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Conference noted::bicycle

Title: Bicycling
Notice:Bicycling for Fun
Moderator:JAMIN::WASSER
Created:Mon Apr 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3214
Total number of notes:31946

1888.0. "Recumbents......" by CHEFS::CLEMENTSD (Public Sector and Telecomms) Mon Mar 25 1991 11:04

    Well, I used to be a cylist, but now I'm more of a man with a bike in
    the shed. 
    
    I was intrigued by the programme on BBC tv last week which told the
    story of some guy who has his bike kitted out with an Macintosh and
    sensors on his helmet and cursor movement controlled by movement of his
    head and all that stuff. He towed a trailer with his bike and reckoned
    he could do his computering work on the move in more senses than one
    (seemed like he also had an old bus loaded to the edges with all sort
    of stuff and now lived like a nomad).
    
    I WILL admit to more than a passing interest in recumbents, such as he
    and his SO were riding. Later on in the same programme there were
    several interviews with Richard Whatsisname-that-writes-all-the-books
    (shows you how long I've really been away from the saddle and I'm not
    admitting to more than 20 years) who is also apparently smitten by
    recumbents.
    
    Any of you intrepid folks that know about these things got any old
    catalogues/brochures etc that they could send me (this could be an
    excuse for a clear-out!) so I can at least satisfy my curiosity? I have
    to admit that I've never seen one in the flesh over here.....My
    mailstop is RDL-1/F.
    
    Thanks in advance to anyone who is able to reply.
    
    Any British contributors know of any UK suppliers of these beasts?
    
    
    Dick... who_still_regrets_selling_the_frame_he_had_made_by_Hetchins.
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1888.1RUTILE::MACFADYENOn with the motleyMon Mar 25 1991 11:3318
    Your second paragraph sounds quite reminiscent of the US guy who is
    building a "bike" with more computing power than the average DEC site.
    He's very loquacious, and someone in this file is kindly dumping his
    Emails into a topic called "Notes from the bikelab" or somesuch, which
    is an interesting read although I don't see what it has to do with
    clipless pedals or titanium frames. No matter.
    
    Richard Ballantine is the whatsisname you're thinking of. His regular
    platform these days is a magazine called "New Cyclist" which can be
    found at WH Smith. Moving swiftly on, the people who produce New
    Cyclist are also the importers of a recumbent called the Peer Gynt, and
    I'm sure will send you some bumf on it. Write to: Neatwork, The Lees
    Stables, Coldstream, Berwickshire. (I think it's Berwickshire...) New
    Cyclist keen on recumbents, and usually has something on them in each
    issue.
    
                                     
    Rod
1888.2On Bikelab and RAAMUKCSSE::ROBINSONOld wheelmen never die....Mon Mar 25 1991 12:0017
    Re .1
    
    >    Your second paragraph sounds quite reminiscent of the US guy who is
    >building a "bike" with more computing power than the average DEC site.
    
     That's because it *IS* him, Rod.  Steven K. Roberts no less. Note 1809
    if you've got plenty of time, Dick.
    
    That same program (Bicycle on BBC2) also had a piece about RAAM and 
    raised a question in my mind. Until seeing the program I'd assumed that
    RAAM riders would be restricted in the number of hours per day they
    could ride, otherwise it just becomes a question of how long you can go
    without sleep. Not so, it seems. The winning lady last year averaged 21
    hours riding per day .... for 9 days. Are there no restrictions at all?
    How do they stop these guys riding off the road after day 5?
    
    Chris 
1888.3FAVAX::CRITZJohn Ellis to ride RAAM '91Mon Mar 25 1991 12:346
    	RAAM officials can, if the need arises, require a rider
    	to rest for up to four hours. The need arises when a
    	rider is riding is such a way that he/she is endangering
    	him/herself.
    
    	Scott (On John Ellis' 1991 RAAM crew) 
1888.4Some ride around the clock, others sleep.NOVA::FISHERIt's SpringMon Mar 25 1991 12:408
    However, there is normally no limit to the number of hours a rider
    may ride.
    
    Nancy Raposo last year slep about 4 hrs a night and rode faster than
    many so she was starting each day by passing riders who had passed her
    during slepp time.
    
    ed
1888.5tried it....CHEFS::CLEMENTSDPublic Sector and TelecommsMon Mar 25 1991 14:2612
    getting back to the subject after a minor rathole.....;-)...... I found
    the number for Neatwork (you got the spelling right, Chris) which is
    0890 3456 and bumph is, even as I trype, winginging its way to me. Or
    at least that's what the chap on the phone said.
    
