Of course recumbents do hills.

Standard frame (or "diamond frame") riders often ask me how recumbents are on hills.  (Answer: "You pedal up them.")  Yes, there is the disadvantage that you can't stand on the pedals, but I don't need to since I have mountain bike gearing.  And on those steepest hills, where I'd stand up and power through on a standard frame bike, on a bent I just sit and power through.  Same thing.  When I started riding a bent, I admit I'd sometimes have to walk up a hill.  I didn't yet have a fine sense of balance or strong "recumbent muscles."  But I haven't had to walk up a hill in years.  I just ride up.

I was thinking about this the other day after riding through Harriman State Park, from Garrison to Camp Nawakwa on Lake Sebago and back again to Garrison.  We had taken the train up to Garrison and started riding from there.  It's a 46-mile round trip that begins with about 15 miles of steady climbing, without much more than a few yards of level road, then gives you a steep down, a long uphill false flat, more hills than I can bother remembering, and then you hit Lake Sebago.  The camp's road is then a series of very steep un-graded hills, more up than down.  On the way back, reverse it.  Lots of down, some up, a long and steep uphill climb, and one very, very long downhill coast on a windy road with frequent blind turns where your brakes are very much your best friend.

The next day, no soreness.  Wow.  That's a recumbent for you.

What were we riding?  There was an HP Velotechnik Grasshopper fx and a Street Machine Gte, with racks, fenders, and lighting systems.  They're simply the easiest for throwing on a couple panniers for a day-ride and it's always welcome to have the folding Grasshopper when taking the train.

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

Riding a Cruzbike: easy for some.

I get a lot of interest in Cruzbikes.  However, with every new inquiry, there is a question: how long will it take the prospective rider to learn to ride it?

People ask how long it took me to get it.  I think they imagine they'll have the same success as me.  Now, I no longer think I'm a good example.  It took me about 2 hours before I was comfortable taking it out on the street and to Prospect Park where I had space to practice.  It looks like I was a slow learner!

The other week, I had two new Cruzbike riders, a woman and a man.  I'd love to take credit for being a good teacher, but I don't think I can.  Both were fit and that probably helped.  They were both off and riding within minutes.  Minutes, I tell you.


The woman, who will remain nameless since she wishes to maintain her privacy on the internet, was off and riding immediately.  Her fitness routine seems to consist of hiking on weekends and 30 minutes of pilates every morning.  (But maybe that explains it: strong core muscles.)  I gave her my usual basic starting instructions and then she was off and riding immediately with minimal control issues.  She did admit that she'd like some time to practice in the park before heading off on a long ride, however this was clearly a natural Cruzbiker.  Total time required to learn to ride: 5 seconds.

The fellow, a longtime recumbent rider, struggled for maybe 10 minutes, but then he was riding up and down the bike path like it was almost second nature.  We headed to Prospect Park, spent a little time doing handling drills on one of the cross-park drives, then did a little off-roading and downhilling including going over erosion control bars with an 8" drop-off, and then came back via city streets with traffic.  His control was rather impressive.  Wow.  Total time required to learn to ride: 10 minutes.

It reminded me of the following video from Cruzbike showing a brand new rider.




It had taken me a couple hours before I was riding with control.  And, after seeing a few others struggle to control the bike, I had begun to think it would take everyone a fair amount of practice.  Clearly that's not true.  Yours truly is simply slow.

Some people are able to ride a Cruzbike immediately.  For some it takes a while.  You simply have to try it and have faith that when -- not if -- you get the hang of it, you'll enjoy the performance advantages of the design.

Have fun and stay healthy and take a good look at a Cruzbike,
Robert
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Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2012 Robert Matson

Weighing the options on an HP Velotechnik

HP Velotechnik Carbon Fiber Boom

Recently, a customer asked me what we could do to make an HP Velotechnik Grasshopper fx a bit lighter, using the options readily offered.  We looked at the weight difference for the front fork (with shocks), seats, rear shock and front boom.  For the suspended front fork and rear shocks, there are improvements in performance as well as differences in weight.

From the following, not including the front boom with/without derailer mast, if we chose the lightest option, we could lessen the bike weight by 28.93 oz (1.81 lbs).



Front Boom with or without derailer mast
If you get a Rohloff Speed Drive or SRAM Dual Drive, choose the aluminum boom without the derailer mast for weight savings at no additional cost.  Sorry, but I don't have two unmounted booms on hand at this time to compare the weights, but I'd give it two to three ounces.




Seats
Body Link w/ foam pad - 1,885 gms / 66.5 oz
Ergo Mesh - 2,055 gms / 72.5 oz
__Difference: 170 gms / 6.0 oz


Front Fork with Shock
Spinner Grind 2 AL (better performance) - 1,610 g / 56.79 oz
__Difference from standard front fork and shock: 250 gms / 8.82 oz
Meks SASO Carbon AC (best performance) - 1,710 g / 60.32 oz
__Difference from standard front fork and shock: 150 gms / 5.29 oz
Spinner Grind 2 (standard, good performance) - 1,860 gms / 65.61 oz

Rear Shocks
DT Swiss XM 180 Air Shock (best performance) - 172 g /  6.07 oz
DNM DV-22 (Standard, good performance) - 400 g / 14.11 oz
__Difference: 228 g / 8.04 oz

Front Boom
Carbon Fiber front boom (lightest):
__Difference from standard boom: 170 gms / 6.07 oz

If one were to choose the options in terms of the most weight savings for the cost, the order would be:
1 - tied) Front boom without derailer mast
1 - tied) Body Link seat
2) Spinner Grind 2 AL
3) Carbon Fiber front boom
4) DT Swiss air shock (but man! that DT Swiss air shock is awfully sweet)


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