It has gripshifts and the HP Velotechnic version of those is long enough that using them on USS is OK.
Mostly OK. For some reason I keep changing up when I want to change down! I suspect because bar ends are forward for higher gears and my brain is not rewiring well between the Speedmachine and Frankentrike.
Things I like:
Suspension. Where has it been all my life? The difference on Sydney roads and bike paths between this and the carbon fibre hardshell seat Encore is at least half a mouthful of fillings. Even Frankentrike's mesh seat with shock cord straps is a rattler compared to this.
Sidestand. Another one where you don't realise you have always needed it. I did used to have a bit of fibreglass tent pole with a home made fitting at the top to use as a prop stand for my Giro 20 but it was a faff and I gave up. With this even my short arm can reach back and flip the stand down before I get off the bike and lt settles neatly onto it as a get up. (Only just mind you. I was worried about short legs, never occurred to me to think about short arms on a USS bike but this is not a trike and those grips are more of a reach than they look)
Things I don't like
The aforementioned gripshifts. They do the job but I hate not knowing what gear I'm in and I really hate the way I have to think about which way to turn them all the time.
The mirror location. I can see but I have to tilt my head a lot to see over my own arm and shoulder. However even if I can rig some way to move the mirror I don't want the bike any wider than it is, so have to work out how to get the mirror forward and up. I have a Azur Falcon which is a nice long adjustable bar end mirror but the convex face is Too Convex. I had trouble seeing a bus until it was nearly on top of me, never mind cars. So the dependable Mirrcycle it is and maybe an old MTB bar end cut down to put it in.
I tried a helmet mirror but couldn't get on with it.
It doesn't have as good a turning circle as the Encore due to the bars hitting the seat and it is much harder to control off the bike due to having to often reach down to the bars when steering by the seat doesn't work. It's a little scary turning at very low speed and if you give way to your fears you go down.
I need to do more seat tuning I think, I slide forward a bit much. Need to loosen the straps more to give my gluteus maximus a bit more room.
It is heavier than the Encore and I notice that going up hill. Guess I have to go up more hills to get used to it!
I've broken out the old Radical Design banana panniers from my Giro days. They fit fine, better than on the Giro even: 2 straps on the seat, the 3rd over the headrest so they don't touch the rack at all. Meaning my topeak rack bag can go there. I can take my work gear easily enough and even do a bit of shopping on the way home as they are fairly cavernous.
Now I have to work out what to do with the Encore. Anyone know any 5'2" recumbent riders looking for a bike?
