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Date: 13 Jul 2007 20:06:17
From: Artemisia
Subject: Darkness Calls Again - Scorpion FX? Greenspeed? Hase?
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About this time last year I was spiritually - but not yet materially -
bitten by the Dark Side. The obvious merits of a recumbent trike, for
someone with balance problems and very heavy, extremely bruisable flesh,
became hard to ignore, and I spent many hours when I should have been
more gainfully employed, drooling over the Trice T. The thread
(http://tinyurl.com/yppgk3), which some of you might remember, went on
and on, and taught me a great deal.
Well, the yearnings have come back, but with more parameters. I want
commuter and touring functions, and need to face hilly ground. I must be
able, not only to get on trains and planes with the trike, but also to
transport it to the station or airport, with other luggage, unaided. I
do not drive and have no access to a car. Paris taxis are outrageaously
expensive and surly about accepting unconventional loads. For at least
the past four years, there have been no working elevators at the Gare du
Nord to reach platforms for the UK or the Netherlands, frequent
destinations. I cannot get on escalators because of my balance problems.
The amount I can carry upstairs, asthmatic and cardiac as I am, is very
limited.
Load-bearing capacity is becoming a serious consideration. My Dahon
folding tourer has changed my life - we have already done many splendid
trips together. But I am to heavy for him, and the penalty is non-stop
popping tubes, breaking spokes and warping wheels. Also I cannot carry
any luggage on him at all - even u-lock and water are problematic -
limiting my touring to trips with luggage transfer services. On the
other hand, it is relatively easy with Flyzipper to accept a ride home
from a colleague, or to load him onto the bus or van or indeed barge
that are the support vehicles for my tours.
So I want an easily folding or separating machine, with a good granny
gear range, at least partly shiftable at a standstill, with a load
capacity of at least 300 lb. I'm not totally sure, but I think I prefer
the more upright seat angle. I will have to do some tests, allowing that
almost none of the machines I'm admiring are sold in my area.
I've pretty much eliminated the Trice T from the lineup, because of the
conventional gearing system. I've been looking hard at the Scorpion FX,
though its load capacity is on the low side. Meanwhile, I've become
entranced with the wildly expensive Greenspeed models, especially the
GTO (http://www.greenspeed.com.au/gto.html) and Sheldon Brown's GT3
(http://www.sheldonbrown.org/greenspeed/).
I read the Folding Society's report on the Trice QNT
(http://www.foldsoc.co.uk/triceqnt2.html). While generally favorable,
the reviewer is extremely unconvinced on the transportability issue. He
says "It isn't realistic to regard them as suitable for a daily
train-assisted commute, however clever the folding arrangements might
be. In fact the folded size and weight would probably mean that using a
train to transport one would not be an option." He defends the folding
feature purely on being able to load the trike in a car. But train
transport is essential to my projects.
So can anyone having one of these machines comment on their portability?
Wafflycat, do you ever take Dr Norbert Frosty on trains or planes? Eric
Sandblom, did you finally possess the Scorpion FX you fell in love with
in February and can you tell us how you're getting on?
Has anyone tried the Greenspeeds? The GTO supposedly de-couples and can
be packed into two suitcases, more compactly, they claim,than a folder
into a single case. But are those suitcases standard-size checkable
wheely-pull baggage? And can the Greenspeed carry his cases, when his
cases are not carrying him (else what is one to do with them)?
How do you walk a Dark Side trike? Presumably it's too low to hold the
handlebars and toodle it along-side you like an upright? But there must
be occasions when you need to walk it?
Are there any other hard-line Car-frees on this list? I vowed sometime
around 1970 that I would never own or drive a car until they were
completely non-polluting. I'm still waiting. Meanwhile, environmental
awareness of some others around me is finally catching up with my
adolescent self. Is a really good bent trike like the GTO at least a
partial alternative to a car (it costs nearly as much)?
Finally, given that these machines are faraminously pricey, what do the
proud owners do about insurance, parking, locking? You can't just leave
them at the street corner! Unlike cars they don't have a double set of
keys for doors and ignition. What happens when you need to get off and
visit the castle? Assembled, they won't even fit into standard bike
parking racks.
Cheers all,
EFR
Ile de France
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Date: 17 Jul 2007 15:10:53
From: David Damerell
Subject: Re: Darkness Calls Again - Scorpion FX? Greenspeed? Hase?
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Quoting Artemisia <nospam@free.fr >:
>Are there any other hard-line Car-frees on this list?
Yes, but I don't have your other difficulties so I just have a Brompton.
Mind you, I took it over to the parental unit yesterday so they could
borrow it and have 2 folders, and it is noticeably larger and heavier than
my father's Bickerton. Mind you, it doesn't ride like a strand of wet
spaghetti either.
--
David Damerell <damerell@chiark.greenend.org.uk > Kill the tomato!
