Strada, Saber, Volae, P-38

[email hidden] (Donald Wheatley) wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Any one familiar with the speed, handling and climbing abilities of these bikes. Have ridden a
P-38 and it's exceptional, was wondering about how the dual 26's compare. Any comments would be
helpful. Considering getting one of these in the future. Currently riding a GRR and thinking of
switching to SWB. thanks, Donald

Let's see- I currently ride a Tour Easy. Before that I rode a P-38 (12 years) and I've ridden the
Strada and a modified Saber (with hardshell seat). I *guess* I'm qualified to answer.

I liked the handling of the Saber most of all- not surprising, consider I borrowed it from someone
who is my height (6'4"😉. It felt more secure than the P-38 and almost as stable as the Tour Easy.
The narrow handlebars took more time to get used to than the "tweener" bars on the Strada, but I was
riding both bikes smoothly within a couple minutes, so I think it's a personal preference thing.

There's more tire choices for the Strada (26"/559 ISO) than for the Saber (26"/571 ISO). If I were
touring, I'd pick the Strada over the Saber.

Since switching from the P-38 to the Tour Easy, I've come to realize what a pain chain pulleys are.
The pulleys were an annual replacement item on the P-38, so I'm a little put off by the double
pulley on the Strada. The Saber has a nice, direct chain path on the power side.

BTW: I saw a Vision bike today being modified for dual 700C wheels. I'll see if I can get a ride on
it before it goes back to its owner.

Jeff

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Donald Wheatley
Any one familiar with the speed, handling and climbing abilities of these bikes. Have ridden a P-38
and it's exceptional, was wondering about how the dual 26's compare. Any comments would be helpful.
Considering getting one of these in the future. Currently riding a GRR and thinking of switching to
SWB. thanks, Donald

Don, I can only speak as an owner of a p-38. The bike is very fast and quite comfortable after the intro period. The bike is well known for its climbing ability and as I live in the Northeast it was very important in my discussion to purchase this bike. When going from a LWB to a SWB I am sure that there will be an adjustment period and the P-38 can be a bit squirrelly at very slow speeds but you should not buy a P-38 if speed is not your game. There are so many other choices at a far lower price. This is a stable, comfortable, good handling machine with the enthusiast in mind. By the way the height of the bottom bracket never gave me any problem at all. While there are many other bikes on the market now in the same catagory(i.e. the Bacchetta aero to name one) For me the P-38 was a great choice. I might add that I can't wait to get a ride on a Bacchetta Aero.
So, go for a few test rides on some SWB bikes, know what type of riding you will be doing , but know that a P-38 could be a solid choice. Just for your info, I am 57 and ride 120-140 miles a week in season at a near 20mph pace. Frank

See the current BROL forum thread about the P-38 which includes several excellent comparative
assessments of the P-38/Aero/Vision R-65.

Having owned a P-38 XT, a GRR and currently a TiRush and twice test ridden the Aero and R-64, I
agree with you. I found the Vision R-64 the "best" two big wheel bike for me ... but ... I
suspect the P-38 might still be the "best" fast climber and more comfy and tractable in terms of
handling and ride.

Gator Bob Siegel Gainesville FL "Jeff Wills" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] (Donald Wheatley) wrote in message

news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Any one familiar with the speed, handling and climbing abilities of these bikes. Have ridden a
P-38 and it's exceptional, was wondering about how the dual 26's compare. Any comments would be
helpful. Considering getting one of these in the future. Currently riding a GRR and thinking of
switching to SWB. thanks, Donald

Let's see- I currently ride a Tour Easy. Before that I rode a P-38 (12 years) and I've ridden the
Strada and a modified Saber (with hardshell seat). I *guess* I'm qualified to answer.

