I have (past tense), really. However, I just ordered a Bacchetta Carbon Aero 2.0. At a little over 20 pounds it is close to 20 pounds lighter than the Stratus XP (as configured). We’ll see what that does to my speed, especially up hills.

I was starting to think I’d get through the year without a new one, but fate intervened; well at least Jeanne did. When I took her and her friend to the airport Tuesday (a medical trip for her friend) she hugged me and said to buy a bike. OK, Jeanne, don’t ever say I don’t listen.

Here are the specifications:

Bikes on the wall
Bikes on the wall
Looking like a fool with your bikes on the wall

Here’s the original Pants on the Ground American Idle performance as shown on YouTube.com.

After the previous post I received an email extending the discussion. The first quote below is my reply with my comments interspaced between his. The second quote is from his followup email.

[Quote]

My Strada

Him: Gary, The Strada looks cool. I’d keep it just for that reason. I sold my Strada (too high) and baron (too low) and looking at the LWB’s bikes.

Optima Baron

Me: Looks like our feelings concerning the Strada are similar. I’ve wondered about a baron and how I would do on one. I may yet buy a used one just to try, especially if I can get a good enough price to pass it along without too much of a loss (in case I don’t care to ride it).

Him: I’m a tall guy, so I need the Xstream XL that does not exist yet.

X-Stream

Stratus XP

Me: I like my X-Stream.

Me: On the SXP it is much easier when stopping, you just put your feet down, and it’s an easy reach. On the X-Stream you have to rotate your upper body to an upright position or if you stay laid back it is an awkward angle for your legs. [But] Not a big deal for such a nicely designed bike.

Velocity2 (V2) 20″ F-wheel ver.

Him: I was going to get the HS RANS V2 26 special edition. A bike dealer buddy, … rarely sees an SXP owner sell their bike. [Here’s a BROL article about the V2, 26″ version.]

Me: I’ll not be selling mine [i.e. Stratus XP]. The only slightly negative comment I have is that it is heavier than some bikes and that low speeds can be a little floppy. But, as the doctor said, don’t go slow. I don’t know anything about the V2.

Him: With that said, I’m a middle aged guy that can stand to lose some weight. The Xstream seems a tad faster than the V2, but I’ve never ridden a SXP. How would you compare the ride and speed difference between your Xstream and SXP.

Me: Let’s see: The SXP is like a comfortable over sized stuffed chair that you can nap on (I’ve done it, leaning against a tree - see the marquee photo above) and the X-Stream is like a hammock strung between two trees, i.e. comfortable but takes a little more attention getting on-to and off-of. Not really, but you get the idea. The X-Steam accelerates better, i.e. comes up to speed quicker. Even at the top of a down-hill I am at 20 earlier than on the SXP. Add a fairing/tail box/Q-rings to the SXP and you may have the speed of the X-Stream, but not the acceleration.

Him: Would the SXP be a good “ride with some roadie friends”, brevet and long ride sort of bike that you would consider reasonably speedy? Thanks for any feedback.

Me: Depends on their speed and how vigorously they attack the hills. Last week on the SXP I shadowed a somewhat fast rider at 19 to 20[+] mph, for 11 miles. We met and talked at Sumrall where he was turning and I was already on a return from a longer ride (I was at mile 45 on my 60 mile ride, he at mile 11 on his 22 miler). I left Sumrall after he was out of sight, caught him but did not pass even though there were down-slopes where I could have. He did not seem to know I was behind him for when he turned off after 11 miles he looked back, then forward, then quickly back at me, i.e. a double-take. However, I did have to let my hear rate run up more than usual, more than 85% max, on some of the [up-slopes]. This was on the Long Leaf Trace (a rails-to-trail project). Any more speed or, especially, any more climbing and I would have needed the X-Stream.

Me: I consider my SXP, especially the way I have it configured, a very good bike for brevets and long rides; although the longest I’ve ridden it in one day was 122 miles. On that ride I had it loaded with food, water, and the solution to every potential emergency I could think of. There were lots of real hills. I still averaged 13.1 mph, moving. That was at the beginning of the season; I’m in much better shape now. After the ride I felt great, just a little tired of being in a seat, same as I’d feel after a long car ride. When I got home I took my wife out to dinner.
[UnQuote]

View from the Stratus XP’s cockpit. Of course I normally look over the top.

And here is some of his followup in a second email

[Quote]
…
I’m pretty sure that I will not wait to see if an XL Xstream appears. That leaves me with the V2 26 and SXP XXL as choices. They are almost identical in weight. The V2 has the higher BB, thus should be a better climber. The SXP seems to have almost a cult following in terms of how much owners love it. I have mostly ridden high BB bikes over the past 10-15 years, so my only concern is the loss of climbing ability with the lower BB on the SXP. There is a 2008 SXP used in Kansas for a decent price. The V2 would be new and from the Hostel Shoppe. I am thinking I would get the Sling mesh seat for either bike.

