Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/17/84; site godot.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxj!houxm!ihnp4!godot!daves From: daves@godot.UUCP (Dave Stefanovic) Newsgroups: net.bicycle Subject: Re: Recumbents: a few comments and requests for more Message-ID: <594@godot.UUCP> Date: Mon, 10-Dec-84 10:14:03 EST Article-I.D.: godot.594 Posted: Mon Dec 10 10:14:03 1984 Date-Received: Tue, 11-Dec-84 03:29:50 EST References: <1524@pucc-h> <1375@druxv.UUCP> Reply-To: daves@godot.UUCP (Dave Stefanovic) Organization: Thinking Machines, Cambridge, MA Lines: 51 Summary: I've owned a Hypercycle for 3 years now and I would NOT recommend purchasing one,unless you enjoy very squirelly steering. Wild ride aside, it is the cheapest recumbent I've yet to see. I purchased the bike when I moved to the San Jose area,CA. The "basic" bike cost me $400, assembled (special deal with a bike shop) The "basic" bike comes with a HARD molded fiberglass bucket seat. For $40, Hypercycle sells a padded cover-- a necessity! I am 6' tall and their large frame was barely big enough when the seat was set to the back of its three adjustment stops. The bike was a pedaling joy on the flat flat roads of CA. The seat positions you directly behind the pedals; putting full power into the bike is trivial. The low center of gravity made the most amazingly sharp turns possible. And the bike was such an oddball that I had more problems from drivers doing stupid things while staring at me than from not noticing me. Specific debits of the Hypercycle: The front wheel is only 14", located under the front of the seat, about 4-5" forward of the line of your backbone. This bike is low on stability--if you take both hands off the steering bar you will fall over. Steering with one hand is possible, if you're not going too fast, if the road isn't too bumpy. The design also puts most of your weight on the front wheel. The weight plus the tiny wheel makes the bike track the road too well. There is no way to "post" bumps; you track the road with the bike. The pedals in front of the bike cause your feet to be on the outside of turns. It takes a while before you can manuever in a crowded parking lot without scraping paint. This also means the bike takes MORE TURNING SPACE than a conventional. Remember, your vehicle is now six feet long! The combination of feet out front, low riding and terrible road-handling causes bad times from small bumps. I was unable to enter Palo Alto driveways (uni-curb design -- 3" drop + 6" rise in about 2') without unseating myself or scraping the chainwheel. A gentle bump (by East Coast standards) knocked both feet off the pedals, onto the ground, and thence behind me as I cruised 15 mph through Palo Alto main street, Saturday noon!! I barely brought the bike to a controlled crash while avoiding running over my legs. Since I've returned to Boston, I've only dared to take this bike out a few times. In summary, you get what you pay for! If you live in a bump-free area without over many cars this bike might be cheap fun. I did commute 8 miles/day for 2 years on "safe" roads--it's not an inherently fatal design. (I think the term is "expert-friendly") More info from Hypercycle exclusive distributor (2 yrs ago anyway) Ava Industries 2937 S.Vail Ave (213)725-6498 Los Angeles,CA 90040 Dave S. (daves@godot.uucp)