Today is Gorgonzoladay, Presuary - a weekend.
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Date: 18 Jul 2007 20:03:11
From: Artemisia
Subject: Re: Darkness Calls Again - Scorpion FX? Greenspeed? Hase?
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David Damerell wrote:
> Mind you, it doesn't ride like a strand of wet
> spaghetti either.
I've never ridden wet spaghetti - how does it ride?
EFR
Ile de France
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Date: 18 Jul 2007 19:48:22
From: Peter Clinch
Subject: Re: Darkness Calls Again - Scorpion FX? Greenspeed? Hase?
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Artemisia wrote:
> I've never ridden wet spaghetti - how does it ride?
Like a Bickerton... Actually, David exaggerated: wet spaghetti,
even when overcooked, is probably more rigid than a Bickerton ;-/
Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net p.j.clinch@dundee.ac.uk http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/
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Date: 17 Jul 2007 05:37:59
From: Artemisia
Subject: Re: Darkness Calls Again - US Makes? Cattrike? Sun?
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On 17 juil, 10:51, leand...@googlemail.com wrote:
> I think the OP was asking about Cambridge to Derby, which is 3 hours
> and 1 or 2 changes - London to Derby is much simpler and quicker.
Thanks - that was indeed what I was asking. I'm already familiar with
the Cambridge train and Platform 9 3/4. ;=B0 >
I have a vague notion that if this Derby shop is "West Country" then
it should be west somewhere, while Cambridge being in East Anglia is
east somewhere, at least relative to something else.
So I'll try to arrange a day-trip out of London. Thanks!
EFR
Ile de France
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Date: 17 Jul 2007 17:34:35
From: Adrian Godwin
Subject: Re: Darkness Calls Again - US Makes? Cattrike? Sun?
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Artemisia <e.roselli@free.fr > wrote:
>
> Thanks - that was indeed what I was asking. I'm already familiar with
> the Cambridge train and Platform 9 3/4. ;?>
>
If you can easily get to Cambridge, why not try D-Tek ? He's only
about 12 miles from Cambridge or 3 miles from Ely (which is itself
a short train ride from Cambridge).
As far as I know he's not a Greenspeed agent, but might have one
anyway as he seems to have one of everything,
-adrian
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Date: 17 Jul 2007 13:41:42
From: Dave Larrington
Subject: Re: Darkness Calls Again - US Makes? Cattrike? Sun?
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In news:1184675879.595581.192880@o11g2000prd.googlegroups.com,
Artemisia <e.roselli@free.fr > tweaked the Babbage-Engine to tell us:
> I have a vague notion that if this Derby shop is "West Country" then
> it should be west somewhere, while Cambridge being in East Anglia is
> east somewhere, at least relative to something else.
They /were/ in the west, but moved to E. Yorkshire and then Derbyshire.
Something to do with Rob Hague's day job, I believe.
--
Dave Larrington
<http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk >
It would appear apparent, to me at least, that dinosaurs were
largely burrowing creatures.
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Date: 17 Jul 2007 18:46:00
From: Tim Hall
Subject: Re: Darkness Calls Again - US Makes? Cattrike? Sun?
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On Tue, 17 Jul 2007 13:41:42 +0100, "Dave Larrington"
<smert.spamionam@privacy.net > wrote:
>In news:1184675879.595581.192880@o11g2000prd.googlegroups.com,
>Artemisia <e.roselli@free.fr> tweaked the Babbage-Engine to tell us:
>
>> I have a vague notion that if this Derby shop is "West Country" then
>> it should be west somewhere, while Cambridge being in East Anglia is
>> east somewhere, at least relative to something else.
>
>They /were/ in the west, but moved to E. Yorkshire and then Derbyshire.
>Something to do with Rob Hague's day job, I believe.
Not dodging the rozzers to avoid being locked up under false pretenses
then? (urc passim)
Tim
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Date: 17 Jul 2007 01:51:08
From:
Subject: Re: Darkness Calls Again - US Makes? Cattrike? Sun?
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On 17 Jul, 08:43, Ace <see...@virgin.net > wrote:
> On Tue, 17 Jul 2007 00:31:39 -0700, Artemisia <e.rose...@free.fr>
> wrote:
>
> >On 16 juil, 09:52, Andy Leighton <an...@azaal.plus.com> wrote:
>
> >> I think Carol is in Derbyshire. Their website is
> >> <URL:http://www.wrhpv.com/>.
>
> >Here's a very lame question, which I can presumably answer myself with
> >some research, but does anyone know how hard or easy it is to get to
> >Derby from London or Cambridge by public transport? What kind of trip
> >are we talking about? A multi-phase train expedition taking all
> >morning out and getting back late at night? Or just a commuter sort of
> >jaunt out of London on a regular train?
>
> Yes, they're both very simple, single-leg journeys.
