"stabilizing" a stratus?

I recently "inherited" my wife's Stratus. It's a 2001 model
(I think), standard size, and box-stock except for XT cranks
(170mm, 26/36/48) and Calhoun Evo Sport bars/stem. The seat
is about 1" from being all the way back, so I'm sure that
the weight distribution is less-than-optimal.

Aside from getting an XL Stratus (whic hain't gonna happen),
can anyone recommend ways to make the front end feel "less
light" (i.e., MORE stable)? I'm going to remove the bottle
cages from the seat and try mounting them/one forward, and
maybe find a more forward position for my spare/tool pouch.

Thanks in advance.

rans make an underseat rack and a lowrider rack, could carry your stuff up
front
http://www.shoprans.com/Racks.asp

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"Mile High Skates" <info@milehighskates.com> wrote in message
news:slrncee6oj.89s.info@shell.dimensional.com...
> I recently "inherited" my wife's Stratus. It's a 2001 model (I think),
standard
> size, and box-stock except for XT cranks (170mm, 26/36/48) and Calhoun Evo
Sport
> bars/stem. The seat is about 1" from being all the way back, so I'm sure
that the
> weight distribution is less-than-optimal.
>
> Aside from getting an XL Stratus (whic hain't gonna happen), can anyone
recommend
> ways to make the front end feel "less light" (i.e., MORE stable)? I'm
going to
> remove the bottle cages from the seat and try mounting them/one forward,
and maybe
> find a more forward position for my spare/tool pouch.
>
> Thanks in advance.

try turning the fork around. It works for some people
and some bikes. It doesn't work for others. Your
results may vary.

Bill Patterson

Frodo22222 wrote:

> try turning the fork around. It works for some people
> and some bikes. It doesn't work for others. Your results
> may vary.

While this has been reported to be successful on certain SWB
bikes (e.g. Vision R-40), the amount of fork rake on the
RANS Stratus [1] would produce a huge amount of trail if it
were reversed. It would also create pedal/wheel overlap.

[1] <http://www.ransbikes.com/2004Bikes/Stratus.htm>.

--
Tom Sherman – Quad City Area

With the seat that far back, yes the weight distrution is less that
optimal, but should still be ok.. Here are some ideas:

How far back does the bar/stem combo reach? Is it close
to your chest? If the stem is adjustable, try sliding
it forward (as long as it is still comfortable to reach
the bars).

Also, how narrow is the front tire? a wider front tire will
make it feel "less light".

Have you ridden many long wheelbase recumbents? If not,
maybe all LWB models would feel this way to you.

Good luck.

Mile High Skates <info@milehighskates.com> wrote in message
news:<slrncee6oj.89s.info@shell.dimensional.com>...
> I recently "inherited" my wife's Stratus. It's a 2001
> model (I think), standard size, and box-stock except for
> XT cranks (170mm, 26/36/48) and Calhoun Evo Sport
> bars/stem. The seat is about 1" from being all the way
> back, so I'm sure that the weight distribution is less-than-
> optimal.
>
> Aside from getting an XL Stratus (whic hain't gonna
> happen), can anyone recommend ways to make the front end
> feel "less light" (i.e., MORE stable)? I'm going to remove
> the bottle cages from the seat and try mounting them/one
> forward, and maybe find a more forward position for my
> spare/tool pouch.
>
> Thanks in advance.