Follow and Hang with that Aero!

Well fellow recumboer's, I don't even have my Aero as of yet. (It's built and just waiting for Rich
Pinto's a Blade Crank, at my LBS) Yesterday, I got an invite to Palm Beach, Florida, by some
friends; one who wanted to try my GRR Ti, in exchange for use of his Aero. (That invite took only
less than a half of second to agree to) So we are on the road and the looks I got from numerous
Dfer's was quite amusing. We finally hooked up with some locals, one who had a Corsa and about 4
Dfer's. One in a sniffy (But kidding tone) asked if I was willing to get up to a real cyclists
speed, of 25+ and wondering if I could even last for a few minutes. Responding, this was not my bike
and I really didn't... suddenly I was interrupted by the Aero Owner, who blurted out, GO AHEAD,KICK
HIS BUTT, Ken! So off we went. Mind you, I don't even have high BB legs at the moment, after 5+
years of Easy Racer low BB cycling. I kept wondering when we would get serious about speeding up,
when I glanced down on the computer and astonishingly we were already rolling at 26+ mph! (One of
the nice things about the Aero, is it's SO Light, you truly can get up to (And Easily maintain)
speed in no time) So we continued for a couple of miles, when the sniffy one slowed and gave me a
dirty look, as I happily rolled by, still at about 25 mph. Thinking I was riding with only 5
cyclists, I was SURPRISED when I concluded my pull stint and started to go to the back. There were
now "29" dfer's on our choo choo and some of these guys looked like Lance Armstrong clones. But
alas, my High BB legs caught up with me and I faded from the pack. But then about 10 of the Dfer's
purposely slowed too and wanted to continue riding with the Aero, draft and all. Mind you, I don't
really like pace lines (As I have previously posted) But for the time being, it was OK and I got
alot of comments about the bike and once stopped, even more interest about it. As for my friend on
my GRR Ti, he flatted (Knew I needed to get that slow leak checked... <Grin>) but was happy I
brought back his Aero in one piece. It should be noted that the guy on the Corsa, was NO Turtle and
was very fast as well. So, I'm still waiting for my Aero, BUT ALREADY, I'm a Happy Camper! EZ Biker
:-) Pompano Beach, Fl. (GRR Ti and Bacchetta Aero Pilot)

EZ Biker :-) wrote:
> ... then about 10 of the Dfer's purposely slowed too and wanted to continue riding with the Aero,
> draft and all. Mind you, I don't really like pace lines (As I have previously posted) But for the
> time being, it was OK and I got alot of comments about the bike and once stopped, even more
> interest about it...

I've had similar experiences around here (Missouri, USA) on my new Volae Team. As much as "Dfers"
get maligned on this NG, most of them respect performance, and show a genuine interest if you can
ride with them.

Yesterday I rode for a short while (he was on his way home) with a guy on a 17 lb DF (carbon fiber
frame). He seemed amazed that I could climb with him (he could out climb me, but then he wasn't even
carrying a water bottle, while I was carrying a cell phone, a 1 lb tool kit and about 3 lbs of water
so all in all he had over a 10 lb advantage).

He said he was having back problems and was interested in recumbents but that this was the first
time he had rode with one that could climb. He planned to check out the Volae at Hostel Shoppe.

Rick Moll

In article <3F4A3D52.7020602@earthlink.net>, Rick Moll <rickmoll@earthlink.net> wrote:

> I've had similar experiences around here (Missouri, USA) on my new Volae Team. As much as "Dfers"
> get maligned on this NG, most of them respect performance, and show a genuine interest if you can
> ride with them.

Many will also give credit for effort. Anybody who completes a challenging ride, such as a century,
generally gets respect as well regardless of bike.

> He said he was having back problems and was interested in recumbents but that this was the first
> time he had rode with one that could climb. He planned to check out the Volae at Hostel Shoppe.

I've heard a number of similar comments about my Strada. They're used to seeing either lowracers,
which they find too low, or comfort bikes like the BikeE or EZ-1. They're happy to discover
performance oriented bikes like the Strada or Volea.