>
> >My UK geography is sorely
> >lacking, and your privatized railway web-sites are harder to read and
> >more decentralized than our cleanly totalitarian SNCF.
>
> http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/has the entire network's timetable
> online. London King's Cross to Cambridge is about 45 minutes, and runs
> about every half hour, or much more frequently for slower trains.
> Derby trains run from St. Pancras about every half an hour but is much
> further away and takes from 1:40 upwards.
I think the OP was asking about Cambridge to Derby, which is 3 hours
and 1 or 2 changes - London to Derby is much simpler and quicker.
Rob
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Date: 17 Jul 2007 00:31:39
From: Artemisia
Subject: Re: Darkness Calls Again - US Makes? Cattrike? Sun?
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On 16 juil, 09:52, Andy Leighton <an...@azaal.plus.com > wrote:
> I think Carol is in Derbyshire. Their website is
> <URL:http://www.wrhpv.com/>.
Here's a very lame question, which I can presumably answer myself with
some research, but does anyone know how hard or easy it is to get to
Derby from London or Cambridge by public transport? What kind of trip
are we talking about? A multi-phase train expedition taking all
morning out and getting back late at night? Or just a commuter sort of
jaunt out of London on a regular train? My UK geography is sorely
lacking, and your privatized railway web-sites are harder to read and
more decentralized than our cleanly totalitarian SNCF.
I'm thinking a visit to check out these machines when I'm in the UK.
Carol Hague says they have both a GTO and a GT3 for test riding.
EFR
Ile de France
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Date: 17 Jul 2007 09:43:18
From: Ace
Subject: Re: Darkness Calls Again - US Makes? Cattrike? Sun?
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On Tue, 17 Jul 2007 00:31:39 -0700, Artemisia <e.roselli@free.fr >
wrote:
>On 16 juil, 09:52, Andy Leighton <an...@azaal.plus.com> wrote:
>
>> I think Carol is in Derbyshire. Their website is
>> <URL:http://www.wrhpv.com/>.
>
>Here's a very lame question, which I can presumably answer myself with
>some research, but does anyone know how hard or easy it is to get to
>Derby from London or Cambridge by public transport? What kind of trip
>are we talking about? A multi-phase train expedition taking all
>morning out and getting back late at night? Or just a commuter sort of
>jaunt out of London on a regular train?
Yes, they're both very simple, single-leg journeys.
>My UK geography is sorely
>lacking, and your privatized railway web-sites are harder to read and
>more decentralized than our cleanly totalitarian SNCF.
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ has the entire network's timetable
online. London King's Cross to Cambridge is about 45 minutes, and runs
about every half hour, or much more frequently for slower trains.
Derby trains run from St. Pancras about every half an hour but is much
further away and takes from 1:40 upwards.
>
>I'm thinking a visit to check out these machines when I'm in the UK.
>Carol Hague says they have both a GTO and a GT3 for test riding.
>
>EFR
>Ile de France
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Date: 15 Jul 2007 22:46:05
From: Dart70ca
Subject: Re: Darkness Calls Again - US Makes? Cattrike? Sun?
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My mother has a Sun trike. Quite heavy and doesn't fold. Also, Sun
doesn't ship to individuals, nor do they permit their products to be
shipped by their resellers. Heavily built now but models earlier than
last years' were prone to cracking at the cross.
I think Wizwheels makes a model that comes apart for transport but
I don't know how practical it would be for commuting. Might want to
check the weight limit before inquiring too deeply as the folders
generally are a little lighter-duty than the standard ones.
You might be out of luck looking for a commuter trike with a high
weight limit. You might get away from busted spokes and flats only to
find that your wheels fold over when cornering.
I've read good things about Greenspeed so you might want to
contact them directly. Seem to recall them jumping through a few hoops
to unite a trike with it's new owner on several occasions. Pretty high
weight limits on the tourers, too.
Keith
Keith
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Date: 16 Jul 2007 19:23:50
From: Johnny Sunset aka Tom Sherman
Subject: Re: Darkness Calls Again - US Makes? Cattrike? Sun?
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Dart70ca aka Keith who? wrote:
> ...
> I've read good things about Greenspeed so you might want to
> contact them directly. Seem to recall them jumping through a few hoops
> to unite a trike with it's new owner on several occasions. Pretty high
> weight limits on the tourers, too.
Greenspeed will custom build touring trikes sturdy enough for Chalo
Colina to use for self supported touring - some have weight limits in
excess of 200 kgf.
--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
The weather is here, wish you were beautiful
--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com
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Date: 15 Jul 2007 14:10:18
From: Artemisia
Subject: Re: Darkness Calls Again - US Makes? Cattrike? Sun?
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Does anyone have any experience of some of the US makes? Cattrike? Sun?
I'm thinking that with the dollar so low right now, there could be some
opportunities. I have parents conveniently placed in San Diego who could
take delivery. I would eventually get myself over there to visit them
and retrieve it. But that would rule out test riding.
