New Giant Bikes

I was looking up some brands of Giant Mtn bikes for comparison shopping and was startled to see this
strange bike on their homepage.

Is this for real, or has Giant flipped out? <grin>

ISTM, this is up there with that autoshifter you see sometimes on late night TV. Can anyone here
imagine that this is gonna be the 'bike of the future'.

I don't know a lot about it besides watching the video on the site, but it seems they've put a lot
into this, especially to have it featured on the main page. (Except for their already good rep, I'd
wonder if this wouldn't this turn away potentially serious riders)

-B

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Email Replies to johnson<nospm>01j <att> ntelos <dott> net

What's wrong with them putting a semi-recumbent together?

There are a lot of potential benefits to recumbents; one major drawback is their relative rarity
and, thus, high prices. If a major bike manufacturer like Giant wants to build a recumbent, more
power and good luck too them.

My LBS has sold a few this year.

On Tue, 21 Oct 2003 14:50:22 +0000 (UTC), baj7d@node5.unix.Virginia.EDU (Badger South) wrote:

>I was looking up some brands of Giant Mtn bikes for comparison shopping and was startled to see
>this strange bike on their homepage.
>
>Is this for real, or has Giant flipped out? <grin>
>
>ISTM, this is up there with that autoshifter you see sometimes on late night TV. Can anyone here
>imagine that this is gonna be the 'bike of the future'.
>
>I don't know a lot about it besides watching the video on the site, but it seems they've put a lot
>into this, especially to have it featured on the main page. (Except for their already good rep, I'd
>wonder if this wouldn't this turn away potentially serious riders)
>
>-B

"Badger South" <baj7d@node5.unix.Virginia.EDU> wrote in message
news:bn3h3e$o87$1@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU...
> I was looking up some brands of Giant Mtn bikes for comparison shopping and was startled to see
> this strange bike on their homepage.
>
> Is this for real, or has Giant flipped out? <grin>
>
> ISTM, this is up there with that autoshifter you see sometimes on late night TV. Can anyone here
> imagine that this is gonna be the 'bike of the future'.
>
> I don't know a lot about it besides watching the video on the site, but it seems they've put a lot
> into this, especially to have it featured on the main page. (Except for their already good rep,
> I'd wonder if this wouldn't this turn away potentially serious riders)

Um...to what are you referring? (OK, I gather it's a recumbent from first replier, but a link would
have helped.)

Bill "not everyone will go find Giant site to see what you mean" S.

In article <dejapvg2k7mc20vbl6lg9jdfp67vsvrk1j@4ax.com>, Luigi de Guzman <luigi12081@cox.net> wrote:
>
>What's wrong with them putting a semi-recumbent together?
>
>There are a lot of potential benefits to recumbents; one major drawback is their relative rarity
>and, thus, high prices. If a major bike manufacturer like Giant wants to build a recumbent, more
>power and good luck too them.
>
>My LBS has sold a few this year.

Nothing 'wrong', really, just a light-hearted query, wondering if you can do serious riding with
these, that's all.

-B
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Email Replies to johnson<nospm>01j <att> ntelos <dott> net

On Tue, 21 Oct 2003 16:30:55 +0000 (UTC), baj7d@node5.unix.Virginia.EDU (Badger South) wrote:

>In article <dejapvg2k7mc20vbl6lg9jdfp67vsvrk1j@4ax.com>, Luigi de Guzman
><luigi12081@cox.net> wrote:
>>
>>What's wrong with them putting a semi-recumbent together?
>>
>>There are a lot of potential benefits to recumbents; one major drawback is their relative rarity
>>and, thus, high prices. If a major bike manufacturer like Giant wants to build a recumbent, more
>>power and good luck too them.
>>
>>My LBS has sold a few this year.
>
>Nothing 'wrong', really, just a light-hearted query, wondering if you can do serious riding with
>these, that's all.
>

well, you're not UCI legal and you won't be hitting the singletrack with it anytime soon....

But it'll get you from point A to point B as fast as you would care. And serious depends on you,
I guess....

>-B

In article <mJdlb.42110$Z86.39265@twister.socal.rr.com>, Sorni <sorni@bite-me.san.rr.com> wrote:
>"Badger South" <baj7d@node5.unix.Virginia.EDU> wrote in message
>news:bn3h3e$o87$1@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU...
>> I was looking up some brands of Giant Mtn bikes for comparison shopping and was startled to see
>> this strange bike on their homepage.
>>
>> Is this for real, or has Giant flipped out? <grin>
>>
>> ISTM, this is up there with that autoshifter you see sometimes on late night TV. Can anyone here
>> imagine that this is gonna be the 'bike of the future'.
>>
>> I don't know a lot about it besides watching the video on the site, but it seems they've put a
>> lot into this, especially to have it featured on the main page. (Except for their already good
>> rep, I'd wonder if this wouldn't this turn away potentially serious riders)
>
>Um...to what are you referring? (OK, I gather it's a recumbent from first replier, but a link would
>have helped.)
>
>Bill "not everyone will go find Giant site to see what you mean" S.

Sorry man, my bad. I normally would have put a link, but didn't want to seem presumptuous or insult
anyone's cred being on a cycling group. ;-)

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/

HTH.

