The Recumbent Bicycle and Human Powered Vehicle Information Center

www.recumbents.com - Testing/Buying a recumbent bike in the SF Bay Area

www.recumbents.com

Username:	Password:
Save Password

All Forums

www.recumbents.com

General Topics

Testing/Buying a recumbent bike in the SF Bay Area

New Topic

Reply to Topic

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

oscarmv
Starting Member

USA
13 Posts

Posted - 06/13/2012 : 21:57:38

I've been getting back into biking after a several year hiatus and while it's been fun and some good exercise (sorely needed) I'm, well, several years older. After some research I figured that a recumbent might be just the thing to keep at it without issues (I was never that comfortable with a regular bike's riding position, it's just gotten worse these days).

However, before splurging into one I'd like to give them a good test. Might be my weak google-fu but I haven't found any stores that have recumbent bikes/trikes in stock in the Southern San Francisco Bay Area. Since there's wisdom in these forums, I'd also like recommendations on what to aim for/try first. A few notes:

- I'm a rather large guy (260+ pounds, 6'5" tall) so I'll need something that can accommodate both.
- Bonus points if can put it in a standard hanging hitch mount rack (work buses have those). It will be used for commuting but often not both ways. I guess that precludes a trike as an option.
- An ability to carry a large laptop bag without adding too much stuff to the bike.
- A budget of up to around $2000.

Any advice will be appreciated, and any questions answered.

Thanks in advance!

oscarmv
Starting Member

USA
13 Posts

Posted - 06/13/2012 : 22:03:05

Oh, forgot to mention, it should be useable with casual long pants (sun sensitivity precludes me from wearing shorts as much as I'd like it, and I'd rather not have to change into biking gear for shorter rides). I surmised that for some designs it can be an issue.

Joel DIckman
Starting Member

USA
49 Posts

Posted - 06/14/2012 : 08:37:24

Hello Oscar,

1) If you want your recumbent bike to fit into a bus rack, you are going to need a short wheelbase bike.
2) For safely sharing the street with semi-competent motorists, you are better off with a bike that does not have an extremely low seat height, and you are better off with a more heads-up seat back angle. Makes it easier for you to see them, and for them to see you.
3) Bright blinking lights front and rear, turned on during the day, will help you remain among the living. Likewise rear-view mirror(s).

There are a number of short wheelbase recumbent bikes that meet these general guidelines. I have a special fondness for the Lightning Phantom. The Phantom has a 250 pound weight limit though. If you make commuting a habit, you will probably lose enough weight in short order to scoot under the limit.

If you have a little do-it-yourself ability, you could probably kludge something together with chain tubes to keep the bike chain from contacting your pants leg and making it greasy.

Do as much extended test riding as you possibly can before committing your cash to a particular bike. Consider buying a used bike to hedge your bets. Recumbent bikes have an extremely wide range of variation in frame and seat design. Consequently, one particular model does not fit or feel comfortable to all.

Safe riding,
Joel Dickman
http://lightningriders.com

These three prevent most accidents: seeing, being seen, & common sense.

Edited by - Joel DIckman on 06/14/2012 08:42:38

warren
human power expert

4225 Posts

Posted - 06/14/2012 : 12:41:28

I agree with Joel, you are probably looking for a short wheelbase (SWB)recumbent. If you check the buyers guide on this site at
http://www.recumbents.com/recumbents.asp you will see that there are many options. RANS and Bacchetta make several models and are well respected manufacturers.

Check http://www.recumbents.com/dealers.asp for recumbent dealers in your area.

-Warren.

oscarmv
Starting Member

USA
13 Posts

Posted - 06/14/2012 : 14:46:42

Agreed, a SWB recumbent bike seems to be the best choice (pending actual testing). The problem I'm having is that there's little or nothing in the way of dealerships in the area that carry them so it will take some effort to do so.

Second hand would be great, but there doesn't appear to be much on sale my size that doesn't involve a multi-day road trip.

Does anyone have experience with FWD models? They not only appeal to my engineering sensibilities :P but also should be a lot less trouble to put on the hitch bike mount rack as the chain wouldn't interfere (http://www.etrailer.com/dept-pg-Hitch_Bike_Racks-sf-Hanging_Rack.aspx kind of bike rack).

warren
human power expert

4225 Posts

Posted - 06/14/2012 : 18:09:26

CVC Recumbents and Trikes and Zach Kaplan Cycles

are close to you

oscarmv
Starting Member

USA
13 Posts

Posted - 06/15/2012 : 01:38:33

Ah, CVC Recumbents and Trikes had completely slipped below my radar, I'll see if I can arrange something with them. Been in contact with Mr. Kaplan too.

oscarmv
Starting Member

USA
13 Posts

Posted - 09/02/2012 : 23:00:55

Replying to myself, in case anyone has google dumping him/her on this thread, summarizing my experience.

Probably the easiest way for someone to test recumbents in the South Bay Area is to contact Erik at http://www.thebikedoctor.net. He'll rent Bachettas for the week and has been at them for long enough to help figure out which models and what adjustments are the best for the rider. Unfortunately, the Bachettas were out for me due to size, weight, and the need to be able to carry some cargo (as a commute bike). Once the large bike was found and the seat was set for my height, there was no reasonable way to have a rack installed in there. Bachetta sells adjustable racks that might have worked, but apparently no one likes them, starting with Erik.

Failing that, it was time to make the drive to beautiful Sonoma county (through ugly, ugly traffic) and check out Nanda at Spincyclz. At least he had several models in stock that were likely to work for someone of my large frame. He carries mostly European models with suspension everywhere and prices to match, but there's no denying they are well built and well thought out bikes. At that point I had no experience riding recumbents so the attempts were often more sideways and down rather than upright and forward. Still, several of the models I found myself being able to ride after a couple tries without thinking I was about to kill myself. An understeer Toxy was the easiest ride but price and small wheels took it out of the list (I was gravitating more toward standard-sized-wheeled bikes due to both aesthetics and the lousy paving of South Bay streets). He had several Nazca bikes, of which both the Fuego and 28" Gaucho rode fine, except that we also discovered that extra-long tillers were needed to avoid hitting them while pedaling with my long legs. A 26" Gaucho understeer he had was mysteriously impossible to ride straight.

Since I wanted more of a tourer than a racer the 28" Gaucho was out. The Fuego was a little too low for my taste and the 26" Gaucho had been so far unrideable. I spent a few weeks mulling that one out, a time during which my benevolent corporate overlord saw fit to give me a bonus for the value of a recumbent bike (and a little extra) out of the blue. Time to stop mulling and start buying. I contacted Zach Kaplan to test some of his bikes and drove back to Petaluma to try out more things. The 26" Gaucho ended up far more rideable once the direction was adjusted (far easier to set to minimal sensitivity) and the several steering options didn't seem to make a big difference in easy of riding. Zach was knowledgeable and helpful but the HP velos I tried had the same issues as the Toxys.

In the end I got the understeer Gaucho 26" as the one that best adjusted to what I wanted and the budget I had (Nanda also gave me a little discount as it was a demo bike which made the price better and meant I also got a bike with plenty of widgetry on it). Since then I've added pedal clips, removed the mudguards (when does it rain around here anyway?), gotten a couple Ortliebs and a couple changes of hiking clothes (I find that they work fine for recumbent pedaling and the convertibility between short and long pants is convenient) and put about 1000 km. on it. Fell a few times (never while riding, mostly due to false starts uphill or instability when emergency braking to a stop). Mostly a happy rider, and looking forward to many more miles on it.

Topic

New Topic

Reply to Topic

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

www.recumbents.com

Snitz Forums 2000