I was disheartened to discover that Greenspeed, with the most seductive
machines in this lineup, is from Oz, with prices thus unaffected by the
crashing Yankee dollar. It seems they have a new European agent in Czech
Republic - great cycling but not exactly next door. They couldn't go
with Netherlands or Germany like everyone else?
Oh well, enough whingeing. It's too hot for cycling so I'll go reread my
Harry Potters. Cheers,
EFR
Ile de France
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Date: 15 Jul 2007 22:21:09
From: Tim Hall
Subject: Re: Darkness Calls Again - US Makes? Cattrike? Sun?
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On Sun, 15 Jul 2007 14:10:18 +0200, Artemisia <nospam@free.fr > wrote:
>Does anyone have any experience of some of the US makes? Cattrike? Sun?
>I'm thinking that with the dollar so low right now, there could be some
>opportunities. I have parents conveniently placed in San Diego who could
>take delivery. I would eventually get myself over there to visit them
>and retrieve it. But that would rule out test riding.
>
Ian, umm, Buck(?) posts/ used to post on uk.rec.cycling. He's the UK
agent for Cattrike.
Hopefully he's reading this and will waken from his slumbers.
Tim
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Date: 15 Jul 2007 23:40:07
From: Artemisia
Subject: Re: Darkness Calls Again - US Makes? Cattrike? Sun?
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Tim Hall wrote:
> Ian, umm, Buck(?) posts/ used to post on uk.rec.cycling. He's the UK
> agent for Cattrike.
I'll try googling him and Carol Hague for my August trip. Perhaps they
have outlets somewhere in the South.
Thanks for all the leads.
EFR
Ile de France
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Date: 16 Jul 2007 07:52:29
From: Andy Leighton
Subject: Re: Darkness Calls Again - US Makes? Cattrike? Sun?
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On Sun, 15 Jul 2007 23:40:07 +0200, Artemisia <nospam@free.fr > wrote:
> Tim Hall wrote:
>
>> Ian, umm, Buck(?) posts/ used to post on uk.rec.cycling. He's the UK
>> agent for Cattrike.
>
> I'll try googling him and Carol Hague for my August trip. Perhaps they
> have outlets somewhere in the South.
I think Carol is in Derbyshire. Their website is
<URL:http://www.wrhpv.com/ >.
--
Andy Leighton = > andyl@azaal.plus.com
"The Lord is my shepherd, but we still lost the sheep dog trials"
- Robert Rankin, _They Came And Ate Us_
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Date: 16 Jul 2007 15:40:20
From: Alan Braggins
Subject: Re: Darkness Calls Again - US Makes? Cattrike? Sun?
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In article <slrnf9m8tt.tpl.andyl@azaal.plus.com >, Andy Leighton wrote:
>On Sun, 15 Jul 2007 23:40:07 +0200, Artemisia <nospam@free.fr> wrote:
>> Tim Hall wrote:
>>
>>> Ian, umm, Buck(?) posts/ used to post on uk.rec.cycling. He's the UK
>>> agent for Cattrike.
The most recent VeloVision had a Cattrike review:
http://www.velovision.co.uk/cgi-bin/show_comments.pl?storynum=868
>> I'll try googling him and Carol Hague for my August trip. Perhaps they
>> have outlets somewhere in the South.
>
>I think Carol is in Derbyshire. Their website is
><URL:http://www.wrhpv.com/>.
Yes, they kept the "West Country" bit of their name when they moved,
but they aren't in the West Country any more.
ICE are in Cornwall (so no more affected by the US dollar than Greenspeed),
and have dealers elsewhere in the UK.
http://www.ice.hpv.co.uk/contact/dealers.htm
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Date: 16 Jul 2007 16:06:28
From: Peter Clinch
Subject: Re: Darkness Calls Again - US Makes? Cattrike? Sun?
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Alan Braggins wrote:
> ICE are in Cornwall (so no more affected by the US dollar than Greenspeed),
> and have dealers elsewhere in the UK.
> http://www.ice.hpv.co.uk/contact/dealers.htm
One of their dealers is Kinetics, in Glasgow, and they can put a Rohloff
and/or a Schlumpf on one for you too. There is a Scorpion FX demo
machine available as well (or a Kettweisel, for something a bit different).
Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net p.j.clinch@dundee.ac.uk http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/
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Date: 16 Jul 2007 18:05:55
From: Alan Braggins
Subject: Re: Darkness Calls Again - US Makes? Cattrike? Sun?
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In article <5g1frkF3evibmU1@mid.individual.net >, Peter Clinch wrote:
>Alan Braggins wrote:
>
>> ICE are in Cornwall (so no more affected by the US dollar than Greenspeed),
>> and have dealers elsewhere in the UK.
