Johnny Sunset wrote:
:: Roger Zoul wrote:
::: [email hidden] wrote:
::::: JeffWills wrote:
:::::: [email hidden] wrote:
:::::: <snip>
::::::: As a sidelight, recumbent motorcycles are practically unknown.
:::::::
::::::: Cheers,
:::::::
::::::: Carl Fogel
::::::
:::::: "Practically unknown" as in "published in mainstream motorcycle
:::::: magazines"?:
:::::: http://www.allamericanracers.com/alligator/cycle-world11-00.html
:::::
::::: ISTM that appearance in a magazine doesn't disprove "practically
::::: unknown." Popular Mechanics still has "flying car" and
::::: "amphibious car" articles from time to time. But what percentage
::::: of the cars you've seen double as planes or boats?
:::::
::::: The closest you'll come to a recumbent motorcycle is a radical
::::: chopper with highway pegs. But it's interesting that people who
::::: want motorized two wheelers with real performance and versatility
::::: - not mere style - ride with their body weight up and centered
::::: over their legs.
:::::
::::: Disclaimer: I understand the appeal of recumbent bikes, for
::::: certain people's comfort, for interesting design challenges, and
::::: for specialized racing applications. I don't dislike them at
::::: all. But I think the vast majority of cyclists will always be
::::: better served with a more conventional bike.
:::::
:::
::: What about as a second bike where when the first is a conventional?
::
:: This is OK as long as you NEVER mention the recumbent bicycle in a
:: positive light on rec.bicycles.* or to someone in real life who rides
:: an upright bicycle.
I ride an upright! And I'm going to ride a recumbent, too! I thinkthe bike
that better serves a person is the one a person prefers to ride. I think I
desire the experience of riding different types of bikes and don't see why
either of them can't serve my needs. I'm not sure why people choose to draw
this line in the sand, frankly. You would think that anyone who claims to
advocate cycling would prefer to see more of any kind of functional bike on
the road as opposed to another car!
Today, I rode the Stratus XP XL - one in the size I'm going to buy (they
only had the standard size before). This one is actually for another
customer who had given his permission for me to ride it. He had it outfitted
with Velocity rims, fat 1.5-inch tires, and had a 24-tooth small ring on
front! I didn't really have a hill handy at the LBS that would need a small
ring like that, but he lives in Charlotte, NC and there must be plenty of
hills around there as here (Greenville, SC). The fats gave the rig a very
different feel (it felt edgier if that makes any sense) from the 26s on the
standard, but having the extra room seemed to be a good thing for me since
the seat didn't have to extend all the way back. Sadly, I've already fallen
in love with this bike. They are saying they could have one for me in by
next week!
I also rode a Formula V2. This one is similar to the SXP but the BB is much
higher. Unfortunately, the model they had in stock is standard size, not XL,
and with the higher BB, I felt very cramped on it. I did ride it, though,
enough to get a feel for it. Climbing on it seems to use more of the glutes
than the XP does. I have to admit that I felt was using more leg muscles on
both of these than on my upright while climbing. I have big legs and I bet
they'd get a serious workout on a serious hill (or, on many serious hills as
we tend to have here) Also, the FV2 felt a bit twitcher than the SXP in both
the standard and XL size. I felt a lot more comfortable on the standard size
SXP than on the standard size FV2. Finally, my right knee started hurting
after riding the FV2. I rode the SXP standard last weekend for a good while
with no knee discomfort - same for the SXP XL, which I rode yesterday before
riding the FV2 Standard.
One thing I did notice....I could not hug the edge of the road on either of
these bikes, especially while climbing. I needed a much greater margin from
the edge than I do on my upright. Perhaps this is an experience (time in the
saddle?). Also, the FV2 had a fairing (not clear plastic) on it initially.
It seems to block the view of the road based on how the seat was inclined. I
definitely would NOT like have like a 20-foot blind spot in front of my
while riding.
So, where I stand now....I can probably get a SXP XL next week (they would
be rushing this for me). But they also have a FV2 XL coming in next week
already! The FV2 is about $300 less than the SXP. The FV2 has disc brakes,
but I can add those to the SXP for about $100. Would disc brakes be
something I might want - at 225 lbs?
Oh...these bikes don't seem to come with a standard place to put water
bottles! What's up with that? It seems as if I have to rig something to
place water bottles. That seems wrong, IMO.
