Hi all, I just found this newsgroup and have been reading
through the posts. I posted the following in the Yahoo
Actionbent Group,
sports.groups.yahoo.comactionbentOpen ↗ 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