>> http://www.ice.hpv.co.uk/contact/dealers.htm
>
>One of their dealers is Kinetics, in Glasgow, and they can put a Rohloff
>and/or a Schlumpf on one for you too. There is a Scorpion FX demo
>machine available as well (or a Kettweisel, for something a bit different).
And an ex-demo Scorpion on eBay at the moment, which is very tempting,
ignoring the fact that I've not test ridden one and I'm off on holiday
next weekend.
(I've very nearly persuaded both myself and my wife that I really could
get rid of our second car and this would justify buying a new bike
or trike.)
Not the "somewhere in the South" Artemisia mentioned though.
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Date: 17 Jul 2007 07:57:15
From: Peter Clinch
Subject: Re: Darkness Calls Again - US Makes? Cattrike? Sun?
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Alan Braggins wrote:
> And an ex-demo Scorpion on eBay at the moment, which is very tempting,
> ignoring the fact that I've not test ridden one and I'm off on holiday
> next weekend.
Rode it (or a predecessor) and it was nice but... I just couldn't see
what I'd do with it that I don't do on the bike. This continues to be
my sticking point to developing any sort of trike-lust.
> Not the "somewhere in the South" Artemisia mentioned though.
Quite so, but these days I suspect it isn't actually that much harder to
get from Paris to Glasgow than some random spot in the S. of England if
you're willing to entertain air travel, or an extra half day on the train.
Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net p.j.clinch@dundee.ac.uk http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/
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Date: 17 Jul 2007 13:34:21
From: Alan Braggins
Subject: Re: Darkness Calls Again - US Makes? Cattrike? Sun?
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In article <5g37idF3du3dfU1@mid.individual.net >, Peter Clinch wrote:
>Alan Braggins wrote:
>
>> And an ex-demo Scorpion on eBay at the moment, which is very tempting,
>> ignoring the fact that I've not test ridden one and I'm off on holiday
>> next weekend.
>
>Rode it (or a predecessor) and it was nice but... I just couldn't see
>what I'd do with it that I don't do on the bike. This continues to be
>my sticking point to developing any sort of trike-lust.
Ride in stop-start traffic that doesn't always have enough room to
filter past safely and has lots of traffic lights without having to
put a foot down when stopped was the appeal for the 3 mile town bit of
my commute. (For the 12 miles outside town, be able to fit a fairing
without being leant over by sidewinds, possibly, but then a bike would
have a smaller frontal area for headwinds.)
"Get more experienced at stopping and starting on a recumbent bike"
might be a more efficient answer, but I know at least one experienced
local recumbent rider still generally prefers his Moulton when going
into town. But a lower bottom bracket style bike might be different -
a friend who used to have a Windcheetah now has a Tour Easy which he
finds just as good in traffic, and easier to get onto when his back
is dodgy.
Of course the cheapest answer would be to just keep riding an upright
and get faster into headwinds by getting fitter. I don't arrive at work
thinking "I'd do that more often if I could do it in a comfy seat", so,
while a recumbent appeals, it isn't necessary.
An electric assist also appeals.
So does a KV4 velomobile, for bad weather, but a lot of work to assemble
(there are nicer velomobiles, but the "it would save a lot of money"
argument looks less plausible when the velomobile costs several times
the value of the car being hypothetically replaced).
http://www.dutchbikes.nl/bodies_uk/frame_kv4.htm
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Date: 17 Jul 2007 14:35:33
From: Peter Clinch
Subject: Re: Darkness Calls Again - US Makes? Cattrike? Sun?
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Alan Braggins wrote:
> Ride in stop-start traffic that doesn't always have enough room to
> filter past safely and has lots of traffic lights without having to
> put a foot down when stopped was the appeal for the 3 mile town bit of
> my commute. (For the 12 miles outside town, be able to fit a fairing
> without being leant over by sidewinds, possibly, but then a bike would
> have a smaller frontal area for headwinds.)
>
> "Get more experienced at stopping and starting on a recumbent bike"
> might be a more efficient answer, but I know at least one experienced
> local recumbent rider still generally prefers his Moulton when going
> into town.
Similarly, that's what I use my Brom for.
> But a lower bottom bracket style bike might be different -
> a friend who used to have a Windcheetah now has a Tour Easy which he
> finds just as good in traffic, and easier to get onto when his back
> is dodgy.
For urban use where serious hurrying isn't high on the agenda I think an
HPVel Spirit would take a lot of beating as an urban 'bent.
Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net p.j.clinch@dundee.ac.uk http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/
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Date: 17 Jul 2007 17:02:33
From: Alan Braggins
Subject: Re: Darkness Calls Again - US Makes? Cattrike? Sun?
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In article <5g3ut5F3doccsU1@mid.individual.net >, Peter Clinch wrote:
>Alan Braggins wrote:
>
>> Ride in stop-start traffic that doesn't always have enough room to
>> filter past safely and has lots of traffic lights without having to
>> put a foot down when stopped was the appeal for the 3 mile town bit of
>> my commute. (For the 12 miles outside town, be able to fit a fairing
>> without being leant over by sidewinds, possibly, but then a bike would
>> have a smaller frontal area for headwinds.)
