What model recumbent bike is fastes and suitable for commuting?

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Date: 22 Sep 2005 00:57:43
From: Vytautas
Subject: What model recumbent bike is fastes and suitable for commuting?

For me matters two things mostly - I need to drive faster than with a
traditional bike and if it is more comfortable so that's perfect. Is it
so what I wish? Can you say what ordinary a recumbent bike with a fit
driver is allways faster than a rider with a tradicional bike? What
sort of bent schould it be?
Please specify models if you can.

So as I intrested in buying recumbent bike I would like to know some
details about bents that still bothers me. (I have never ride a bent
before, just ussual bikes all the time)
Is it comfortable in a city? And is it ok to ride in a streets with
cars around?
Can you go for longer trips with recumbent bike easy and comfortable
enough? (I travel up to fourty km daily with my upright bike easilly)
Would it be more easier and faster with recumbent when I will get used
to it? What do you suggest?

Just please say your speeds. I am curious all about speeds. What was
your fastest speed on recumbent on a flat road? If you do touring what
is your average speed on tour?
Can't you drive it easy without sweat when commuting?
What kind of bent do you use? What would you suggest? How much money
are worth spending for velomobile?
I looked at some SWB and LWB, but I not quite sure which of them are
better. What is your opinion?
How often and how far do you ride a bent?
So to sum it all i need a bent what is considerably faster than a
traditional road bike suitable for daily use in the streets of city and
a bit touring.
I appreciate your answers very much.
I hope to begin new generation of recumbent riders here in Lithuania!

Vytautas Sutkus
Lithuania, Kaunas

Date: 23 Sep 2005 08:39:40
From: mort
Subject: Re: What model recumbent bike is fastes and suitable for commuting?

For very crowded city streets, the Gold Rush is not as agile as an
upright. I ride through a city regularly, and I modified my riding
style - now I act more like a car, taking a lane when necessary,
stopping at stoplights and actually obeying traffic signals. In most
cases my bike speed is the same as the prevailing car traffic, which
makes this possible. In Philadelphia, riders are reasonably friendly
and the traffic isn't all that crazy. If you count on being able to
snake through very narrow spaces and jump curbs in order to get through
traffic, then the Gold Rush (and probably any recumbent) won't work
well. Regarding your previous question: It's very unusual for me to be
passed by an upright. The only riders who can do it are active racers,
when they catch me on a hill. I can bump my speed up to 42-48 kph quite
easily on the flats, which is usually enough to show who's boss.
Regarding the cost of the Gold Rush - I think there's another current
thread on this newsgroup addressing that issue. It is a classic bike,
very well designed and made, with a high resale value in the United
States. As I said, you may not be able to get one in Europe. Peter's
advice to go to the Netherlands and try some is very good - it is
essential to ride before you buy. And don't be to alarmed by your
first ride - you might find that you need to relearn riding a bike, as
your body position will be completely different. One other thought on
city riding: if you have active bike theives where you plan to park,
you will need to think about storing and locking the bike as well. The
Gold Rush is not a good design in this respect - it's so large that
it's hard to take it up to an office or apartment.

Mort

Date: 23 Sep 2005 02:35:38
From: Vytautas
Subject: Re: What model recumbent bike is fastest and suitable for commuting?

Thanks all of you gyus. Your answers was very important for me. You
helped me a lot to orient in not a simple world of a recumbent bikes.
Yeah, Lithuania is mostly plain but you still can meet hills like
anywhere else. The roads are wide and perfect. For sure I am not
seeking a recumbent for climbing just mountains. For now I realized for
sure that traveling for a longer tour like 30-50 and more km the best
is recumbent. And for shorter trips in the city on a good road I am not
sure what is better - a race bike or certain recumbent like HP
Speedmashine or Gold Rush. Probably now I will look hardly to test a
recumbent to see how I feel.
Is 3500$ not too much to pay for a Gold Rush? Is it worth it?
regards
Vytautas Sutkus

Date: 23 Sep 2005 11:25:14
From: Peter Clinch
Subject: Re: What model recumbent bike is fastest and suitable for commuting?

