. And as pointed out, it's not really the
falling rain that you're being protected from, but the water - and the
stuff that's now floating in it - from the streets.
I had a fender come loose while I was riding a GTO in Germany earlier
this year, and I didn't have a suitable wrench to tighten the bolt. No
big deal, since it was a sunny day. The next day, though, was rainy, and
even when it stopped, the roads were still wet - and I finished the day
with spatters of mud and who knows what else all over the trike and me.
I was just grateful it wasn't the Amish Lands and Lakes ride, held in
upstate Indiana. Horse "debris" is something I really don't like to wear...

--
Larry Varney
Cold Spring, KY
http://home.fuse.net/larryvarney

___Skip says___

Quoted message said:

Here's the deal - expect the hills to be hard a first

Thanks for the encouragement. I guess I'll be learning to be a spinner
and my wife will finally be learning to actually shift (no offense
dear!!! :-))

___Skip____

Quoted message said:

even though I don't have any idea what BLM land is

BLM = Bureau of Land Management, a topic of great debate and
importance in western states -- to easterners they've never heard of
it AT ALL !!! (that was a shock to this transplanted westerner). This
is federal land that stretches for miles and miles and miles and it is
a-okay to pull off the road just about anywhere your mode of
transportation fits and enjoy the land-of-the-public. It's the thing I
miss the MOST here in the east.

___Skip___

Quoted message said:

If it's ten more miles to BFE, ...

What's BFE ?!?!

Thanks for the ideas.

--

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

Quoted message said:

Thanks Ed,

Quoted message said:

I got the XL size too (V2 - not Formula)

Had it long? gripes?

I've had mine for several years now but find that I am not riding it as much
as I anticipated I would. Why? The relatively high BB always means a bit of
a learning curve when I first get on it and my V2 (stock) seems to have a
lot of tiller connected with the steering. I normally just hop on my Easy
Tour clone as there is no learning curve with it and there is very little
tiller.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Fenders are only needed if you are living in the Pacific Northwest and
you are going to be doing a lot of riding in the rain.

We're hoping to do some extensive touring, and in not so dry states. I'd
think Minnisota (where Ed is apparently from) would be inclement enough
to justify fenders, but maybe not.

I just never ride in the rain - period! I will ride in a drizzle, but not in
a pouring rain. When I get wet I go hypothermic and become extremely
miserable. I have occasionally sat out entire days when on tour just waiting
for the rain to stop.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

You will always be mostly trespassing in the East. The trick is to do
it so that no one will ever even know you are doing
it. I could write a book on that subject.

Ed, I'd read it. Being a westerner transplanted in Ohio I've found the
whole camping / backpacking experience to be rather foriegn territory
for me here in the east. Now our desire to do a little bike touring is
also going to be challenged. It's very much a different experience
from the west.

I spent over 10 years traveling (hiking and camping) in the West and I would
occasionally come East to do it too. But it was never the same. The East is
crowded and there is very little public land available for the public to use
free of charge. The public lands of the West are a miracle and I hope this
country will always have the good sense to keep them the way they are now.

--
Ed Dolan - Minnesota

Larry,

I see you are one of those white beards that fit the stereotype !!!

I have a greying short beard so I'll just be adding more fuel to the
stereotype. LOL

--

I forgot to mention I'm in Amish land as well, so fenders do sound like a good necessity :-)

--

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

Quoted message said:

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

[...]

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

eastern united states road touring techniques (i.e. roadside camping
with no BLM land in site ... does tresspassing become a normal routine?)

I've probably been in that situation, even though I don't have any idea

what

Quoted message said:

BLM land is. It's always good to ask owners if you can camp on their
property. Tell them who you are, what you'r doing, and that you'll leave

in

Quoted message said:

the morning without a trace. I've never had anyone turn me down - not

many

Quoted message said:

serial killers travel by bike and everyone seems to have forgotten all

those

Quoted message said:

traveling salesman jokes. Usually they offer hospitality - food, drink,

and

Quoted message said:

some interesting conversation which makes bike touring the really good

thing

Quoted message said:

that it is. If it's ten more miles to BFE, you want to camp right now,
and if it's possible to get out of sight at least a 100 feet off the road
it's unlikely you will be disturbed - haphazard camping it's called. Keep

a

Quoted message said:

low profile and don't start a camp fire - that's a real no no with out
permission plus it's a sure to be a negative attention getter. I've

camped

Quoted message said:

with permission in places such as the field in the back of an all night
convenience store. Also, in one town I camped in the town cementey without
being disturbed. A few minutes the next morning checking out the

tombstones

Quoted message said:

provided a bit of the town history.

