Question From A Newbie

Bassetdad said:

Being totally new to the recumbent world, I am attempting to do my homework
before I purchase a recumbent.

Are Sun bicycles the bottom feeders of the recumbent world?

Not really, any more than other low-end names would be.

Sun is one of the less-expensive dealer-based brands.
Cycle Genius is another. The cheapest CLWB models of both start at
around $550 USD.

Neither is the machine I'd pick for a NY-to-LA tour, but both are
/probably/ a lot more comfortable than any upright bike is going to be.

If you want a SWB there is Actionbent, which sells online/mail order.
~

On 12/14/2006 21:09:31 'Bassetdad said:

Being totally new to the recumbent world, I am attempting to do my
homework before I purchase a recumbent.

Quoted message said:

Are Sun bicycles the bottom feeders of the recumbent world?

There are worse.

--

Buck

I would rather be out on my Catrike

http://www.catrike.co.uk

Bassetdad said:

Being totally new to the recumbent world, I am attempting to do my homework
before I purchase a recumbent.

Are Sun bicycles the bottom feeders of the recumbent world?

They are "entry-level", but not at all like a WalMart bike. More like
a Giant Yukon, or similar low-end bike-store bike. Folks have put
thousands of miles on Sun (and ActionBent) bikes before upgrading to
something a little lighter, or with spiffier bits and pieces, or
what-have-you. Whether one is appropriate for you has a lot to do with
your budget and intended use. Wander on over to
www.bentrideronline.com for advice and opinions minus most of the
diatribes.

John

My past three uprights have been upper end Cannodale bicycles, which I
really enjoy riding. Due to an ongoing medical problem, riding a recumbent
may be a better choice of transportation for me.

After several back operations caused by degenerative disc disease, I am now
facing the inescapable fact that I need to have rod and screws install in my
back in the very near future. I am now restricted to riding flat bike paths
at 10-14-mph on my upright. I still enjoy riding 40-60 miles, but it has to
be fairly level ground. I am attempting to do my homework and purchase a new
or possibly a used recumbent trike and stay within my $1500-$1800 budget.

On 12/15/2006 13:55:36 'Bassetdad said:

My past three uprights have been upper end Cannodale bicycles, which I
really enjoy riding. Due to an ongoing medical problem, riding a
recumbent may be a better choice of transportation for me.

Quoted message said:

After several back operations caused by degenerative disc disease, I am
now facing the inescapable fact that I need to have rod and screws install
in my back in the very near future. I am now restricted to riding flat
bike paths at 10-14-mph on my upright. I still enjoy riding 40-60 miles,
but it has to be fairly level ground. I am attempting to do my homework
and purchase a new or possibly a used recumbent trike and stay within my
$1500-$1800 budget.

I had a customer with a similar problem to yours, he found that the more reclined recing models were more suitable that the more upright models, the important thing for you to do will be to try them, the Catrike has the advantage of a mesh seat that can be tensioned or de-tensioned on the starps as required.

You may also find that shorter cranks help in that your knees do not push so far back on the off stroke.

--

Buck

I would rather be out on my Catrike

http://www.catrike.co.uk

Bassetdad said:

My past three uprights have been upper end Cannodale bicycles, which I
really enjoy riding. Due to an ongoing medical problem, riding a recumbent
may be a better choice of transportation for me.

After several back operations caused by degenerative disc disease, I am now
facing the inescapable fact that I need to have rod and screws install in my
back in the very near future. I am now restricted to riding flat bike paths
at 10-14-mph on my upright. I still enjoy riding 40-60 miles, but it has to
be fairly level ground. I am attempting to do my homework and purchase a new
or possibly a used recumbent trike and stay within my $1500-$1800 budget.

I really like the used recumbent market that is out there. If you have patience there are some good deals that come around. Last year I scored a high racer with a euromesh seat that I find very comfortable and very fast too. It's all good.
I've got my cake and I'm eating it too,
Mark

Bassetdad said:

My past three uprights have been upper end Cannodale bicycles, which I
really enjoy riding. Due to an ongoing medical problem, riding a recumbent
may be a better choice of transportation for me.
.....

You pretty much need to test-ride before buying then. Different models
of bikes allow vastly different seating positions, and it's not really
possible to predict what will feel better for you.

The stuff that Sun and Cycle Genius sell has pretty-upright seating.
You can adjust the seat-backs within a range of course but the bikes are
intended for a certain position and don't work well if you adjust the
bike much beyond it. I have a Cycle Genius Falcon LWB for instance and
it works just about perfect for me but the seat is pretty upright (about
15-20 degrees back from vertical), and out of curiosity I've tried it
with the seat reclined a lot (45 degrees or so)--and the position is
more comfortable but pedaling doesn't work well. Because of where the
pedals are located (as low as they are) you tend to slide up the seat if
you pedal hard.

If you try sitting on a couple of these and they don't work for you,
then you need something more-reclined, which means a SWB, a
low/medium/highracer or a tadpole trike.

A lot of shorter people who test-rode my 20/26 SWB did not like it
because of the long leg-reach to ground. If that bothers you as well,
then (for a very-reclined bike set low to the ground) you are left with
low- and mediumracers (like Challenge Jester and Hurricane) and tadpole
trikes.
~

Bassetdad said:

My past three uprights have been upper end Cannodale bicycles, which I
really enjoy riding. Due to an ongoing medical problem, riding a recumbent
may be a better choice of transportation for me.

After several back operations caused by degenerative disc disease, I am now
facing the inescapable fact that I need to have rod and screws install in my
back in the very near future. I am now restricted to riding flat bike paths
at 10-14-mph on my upright. I still enjoy riding 40-60 miles, but it has to
be fairly level ground. I am attempting to do my homework and purchase a new
or possibly a used recumbent trike and stay within my $1500-$1800 budget.

You could buy a used bike. My two used Vision R-40's together were $1450.
--
J Kimmel
[email hidden]
www.metalinnovations.com

"Cuius testiculos habes, habeas cardia et cerebellum." - When you have
their full attention in your grip, their hearts and minds will follow.

In alt.rec.bicycles.recumbent on Fri, 15 Dec 2006 10:44:08 -0600

DougC said:

A lot of shorter people who test-rode my 20/26 SWB did not like it
because of the long leg-reach to ground. If that bothers you as well,
then (for a very-reclined bike set low to the ground) you are left with
low- and mediumracers (like Challenge Jester and Hurricane) and tadpole
trikes.

I note that I have a 20/26 Bacchetta Giro, and am 5'2" on a good day.

I have no problem at all reaching the ground. So trying a bike is
important, this seems to be very individual.

THe Giro seems to work with a variety of seat angles, I must measure
mine one day....

Zebee