The baron was a very cool bike. I hated to sell it but it was lower than a trike and frankly, always had shifting issues. I did RAIN on it. 161 miles in a day. It was very comfy, but the hamster bar caused to to not be able to straighten my arms after 161 miles. With that said, nothing else hurt. Very cool bike if you like it low.
…
[UnQuote]

(The comment about higher bottom-brackets (pedals) giving better climbing performance than lower BBs is very interesting.)

From a BROL thread.

First, a word about cars:
If I could have only one auto it would have to be a van, for practical reasons, but I have had sportier vehicles that were much more fun to drive. So, Im saying that I lean toward the practical. Therefore:

(I know the thumbnails are too small to see, but I don’t want to bore you with the same photographs I’ve used many times. If you can’t help yourself, please click on them for a larger view. I’ll take more photos)

If I could have only one bike it would have to be my Stratus XP (versatile, comfortable, setup for speed with fairing/tail box/Q-rings - see me resting on mine in the marquee photo).

When I get really old that one bike might have to be a trike, such as my Greenspeed GT3.

If I could have a second bike it would be my X-Stream, the lightest and fastest I currently have. The laid back position is just not as convenient in some circumstances as the more upright position of my XP, e.g. when riding/talking with others and when resting on the bike.

If I were to sell a bike I don’t know which. Maybe the Strada. I’m slowly coming to think that the “up-high” ride is not for me. Although, when I rode it last week with the re-curve seat it felt good, a nice ride. I’m just a little shaky/ill-at-ease on it, especially if the road is a little wet/slick and the rear wheel drifts a bit. Probably just me. But, my Strada looks really good. Now that I look at it I don’t think I can let it go. I love it. See the photo below; see what I mean. Don’t you just want to walk up to that bike and get on it.

I love them all, but in different ways and for different rides.

As I indicated in the previous post, I made a simple modification to a work stand to use it as a bike stand for the X-Stream. You can read the discussion on BROL or my basic description as copied below. It worked out so well I may add a stationary versions to my work bench, maybe some with different dimensions for other bikes.

[Quote] I’ve been thinking about a bike stand for my new X-Stream. I saw my new table saw helper as I pondered and this came to mind; worked out very well, the “projo lowjo”.

I used a table saw helper I recently bought at Lowes or Home Depot (don’t remember), one with a roller on top to support long cuts. It was very cheap. Even has a height adjustment. Did a quick prototype, took 15 to 30 minutes. Removed the roller on top, one screw. Screwed two rubber coated hooks into a short piece of 2×2 pine and then attached it in place of the roller using the same hole. I used a wood screw that I had on hand but would have preferred a bolt. Actually, would have preferred two bolts, drilling another hole. And maybe would prefer something besides unpainted wood. As I said, a prototype. But it worked out so well I may leave it as is. May add a second screw or bolt. [UnQuote]

32 miles to Sumrall and back. The spokes are still an issue; had to adjust several at the 5 miles point. However, they were then good little spokes for the rest of the ride. Had to adjust the seat forward several times. Not sure if it is slipping or if I just can’t find the sweet spot. Too far to the rear and my legs/knees become sore. And speaking of sore there is another issue, my tail bone. I may try the seat laid down a little more. This will move more weight to my back. I’m currently thinking that I will not change out the seat, it is wider and more comfortable than the Euromesh on my Strada. Maybe as I loose more weight the spoke and seat-comfort problems will go away on their own. These last two issues showed up on my other rides but I was too preoccupied with the spoke problem to mention them.

Those were not the only issues, two more. My wrists tired because of the high handlebar angle that I initially set. During the ride I rotated them down which made a big difference. You can see in the photo above how the bars are practically horizontal; this was before the ride adjustment. However, I now have to watch out for knee strikes in anything but a gradual turn (my knees now move between the hand grips). I had the bars turned up just to limit the number of things I had to get use to on the new bike. The last thing is that the stock idler is really noisy. I’ll be replacing that, most likely with a Terracycle one.

About the photo:

My new seat bag came from AngleTechCycles.com, the AeroPod. This was my first ride with it and I like it, a lot.

I’ve also converted a tablesaw helper to a bike stand for the X-Stream. You can see the bike mounted on the stand in the photo.

Afternoon:

This is the Rans model that won the Race Across America (RAAM) this summer, 4-man team division. (Click for a clear image)

From my post on BROL:
Note: my birthday is in October, Jeanne’s in December.

After our morning ride it went something like this, well, a little like this:

So, I called Jim at RideSouth early in the afternoon (26 August, 2009). He had one in stock. I told him I wanted it and that we were on our way. An hour and fifty minutes later he was fitting it to me. I took a short ride to check the adjustments and to see if I had any questions. We loaded up, had dinner in the area and came on home, arriving about 8:30.