>>
>> "Get more experienced at stopping and starting on a recumbent bike"
>> might be a more efficient answer, but I know at least one experienced
>> local recumbent rider still generally prefers his Moulton when going
>> into town.
>
>Similarly, that's what I use my Brom for.
>
>> But a lower bottom bracket style bike might be different -
>> a friend who used to have a Windcheetah now has a Tour Easy which he
>> finds just as good in traffic, and easier to get onto when his back
>> is dodgy.
>
>For urban use where serious hurrying isn't high on the agenda I think an
>HPVel Spirit would take a lot of beating as an urban 'bent.
But I can't seeing it having enough of an advantage over an upright for
the longer not-urban bit of my commute to be worthwhile. I'm happy using
my upright folder when I do just the urban bit (drive to Park and Ride),
but the compromises are different for the overall journey. Unless I
rented a locker at the Park and Ride and swapped bikes at the edge of
town, but that seems excessive.
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Date: 15 Jul 2007 18:02:24
From: Simon Brooke
Subject: Re: Darkness Calls Again - US Makes? Cattrike? Sun?
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in message <469a0eae$0$11773$426a34cc@news.free.fr >, Artemisia
('nospam@free.fr') wrote:
> Does anyone have any experience of some of the US makes? Cattrike? Sun?
> I'm thinking that with the dollar so low right now, there could be some
> opportunities. I have parents conveniently placed in San Diego who could
> take delivery. I would eventually get myself over there to visit them
> and retrieve it. But that would rule out test riding.
>
> I was disheartened to discover that Greenspeed, with the most seductive
> machines in this lineup, is from Oz, with prices thus unaffected by the
> crashing Yankee dollar. It seems they have a new European agent in Czech
> Republic - great cycling but not exactly next door. They couldn't go
> with Netherlands or Germany like everyone else?
Carol Hague, who lives in East Yorkshire somewhere and regularly posts to
this group, is also an agent for Greenspeed.
--
simon@jasmine.org.uk (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
;; how did we conclude that a fucking cartoon mouse is deserving
;; of 90+ years of protection, but a cure for cancer, only 14?
-- user 'Tackhead', in /. discussion of copyright law, 22/05/02
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Date: 15 Jul 2007 07:34:32
From: Johnny Sunset aka Tom Sherman
Subject: Re: Darkness Calls Again - US Makes? Cattrike? Sun?
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Artemisia wrote:
> Does anyone have any experience of some of the US makes? Cattrike? Sun?
Sun (a division of J&B Importers) recumbent trikes and bicycles are made
in Taiwan.
Wizwheelz is the other US manufacturer of mid-priced trikes:
<http://www.wizwheelz.com/ >.
--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
The weather is here, wish you were beautiful
--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com
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Date: 14 Jul 2007 13:06:34
From: Ian Smith
Subject: Re: Darkness Calls Again - Scorpion FX? Greenspeed? Hase?
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["Followup-To:" header set to uk.rec.cycling.]
On Fri, 13 Jul 2007 20:06:17 +0200, Artemisia <nospam@free.fr > wrote:
>
> How do you walk a Dark Side trike? Presumably it's too low to hold
> the handlebars and toodle it along-side you like an upright? But
> there must be occasions when you need to walk it?
Remove the right pannier and put it on the seat. stand beside the
pannier rack facing the opposite direction to the trice. Hold the
rack . Standing with ones arm straight lifts the rear wheel off the
ground and it trails docilely along behind.
regards, Ian SMith
--
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Date: 14 Jul 2007 13:42:17
From: Erik Sandblom
Subject: Re: Darkness Calls Again - Scorpion FX? Greenspeed? Hase?
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Den 2007-07-13 20:06:17 skrev Artemisia <nospam@free.fr >:
> Eric Sandblom, did you finally possess the Scorpion FX you fell in love
> with in February and can you tell us how you're getting on?
Thanks for asking. Not yet. I think recumbent trikes are a little less
practical than uprights and especially Bromptons, since they take up so
much space. I've been recommended some nice day tours suitable for
recumbents (with few cars, so no rear bumper view) but it's a matter of
fun compensating the lack of utility. Not much of a functional alibi for
me buying one. The best would be if you could rent them.
I've also looked into taking it on a train, and found these nifty folding
recumbents in Berlin, Aiolos. This trike folds to 85x49x34 cm without
tools.
http://www.aiolos.de/trilite.htm
Might go well with a folding trailer. Or just something you can use to
cart the folded trike. The trailer would solve your baggage carrying
requirements I believe.
http://www.carryfreedom.com/city.html
Erik Sandblom
--
Oil is for sissies
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Date: 15 Jul 2007 14:00:25
From: Artemisia
Subject: Re: Darkness Calls Again - Scorpion FX? Greenspeed? Hase?