Vytautas wrote:

> Probably now I will look hardly to test a recumbent to see how I feel.

Note that recumbents differ far more than upright bikes in the way they
feel. I would personally be very reluctant to buy a recumbent I hadn't
tried out first: aside from anything else the seats are different on
different bikes and people are more or less comfortable on different
seat designs. My partner has a Nazca Fiero and I have the HPVel
Streetmachine, both have different seat designs, we both prefer the one
we use to the other. Neither of us found the much more adjustable
BodyLink seat to be as comfortable as the ones we use, even though it is
more comfortable "on paper". You only know these things by trying in
person.

I'd be inclined to see if you can get to somewhere with a good range of
recumbents to try (the Netherlands would seem to be the obvious start,
especially if you can get a cheap flight on a budget airline) and have a
go on everything you can find. You'll soon have a much better idea of
what performance you can expect than any amount of reading will give.

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/

Date: 23 Sep 2005 00:01:57
From: Vytautas
Subject: Re: What model recumbent bike is fastes and suitable for commuting?

Peter Clinch wrote:
> I would say that's the Wrong Question. If you want to go as fast as
> possible (and it sounds to me like you do) then you want fairings.
No, i don't want to breake the world seed record, i just wanna be
faster that I am now with my upright (I have touring bike) if it is
possible.
I average on a tour 22km/h let's say on 40km tour.
On short runs I manage to make 40km/h and say maybe 45-50 if the wind
is ok. But this just for the very short period like 10-30sek.

I imagine I need two differnt bikes then: one fast for touring, and
another one for the city roads. Basicly I got one idea to my head
that for the stop and go and a lot of turns maybe the upright is better
than recumbent? And for touring
the recumbents takes the lead versus uprights?
Touring with 30km/h average speed that sounds very fascinating.

My bike is an HPVel Streetmachine GT,
> which is slower than my old upright tourer, but vastly more capable as a
> touring machine

do you want to say that with the same load of stuff on tour you are
slower with streetmachine, that with an old upright tourer?

> Note that some fairings double as cargo tailboxes, which make the bike
> more practical for loads as well as more aerodynamic. But this adds
> weight and cost, of course...
if you gain extra speed so weight doesn't mean much.

Date: 23 Sep 2005 08:06:34
From: Mike Rice
Subject: Re: What model recumbent bike is fastes and suitable for commuting?

High Vytautas.

When I first got my Tour Easy I felt like my daily commute went a
little faster then on my old Schwinn Varsity.

I am not a real strong rider, the real advantage for me is the comfort
factor. I can go 40 to 60 miles and enjoy the ride on the recumbent.
On the upright a 40 mile ride left me so worn out I missed that
night's work.

On hills I am slow climbing with the tour easy, but I was slow with
the upright.

As far as riding in the city, the long wheel base feels different and
at first I found myself making very wide turns. But with a few weeks
of practice I became more comfortable in traffic on the Tour Easy than
I had been on the upright. I think this is because the drivers seem to
give me more respect on this bike than on the one that looks much like
most other diamond frames.

I mean the average driver doesn't notice much about the bikes on the
road. The recumbent stands out because it is less common. I like that
the drivers seem to give me a little wider room, and once in a while
some jerk driver would yell at me on the diamond frame. One even threw
a drink at me as he passed. Those things don't seem to happen now.

I can't say that the recumbent I ride is always faster than an
upright, but it is usually more fun.

Indiana Mike

Date: 23 Sep 2005 09:04:44
From: Peter Clinch
Subject: Re: What model recumbent bike is fastes and suitable for commuting?

Vytautas wrote:

> No, i don't want to breake the world seed record, i just wanna be
> faster that I am now with my upright (I have touring bike) if it is
> possible.

Easiest way is replace or supplement your upright tourer with an upright
racer...

Beyond that, a suitably sporty recumbent should be quicker too. What
some have found is that a 'bent gives more consistent times as it is
less affected by wind variation. But it'll be quicker still if it's faired.

