Surprisingly fast bike. (Cruzbike Quest.)

Cruzbike.  Another update.

This morning I took a Cruzbike Quest 26" out for a training ride, doing loops around Prospect Park.  I averaged 20.2 mph over 34 miles with a maximum speed of 33.2 mph.  This is a moderately hilly loop of about 3.56 miles.

To put this in context, the last time I did a triathlon, about 8 years ago, the bike portion was 24.8 miles (40k) on a flat course, and I remember averaging 19.5 mph.  I think that was my fastest ride for any substantial distance.

Given that I was riding at race pace in that previous instance, I'm rather pleased -- to say the least -- with my training pace this morning.  I wish I could say it's all about me, and not about the bike, however I strongly suspect that it's about the bike.

Have fun and stay healthy,
Robert
------------
Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2012 Robert Matson

New York State Interactive Bike Maps

Here's a cool new interactive bike map for New York state.
https://www.dot.ny.gov/display/programs/bicycle/maps

Now, if we can just get more bike lanes established, it'll be even cooler.

Have fun and stay healthy,
Robert
------------
Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2012 Robert Matson

Silvio frameset: good things, small packages

Cruzbike Silvio frameset ships in a small box. Shown here dwarfed by a 26" Schwalbe Marathon Plus tire.

Silvio frameset just arrived.  I'm used to receiving big boxes with bikes and frames.  Compared to other recumbents, this box is miniscule.

Box size: 31" x 5 1/2" x 19 1/2".

Smallest recumbent I've ever received.  There are interesting possibilities here.

Have fun and stay healthy,
Robert
------------
Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2012 Robert Matson

Seats, nuts and bolts: keep 'em tight

The other day I was riding errands on a Cruzbike Sofrider.  This isn't a story about the Sofrider.  It simply so happens that this has been my city "beater" bent for the past month.  I was somewhere between Brooklyn and Manhattan (like on the Brooklyn Bridge) when I felt that distinctive looseness that can only mean one thing: loose seat bolts.  I don't have a lot of mechanical problems, but one I do seem to have, and always at the more inopportune times, is loose seat bolts.  The last time this happened was road-side in the Taconics while riding a StreetMachine Gte with the 8-bolt BodyLink seat.  That time I had tools.  This time I didn't (let that be a lesson), so I began making alternative plans: go to a bike shop and beg an allen key for my cool bike?  Try and "be careful"?  Ultimately, in spite of having about 25 miles of errands to run -- or ride -- and very, very slowly so as to try and diminish the loosening of the bolts -- I was home before the bolts shook entirely loose.  Thank goodness.  By the time I took an allen key to them, both seat pan bolts were nearly -- but not quite -- too loose for comfort.

Unlike standard frame bikes, where there are generally only two seat bolts that can come loose, a recumbent usually has several, and they are usually small diameter bolts with low torque values.  I've had seat bolts come loose on me on just about every brand of bike, so it isn't only a problem for certain brands.  It's just a recumbent thing, sort of like The Smile.

Here's the preventative maintenance tip of the day.  Seat bolts become loose through ordinary use.  That means using Loktite threadlocker blue.  Remove all the bolts on the bent seat.  Apply the Loktite.  Screw the bolts back in.  You're done.  For now.

Keep an eye on those bolts and keep 'em tight,
Robert
------------
Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2012 Robert Matson

HP Velotechnik: New Scorpion fs

HP Velotechnik has unveiled a new design for the Scorpion fs: 26" rear wheel, 20" wheels front.  Still fully suspended.  Still the world's best fully-suspended trike.

Watch the movie.



Have fun and stay healthy,
Robert
------------
Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2012 Robert Matson