I rode the X-Stream in the driveway enough to make some more adjustments. For one thing I turned the handlebars up to better clear in a turn. I might point them down later but want to simplify my getting use to the bike. Then I rolled it into the shop for some mods. Added a NorBack frame pack and filled it with a pump and tools. Burned 4 holes behind the seat for two bottle cages. Added a CageRocket to one with a spare tube that I took out of its box, and then 3 packs of gel and a zip bag of nuts. The second bottle cage will be for water. I may get a camel-back later, i.e. a water bag. However, I do need to add other storage, especially for food and misc for longer rides; maybe a seat back bag (goodbye 26 pounds), but it will have to be later as I don’t have anything on-hand that will fit (neither did Jim at RideSouth).

AeroPod seat-back bag.

The Hoagie seat on the X-Stream is wider than the Euromesh on my Strada, even if basically the same shape. However, the Hoagie is not as wide as the Rans Mesh seat, such as the one I have on the Stratus XP. So, none of the bags I have will fit the Hoagie. I like the looks of the AeroPod bag from AngleTechCycles.com and may order it for delivery next week.

After making the above mods and additions in the shop and checking the bags I had on-hand I rode the X-Stream in the driveway a little more. I was looking for that sweet spot on the seat. Start-stop, reposition seat, start-stop, reposition seat. I had lots of false starts because the balance is different than on any of my other bikes (like learning to drive a differently handling car). I sure am glad it was dark as I probably looked like I’d never ridden a recumbent before.

One thing I noticed right off: the acceleration of a 26 pound X-Stream is much greater than that of a 40 pound bike, such as my heavily loaded Stratus XP. I’m looking forward to riding this bike. I may do so in the morning before my 10:30 doctor’s appointment, otherwise in the afternoon.

Its good to be good to one’s self.

I wonder what Jeanne is going to want for her birthday. This could be an expensive bike.

Here’s something I said about cleating-in with your new cleats.
Most people would probably say “clipping-in” but clipping sounds like it might refer to toe-clips which are totally something else.

“Before you ride cleated-in set your petal receiver loose to make uncleating as easy as possible (at least until you get use to it and build those uncleating muscles). Then sit on the bike and practice while holding onto something, e.g. back of couch, fence, car. When approaching a stop be sure to unclip early. I only clip in on the trail, not across town, but you may be ridding mostly on roads. I suggest that you not uncleat just one side. Do not assume you will end up to that side. And, don’t stop next to anything you don’t want to fall on.”

Then I said something about this just being my opinion/advice.

Here is a reply I made on bikeforums.com in answer to a new bent rider’s strange chain behavior, i.e. popping and other noises from the chain.

“If the previous owner changed the chain length you may have a stiff link. This happens sometimes when you don’t use a master link (which I often do not). When you push the pin back in, the junction becomes stiff and will pop going around the turn at the rings, cogs, etc. You can use a screw driver blade to loosen that joint. There are some chain tools that let you push the pin back in without compressing across the width of the chain, but many do not. Mine does not, so I use a screw driver to loosen afterwards.”

Sometimes the stiff link’s failure to properly flex will cause the rear derailleur arm to its maximum position. There it remains until forces build up sufficiently to overcome the link’s resistance, at which time the arm will pop back to its original position and causing the chain to go slack for a fraction of a second.

Addendum

The original poster (OP) then asked:

“thanks for the advice. How do I know which link is the one thats stiff and causing this? As it doesnt always happen. It seems to happen when i shift to a harder gear to early…and im peddling slow and really hard. Or should i just have my bike tuned up and mention this. It’s in need of an overall tune up anyways.

edit: i cant tell if its the chain thats “clunking” or its skipping gears in the back on its own because it didnt quite shift to the gear all the way…which happens…cuz like i said it needs an overall tune up. I cant tell which one it is. ”

And I replied:

“To find a stiff link, view the derailleur arm while the turn the pedals backwards. You may be able to spot the stiff link when it makes the tight turns through the arm. Otherwise, let the chain pass between your fingers or bend each joint back and forth.

If you are getting unwanted gear shifts you may need to align the derailleur arm’s position. It may not be centered over a cog. Get behind the bike and look to see if the chain running from the arm to the gear cog goes straight in, i.e. the arm sprocket (whatever it is called) should be centered over the appropriate cog. There should/may be an adjustment to turn for this alignment, on the rear derailleur mechanism itself. First shift to gear 5 or the gear you ride in the most. Others may have better advice.”

From my post in a BROL discussion:

Went for a ride on my newish Greenspeed GT-3 last Thursday, about 33 miles. On returning home I found a truck stopped right in front of my house blocking my turn into the driveway; I ended up stopping in the wrong gear. When the truck moved I thought I could ease slowly up the hill and into the driveway. Wrong. Broke a chain link.