> I imagine I need two differnt bikes then: one fast for touring, and
> another one for the city roads.

The best tool for each individual job is good, but not /necessary/. For
example, Dave Larrington (a frequent poster here) commutes on a
Speedmachine with a tail-box. Though he races a Baron, the Speedmachine
is /not/ a slow bike, and should be quicker than an upright tourer most
of the time.

> that for the stop and go and a lot of turns maybe the upright is better
> than recumbent?

Easier to put your foot down on many recumbents, and if it's a trike you
don't need to put it down at all. Stop/Start isn't any easier on an
upright. Some 'bents don't have terrific turning circles, others do.

> And for touring
> the recumbents takes the lead versus uprights?

I would never want to do a tour on an upright again if I had the choice
of suitable 'bent. It is an order of magnitude more comfortable.

> do you want to say that with the same load of stuff on tour you are
> slower with streetmachine, that with an old upright tourer?

If it's a /huge/ load the Streetmachine would probably win out, because
the handling is unaffected by loading it up. For light loads the
upright was quicker, but that isn't a simple upright/recumbent thing,
it's a specific EBC Country/HPVel Streetmachine GT thing. The
Streetmachine is not a quick bike, nor is it meant to be. The same
company's Speedmachine, Randonneur, Grasshopper and Scorpion designs
will all go quicker if you want to go quicker, and all can carry touring
loads even if not as much or as stably as the Streetmachine.

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/

Date: 22 Sep 2005 23:47:24
From: Vytautas
Subject: Re: What model recumbent bike is fastes and suitable for commuting?

I noticed Gold Rush quite a good bike.
Is Gold Rush suitable for riding in a city streets (due to its long
wheelbase)?
How do you feel climbing up hills with Gold Rush?
And for short rides like 2-5km till 10km in a city probably best
solution is upright bike?
What do you say? What's your opinion? I mean so because with the
upright you can speed up after stop more quickly and to manoeuvre
between the cars and turns in the streets easier than with the bent?
Isn't it so?
Do anybody held competitions with upright bikers in town to get from
one point to another? Who was the winner?

Date: 22 Sep 2005 23:33:28
From: Vytautas
Subject: Re: What model recumbent bike is fastes and suitable for commuting?

Ok so one more quistion:)
As you ride often on your recumbents what happens more often - when you
overtake upright bikers or they overtake you?
I think this will show the real life reflection.

Date: 22 Sep 2005 18:36:20
From: Sunset Lowracer [TM] Fanatic
Subject: Re: What model recumbent bike is fastes and suitable for commuting?

Date: 22 Sep 2005 12:03:52
From: Jon Meinecke
Subject: Re: What model recumbent bike is fastes and suitable for commuting?

"Vytautas" <laiskai@gmail.com > wrote in message

> For me matters two things mostly - I need to drive faster than with a
> traditional bike

Too many unknown variables to assure that. There are certain
types of riding where an upright bike may well be faster, for
example, technical downhill mountain biking. %^) As others
have pointed out, below 15 mph or so, the potential aerodynamic
advantages (highly variable, depending on design) of recumbents
matter less. Higher weight of many designs may make routes
with a larger amount of climbing slower than a lighter upright.

> and if it is more comfortable

Comfort level of recumbents covers a large spectrum and is
obviously often a matter of rider preference. In general,
many of the discomfort issues that may be associated with
upright bikes are simple not an issue on recumbents. For
many, this includes problems with neck, shoulders, wrists,
back and, almost certainly "wedgie seat"-related issues.

> Can you say what ordinary a recumbent bike with a fit
> driver is allways faster than a rider with a tradicional bike?

A number of speed records for bicycles are held by
recumbent riders.

For a given amount of work and mass, the fewer losses
through friction and the better the ergonomics, the faster
you may ride. Note that some believe that an upright bike
is more efficient at climbing, not only because it me lighter,
but also because the rider can alter their position on the
bike to gain some mechanical advantage and possibly
use different muscles.

> What sort of bent schould it be?