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Erik Sandblom wrote:
> I've also looked into taking it on a train, and found these nifty
> folding recumbents in Berlin, Aiolos. This trike folds to 85x49x34 cm
> without tools.
>
> http://www.aiolos.de/trilite.htm
Interesting link, but too little information. One really would need to
go to Berlin and get physical with one of these before one could have a
real idea. I feel the same about the other models I've been looking at.
They just aren't available ot try. Bikefix in London has a Scorpion but
not an FX. I have arranged to check it out when I'm next visiting, but
since the practicability of the folding mechanism is a primary
consideration there is much that i will not learn.
> http://www.carryfreedom.com/city.html
That's a cool piece of luggage too, quite apart from the discussion on
bents. I might buy one for Flyzipper.
Cheers,
EFR
Ile de France
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Date: 14 Jul 2007 00:56:15
From: squeaker
Subject: Re: Darkness Calls Again - Scorpion FX? Greenspeed? Hase?
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On 13 Jul, 19:06, Artemisia <nos...@free.fr > wrote:
> How do you walk a Dark Side trike? Presumably it's too low to hold the
> handlebars and toodle it along-side you like an upright? But there must
> be occasions when you need to walk it?
>
With my Trice S, I just pick up the rear end by the top of the seat
(sufficient to lift the rear wheel) and steer it from their. Wouldn't
like to go a long way with it loaded though. (I use Radical seat
bags: I suspect that conventional panniers would get in the way for
this 'trick'.)
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Date: 13 Jul 2007 19:53:12
From: Alistair Gunn
Subject: Re: Darkness Calls Again - Scorpion FX? Greenspeed? Hase?
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In uk.rec.cycling Artemisia twisted the electrons to say:
> I've pretty much eliminated the Trice T from the lineup, because of the
> conventional gearing system.
The rear end on the standard Trice models is Rohloff ready if you want
(and if you can afford a Speedhub as well as a the Trice!). Alternatively
I suppose (again if you can justify the expense) either a Schlumpf or a
DualDrive system could be fitted. For either of those 3 options you'll be
talking to whomever sells you the trike as ICE don't ship one so equipped.
> I read the Folding Society's report on the Trice QNT
> (http://www.foldsoc.co.uk/triceqnt2.html). While generally favorable,
> the reviewer is extremely unconvinced on the transportability issue.
I've taken my QNT on the train once - took the rear wheel out, folded the
suspension under and took the seat off. I then stacked it sideways in
the bicycle space and hoped noone else wanted to get on! It's certainly
not something I'd want to do a regular basis, and not (IMHO) practical on
a regular commute. I *think* you need to regard any folding in recumbent
trikes as being equivalent to that provided by Airnimal uprights (ie:
useful for taking long distances) rather than provided by Bromptons /
Birdys (ie: useful for multi-modal commutes).
> So can anyone having one of these machines comment on their portability?
> Wafflycat, do you ever take Dr Norbert Frosty on trains or planes? Eric
> Sandblom, did you finally possess the Scorpion FX you fell in love with
> in February and can you tell us how you're getting on?
In addition to the aforementioned train journey, I've packed it into the
back of a couple of cars. However since use of the rear seats was not
required, all I did was drop the rear wheel out and fold the rear swing
arm under.
> How do you walk a Dark Side trike? Presumably it's too low to hold the
> handlebars and toodle it along-side you like an upright? But there must
> be occasions when you need to walk it?
On my QNT I either grab rear rack (if I've got it fitted) or the rear
wheel (if no rack), lift and then pull the trike backwards. Or at least
that's what I did until the velcro retention strap broke (not ICE's fault,
it had been incorrectly bodged by a previous owner!).
You can wheel it around with your hands on the ends of the handlebars,
but you wouldn't want to go more than a couple of metres like that.
Not that it's particularly relevant, but my Streetmachine was the easiest
'bent to walk around I've experienced - grab the top of the seat and
push, to turn lean the trike in the desired direction!
> Are there any other hard-line Car-frees on this list? I vowed sometime
> around 1970 that I would never own or drive a car until they were
> completely non-polluting. I'm still waiting. Meanwhile, environmental
> awareness of some others around me is finally catching up with my
> adolescent self. Is a really good bent trike like the GTO at least a
> partial alternative to a car (it costs nearly as much)?
I sold my last car (a rather sporty 1293cc Mini) back in 2004. I've only
had 2 occasions since then when I wanted a car, and only 1 of those has
been a "I need a car *now*" moment.
> Finally, given that these machines are faraminously pricey, what do the
> proud owners do about insurance, parking, locking? You can't just leave
> them at the street corner! Unlike cars they don't have a double set of
> keys for doors and ignition. What happens when you need to get off and
> visit the castle? Assembled, they won't even fit into standard bike
> parking racks.