-Carl (at peladon dot com)

EZ, Great ride report. Aeros *are* fast. WRT the a Blade, are you referring to a crank or a fork?
Details...? thanks, bill g

"EZ Biker :-)" wrote:

> (It's built and just waiting for Rich Pinto's a Blade Crank,

Sure Bill, G, here is the link. http://www.murraytourdeforce.co.za/ Once you get to the website,
click on "Cranks". I call it a blade crank, because, well it looks like a blade, to me. Doubt it
will help me go faster; BUT at least it will be COOL Looking!!!!!!!!! EZ Biker :-) Pompano Beach,
Fl. (GRR Ti and Bacchetta Aero Pilot)

"a&b" <pedalfox@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:3F4AA2D6.1B5A6ECA@hotmail.com...
> EZ, Great ride report. Aeros *are* fast. WRT the a Blade, are you referring to a crank or a fork?
> Details...? thanks, bill g
>
> "EZ Biker :-)" wrote:
>
> > (It's built and just waiting for Rich Pinto's a Blade Crank,

Carl, I clearly got some good comments from the DFer's. It seems a recumbent with 2 of the same size
rims / tires catches their interest. Also, I really wasn't dialed into my friends Aero, in that his
seat was REALLY laid back (I felt like I was almost riding a Baron) and my legs extended out too
far. Still it was pretty decent to at least not fall off the bike, during any part of our ride. The
interesting fact however, is I had NO Problems getting that baby up to 20+ mph and being able to
maintain that speed constantly. I'm still low BB orientated, but given proper riding time, I'll
surely be laying my seat back more and have the proper leg extension sorted out. For being a LWB
cyclist, I have to tell you, the Bacchetta's are a BLAST, for being a SWB. EZ Biker :-) Pompano
Beach, Fl. (GRR Ti and Bacchetta Aero Pilot)

"Carl" <carl@sick.of.spam> wrote in message news:250820031232397211%carl@sick.of.spam...
> In article <3F4A3D52.7020602@earthlink.net>, Rick Moll <rickmoll@earthlink.net> wrote:
>
>
> > I've had similar experiences around here (Missouri, USA) on my new Volae Team.

Ok, thanks. Are you spec'ing these for their adjustability, or a leg length difference? bill, saving
for an Ouzo Pro fork, g

"EZ Biker :-)" wrote:

> Sure Bill, G, here is the link. http://www.murraytourdeforce.co.za/ Once you get to the website,
> click on "Cranks". I call it a blade crank, because, well it looks like a blade, to me. Doubt it
> will help me go faster; BUT at least it will be COOL Looking!!!!!!!!! EZ Biker :-) Pompano Beach,
> Fl. (GRR Ti and Bacchetta Aero Pilot)
>
> "a&b" <pedalfox@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:3F4AA2D6.1B5A6ECA@hotmail.com...
> > EZ, Great ride report. Aeros *are* fast. WRT the a Blade, are you referring to a crank or a
> > fork? Details...? thanks, bill g
> >
> > "EZ Biker :-)" wrote:
> >
> > > (It's built and just waiting for Rich Pinto's a Blade Crank,
> >

--
His thoughts tumbled in his head, making and breaking alliances like underpants in a dryer without
Cling Free.

Naw, they just look COOL!!!!! BUT really, I want to be able to play with the adjustability via my
leg extension. With my previous SWB's I never really gave it much concern; but the Aero is much
different and I'm wanting to get myself as perfectly fitted with the bike, as a DFer would with
their bike, via with a bike fitting kit. EZ Biker :-) Pompano Beach, Fl. (GRR Ti and Bacchetta
Aero Pilot)

"bill g" <ipedal@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:3F4B3E75.2812E25F@hotmail.com...
> Ok, thanks. Are you spec'ing these for their adjustability, or a leg
length
> difference? bill, saving for an Ouzo Pro fork, g

EZ, Agreed about fit. And the way the bars are on B-bikes makes getting set up a little more
bothersome than other bikes. Good luck with it. bill g

"EZ Biker :-)" wrote:

> Naw, they just look COOL!!!!! BUT really, I want to be able to play with the adjustability via my
> leg extension. With my previous SWB's I never really gave it much concern; but the Aero is much
> different and I'm wanting to get myself as perfectly fitted with the bike, as a DFer would with
> their bike, via with a bike fitting kit. EZ Biker :-) Pompano Beach, Fl. (GRR Ti and Bacchetta
> Aero Pilot)
>
> "bill g" <ipedal@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:3F4B3E75.2812E25F@hotmail.com...
> > Ok, thanks. Are you spec'ing these for their adjustability, or a leg
> length
> > difference? bill, saving for an Ouzo Pro fork, g
> >

--
His thoughts tumbled in his head, making and breaking alliances like underpants in a dryer without
Cling Free.

EZ: _Very_ interesting cranks. From time to time there is discussion here about crank length. These
could help a person answer the questions for themselves.