That's more a matter of personal taste and availability.
Many of us have owned more than one recumbent bike.
And many own more than one concurrently, keeping
two or more for different applications.

The best advice is to ride as many different types as
you can. Choose a bike that suits your riding style
and the road conditions you must deal with.

> Is it comfortable in a city? And is it ok to ride in a
> streets with cars around?

Yes.

> Can you go for longer trips with recumbent bike easy and comfortable
> enough? (I travel up to fourty km daily with my upright bike easilly)

Yes. If you are riding 40K - 25 miles daily on an upright, you
should have no problems doing so recumbently. There is an
adjustment period, since the muscles used are different. Some
upright riders who buy a recumbent hoping for immediate speed
gain are disappointed. Only a few have posted that they gave
up recumbents.

> Just please say your speeds. I am curious all about speeds.

I am faster on my recumbents than I was on my upright.

> Can't you drive it easy without sweat when commuting?

Too many factors,--weather, speed, distance, course.
Type of bike is probably of the lowest significance.

> What kind of bent do you use?

Voale Sport - road bike, thin tires
Tour Easy - road/touring bike, rougher roads, medium tires
BikeE AT - utlility bike, roads and trails, wider tires

> I hope to begin new generation of recumbent riders
> here in Lithuania!

Good luck!

> Lithuania, Kaunas

Like Dorothy said in the _Wizard of Oz_, "Toto, I've a
feeling we're not in Kansas anymore."

Jon Meinecke

Date: 22 Sep 2005 22:47:48
From: Edward Dolan
Subject: Re: What model recumbent bike is fastes and suitable for commuting?

"Jon Meinecke" <jonmein@nospam.net > wrote in message
news:1127408472.9ae0337cdae7df6cab2b462a8d2ddbb0@teranews...
[...]
One of the supreme mysteries of the universe is why Jon Meinecke and I do
not get along better. I agree with so very many of his views on recumbents.
I attribute it all to chemistry, ever the stumbling block to most human
relationships.

My main objection to him is that he wants to dictate what is acceptable on
this forum and what is not acceptable. When he does not approve of you, he
goes to your ISP to try to get you canceled. This is the most scurrilous
conduct that I can imagine. Therefore, beware of Jon Meinecke! He is a
weasel who will strike when you least expect it.

--
Ed Dolan the Great - Minnesota
aka
Saint Edward the Great - Order of the Perpetual Sorrows - Minnesota

Date: 22 Sep 2005 22:11:47
From:
Subject: Re: What model recumbent bike is fastes and suitable for commuting?

On Thu, 22 Sep 2005 22:47:48 -0500, "Edward Dolan" <edolan@iw.net >
pouted and cried:

alagator tears because he cannot be the sole authority hree. Too bad,
babieboi.

jim

Date: 22 Sep 2005 08:06:46
From: mort
Subject: Re: What model recumbent bike is fastes and suitable for commuting?

Pete -

Look, I would never go back to an upright, but we're not doing the OP
any favors if we imply that riding a fully faired bent on a long
distance speed attempt is anything like commuting. How easy is it to
stop/start/signal/carry stuff on a recumbent that is faired for speed?
Velomobiles are good at all of that, but they are heavy. So is a
regular recumbent when loaded up for real life - my Gold Rush, with a
listed weight of about 30lbs, is closer to 50 by the time I'm done with
fairing, racks, lights, spare tires, pumps, lunch, clothes, etc, etc.
It definitely affects climbing speed - I'm a very strong climber, but
this morning a guy on a racing bike (probably weights less than 20lbs)
cruised by me on an uphill. His physique and fitness didn't appear to
be much different from mine, but I couldn't catch him even when I tried
very hard. And he didn't appear to be working all that hard. I almost
got him on a flat stretch, but then the road went up again and he was
gone. So in the context of the OPs questions, if it's a hilly route it
is quite unlikely that he is going to go faster than he could on a
racing bike. If he's been riding a Raleigh style commuter, and chooses
a fast bent, then it might be a different story.

