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.
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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 wrote on Facebook:

Rode 70 miles on my birthday ride yesterday; I guess that means I only have to ride 67 miles on my 70th birthday. I turned at a station (Carson) instead of in the middle of nowhere, thus 70 miles.

Had a really good chicken lunch at a service station in Bassfield. Or, is any lunch really good in the middle of a 70 mile ride?

Had Domino’s pizza and some beer for my birthday dinner. Haven’t done that in a long time. I guess I was wanting the carbs. The kids came over and everyone honored my gift requests, i.e. either consumable, small, or extremely functional and in all cases not require much shelf space. The casket is already full, I can’t take anymore with me. The trike folds; that’ll be the bike I take.