Hi all, I just found this newsgroup and have been reading through the posts.
I posted the following in the Yahoo Actionbent Group,
http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/actionbent/ My name is Steve, I'm in my
mid 40s and I have loved to cycle since I was a child. In high school I
worked in a bicycle shop and was USCF District road champion here in the
State of Washington. I now work as a firefighter. My wife and I have
several tandems including one which can fold to fit in our small airplane.
I normally ride 30 or 40 miles a day on either tandem or road bicycles. I
am hoping for increased comfort on longer rides. I first noticed the
Actionbent Tidal Wave on Ebay; I consider it a very attractive design and it
had the components and features I was looking for. I bid on it, but the
reserve was more than I wanted to spend. I then found the Tsunami T-1 which
looked similar.
To research the bike I typed Tsunami Bicycle into Google.com and the first
result was Chucksbikes.com. I called the phone number listed on the web
page and talked to Chuck. I ordered the bike on Thursday; Greyhound called
on Saturday and told me my package was waiting at the nearest bus station to
my house.
The box was huge and made out of extra-heavy cardboard; it was in perfect
shape. All the parts were well packed and secure. There was a small
booklet, but no real assembly instructions. Both wheels were already on the
frame, I had to attatch the bar, seat and hook up the cables and chain.
Twenty some years ago I assembled bikes for a living, so it wasn't much of a
challenge; it took me about an hour and a half to get it together and
adjusted.
My wife and I had a dinner engagement; so I had to wait until this morning
for my first test ride. I had ridden a short wheelbase recumbent years ago
and remembered that it felt squirrelly until I got used to it. I fell off
the Tsunami almost immediately when the bar hit the seat as I was starting
out in my driveway. I adjusted the bar to give it a little more room to
turn.
It took an almost Herculean effort to shift the front derailleur to the
upper chain ring. The cable was binding in the cable housing where it came
out of the shifter. I remembered from my bike shop days that this is a
frequent problem when cable housing is cut with a dull tool. I pulled the
caps off both ends of the cable housing and trimmed it back with my dremel
tool and reinstalled the caps. The derailleur shifts smoothly and easily
now.
Every bicycle is a compromise. Because this bike is a short wheelbase model
and has a descent frame and components, it is lighter than most other
recumbents. However, short wheelbase models with under seat steering feel
more squirrelly and are more difficult to get used to. I'd buy a longer
wheelbase model with upright handlebars for my mom. The bike has a large
turning radius; it takes about three lanes to do a 180° turn. This is not a
problem for me.
Overall I am very pleased with the bike; in fact so far I love it. I think
it will give me the increased comfort I'm looking for on long rides. The
seat is very comfortable, and the position is the perfect aerodynamic
compromise for me; it is high enough to be seen and be a head above the
average dog, but low enough to cut through the wind efficiently. I live in
a very hilly area, so I appreciate the very low granny gear. No matter what
people say. I will never believe that any recumbent bicycle can climb as
well as a normal road bike.
I will report back after I have some long rides behind me; that will be the
true test. If anyone is interested I will post pictures of the Tsunami.
Sincerely,
Steven Miller
Specifications: (I don't know if all Tsunami T-1s are the same)
Tsunami T-1 - Manufactured by China Mascot
Purchased 6-10-2004 from Chucksbikes.com in Orange, CA
Paid: $650 + $75 shipping by Greyhound
Box Size 71" x 29.5" x 11"
Received 6-12-2004 at Tacoma, WA Bus Station
Weight: 28 Pounds according to my bathroom scale
Wheelbase 41"
Frame: 100% Chrome-Moly
Handle bar: alloy
Headset: Ahead VP-A51A
Stem: IP Components 1 1/8" Thread less
27 Speeds.
Shifters: SRAM X7 9 Speed
Front Derailleur: Shimano 105
Rear Derailleur: SRAM X7
Chain: KMC Super Narrow Z
Crank: 52/42/30 alloy - Cyclone Precision, 170mm
Hubs: Shimano 105
Seat: Alloy frame vented seat, height 22.5"
Spokes: 14# stainless.
Rims: 6061 alloy, double wall: Jetset JS-370L
Tire: 451/25c (front) Heng Shin CST Super HP, 110psi
700/25c (rear) Maxxis Detonator, 120psi
Alloy Pedals
V brakes, Tektro Multi V
FreeWheel: 11 ~ 34 SRAM X7