In the past I’ve ended up with a stiff link when putting a chain back without a master link (then would twist a screw driver in the link to loosen it), so, didn’t want to just pin in a regular link. I had a master link somewhere in the shop or in one of the bike bags but could only find an 8-speed master. Oh well, instead of a quick fix might as well clean the chain, even if not very dirty. That would take more time, so, I put it off until the weekend since I had a Friday family ride.

Riders on our Family ride sans me and one guest

Saturday I did a little of this and a little of that. I do all the bike care which sometimes keeps me busy, i.e. 10 bikes in the family. For example, for the Friday ride I checked out 5 bikes, which included putting air in 10 tires with a hand pump. So on Saturday I took the chain off the GT-3, located my cleaning machine and fluid, did a few more things, and took a break on the computer. Time passed. Then, brain lightning. I needed a master link; jumped in the car and drove to the LBS; less than a mile away. Got there at 4:08. They closed at 4:00. Of course they are closed on Sundays. So, Monday it was to be. Yesterday, Monday, we had lots of errands to run but I wanted to go by the LBS first and get a 9-speed master link, and we did, on the way to the bank. Guess what, closed on Mondays, the LBS, not the bank.

So here we are, Tuesday. Today I am going to get a 9-speed master link even if I have to take one off of another bike. And the way I’m feeling right now, it won’t come from one I ride. We’ll just call it maintenance tax.

Nah, I’m sure the LBS will be open. And have a 9-speed master link. In stock. Surely.

The foundation took forever but the Bike Barn is finally taking shape. It is currently 20×40 and divided into 3 rooms. While taking the above photo I’m standing in the garage and shooting down the length. The right-hand room could expand 10 feet further to the right making it a 20×24 ft room, for a total building area of 1040 sq ft. Yesterday we decided to put in central air instead of using window units and stand-alone heaters.

Here I am (left) in the act of building the shop with some help from contractor Jimmy. We ended up with tanned tops; should have worn hats, which we did later in the day. Ever so often we would get up and take a closer look at the work. I’m sure the crew appreciated it.

As you might guess, Jeanne and I are very excited. She gets a work area for dolls that she has wanted for a long time, and me too, but not for dolls.

Here’s the crew:

I treated everyone to lunch at the Cajun Kitchen and a dessert at Dairy Queen afterwards. From the left: Jimmy, John, James, Scott, and Tony. Great guys.

This version by bentchick100 on BROL.
(Placed here for my ease of reference)

A is for Air (in your tires)

* check everything to do with tires
* are they inflated?
* are they true (the wheel should be straight)?
* is there any looseness in the axle bearings?
* is there badly worn tread?

B is for Brakes

* are the levers far enough from the handlebars?
* are the brake pads in the proper position, not too worn?
* do the brakes fully tighten against the rim?
* are the cables worn?

also

* check the headset for looseness (apply the front brake, rock the bike back and forth)
* check the handlebars for looseness (hold the front wheel between your knees and try to twist the handlebars from side to side, up and down)

C is for Chain or Cranks

* check everything to do with the drive chain
* is the chain on and lubricated?
* do the pedals spin freely?
* are the gear derailleurs in the correct position?
* is there any looseness in the bottom bracket?
* Quick is for Quick Release
* are the levers on tight?
* are the nuts on the axles tight?
* are the levers flush against the forks?
* Check is for Final Check Over
* drop check to listen for loose parts (lift the bike a few inches off the ground, drop it and listen for loose parts)
* try your brakes as you ride off

The contractor started clearing for our new Bike Barn and Doll Workshop today. We talked and the design grew from a 20×30 to something like the following:

In a comment to my Birthday Ride post Keith asked the following question. The answer is long so I am posting it here instead of in a comment. Oh, and I only speak as me, not as an expert.

A note about Keith: I rode with him and his son on an organized ride not too long ago on the LLT. Well, let me tell you, he is fast. We sort of competed in the last 5 miles and he was a bullet, out of my site in no time, and I did not see him again until the finish. I should be asking him this question.

Keith’s Question:

Which improvement has added the most, in you opinion, to your average mph on you LWB?
1. Rotor Rings __
2. Clip-on shoes/pedals ___
3. Fairing ___
4. Aerotrunk ____
5. Engine “Break in” Mileage ____
6. ________ other _____

Answer:

1. Engine “Break in”
In case you don’t know, the “engine” refers to the rider. So, about me: I retired in June, turned 66 years old in October and currently ride 100 to 170 miles per week. I weigh 250 pounds, up from 245 a couple months ago but I can wear pants that were too tight then. I think I have lost fat but gained body mass. Since the first of the year my max heart rate has increased from about 162 to 174 (watching my heart rate flat-line on the Garmin’s data plot). Since I retired, my bike performance has significantly improved.

