Extended customer review of a Cruzbike Quest

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Subject: on-line review
From: "O__ G___
To: "Robert Matson"
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[Ed. note: this customer wrote an extended review of his experience testing, buying and learning to ride a Cruzbike Quest. I've reprinted only an excerpt here, but it's a useful review for those who want to weed out the real-life experiences of Cruzbike riders from the hype.]

"....I made an appointment with Robert (NYC Recumbent Supply, link below) for a lesson. He starts me out on a Cruzbike Quest, one of those MBB bikes. Mind you, I was prepared for a challenge. I’d read about the learning curve, and was ready for some difficulty. An hour and a half later, white knuckled, the beginnings of blisters on my hands from a death grip on the handlebars, and buzzing on adrenaline from 90 minutes of “OMG doesn’t riding a bike since you were six years old count for anything?” and I’m still riding on the edge between control and wipeout. I felt like a beginner. But you can’t really fall on a recumbent. When you lose your balance the leg on the side your falling towards instinctively goes out to catch yourself. I lost my balance many times, only at low speed, never crashed. During the lesson Robert also let me try a conventional rear wheel drive bent...."


Have fun and stay healthy,
Robert

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Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2015 Robert Matson

Working with the New York Veterans Affairs Hospital's "Pedals of Honor"

For the past four years I've had the privilege of working with the New York Veterans Affairs hospitals, helping to put wounded vets on recumbent trikes.  For the past three years, in May, New York City Recumbent Supply has volunteered at the "Pedals of Honor" event, which the VA hosts in conjunction with Achilles International.  As an event volunteer, I help set up bikes and trikes, provide maintenance and repairs, fit participants onto trikes and bikes, and support the massive group ride around the park.  It's a thrill to work with these guys and I look forward to it every year.  Neile Weissman, president of the New York Cycle Club, also helps.

I'm consistently impressed by the staff from the VA, who seem to truly love their work.  This year, I was additionally pleased to meet Dick Traum, the founder of the Achilles Track Club, now known as Achilles International.  I admire what Mr. Traum has done for disabled athletes.  CNN produced a video about Mr. Traum that you can watch here.

Have fun, stay healthy, and look for someone you can help,
Robert
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Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2015 Robert Matson

HP Velotechnik Grasshopper fx on New York regional buses

Recently, a few customers have written me saying they had absolutely NO hassles putting their Grasshopper fx's on the regional bus between New York and Washington, DC.

One had taken the Bolt Bus, putting his GHfx in the luggage compartment.  The other took Greyhound (also known as Peter Pan).  Apparently the Mega Bus double-decker buses don't have much luggage space and their website says "no bikes."

In one case, the cyclist was told he had to put his Grasshopper fx into a box, but when he told the driver that it folded, there were no more issues.  He also protected the bike by wrapping it in a padded blanket.  I'd presume that the padding is optional as far as the bus company is concerned but that they do want cyclists to put their bike in a bag such as the one HP Velotechnik makes for the GHfx.

Have fun and stay healthy,
Robert
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Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
copyright 2015 Robert Matson