Skip, you have got it mostly right, but you are a more social person than I
am. I have often found it more trouble than it is worth to ask permission to
camp. Many people will just worry needlessly about it and it seems to create
a lot of unease. So normally I will camp hidden so that no one will ever
know I was there. That means no camp fires for sure and not even any lights.
I camp late and I leave early. It is almost always possible to do this
anywhere in the world on a bicycle.

But you have got to think like an Indian. Get out of sight and stay out of
sight. What people don't know won't hurt them, and if your are by chance
discovered you will normally only have to explain your situation to the
local sheriff's deputy. I always plead extreme poverty and that I will be
gone first thing in the morning.

I noticed a new sign on a motel here in my home town the other day. It said
"Only $29.99 Low Rates". I had to laugh. I would never have gone anywhere in
my life if I had had to pay those "low rates".

--
Ed Dolan - Minnesota

jhaake <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

eastern united states road touring techniques (i.e. roadside camping
with no BLM land in site ... does tresspassing become a normal routine?)
... I might start a separate thread on that one.

Please visit the late Ken Kifer's website (now maintained by a
friend), in particular:

http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/touring/camping.htm

Regards,
Pamela

jhaake said:

Larry,

I see you are one of those white beards that fit the stereotype !!!

I have a greying short beard so I'll just be adding more fuel to the
stereotype. LOL

--

I don't fit the stereotype, I epitomize it!

--
Larry Varney
Cold Spring, KY
http://home.fuse.net/larryvarney

skip said:

...

Quoted message said:

My ponderments:

fenders, yes or no?

If you ride in the rain they may help keep you less wet. But at some point
wet is wet and all you can do is to dry out or dry off. Generally fenders
make riding in the rain more pleasant or less unpleasant however you view
it....

Most LWB bikes will send a stream of water directly into the rider's
face and back from the front wheel and rear wheels, respectively, unless
fenders are used. In addition, the spray off the rear wheel will soak
into the seat foam, which may take several days to dry (possibly less
time for the RANS Zephyr seat cushion).

--
Tom Sherman – Quad City Area

jhaake said:

...
What's BFE ?!?!...

Beyond Freaking Egypt - a colloquial expression for a place far from any
town, major highway, etc.

--
Tom Sherman – Quad City Area

jhaake said:

Hello all,
lurk mode off ...
First, a big thanks to the many people that participate here and all the
advice and discussion. Keep it up.
I just test drove a RANS V2 (after several other LWB bents) and I fell
in love. I discovered however that I needed an extended length model. It
was almost okay with the seat all the way back, but the helpful store
owner recomended I go extended so I wouldn't always ride around with the
seat all the way back and with 95% of my weight on the back tire. So I
special ordered, and since I was special ordering anyway I decided to
upgrade a bit the the V2 Formula. Any V2 formula riders out there?
My wife is still looking for her bent, but she hasn't taken a look at
the RANS yet either.
fenders, yes or no?
computers, more than a gimick?
feet hooked/clipped to pedals? (I can see myself in slo-mo falling over
with my feet still firmly planted on the pedals) Note, I do use clips on
my diamond frame.
do all (male) bent riders really have graying/white beards?
will my engine ever be tuned properly enough to scale those hills
on my bent?
eastern united states road touring techniques (i.e. roadside camping
with no BLM land in site ... does tresspassing become a normal routine?)
... I might start a separate thread on that one.
John Haake V2 in Ohio

Hi,

I'm a newbie to bents. The V2 is a nice machine. I ride a Rans Tailwind.
Wet streets will, well, get you wet. I would suspect fenders would be a
must. Since I have a horse farm, road debris are a fact of life in the
driveway. Adds to the fun of riding when dodging the road apples.

I use Power Grip straps and I like them. My road bike has toe clips.
I've never used special shoes or cleats (clipless pedals). The straps do
have the option of allowing you to position and reposition your foot as
you ride. I've not had a foot come loose or hang on the pedal.

I'm 53 and no grey beard yet. In fact I'm usually shaved. As to hill
climbing my Tailwind will climb like a mountain bike. Just sit and spin.
In fact I would venture to say it climbs easier (although slower) than
my Trek road bike. You could change the gearing to give you a hill
eating granny if you need it.

I too live in Ohio (Wellington).

I can't comment about the camping and trespassing since I'm a
transplanted "westerner" and I camp very little, just at the county fair
with our 4-H kids. Boy do I miss NM. Lots of "rural" country there.