I've been going back over old messages (from back in the days when we talked more about bikes ;-) I
know you are on to something else now, but in the Pursuit vs GRR discussions, you didn't mention
seats. It's conceivable to have a Rotator with a higher seat so the riding position more closely
matches the GRR and avoids some of the concerns about lowness that you had. But this didn't seem
like something you were interested in. Even though you live in a humid climate, you saw no
significant advantage to the mesh Rotator seat?

johnriley1 (at) rogers.com

johnriley1, I freely admit here, that I believe I made a lot of misjudge-mental calls on my Rotator
Pursuit. The LOW seat selection was one. I think if I had gone with the med seat, instead of the LOW
(Next to the frame seat) I would have faired much better, I was wanting to achieve a low racer type
of bike, but what acted and felt like my previous Easy Racer type of bikes. Admittedly the Rotator I
had previously tested, tested, tested, to the point I had almost worn out the floor model, had the
High seat setup and was the Cro-Molly version not the Ti version. However regardless of which seat
height I had tired and subsequently went with, I was COMFORTABLE and the bumps and grinds of the
roads were absorbed via the mesh seat. I still believe I should have taken the bike in and had the
rear wheel / frame assembly CAREFULLY checked. I really feel that there had been some sort of bind
in my initial setup, that could have been repaired. I just had the hardest time getting that bike up
to speed; only to see the speed drop like a brick, when I coasted. And yet on my duel 20 inch
Tailwind, that weighed more and was higher up, I could get that puppy up to 18+ mph in no time and
maintain that speed for many miles. Hence the feeling, that SOMETHING was amiss (Initial setup not
bike defect wise) on my Pursuit. I really ENJOYED THE Ti Pursuit and wished I had given it more
tryout time. That bike has the potential to (Again) be a LWB-Low Racer kind of bike, with the person
still seated more upright, like an Easy Racers kind of bike. But alas, I now have a NEW LOVE, in
that of my Bacchetta Aero, of which I'll be collected this weekend! YooooooooHooooooooo! EZ Biker
:-) Pompano Beach, Fl. (GRR Ti and Bacchetta Aero Pilot)

"john riley" <lostjohnriley@netscape.net> wrote in message
news:8171373e.0308280458.3cd8169f@posting.google.com... ...It's conceivable to have a Rotator with a
higher seat so the riding
> position more closely matches the GRR and avoids some of the concerns about lowness that you had.
> But this didn't seem like something you were interested in. Even though you live in a humid
> climate, you saw no significant advantage to the mesh Rotator seat?
>
> johnriley1 (at) rogers.com

"EZ Biker :-)" <ezbiker@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:kSz2b.98368$2x.28937@rwcrnsc52.ops.asp.att.net...
> Sure Bill, G, here is the link. http://www.murraytourdeforce.co.za/ Once you get to the website,
> click on "Cranks". I call it a blade crank, because, well it looks like a blade, to me. Doubt it
> will help me go faster; BUT at least it will be COOL Looking!!!!!!!!! EZ Biker :-) Pompano Beach,
> Fl. (GRR Ti and Bacchetta Aero Pilot)

How much stock do most people put in matching leg length to crank length? I'm 6' 2" and have 165
cranks on all 3 of my trikes. I find them pretty comfortable and usually spin in the 70 to 90 rpm
range (or try to). If I understand it correctly, shorter cranks help spin faster, more comfortably,
at the expense of power, while longer cranks help with leverage to put power to the pedals but at
the loss of comfortable high pedal rpms. ? Yes/no? I can comfortably run at 28 to 30 kph on flat
ground with bursts to about 40kph. I don't feel "jammed" in my pedal stroke and my knee pain (doing
everything else BUT cycling) is non-existent. A friend of mine who is likely around the 5' 6" mark
uses 175s and swears by them. According to the chart, I should be using 180s and while he claims
that there is an "optimum" range of motion he doesn't seem to go into great detail on it that I
could see.

Has anyone here received a noticeable difference in comfort and/or performance by switching
crank lengths?

Sticker Jim, I can't really help you here. I'm using these adjustable cranks, but am comfortable
just where I set the pedal stems at. Perhaps some of our fellow MORE Techies can respond to your
inquiry. EZ Biker :-) Pompano Beach, Fl. (Aero & GRR Ti Aero Pilot)

"Sticker Jim" <me@here.com> wrote in message
news:1Ks9b.469493$4UE.264814@news01....ble.rogers.com...
> How much stock do most people put in matching leg length to crank length? I'm 6' 2" and have 165
> cranks on all 3 of my trikes. I find them pretty comfortable and usually spin in the 70 to 90 rpm
> range (or try to).