Since I just started riding last summer I am in the high-slope portion of the engine improvement curve. Since June I have been riding a lot, anywhere from 100 to 170 miles a week. I will very likely hit 4,000 miles for the year and will target between 5,000 and 10,000 for next year. Since June my average speeds have gone from 14 mph to 17 or 18 mph. Of course the type of ride (training, family, social, etc) helps determine the speed. When training or riding alone I regulate my effort by monitoring my heart rate. Early in the year I kept the rate low to build a strong base. Later I did sprints and then longer and longer periods at higher speeds. I pay special attention to nutrition; consuming sufficient protein to build my legs during and after the ride. I also make sure I take off-days between rides (I consider the Sunday ride with the family a rest day). I remember someone’s comment that you don’t build muscles while riding, you build muscles while resting.

2. Fairing
Adding a fairing gave me an instant improvement in speed, especially into a head wind. I’d say 1.5 to 2 mph increase at 17 to 20+ mph. It also improved my riding comfort, especially during the winter. As a result I rode more. I only have a fairing on the Stratus XP, but I mostly train on the Rocket (except when cold). When I train I am more concerned about effort/heart rate and not absolute speed. When speed is important to me then the fairing is a must, e.g. when riding with faster riders. However, if my next bike is extremely aerodynamic, e.g. Corsa (?), then maybe I will not bother with a fairing for it (of course a fairing is still nice in cold weather whether aerodynamic or not). If my next bike is an X-Stream (not as high a BB) then maybe yes to a fairing.

3. Q-Rings
I have not had these long enough to really tell if they have contributed to an improvement or not. However, they are candy to my legs. My normal ride is 32 miles which I try to do 2 or 3 times a week (currently I’m training my wife and riding with her every other day; tomorrow we will ride 16 miles; getting her ready for the birthday ride on 1 November). Then there is my Saturday ride, which was 62 miles but after installing Q-Rings is now 82 miles with about the same fatigue. After my experience with Q-rings I’m thinking about Rotor Rings for my next bike, whatever/whenever that will be. I instantly liked the feel of the Q-rings.

4. Clipless
I’d buy clipless shoes and pedals with any bike except maybe for some very low BB bents to ride in town. I’m not sure of the effect upon average mph but I do know that I am more comfortable approaching 30 mph when clipped in (it is a little scary to have a foot fall at that speed). It seems to me that when pulling as well as pushing on the pedals I reach a little higher speed a little quicker. Pulling up definitely helps me obtain a more circular motion and more constant pressure instead of impulse/pumping. Pulling up may just help me mentally define the spinning circle.

I use combination platform/clipless pedals. It is clear that I can maintain a higher average speed for longer distances when I have the ability to unclip, place the platform side at my instep and, thus, relieve hot foot or other leg stress; sometimes turning my feet at a slight angle and sometimes placing them a little further out on the platform (obtaining a slightly greater distance between feet). It is a little like taking a break while still riding.

5. Aerotrunk
Not sure where this goes in the list of desired improvements but it probably adds a little speed when approaching 30 mph. I don’t know about the speed improvement but my Stratus XP looks naked without it.

Saturday, I passed a couple on the trace. I was on the blue Stratus XP with the blue Aerotrunk wearing a blue long-sleeve shirt.

Me: “On your left. Good Morning”
She: “Awesome”
Me: “Thank You”
Me: (back over my shoulder)
“You do mean the bike. Right?”
Husband: (Still laughing as I sped over the top of the hill)

They caught up while I was stopped, talking to a friend having a snack.

As they approached:
She: “Mr. Awesome!”

They stopped and talked and I met a most enjoyable couple. I then rode with them for a while. They live about an hour away and were in the area visiting their son. I hope to run into them again soon, but will probably see him at the Long Leaf Trace Birthday Ride on 1 November. She has other commitments.

So, speed improvement or not I’m not giving up my Aerotrunk.

Additional comments:

For me the number one factor for performance on an individual ride (of 1 hour or more) is proper nutrition/hydration (with a given bike configuration). I drink enhanced water (GU, Gateraid, etc) on the bike and eat something every hour, maybe stopping for 5 or 10 minutes. This is not so much a rest stop as a bathroom/nutrition/refill-water-bottle break. My performance does not tend to decrease as I ride if I feed my body what it needs. Of course this may not be true if I were to ride farther. On a recent 82 mile ride my fastest average (17+mph) was over the last 30 miles. The reason I pay so much attention to nutrition is that I bonked bad once; actually lost muscle mass that took months regaining.