Have fun on your V2. It looks like an awesome bike!

'bent Brian

--

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

Quoted message said:

jhaake said:

...
What's BFE ?!?!...

Beyond Freaking Egypt - a colloquial expression for a place far from any
town, major highway, etc.

That's the polite version of the expression for the mythical place in the
middle of nowhere. You can go to urbandictionary.com and search under BFE if
you are interested in the less polite version.

skip

"Edward Dolan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Skip, you have got it mostly right, but you are a more social person than

I

Quoted message said:

am. I have often found it more trouble than it is worth to ask permission

to

Quoted message said:

camp. Many people will just worry needlessly about it and it seems to

create

Quoted message said:

a lot of unease.

I'm just the opposite.

If I see people outside in their yard and if I like their looks I'll stop,
introduce myself, tell them where I'm from, what I'm doing, etc. A little
small talk or question about something going on in their local area doesn't
hurt. I tell them I'm looking for a place to pitch a pup tent for the night
(not *camp* which in their minds may suggest a lot of stuff and a longer
stay). I ask if they would help me and maybe suggest suitable place. I
assure them I will be no trouble and that I'll bike off in the morning
without leaving a trace. I never ask them directly if I can camp on their
property I just ask if they will help me find a spot which always seems to
end up somewhere on their property.

To me haphazard off road camping always seems to be a less than ideal
because of high weeds, rocks, and other undesirable things like the
chiggers and ticks we have in the south. I find the permission granted
sites nicer and less troublesome.

skip

..

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

Quoted message said:

"Edward Dolan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Skip, you have got it mostly right, but you are a more social person

than

Quoted message said:

I

Quoted message said:

am. I have often found it more trouble than it is worth to ask

permission

Quoted message said:

to

Quoted message said:

camp. Many people will just worry needlessly about it and it seems to

create

Quoted message said:

a lot of unease.

I'm just the opposite.

If I see people outside in their yard and if I like their looks I'll stop,
introduce myself, tell them where I'm from, what I'm doing, etc. A little
small talk or question about something going on in their local area

doesn't

Quoted message said:

hurt. I tell them I'm looking for a place to pitch a pup tent for the

night

Quoted message said:

(not *camp* which in their minds may suggest a lot of stuff and a longer
stay). I ask if they would help me and maybe suggest suitable place. I
assure them I will be no trouble and that I'll bike off in the morning
without leaving a trace. I never ask them directly if I can camp on their
property I just ask if they will help me find a spot which always seems to
end up somewhere on their property.

To me haphazard off road camping always seems to be a less than ideal
because of high weeds, rocks, and other undesirable things like the
chiggers and ticks we have in the south. I find the permission granted
sites nicer and less troublesome.

skip

All of what you say above goes to my point that you are a more sociable
person than I am. Very often I do not feel like engaging in conversation
with the locals for any reason whatsoever. I would rather take my chances
with the weeds, insects, rocks, etc. Usually I am all tired out and I want
mainly to be left alone.

When I tour by bike I never properly "camp", but I try to get a good night's
sleep. And I do not like to pay the outrageous camp fees that both public
and private campgrounds want these days. You could never travel the way I do
with another person as no other person would put up with what I put up with.
My way is strictly for the lone traveler who disdains all comfort and luxury
and wants to travel on pennies a day.

--
Ed Dolan - Minnesota

Wow, a lot of good stuff here. Thanks everyone.

Here's what I think I'll do:

fenders - yes

computer - okay, I'll try one

pedals - I'll get those dual function pedals and by bike shoes ... if I
break my neck it'll be all your fault. If I don't like bike shoes I'll
put clips on the pedals (I really like powering with both legs at once).

beard - mine needs to be grown out a bit more to fully comply with bent
regulation :-).

I'll try hard being a spinner.

touring - I'd probably ask if people (land owners) were outside (I liked
skip's soft approach - thx) otherwise I'd probably find some unfenced
property. My wife'll probably never go for that, but I'll twist her arm
and pout (hey, it works for her!!!). Pamela, thanks so much for that
link - it was great, I stayed up reading it a 1:30am.

Brian, we're almost within short (relatively) biking distance of each
other. I live in Marshallville which is southwest of Akron, bought my
bike in Barberton.

Ed, I'm with you. Every westerner that wants to develop/drill/pave BLM
land should be required to live in the east for 5 years (I've been an
easterner for 8) to really develop a proper apprieciation for all that
open land.

--