I liked the handling of the Saber most of all- not surprising, consider I borrowed it from
someone who is my height (6'4"😉. It felt more secure than the P-38 and almost as stable as the
Tour Easy. The narrow handlebars took more time to get used to than the "tweener" bars on the
Strada, but I was riding both bikes smoothly within a couple minutes, so I think it's a personal
preference thing.

There's more tire choices for the Strada (26"/559 ISO) than for the Saber (26"/571 ISO). If I were
touring, I'd pick the Strada over the Saber.

Since switching from the P-38 to the Tour Easy, I've come to realize what a pain chain pulleys
are. The pulleys were an annual replacement item on the P-38, so I'm a little put off by the
double pulley on the Strada. The Saber has a nice, direct chain path on the power side.

BTW: I saw a Vision bike today being modified for dual 700C wheels. I'll see if I can get a ride
on it before it goes back to its owner.

Jeff

I have a Strada and would venture the oppinion that's it's not really the bike that makes a
difference climbing, but how strong your leggs are. You can change the gearing on any bike to have a
30 or 34 tooth granny gear if you want to climb the big ones.

I really don't think that other fractors make much difference.

The big front wheel seems to handle road defects well. The Strada will fit both 26" and 650c wheels
and tires. Currently I have 650c wheels on it.

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

Quoted message said:

Any one familiar with the speed, handling and climbing abilities of these bikes. Have ridden a
P-38 and it's exceptional, was wondering about how the dual 26's compare. Any comments would be
helpful. Considering getting one of these in the future. Currently riding a GRR and thinking of
switching to SWB. thanks, Donald

these bikes are all so different that it would be tough to get an idea of what they're about through
reading. The handling of the Saber, Volae Team and Bacchetta Strada are noticeably different from
each other.

Unfortunately, here is where the old rule about trying them makes sense.

[email hidden] (Donald Wheatley) wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Any one familiar with the speed, handling and climbing abilities of these bikes. Have ridden a
P-38 and it's exceptional, was wondering about how the dual 26's compare. Any comments would be
helpful. Considering getting one of these in the future. Currently riding a GRR and thinking of
switching to SWB. thanks, Donald

I have a P-38 and a Volae Team. Both are excellent bikes. I find that I prefer the team, it is
quick, handles and climbs well and I prefer the M% seat to the mesh seat, and it is a bit lighter. I
like carrying only one spare tube.

The Team is higher off the ground and not averyone may be comfortable with that. The bike has a
pretty laid back riding position which takes some getting used to but I now prefer. The handle bar
mechanism does not tilt which I prefer but some may not.

I do not know where you are located but I am interested in selling my red, all ultegra equiped
medium lightning, if that is of any interest to you. Bruce

Quoted message said:

Have ridden a P-38 and it's exceptional, >was wondering about how the dual 26's compare. Any

Quoted message said:

comments would be helpful.

Hi Donald, I had a dual 26" SWB, and it was much harder to start out on, compared to the P-38. About
the same top speed. That Jim guy from Pensacola,Florida has a PRISTINE P-38 that you could get for a
great price!. I think he has it F.S. at BROL and bikeroute.com good luck! Mark C.

[email hidden] (Shwackman) wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Have ridden a P-38 and it's exceptional, >was wondering about how the dual 26's compare. Any

Quoted message said:

comments would be helpful.

Hi Donald, I had a dual 26" SWB, and it was much harder to start out on, compared to the P-38.
About the same top speed. That Jim guy from Pensacola,Florida has a PRISTINE P-38 that you could
get for a great price!. I think he has it F.S. at BROL and bikeroute.com good luck! Mark C.