I think an important factor for conducting or evaluating your improvement/training is to be aware of your body’s state of being. Earlier this month I got up just after sunrise, gathered up my gear, snacks, water, etc and went outside to prep my bike. As I started down the drive way I checked my heart rate and it read 58. I had a great ride, all the energy I needed and I pushed my speed and distance a bit. About two months ago I started out and my heart rate was 130+ and I had just reached the trace. My body must have been dealing with something but it was not the bike ride. I just took it easy and forgot about training that day instead of feeling bad over stifled performance. I use my average speed as an indicator of condition/performance and not for a rush, but maybe for just a little bit of one.

My current riding goals:

I would like to be able to ride with some people I know at their 20 to 22 mph average. I don’t want them to have to slow down for me. However, I am not a speedster. I do not care if I ever hit 40 down hill. 30 is fast enough.

I would like to go on week-long tours traveling up to 100 miles per day. Maybe one day going on a really long tour. I would like for my wife to join me.

I would like to experience more recumbent bikes and recumbent innovations.

I want to meet more people with recumbent grins, on rides and at organized gatherings.

I look forward to what tomorrow brings.
Gary

An Australian couple was trying to decide on their first bent and perhaps the one to follow. They mentioned the Stratus XP (which they decided upon) and, possibly later, the Rocker, both of which I ride. So, I shared my thoughts there and thought someone here might enjoy them also, or not. Slightly edited and Photos not in the original post.

[Quote]
Hi cycotourer,

I have a Stratus XP and really enjoy it, especially on the long rides. The fairing helps me do a better job keeping up with basically faster riders. I don’t consider my SXP good for commuting or riding in-and-out around people but then there are different bikes for different rides. I select the Stratus when the ride involves smooth surfaces (or at least prepared surfaces), long distances, few obstacles, and high average speeds over the long distance.

I also have a Rocket which I ride most often, especially when riding with somewhat slowest riders. I have actually ridden behind people on the sidewalk, while waiting for a chance to pass, at their walking speed. I can sit upright and look around, almost stop at stop signs (without putting my feet down), and quickly steer around obstacles. I prefer my SWB (Rocket) when I expect traffic, close quarters, obstacles, wind storm aftermats (and, thus, the need to dodge trash), to be going slow for any reason (such as up a lot of hills), to be walking the bike in a building, to be going up/down escalators/elevators, riding on streets with many turns and complex navigation, making U-turns, or transporting it in a somewhat small vehicle.

Then there is the Catrike Speed. I like the trike when I expect the ride to be simple. I don’t find it my best choice for riding in traffic, navigating when I need better vision, riding in tight passages or on rough roads (it has low ground clearance), when trying to keep up with slightly faster riders, talking to two-wheeled riders, dodging trash (the trike has 3 wheel-tracks), navigating around obstacles or in crowds, parking in my office or traveling in elevators, or transporting with other bikes inside a vehicle (doesn’t spoon well). I like the sensation of speed at lower speeds, but I most like riding the trike when the terrain is simple, when I am going for a long distance and time in not an issue, and I especially like riding the trike if I am alone (Other trikes would be OK). I like taking my time up hills and …

… pulling to the side, laying my head back to look at the clouds, and taking a rest or nap (I don’t necessarily wait for a hill to do this).

Of course, this is just me.
Gary
[UnQuote]

No, not the March of Dimes …

… my new trike. Put it in the back of the van, again, and drove to the USM station. My first ride, the other day, was only 8 miles and, thus, not much of a shakedown. At the station I found a March of Dimes walk-a-thon and my first opportunity to evaluate the trike in a crowd. Results: Great. I didn’t even have to unclip when stopping and easing forward slowly. Some people acted as martials, moving others out of the way. It seems that everyone looked. My apologies to the speaker for the dissuption. There was a lot of attention and many comments. The wording escapes me but one man wanted to know if I was comfy and a woman wanted to know if she could get on with me. This must be what driving a sports car is like. I eased on by, smiling a lot, and headed on up the trail. It comes up to speed really fast and I was in the upper teens in no time. For the same heart rate it is at least as fast as the unfaired Rocket, maybe even faster. Up the trail the attention continued. I get a lot of attention when on any of my recumbents but not like this. It is not uncommon for a car to stop at a crossing to give me the right of way but this happened 3 times yesterday. I don’t know; were they just curious and wanted a better look, or did they think I was handicapted or otherwise special, or just being curtious? No idea.

The 31 miles was most enjoyable and my average speed was about 14 mph. At no time did I tire and wish the ride would end. The trail was in great shape and starting to bloom all over. The wisteria was beautiful. There were several bunches hanging from trees on both sides of the trail, the least of which is pictured here. However, that is the last photo I took as my camera’s battery did get tired (discharged); I must have left it on when connected to the computer all night.