Mort

p.s. I went to St. Andrews University for a year in the 80s, and was
briefly a member of the Dundee Wheelers. Fabulous place to ride - you
are darn lucky and I wish I could back some time.

Date: 23 Sep 2005 09:16:06
From: Peter Clinch
Subject: Re: What model recumbent bike is fastes and suitable for commuting?

mort wrote:

> Look, I would never go back to an upright, but we're not doing the OP
> any favors if we imply that riding a fully faired bent on a long
> distance speed attempt is anything like commuting.

No, but it does demonstrate that the extra weight of a fairing does not
/necessarily/ make a bike slower overall just because there is a hill
anywhere on the route.

> How easy is it to
> stop/start/signal/carry stuff on a recumbent that is faired for speed?
> Velomobiles are good at all of that, but they are heavy.

But as has been pointed out, if you can make up for the weight with the
better aerodynamics then you can be overall better off. And velomobiles
like the Quest /are/ designed for speed as well as practicality. I did
make a point of using conditionals in there, and in my previous post.
It isn't a *given* that you'll be quicker, but similarly it isn't a
given that you'll be slower.
And I'm not an expert on Lithuanian geography, but I do know it's mostly
lowlands with less than 1000' of relief over the whole country's 65,000
km^2, which may well be better set for a faired 'bent than other places.

> p.s. I went to St. Andrews University for a year in the 80s, and was
> briefly a member of the Dundee Wheelers. Fabulous place to ride

Indeed, though not short of "character building" hills. The Wheelers
are too fit and fast for me! ;-)

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/

Date: 22 Sep 2005 07:12:28
From: mort
Subject: Re: What model recumbent bike is fastes and suitable for commuting?

Vytautas wrote:
> For me matters two things mostly - I need to drive faster than with a
> traditional bike and if it is more comfortable so that's perfect.

A faired recumbent will only be faster than an upright if the route is
flat. If you are a strong rider and the route is not flat, an upright
will be faster as the lighter weight of the upright bike will allow you
to climb faster. You will hear claims that recumbents are faster than
uprights, but it is only true under certain conditions.

> Is it so what I wish? Can you say what ordinary a recumbent bike with a fit
> driver is allways faster than a rider with a tradicional bike?

Probably not. Recumbents come in a wide variety of models, each
optimized for a particular mix of comfort, speed, traffic safety, and
carrying capacity. Many of the fastest bikes are very low to the
ground and harder for cars to see. If you are an experienced traffic
rider this may not be a problem, but it is different than riding a
regular bike.

> What sort of bent schould it be?
> Please specify models if you can.

I commute 42 kms daily (round trip) on a Gold Rush by Easy Racers. I
have a large bag on the back, and the bike is equipped with a front
fairing. I am a fairly strong rider. The route is half steep hills
and half flat. My average speeds are around 27 kph if I am taking it
easy or hit heavy traffic, and about 32 kph if I am pushing it. In the
hills I average 22-24 kph, on the flats 35 kph. A Gold Rush can be
speeded up by addition of a body sock, which is a fabric fairing that
covers most of the bike. (See their website, easyracers.com, for more
on this.) In my opinion this would be a very good commuting set up.
There are two disadvantages of the Gold Rush: 1. it's a very long
bike, almost 2 meters, and very hard to take up stairs or in elevators.
2. You may not be able to buy one in Lithuania.
>
> So as I intrested in buying recumbent bike I would like to know some
> details about bents that still bothers me. (I have never ride a bent
> before, just ussual bikes all the time)
> Is it comfortable in a city? And is it ok to ride in a streets with
> cars around?

Keeping in mind that you can choose bents with all kinds of riding
positions, then yes a bent is more comfortable. Many people ride them
in the city, but you do need to be aware of how visible you are.

> Can you go for longer trips with recumbent bike easy and comfortable
> enough? (I travel up to fourty km daily with my upright bike easilly)
> Would it be more easier and faster with recumbent when I will get used
> to it? What do you suggest?