My QNT will (just) fit into what appears to be the standard spacing for
Sheffield Stands. However for preference I tend to go for the stand at
the end if I can. As for security, I use a Kryptonite Chainlock through
the rear wheel and through one of the seat supports (not quite sure how
I'll provide any security when I switch to the hardshell seat?). I'm
also careful where I leave it!
--
These opinions might not even be mine ...
Let alone connected with my employer ...
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Date: 13 Jul 2007 22:46:04
From: Artemisia
Subject: Re: Darkness Calls Again - Scorpion FX? Greenspeed? Hase?
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Alistair Gunn wrote:
> The rear end on the standard Trice models is Rohloff ready if you want
> (and if you can afford a Speedhub as well as a the Trice!). Alternatively
> I suppose (again if you can justify the expense) either a Schlumpf or a
> DualDrive system could be fitted. For either of those 3 options you'll be
> talking to whomever sells you the trike as ICE don't ship one so equipped.
Well exactly, they don't ship one, and I'm not so hot on spending large
on something which will have to be rebuilt as soon as it arrives.
Moreover there is no one local who _can_ sell it. And ICE themselves
sound distinctly lukewarm in their "Rohloff ready" recommendations.
> I then stacked it sideways in
> the bicycle space and hoped noone else wanted to get on!
On the bike space or on the whole train?
> I sold my last car (a rather sporty 1293cc Mini) back in 2004.
Congratulations! OTOH, you're a much better cyclist than I am. (I say
that with confidence because it's true of just about anybody).
> My QNT will (just) fit into what appears to be the standard spacing for
> Sheffield Stands. However for preference I tend to go for the stand at
> the end if I can. As for security, I use a Kryptonite Chainlock through
> the rear wheel and through one of the seat supports (not quite sure how
> I'll provide any security when I switch to the hardshell seat?). I'm
> also careful where I leave it!
I would of course get it tatooed with the French police, but that would
apply no farther afield than France. I checked out a special insurance
policy offered for bikes for Flyzipper, but there were major
impracticalities: the policy was voided if you did not use a u-lock and
attach bike to a fixed point. Now even if a trike would be robust enough
for the added weight of the u-lock, a fixed point is not always
available, or legal.
Thanks for your informative reply.
EFR
Ile de France
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Date: 13 Jul 2007 21:06:03
From: Alistair Gunn
Subject: Re: Darkness Calls Again - Scorpion FX? Greenspeed? Hase?
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In uk.rec.cycling Artemisia twisted the electrons to say:
> Alistair Gunn wrote:
> Well exactly, they don't ship one, and I'm not so hot on spending large
> on something which will have to be rebuilt as soon as it arrives.
That's understandable ...
> And ICE themselves sound distinctly lukewarm in their "Rohloff ready"
> recommendations.
<nods > ... but part of that doesn't make sense IMHO. They say that with
a 52/16T Rohloff setup you'll have a gear range of ~17.7-93" (which they
claim isn't really wide enough). However, the default range on one of
the standard trikes is 18.2-91.7" which is narrower!
> > I then stacked it sideways in
> > the bicycle space and hoped noone else wanted to get on!
> On the bike space or on the whole train?
<LOL >
> > I sold my last car (a rather sporty 1293cc Mini) back in 2004.
> Congratulations! OTOH, you're a much better cyclist than I am. (I say
> that with confidence because it's true of just about anybody).
Well, it helps that I live somewhere reasonably flat and that there's a
major supermarket halfway between where I work and where I live!
> Now even if a trike would be robust enough for the added weight of the
> u-lock, a fixed point is not always available, or legal.
<nods > U-locks don't really work with the standard trices as you can't
put the lock around both a wheel and through the frame (since there's no
frame to put it through!). It could work on something like Scorpion
since that actually has a rear triangle.
> Thanks for your informative reply.
No problem ...
--
These opinions might not even be mine ...
Let alone connected with my employer ...
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Date: 14 Jul 2007 07:36:34
From: Ian Smith
Subject: Re: Darkness Calls Again - Scorpion FX? Greenspeed? Hase?
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["Followup-To:" header set to uk.rec.cycling.]
On Fri, 13 Jul 2007, Alistair Gunn <palmersperry@yahoo.com > wrote:
>
> <nods> U-locks don't really work with the standard trices as you can't
> put the lock around both a wheel and through the frame (since there's no
> frame to put it through!). It could work on something like Scorpion
> since that actually has a rear triangle.
U-locks work fine.
Put the trice up against a vertical post at the main cruciform. Put
U-lock round the intersection of the three mutually perpendicular
tubes. It is now as inextricably locked to the post as if the U-lock
went through a closed loop of the frame - impossible to remove without
severely bending or cutting a frame member.
regards, Ian SMith
--
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