I planned on turning around in Sumrall after a quick snack and a trip to the bathroom (old man!). I had packed a Boost drink and a zip bag with two hand-fulls of pecons. Of course I also had the ever present water which I didn’t drink any of at a rest stop since I didn’t stop anywhere and I forgot to drink while riding even though I could have reached back over my head and grabbed the bottle, although putting it back may have been a challenge. If drinking on-the-fly proved to be a problem I may mount the bottle between my knees on the boom. Another day, not a priority. As it turned out I didn’t eat any of my snacks but went to La Torie’s instead. There I had a very good catfish sandwitch with small fries and a coke. I sat near a window where I could looked out at the trike, parked at the bike rail. Great day. I sat near a young couple, obviously not married as they were flirting too much. They were exchanging comments as fast as they could talk, agreeing completely with what the other said and beginning their own comment or reply with "yea" or "yes". As I said, not married. There were so many yes’s and yea’s that I begin to wonder where they were from. Then I focused on a conversation a little further away and I heard a man using a lot of yes’s. I wondering if it was a Sumrall thing. Then I looked at the trike some more, finished my lunch. Afterwards I rode around the residential area a bit before going on to the Sumrall trail station. I got the attention of one small dog whom I greeted with "hello doggy" in a most condisending tone. He (she?) did not seem to object to the tone and just wanted to play, following me for about half a block. Back at the Sumrall station a young fellow, maybe 10 years old, and his dad were getting ready for a ride. The youngster was already standing on the trail with his bike when I pulled up along side. I asked him if he thought I was too old to be riding a tricycle. He smiled and said "No".

Only a couple of miles on the way back I heard a soft thump. Was that me? What could it have been? I looked in my mirrow, the quarter sized one mounted on my eye glasses stem. There I could see what looked like a bag on the side of the trail about 100 feet back. Did I hit it? I unclipped and, staying on the bike, pushed myself backwards. The trike glides easily. As David said it almost goes on its own. As I approached, ah, recognition. It was my headrest.

The mate to this one, before I introduced it to a hacksaw. It was on the passenger side of our old Dodge Caravan  but I don’t think Jeanne will miss it. (We don’t drive the Caravan and I’m about to give it away) In the photo above it is propped on top of the original headrest stem, just for the photo. During the ride I had it zip tied to the stem. I’m going to have to come up with a mount, maybe a new stem. The original foam rest was a casualty to use and time. David said it looked like a large piece of industrial pipe insulation, not unlike the consumer product with a slit down it entire length for wrapping around your home water pipes. I’ll see what I can find but may still go with the Caravan rest. I propped the head rest behind my head and made a point of not lifting my head the rest of the trip. The curve helped it stay in place the rest of the way.

The shakedown’s goal, other than being an introductory ride, was to figure out what modification, additions, or adjustments I need to make in the near future. As far as my opinion about the Speed, my likes and dislikes, that will have to wait for a few more rides; to be fair. However, I do know that I need to give attention to:

Speed: "I never knew 12 mph could feel so fast." Someone else said that and I agree. On this ride I took it easy, staying below my 80% max HR. My speed was close to my speed on the unfaired Rocket. My average was 14 mph and max was about 20 mph. At higher speeds I might do better than on the Rocket.

Steering: I suspect that this will become my biggest criticism. When I first started I would move the hand grips side-to-side, just a tiny bit, and would get a coarse course change. And if I inadvertently shifted my upper body I would get an unwanted course change. I started off power stroking the pedals which resulted in an upper body shift. This shift translated into course changes with the front of the boom moving right and left in synch with my strokes. When I started pedaling with a more circular motion things smoothed out, so I must learn the art of clipped-in pedaling. Later I tried power stroking but with a smooth application of power and that seemed to work OK. I once hit a bump with the left front wheel, shifting my upper body to one side, which resulted in a scary shift in direction. Things did get better as I tried a few things. For one, I stopped gripping the grips as tightly. I don’t know if that helped but it felt better. Also, I stopped trying to move the grips right and left to steer. Instead, I applied straight-forward pressure on one and straight-reverse
pressure on the other and achieved a smoother change in direction. This is going to require my further attention.

Seat width: I believe the Speed is smaller than most of the other Catrike models. The seat width is a problem because I have wide thighs. Well, actually, the seat is wide enough and very comfortable, even if I overhang a little. The problem is with the structure just to the side of the seat. Part of the handlebar mount leans in near the seat edge. The corner of this mostly vertical piece rubs my bare outer thigh. It didn’t hurt at first but after about 15 miles of rubbing it started to irritate me. Sliding down a little in the seat helped but was not my preferred position. Once home I found a small red area and swollen mound. I may end up wrapping these frame grip supports with foam, or wearing longer shorts.

Headrest: I need to either order a replacement of the original, try to find some industrial-foam pipe insulation, fabricate a mount for my Caravan headrest (I have a lathe and a mill), or buy a nicer mount as in the image.

Visibility: It would help to have a rubber neck. I wonder where I could find one of those toy periscopes we played with as kids.

Overall size, weight, experience: Outstanding.

This is my new bike, new to me.
It is the Catrike Speed (pronounced Cat Trike Speed).