I have ridden all of the bikes mentioned and bought none. What I glean from the above comments is
what we read constantly on newsgroup threads. Ride them all and buy what feels right. All of the
mentioned bikes are fast. All have their supporters and detractors. All have their advantages and
disadvantages. For me, there were two primary reasons for rejecting the Bacchetta and the Volae,
both produced by wonderful people incidentally. First, at 5' 7", I was barely on the height scale,
with the Volae being a little better. Second, no matter how many times I went back to the bikes, I
found the tweener bars (superman riding position) uncomfortable. I have read a number of comments
about getting used to it. It does not fit me well. Of the dual 26 inch bikes my favoite was the
Sabre. That was primarily attributable to the closer handlebar position and the straight chain path
(already mentioned) which I prefer. But the stem is too tall for me (which could be reduced in
height of course) but the bike was too tall as well. It also doesn't have the wheelbase (greater
stability at speed) that the others do. All three rode well, but they just weren't comfortable for
me. My opinion only. For me, recumbents have to have both comfort and performance. One alone doesn't
cut it. As to the P-38, I found the bike to be very nimble, and fast, with a super stiff ride (very
noticeable). I also felt the feel of the bike wasn't as finished as some others. I have talked to
P-38 owners who love their bike but some have mentioned mechanical or design problems. I think what
they like is the performance and are willing to overlook some of the problems. I rode today with a
fellow on an R-84. He loved the performance. But the bike's gearing clunked and rattled, things I
have now come to associate with Lightning. Again, my opinion only. But, for now, I will continue to
ride my Barcroft Virginia and love every mile.

Mike S. St. Louis, Mo.

Barcroft Virginia Barcroft Columbia RANS Rocket

Mike, you are really ahead of the game. Take it from someone who is always looking for " faster,
better, etc." After owning now 60 bents since the late eighties [ still married too!] I know what I
like and don't like. ALL recumbents have a compromise of one thing or another. I just can not ride
high BB bikes, feet and leg problems, and i'm not fast on them. Bob Bryant of RCN once mentioned,
"if you are not comfortable while riding, you'll never be as fast on a bike" why couldn't I have
listened about 55 bikes ago? :-(

mike s said:

[email hidden] (Shwackman) wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Have ridden a P-38 and it's exceptional, >was wondering about how the dual 26's compare. Any
>comments would be helpful.

Hi Donald, I had a dual 26" SWB, and it was much harder to start out on, compared to the P-38.
About the same top speed. That Jim guy from Pensacola,Florida has a PRISTINE P-38 that you could
get for a great price!. I think he has it F.S. at BROL and bikeroute.com good luck! Mark C.

I have ridden all of the bikes mentioned and bought none. What I glean from the above comments is
what we read constantly on newsgroup threads. Ride them all and buy what feels right. All of the
mentioned bikes are fast. All have their supporters and detractors. All have their advantages and
disadvantages. For me, there were two primary reasons for rejecting the Bacchetta and the Volae,
both produced by wonderful people incidentally. First, at 5' 7", I was barely on the height scale,
with the Volae being a little better. Second, no matter how many times I went back to the bikes, I
found the tweener bars (superman riding position) uncomfortable. I have read a number of comments
about getting used to it. It does not fit me well. Of the dual 26 inch bikes my favoite was the
Sabre. That was primarily attributable to the closer handlebar position and the straight chain
path (already mentioned) which I prefer. But the stem is too tall for me (which could be reduced
in height of course) but the bike was too tall as well. It also doesn't have the wheelbase
(greater stability at speed) that the others do. All three rode well, but they just weren't
comfortable for me. My opinion only. For me, recumbents have to have both comfort and performance.
One alone doesn't cut it. As to the P-38, I found the bike to be very nimble, and fast, with a
super stiff ride (very noticeable). I also felt the feel of the bike wasn't as finished as some
others. I have talked to P-38 owners who love their bike but some have mentioned mechanical or
design problems. I think what they like is the performance and are willing to overlook some of the
problems. I rode today with a fellow on an R-84. He loved the performance. But the bike's gearing
clunked and rattled, things I have now come to associate with Lightning. Again, my opinion only.
But, for now, I will continue to ride my Barcroft Virginia and love every mile.

Mike S. St. Louis, Mo.

Barcroft Virginia Barcroft Columbia RANS Rocket