Long trips are a pleasure with a good recumbent. I wouldn't think
twice about riding 150km/day on mine, and it would require no ordinary
training beyond my commute. The difference in arm/neck/hand fatigue is
unbelievable until you have experienced it. It does take a few months
of riding to get used to a different set of muscles, though.
>
> Just please say your speeds. I am curious all about speeds. What was
> your fastest speed on recumbent on a flat road?

I'm not much of a sprinter, but I can cruise at 35kph for quite a
while, and sprint it up to 50kph or more for a brief time.

If you do touring what
> is your average speed on tour?

See above

> Can't you drive it easy without sweat when commuting?

No. When I work, I sweat. However, there are speeds where I can
cruise along without any sensation of working, and I neither breathe
hard or sweat. For me, this is in 25-30kph range.

> What kind of bent do you use? What would you suggest? How much money
> are worth spending for velomobile?

See above. The Gold Rush is not a full fledged velomobile, but it
weighs a lot less.

> I looked at some SWB and LWB, but I not quite sure which of them are
> better. What is your opinion?

Ride a few and see. Every one is different.

> How often and how far do you ride a bent?

4-5 times a week, 42 kph round trip.
> So to sum it all i need a bent what is considerably faster than a
> traditional road bike suitable for daily use in the streets of city and
> a bit touring.

I'm not sure you will find anything considerably faster than a racing
bike, but if you are currently riding a mountain bike or similar than
you may be able to increase your speeds. Best of luck to you!

> I appreciate your answers very much.
> I hope to begin new generation of recumbent riders here in Lithuania!
>
> Vytautas Sutkus
> Lithuania, Kaunas

Date: 22 Sep 2005 15:51:52
From: Peter Clinch
Subject: Re: What model recumbent bike is fastes and suitable for commuting?

mort wrote:

> A faired recumbent will only be faster than an upright if the route is
> flat. If you are a strong rider and the route is not flat, an upright
> will be faster as the lighter weight of the upright bike will allow you
> to climb faster. You will hear claims that recumbents are faster than
> uprights, but it is only true under certain conditions.

And this isn't /necessarily/ one of them. The several hundred mile
Land's End to John O'Groats route in the UK is very definitely /not/
flat, yet the record for it is held by a fully faired recumbent trike.
The rider, Andy Wilkinson, beat his own record, previously set on an
upright race bike.

Climbing faster is only a net benefit if the slower speed on descents
and on flatter sections doesn't account for at least as much time. This
will vary with routes, but the LEJOG record shows that the mere presence
of hills doesn't necessarily render fairings pointless (Wilkinson was
clocked at over 70 mph (112km/h) on some of the bigger /downhills/ in
Northern England, which I suspect helped make up for the extra weight
climbing the hills to start with).

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/

Date: 22 Sep 2005 05:20:06
From: Mark Leuck
Subject: Re: What model recumbent bike is fastes and suitable for commuting?

"Vytautas" <laiskai@gmail.com > wrote in message
news:1127375863.146489.212310@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...
>
> Just please say your speeds. I am curious all about speeds. What was
> your fastest speed on recumbent on a flat road? If you do touring what
> is your average speed on tour?

35 on a flat road in brief sprints, last several centuries I've done my
average is between 17 and 18 mph

(yes the speedometer is calibrated properly)

> Can't you drive it easy without sweat when commuting?

depends on the heat

> What kind of bent do you use?

Optima Baron

What would you suggest?

Optima Baron

> How much money
> are worth spending for velomobile?

After the addiction sets in you find the initial price of the bike is
irrelevent

> I looked at some SWB and LWB, but I not quite sure which of them are
> better. What is your opinion?

Either

> How often and how far do you ride a bent?

Every day usually 40 miles or more

> So to sum it all i need a bent what is considerably faster than a
> traditional road bike suitable for daily use in the streets of city and
> a bit touring.

http://www.optima-cycles.nl/eng/

Date: 22 Sep 2005 02:17:18
From: Vytautas
Subject: Re: What model recumbent bike is fastes and suitable for commuting?

