Some can, some can't

"Mike Causer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Cyclist Two was riding an Elswick (probably 1960s) rescued from a skip
(dumpster), with Huret gears -- haven't seen those since I was a kid.

You really should stay well away from those unattractive types.

Sadly, the roads seem to be clogging up with them more and more
lately.

One reason to avoid them is that people judge you by who you
associate with.

That's why training around Treviso or Valmontone is such a pleasure.

I'm always fascinated by who will or won't try to ride a recumbent. My
current theory is that a fear of looking silly is a greater barrier (for
most people) than the physical fear of falling off.

I know some very cool 'extreme sports' fanatics who I can't persuade to
tough the thing; the more laid back people never seem to give it a second
thought. I believe the psychologists classify some people as having
'novelty-seeking personality types' - I think that helps, too.

Kit

Mike Causer said:

This evening I stopped at a pub to wet my throat. Well to be honest I'd
cycled to the pub for that express purpose. Sitting outside were two
cyclists with their bikes. Both expressed interest in the Speed Ross,
as they'd never seen a 'bent close-up before.

Cyclist One sat on it: he was a touch too large, but turning the pedals
backwards it looked as if his knees would clear the bars. But even when
sitting still he looked as if he thought he would fall off/die/wreck the
bike. After five minutes of sitting there and discussing how to ride it
he still looked so unhappy I got him off.

Cyclist Two sat on it: immediately he could balance the Ross with one
foot on the ground, leaned back and relaxed, so I said "push and go".
He went, turned a neat circle in the car-park and came back. "Keep
going" I said, and he took it for a run around the village green, very
prettily too. Born 'bent rider!

Cyclist One was riding an Italian frame, hung with enough Campagnolo
components that I quite believed his statement that there was 2,000
Pounds Stg there.

Cyclist Two was riding an Elswick (probably 1960s) rescued from a skip
(dumpster), with Huret gears -- haven't seen those since I was a kid.

Cyclist One was in full lycra regalia advertising the local CC and said
he was the Chairman.

Cyclist Two was his son (possibly stepson) aged about 15.

OK, a teenager with decent balance, and the feeling of invulnerability
that teens have, should just jump on and ride, but I was amazed that
anyone with a lot of experience should be so nervous of the bike. Maybe
my description of Audax distances without crotch-chafe might get him to
try it again though.

It was around that same village green that I first rode a recumbent
(thanks to a local Street-Glider owner) , so it's nice to have possibly
started someone else along the path of righteousness in the same place.

Mike

Fabrizio Mazzoleni said:

"Mike Causer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

Cyclist Two was riding an Elswick (probably 1960s) rescued from a skip
(dumpster), with Huret gears -- haven't seen those since I was a kid.

You really should stay well away from those unattractive types.

Sadly, the roads seem to be clogging up with them more and more
lately.

One reason to avoid them is that people judge you by who you
associate with....

Fabby,

That is why Zoot Katz [1] drops you every time you cross paths with him
- no self-respecting practical cyclist wants to be seen with your type. 😉

[1] Seen near the center of this photograph;
<http://mypage.direct.ca/i/imnot/pix/dino1_april.jpg>.

--
Tom Sherman – Quad City Area

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

Quoted message said:

That is why Zoot Katz [1] drops you every time you cross paths with him
- no self-respecting practical cyclist wants to be seen with your type. 😉

Ah yes, that brings us to ol Zoot. Now there's a real special case.
He's one of those types that always have 'issues'. He into stuff
like that critical mass thing.

Now you won't see people being disrespectful of the bike on the
streets of Lombardy or Veneto.

Fabrizio Mazzoleni said:

That's why training around Treviso or Valmontone is such a pleasure.

It WAS you. The one in the Ninja Turtle MTB shirt and the helmet with
the turtle head sticking out. Cool fenders, too. Do the mud flaps
actually work?

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

kit said:

I'm always fascinated by who will or won't try to ride a recumbent. My
current theory is that a fear of looking silly is a greater barrier (for
most people) than the physical fear of falling off.

There were several recumbents at the Mt. Airy bike shop I did not feel
comfortable the first time. Interestingly, while my wife and I both
prefered the Visions way back when, she had more trouble with the Tour
Easy and I had - for whatever reason - more trouble with the wheel
flop of the BikeE. Came back the next month and all were at least OK.
(I still hated the BikeE, though.)

Still, whatever its faults, the diamond frame bike is amazingly
forgiving when it comes to balance issues. My sister had a thyroid
problem that led to about a year of balance problems, but she could
ride a bike easily. I don't know that being comfortable on a diamond
frame means that a person has - necessarily - enough sense of
balancing (vs. balance) that starting a recumbent for the first time
requires.

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

The first time I rode a recumbent [1990] I confidently sat down and
pushed off after boastfully telling its owner what a very experienced
bike-rider I was. Moments later, to my great embarassment, I wobbled to
a halt after squirrelling all over the road like a mad fool. The bike's
owner then told me in a calm, reassuring voice that I needed to lean
back, relax, and trust the bike to track a straight line. I took a deep
breath and followed his advice. He was right: his bike tracked a perfect
line once I let go my distrust of novelty, and my apprehension of
failure. I subsequently bought a frameset from him, and have ridden my
own Tour Easy many thousands of miles; his name is Gardner Martin, and
I'm grateful to this day for his good advice.

http://members.cox.net/lioninoil/myte.htm

Curtis L. Russell <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
[...]

Quoted message said:

Still, whatever its faults, the diamond frame bike is amazingly
forgiving when it comes to balance issues. My sister had a thyroid
problem that led to about a year of balance problems, but she could
ride a bike easily. I don't know that being comfortable on a diamond
frame means that a person has - necessarily - enough sense of
balancing (vs. balance) that starting a recumbent for the first time
requires.

I am guessing your sister knew how to ride a bike before she developed
the problems. Had she not known how to ride either type of bike
before hand, I could not predict if she would be able to more easily
learn to ride a conventional, a recumbent like an EZ-1, or neither.

(Re Lion's comments) Some of the _worst_ first-time 'benters I have
ever seen are '"very experienced cyclists". Their wiring is wrong.
Someone with less bike wiring seems to get wired right for a recumbent
more quickly.

All that said, the higher the CG, the lower the wobble frequency, so
on some level, the easier it is to balance. When "safety bicycles"
first came out, the big wheel crowd thought they were too low and
unstable, Thus, the giraffe safety.

John Riley

On 4 Jun 2004 04:40:11 -0700, [email hidden] (john riley)

Quoted message said:

I am guessing your sister knew how to ride a bike before she developed
the problems. Had she not known how to ride either type of bike
before hand, I could not predict if she would be able to more easily
learn to ride a conventional, a recumbent like an EZ-1, or neither.

Well, she didn't ride much before. She started riding more because it
was easier in many ways than simple walking.

She recovered and AFAIK the bike is now rusting away, forgotten.

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