Here’s David saying goodbye to the bike he delivered to me yesterday. It is a 2004 model and my buying a used one is much more economical than buying a new $2400 2008 model. It is sort of an interim retirement gift to myself. I found out that the bike I want, i.e. Bacchetta Aero (or Corsa SS), has a maximum weight limit of 230 pounds (rider and cargo). So, the Bacchetta will have to become my “I’m down to 230 pounds” reward. Well, anyway, thanks David, I’m sure I’ll enjoy it. Actually, I have already taken it on a ride and I know I will enjoy it. I put it in the van, i.e. the bike mobile, and drove to the USM station and then rode the trike to Jackson Road station and back for an 8 mile ride. It’ll be a while before I ride it in traffic from home, before I am comfortable being so much lower that the American idea of transportation.

I parked near the Bike rental building. You did know you could rent bikes at the Hattiesburg trail head, didn’t you? However, not a recumbent. The trike only weighs 30 pounds and is an easy load/unload. It fits well in the van with my modified seating, i.e. one second-row bucket seat removed and the third-row bench seat turned sideways and pushed to one side behind the remaining second-row seat. So, I mounted the trike. Yes, mounted, crawled on board! It’s a circus act (my knees don’t like it). Turned on the Garmin, put it in my pocket, and headed out. My ride out was a little slow as I cautiously got use to the steering. However, coming back I was up around 18 mph or better. The overall average was about 14 mph.
* I don’t know what happened to the last mile’s worth of data. I had the Garmin under my T-shirt since I had not yet installed a mount. I first had it in my pocket but it fell out, no damage. Looks like the satellite connection was dropped.

I’ll share my thoughts and opinion about the bike as they develop. I already know there will be some pros and some cons. For example, there is a tremendous feeling of speed, probably from being so close to the ground. I never imagined that going 12 mph could feel so fast. This is probably a positive. On the other hand, the steering is really tight, a small twitch goes a long way; I hate to think what would happen if I sneezed, “Hello 360″. I’ll probably adjust, i.e. adapt, but I’ll let you know.

I’m planning on joining David and his friends on a ride from Hattiesburg to Prentice on April 5, a Saturday. However, they are going to spend the night and ride back the next day, 40 miles each way. I’ll probably just ride part way and come back for a 50 mile round trip. I have a tentative ride with Rodney on April 28. I met Rod on the trace not long ago and we later exchanged emails. He rides a trike so that will be an interesting ride if I ride mine. I will ride the Speed if I think I can keep up with him by then. If I think I can’t I’ll ride either the Rocket or Stratus XP.

OK, Frank, you wanted to come down and try different types of recumbents. Well, I have another type now; whenever you are ready. I have a clwb (compact long wheel base), i.e. Bike E, a lwb (long wheel base), i.e. Rans Stratus XP, a swb (short wheel base), i.e. Rans Rocket, and, now, a trike (trike), i.e. Catrike Speed. Among the most common recumbents there remains the lowriders and the highriders. The bike I really want is the Bacchetta Aero but I’ll settle for the Bacchetta Corsa SS. These are both highriders. I’ll probably never get/ride a lowrider. Here are some images, not to scale.

clwb Bike E feet low	lwb Stratus XP feet low	swb Rocket feet middle
trike Speed feet slightly high	highracer Aero feet high	lowracer Taifun feet high seat between wheels

And I quote
I am at 250 pounds, too heavy for the new bike I want. My current goal is to lose 30, primarily by riding and some common sense eating. I started at 270 but hit a plateau at 250. I’m hoping the bike will get me moving downward again. And my wife thinks an expensive bike would be a good reward for this goal, ha-ha. (I wonder what she wants. On yea, a new kitchen.)

The bikes I am thinking about have either a max weight limit of 220 or 230. I understand the load includes rider and cargo. How absolute are these limits? If they are strict I may have to lose more than 30.

Being 30 pounds lighter will most likely improve my climbing but what about my speed otherwise?

Also, how much have you lost, that you attribute mostly to riding?

And I stop quoting

You can read the replies here, a forum at BentRiderOnline.com. One of the replies refers to this article about an extreme weight-loss account.

The photo? After riding further than I planned I arrived home just as it got dark. Well, the ride felt so good I did not turn-around where planned. On the way back I really had to rush to beat dusk because I did not have a bike light with me. No problem next time. Before leaving from his visit with us my friend Jim ordered me a bike light and it arrived yesterday. It is very nice, very bright, and uses a single 1 watt LED. Thanks Jim. Here’s a recent picture of him enjoying my favorite po-boy.

Back to the photo above: As you can plainly see I’m a fairly husky guy. Husky? Well, if you want to use the F-word go ahead but I’m sticking with “Husky”. I’ll try for the same pose after I lose some weight, without the sweater.