But for the speed above the upright road bike, can I reach with a
recumbent without any aditional fairings? What type of bike would it
be? Is for example Ransbike V-Rex what I mean? What do you suggest?

Date: 22 Sep 2005 17:12:23
From: Mark Leuck
Subject: Re: What model recumbent bike is fastes and suitable for commuting?

"Vytautas" <laiskai@gmail.com > wrote in message
news:1127380638.550217.326300@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...
> But for the speed above the upright road bike, can I reach with a
> recumbent without any aditional fairings? What type of bike would it
> be? Is for example Ransbike V-Rex what I mean? What do you suggest?

In "theory" the recumbent should be faster yet in reality many aren't due to
rider position, gearing etc. I've ridden several different brands and most
were not faster than a DF at a standard pace, I am faster on my Baron so I'd
say if speed is what you want then get either a low racer like an Optima
Baron or a high racer such as Bacchetta. Anything else will likely not be
faster unless you go with a fairing

Date: 22 Sep 2005 10:50:05
From: Peter Clinch
Subject: Re: What model recumbent bike is fastes and suitable for commuting?

Vytautas wrote:
> But for the speed above the upright road bike, can I reach with a
> recumbent without any additional fairings?

I would say that's the Wrong Question. If you want to go as fast as
possible (and it sounds to me like you do) then you want fairings.

> What type of bike would it
> be? Is for example Ransbike V-Rex what I mean? What do you suggest?

Once you're anywhere much over 20 km/h it's aerodynamics that will make
the biggest differences. If you don't use fairings then that generally
means minimising frontal area, and you can get a lot less than you'd get
on the V-Rex. A lowracer like an Optima Baron would be quicker, but
OTOH not so good in traffic (not impossible, but not so good). You can
get a bit more practical but not so fast with a semi-lowracer like the
Optima Stinger Race. Bikes like that aren't really good for touring,
but slow them down a bit more with extra weight for racks etc. and they
make accomplished tourers. At this point you're not really faster than
a diamond frame race bike, but you are significantly more comfortable
and can carry luggage better. My bike is an HPVel Streetmachine GT,
which is slower than my old upright tourer, but vastly more capable as a
touring machine because I am not limited by aches and pains from the
riding positon. If I wanted to go faster then an HPVel Speedmachine
would be quicker because it's lower and lighter, and can still take
useful touring loads.

Note that some fairings double as cargo tailboxes, which make the bike
more practical for loads as well as more aerodynamic. But this adds
weight and cost, of course...

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/

Date: 22 Sep 2005 09:18:42
From: Peter Clinch
Subject: Re: What model recumbent bike is fastes and suitable for commuting?

Vytautas wrote:
> For me matters two things mostly - I need to drive faster than with a
> traditional bike and if it is more comfortable so that's perfect. Is it
> so what I wish? Can you say what ordinary a recumbent bike with a fit
> driver is allways faster than a rider with a tradicional bike? What
> sort of bent schould it be?

For the best speed you want good aerodynamics, and that means fairings,
either separate tail and nose or a full fairing like a Velomobile.
Beyond that, if all else is equal lower frontal area is better, and
lighter weight is better, but a good fairing will make more difference
than taking off weight.

> Is it comfortable in a city? And is it ok to ride in a streets with
> cars around?

typically yes.

> Can you go for longer trips with recumbent bike easy and comfortable
> enough?

IME to a much greater extent, because as long as you have one with a
seat that fits you well it's more comfortable and there's no strain on
your arms, wrists or neck.

> Can't you drive it easy without sweat when commuting?

Depends how fast you commute...

> I looked at some SWB and LWB, but I not quite sure which of them are
> better. What is your opinion?

I wouldn't worry about the wheelbase, rather look at does the exact
model you're looking at do the job you want.

> How often and how far do you ride a bent?

Local trips around town I use an upright folder, a Brompton, because the
fold makes it much more convenient. Anything longer and I use the 'bent
(a touring model, not fast but takes luggage very well and is
/incredibly/ comfortable). I will personally do up to about 100 km in a
day, no reason not to do more if you have the legs.

--
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/