Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 UW 5/3/83; site uw-june Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!zehntel!tektronix!uw-beaver!uw-june!trow From: trow@uw-june (Jay Trow) Newsgroups: net.bicycle Subject: Re: Recumbents: a few comments and requests for more Message-ID: <2049@uw-june> Date: Sat, 8-Dec-84 20:51:11 EST Article-I.D.: uw-june.2049 Posted: Sat Dec 8 20:51:11 1984 Date-Received: Mon, 10-Dec-84 03:29:08 EST References: <1524@pucc-h> <1375@druxv.UUCP> <1205@hplabs.UUCP> Reply-To: Hamilton.es@Xerox.arpa Organization: U of Washington Computer Science Lines: 65 Forwarded from Bikers^@Xerox.arpa. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 7 Dec 84 13:56:30 PST (Friday) Subject: Re: Recumbents: a few comments and requests for more From: Bruce HamiltonI've been riding a "Tour Easy" from Easy Racers 2891 Freedom Blvd. Watsonville, CA 95076 (408)722-9797 for over a year. It's incredibly comfortable. None of the usual standard- bike butt-wrists-neck twisted out of joint. Visibility is not an issue unless you're on the right side of a semi about to make a right turn. Arguably, any recumbent (except Hypercyle, see below) is safer than a diamond-frame bike, because (1) you're closer to the ground and (2) you can't go flying over the handlebars in a panic stop. I have 18 speeds. The super-low chainwheel means I can climb just about anything. All parts are standard except frame and seat. I bought the bike for about $900 assembled; you can also get plans for about $25. Speed records have been set with an enclosed version of these bikes. Mine came with a Zipper fairing. If I were doing this again, I might go with Alternative Bikestyles P.O. Box 1344 Bonita, CA 92002 (619)421-5118 Ed Roeters Roeters is a junior high school shop teacher who makes what is very close to a ripoff of the Tour Easy, for under $400. He's had his students build this type of bike as shop projects. Roeters says he has also built rail riders (sounds like a fun way to tour -- riding the railroad tracks. Anybody done this?). I've test-driven the Roeters bike; it's essentially the same as the Tour Easy. You can get all sorts of gearing options, from single-speed on up. My biggest gripe with both the Roeters and the Tour Easy is the super- sensitive steering, which I guess is supposed to help make up for the long wheelbase. Basically, you can't ride no-hands. I've tested the Infinity, which has under-the-seat steering (the Tour Easy and Roeters bikes are built more like a chopper motorcycle, i.e. standard steering). I don't like the Infinity as well because you sit up higher and more upright, as opposed to leaning back; but I did like the Infinity's steering better. (I believe the Infinity is what Chistopher Walken rode in "Brainstorm".) The Hypercycle, unfortunately, is still, I think, the only "cheap" recumbent available. It's front-wheel-under-seat makes it dangerously unstable. It steers like the Infinity, but the Infinity puts the front wheel out front and steers through a cable linkage, making it far safer in a panic stop. --Bruce ----------------------------------------------------------------