They're everywhere (ish)!

[Hotdog]

I saw another recumbent on the way home from work this evening We passed travelling in opposite directions on the Iron Cove Bridge SUP and did the head nod thing, if we'd have met somewhere else I'd have stopped for a chat but there's not enough room on that bridge. The question is was it someone who reads this forum and are they prepared to step forward and identify themselves...

It was a very different 'bent to mine, a long wheelbase bike with underseat steering, rather low, 20" front wheel and I assume a 26" rear. Red frame. Looked like it might be a Hase, or from one of the American LWB manufacturers. The orange jerseyed, grey bearded (yes, yes, very stereotypical, but this was a short trimmed beard not a big bushy one) bloke riding it seemed to be enjoying it, anyway.

I may be seeing another 'bent on my commutes soon too, just a few minutes later cycling through Balmain a nice bloke named Dirk commuting in the opposite direction on a MTB stopped to chat to me about my bike. He explained that he'd seem me a few times on my commutes and told me he was planning a trip to Flying Furniture in Canberra in a couple of weeks time with intent to buy his own 'bent.

[europa]

Cor, common as muck

Richard

[sogood]

Gosh, you are lucky to pass each other without touching! I hate that SUP.

Just last week I came past a bent rider redoing some of his gears on the road side deep in Balmain, near Birchgrove. It was the first time seeing a bent in the neighbourhood and have no ideas if he was a local or someone passing through the area. I did say a hello as I rode by.

[mikesbytes]

I thought you had to have a full beard to be called a true bent rider.

[Hotdog]

I thought you had to have a full beard to be called a true bent rider.

Oh well, that rules me out then. I never go beyond a few days worth of laziness induced stubble.

[europa]

My full beard matches my bald scalp

Richard

[Hotdog]

Actually, bentrideronline.com have researched this important 'bent issue.

Detailed poll
Yes/No poll
Silliest poll

[mikesbytes]

Actually, bentrideronline.com have researched this important 'bent issue.

Detailed poll
Yes/No poll
Silliest poll

Well there you go, I'm proven wrong, you'll ownly required to have a beard if you are a male.

[Mulger bill]

Loved this quote:

When you have long hair, it is a good idea to also have a beard. If you don't understand this logic, you have short hair

Means a bent for me soon I s'pose.

Shaun

[Hotdog]

I'm now pretty sure the 'bent I saw was a Hase Tagun.



A little out of the ordinary in several ways. It's a long wheelbase bike with a small 20" rear wheel and rear suspension whereas most LWB bikes have 26"/700c rears and rigid frames, but most unusual is that the suspension system allows the ride height to be significantly adjusted.




Not sure how useful that'd be in practice.

[Kalgrm]

I wonder why they don't have front suspension on it? I would have thought they'd do that before rear suspension.

Cheers,
Graeme

[Kalgrm]

Just browsing their site and found this tandem. That's what I'd love to have!

And how's this for a tag-along? A pedal-powered trailer which transforms into a trike. Cool!

Cheers,
Graeme

[Hotdog]

I wonder why they don't have front suspension on it? I would have thought they'd do that before rear suspension.

Maybe they figure that as a long wheelbase bike with almost all the weight on the rear wheel suspension at the back would do more for comfort. I can see the argument that from the point of view of control and handling front suspension is more important though, that lightly loaded front wheel could end up bouncing around and compromising front end traction when riding on rough surfaces.

[Hotdog]

Just browsing their site and found this tandem. That's what I'd love to have!

It's good, but wouldn't you prefer the titanium version?

And how's this for a tag-along? A pedal-powered trailer which transforms into a trike. Cool!

Yeah, I spotted that, very cool indeed, a tag-along/kid's trike/luggage trailer all in one. If I had small kids that'd be the ideal way to turn them to the Dark Side...

[Kalgrm]

It's good, but wouldn't you prefer the titanium version?

I would, but after spending that much, I'd have nobody to ride with .....

[dhat]

I'm the guy Hotdog saw on the Balmain run.

My Bacchetta Giro should be at the depot as we speak. Hopefully I pick it up tomorrow. So you'll see another Bacchetta on the roads in a few days time.

I'll post pictures soon...

Dirk

[Kalgrm]

Cool! They ARE every where!!!!

G'day Dirk, and a big welcome to you. If we can help, don't hesitate to ask.

Cheers,
Graeme

[Hotdog]

That's great Dirk, good to see you on the forum and glad to hear your lovely new Bacchetta is on the way. As Graeme said, ask away if you'd like some advice on anything.

[Hotdog]

Another one yesterday Passed a red recumbent tadpole trike, a Greenspeed I think, on the Anzac Bridge heading westwards as I was riding into town after work. It was sporting not one but two flags, and obviously the rider was bearded

[Kalgrm]

But was she pretty?

[sogood]

...and obviously the rider was bearded

Sounds like Bandido bikies in retirement and morphing to be environmentalists.

[Leigh_caines]

On the long recumbent [home made] I put suspention front and back
but
found the front did nothing [in fact hardly moved at all]
while in back it road like a Limo
Smoothed out any bump
With sitting right at the back this is where all the waight is.

[dhat]

An update...

I've not been able to ride a lot the last few weeks - only a couple of runs. I can see a lot of improvement already, but still a few things are difficult.

- Clipping in made 500% difference.
- Starting on uphill fine except very steep uphills where it may take a couple of false starts.
- Travelling over the Gladesville bridge is still scary when passing other communters/pedestrians. Same with any other steep and narrow sections. I find it difficult to stay on my side.
- Small sections of my commute entirely impossible (Hotdog will know these sections - underpass of Gladesville bridge on west side (not the steps), crossing Victoria road in Balmain using the overpass when coming from Lillyfield, getting onto Gladesville bridge at the East end (involves a sharp turn into a steep uphill section of the bridge), section of path connecting 2 roads near the first hill in Drummoyne from the west side - ?do you ride all these sections by now?).
- Going faster than 40kph can feel a bit loose especially when pedalling.

Dirk

[europa]

You're doing really well Dirk, miles ahead of me. Mind you, I've only had one ride since Christmas ... um no, not even that

This weekend though (and it's going to be a stinker).

I agree with the clipping in, though it caused problems early on - once you're confident it keeps your feet nicely in contact with the pedals.

You're game going out in that traffic

Hopefully this weekend (maybe as early as friday), I'll be able to get out on a path and put some real miles down. That'll make a big difference to me.

40km/hr? I don't want to think about that just yet

What are you riding Dirk? We haven't seen a photo of her yet have we?

Richard

[NotTim]

I took a day trip down to flying furniture on Sat to have a test ride on a couple of bents, I found myself rather worried by how much I enjoyed the Giro 26.

The price tag is just a tad more then I'm willing to spend just now, by the time I added some luggage and some uprated wheels I'd be pushing $3000, but I can see the possibility of a bent somewhere in my future. I just need to get out and ride the one I've got now enough to justify another bike to myself, whatever shape it is.

Oh, and I think I better start growing a beard