    Since we are into generating ratholes..... has Roy Cromack's UK 24 hr
    record been broken yet? 508.something miles wasn't it? He used to be a
    customer of Digital when I was the Account Manager for the Royal Air
    Force College, Cranwell. Those were the days of REAL machines DECsystem
    20's...or is that another rathole?
    
    Dick.
1888.6Peer Gynts are dead expensive, by the way...RUTILE::MACFADYENOn with the motleyMon Mar 25 1991 15:0015
>      <<< Note 1888.5 by CHEFS::CLEMENTSD "Public Sector and Telecomms" >>>
>
>    getting back to the subject after a minor rathole.....;-)...... I found
>    the number for Neatwork (you got the spelling right, Chris) 
    
    Chris? Chris?
    
    
>    Since we are into generating ratholes..... has Roy Cromack's UK 24 hr
>    record been broken yet? 508.something miles wasn't it? 
    
    As of April last year, it hadn't. See my 1477.6.
    
    
    Rod
1888.7Neat bikesULTRA::WITTENBERGUphill, Into the WindMon Mar 25 1991 15:0742
    I did  a  fair  bit  of research before buying my recumbent, which
    arrived  last month. Almost all the vendors I talked to are in the
    States.  If  you  want  that list, I'll enter it here when I get a
    chance.

    Mike Burrows  makes  a recumbent tricycle which Richard Ballentine
    (Richard's   Bike   Book)   recommends  highly.  It's  called  the
    WindCheetah  SL,  nicknamed  Speedy.  There's  also a cheaper less
    sophisticated  recumbent  trike  called  the  Trice,  also made in
    England by Peter Ross. I don't have addresses for either of these.

    Recumbents have several advantages over diamond framed bikes: Many
    people  find  them  more  comfortable. There's much less strain on
    your  neck,  less  strain  on  the back, and the seat is much more
    comfortable.  It's  also great to be able to see the sky while you
    ride.  I  hadn't noticed how little of the sky I saw on my diamond
    frame  until  I started riding the recumbent and could see most of
    the  sky.  I'm seeing a lot more of the world and a lot less of my
    front wheel.

    Speed: Recumbents  are  much faster downhill, faster on flats, and
    slower  uphill  than diamond frame bikes. Overall, they seem to be
    faster, bu that's mainly dependent on the rider.

    Neatness factor: They're neat, and a lot of fun. You find out what
    the currently popular word is for interesting, as all the kids you
    pass use it.

    The problems  are that they are all essentially custom, so you pay
    a  custom  price  (and  get  a custom bike), or you pay more for a
    similar  quality  diamond  bike. I chose to get a custom bike. The
    long  wheelbase  versions  (which I have) are significantly longer
    than a diamond bike, so they can be harder to store. The good news
    is  that  several  manufacturers realise this, and make it easy to
    fold  the  bikes up. My bike has quick release wheels, handlebars,
    seat,  and  rear  rack.  To  get  it  in my car, I remove the left
    handlebar, front wheel, and rear rack. It then fits in the back of
    my  small  station  wagon about as easily as my diamond frame bike
    does.  The  Linear's headset and chainstays both fold up (on quick
    releases) to let the bike fit in a compact car's trunk.

--David
1888.8CHEFS::CLEMENTSDPublic Sector and TelecommsTue Mar 26 1991 06:3615
    reply
    Re my mistake, sorry Rod, how could I confuse you with Chris. I don't
    even know what you look like.....;-)
    
    I got the impression that these recumbents were expensive when I spoke
    to the folks at Neatwork. 
    
    I was amazed to find that they treat "customers" the same way as
    Digital does: get the punter talking and the first thing that happens
    is the supplier **IMMEDIATELY** drops into their own internal language,
    TLA's and other gobbledegook. It was like he was talking in Outer
    Mongolian or Swahili or something....... But we really do do that
    sort of thing ourselves to our customers, too. 
    
    Another rathole..... sigh.
1888.9Yep.PAKORA::GGOODMANNumber 1 in a field of 1Thu Mar 28 1991 20:528
    
    	Re.5's rathole
    
    	Roy Cormack's record still stands and he is only 1 of 3 men to have
    broken that magical 500 mark.
    
    Graham.
    
1888.10Switzerland has a "recumbent town"FLYWAY::WIEDLERTue Apr 02 1991 10:0719