Best, -B

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In article <qtpapvgn91euaolhbll2l1o8kd87fko59n@4ax.com>, luigi12081@cox.net says...
> On Tue, 21 Oct 2003 16:30:55 +0000 (UTC), baj7d@node5.unix.Virginia.EDU (Badger South) wrote:
>
> >In article <dejapvg2k7mc20vbl6lg9jdfp67vsvrk1j@4ax.com>, Luigi de Guzman
> ><luigi12081@cox.net> wrote:
> >>
> >>What's wrong with them putting a semi-recumbent together?
> >>
> >>There are a lot of potential benefits to recumbents; one major drawback is their relative rarity
> >>and, thus, high prices. If a major bike manufacturer like Giant wants to build a recumbent, more
> >>power and good luck too them.
> >>
> >>My LBS has sold a few this year.
> >
> >Nothing 'wrong', really, just a light-hearted query, wondering if you can do serious riding with
> >these, that's all.
> >
>
> well, you're not UCI legal and you won't be hitting the singletrack with it anytime soon....
>
> But it'll get you from point A to point B as fast as you would care. And serious depends on you, I
> guess....

To some people, the lower height-of-eye on a recumbent bothers them when riding in traffic. Others
have no problem with it. Depends on what you like...

--
Dave Kerber Fight spam: remove the ns_ from the return address before replying!

REAL programmers write self-modifying code.

"David Kerber" <ns_dkerber@ns_ids.net> wrote in message
news:MPG.19ff38ed9937db63989718@news.ids.net...
> In article <qtpapvgn91euaolhbll2l1o8kd87fko59n@4ax.com>, luigi12081@cox.net says...

> > But it'll get you from point A to point B as fast as you would care. And serious depends on you,
> > I guess....
>
> To some people, the lower height-of-eye on a recumbent bothers them when riding in traffic. Others
> have no problem with it. Depends on what you like...

I rode one the other day. The semi-recumbent position keeps your head up, though not as high as an
upright, it's pretty close.

These things are not geared high enough to be speed demons. I found myself wanting two or three more
to go faster.....

It takes a bit of getting used to. The geometry makes it squirrelly if you put weight on the bars.
You have to ride like you are driving a car with power steering. A light touch will do.

Neat bike for a Sunday cruise around the neighborhood with the family. But pretty much worthless
everywhere else.

-Buck

Assuming you're writing about the "Revive", I actually saw a television commercial for these a while
ago. Not sure how long ago, it might even have been while watching the Tour de France coverage on OLN.

Looks like Giant is going after the "I'd like to ride a bike but . . " crowd. If I see one in a bike
shop, though, I'll definitely ask for a test ride.

On Tue, 21 Oct 2003 14:50:22 +0000 (UTC), baj7d@node5.unix.Virginia.EDU (Badger South) wrote:

>I was looking up some brands of Giant Mtn bikes for comparison shopping and was startled to see
>this strange bike on their homepage.
>
>Is this for real, or has Giant flipped out? <grin>
>
>ISTM, this is up there with that autoshifter you see sometimes on late night TV. Can anyone here
>imagine that this is gonna be the 'bike of the future'.
>
>I don't know a lot about it besides watching the video on the site, but it seems they've put a lot
>into this, especially to have it featured on the main page. (Except for their already good rep, I'd
>wonder if this wouldn't this turn away potentially serious riders)
>
>-B

"Badger South" <baj7d@node5.unix.Virginia.EDU> wrote in message
news:bn3h3e$o87$1@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU...
> I was looking up some brands of Giant Mtn bikes for comparison shopping and was startled to see
> this strange bike on their homepage.
>
> Is this for real, or has Giant flipped out? <grin>

Electra, the cruiser people, have a new bike for this market as well.
http://www.electrabike.com/townie/home_new.html

It's more conventional looking but the geometry seems to be a lot like the Giant's. Electra makes
much of the riders' ability to reach the ground with their feet, and their theory seems to be that
this is a significant barrier to some people taking up cycling. I suppose that's true. You certainly
see a lot of awkward-looking people riding bikes with the saddles far too low for this very reason.

RichC

On Tue, 21 Oct 2003 14:50:22 +0000 (UTC), baj7d@node5.unix.Virginia.EDU (Badger South) wrote:

>
>
>Is this for real, or has Giant flipped out? <grin>

Try one some time.

We have one at the shop, and it's an absolute blast to ride.

Barry

In article <aoglb.74$bt5.1628@iad-read.news.verio.net>, Rich Clark
<rdclarkSPAM@TRAPacnatsci.org> wrote:
>
>"Badger South" <baj7d@node5.unix.Virginia.EDU> wrote in message
>news:bn3h3e$o87$1@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU...
>> I was looking up some brands of Giant Mtn bikes for comparison shopping and was startled to see
>> this strange bike on their homepage.
>>
>> Is this for real, or has Giant flipped out? <grin>
>
>Electra, the cruiser people, have a new bike for this market as well.
>http://www.electrabike.com/townie/home_new.html
>
>It's more conventional looking but the geometry seems to be a lot like the Giant's. Electra makes
>much of the riders' ability to reach the ground with their feet, and their theory seems to be that
>this is a significant barrier to some people taking up cycling. I suppose that's true. You
>certainly see a lot of awkward-looking people riding bikes with the saddles far too low for this
>very reason.
>
>RichC

Sounds about right. Heh, even though I had some experience riding in my teens and early 30s, I had
my seat way too low for about a month.

Had to raise it two inches several weeks ago. Dain Bramage; yeah that's the ticket. ;-) I -still-
think I have it too low, but it's better. I raised it another 1/2 inch today and shaved a minute off
the part of my course that I time (about 3-4 miles)

The interesting thing, though is I'm working harder now, even though there's less stress on the
legs, breathing harder, spinning faster. I was working at -very- low efficiency, apparently, and the
perceived exertion was such that I couldn't spin right, or really push it.

Of course I've also lost a bit more weight due to the head cold and harder workouts in the
past months.

I haven't seen those Giant bikes anywhere to test 'em. My Trek shop says they're Chinese made, and
don't have the lifetime warranty so they won't even carry Giant. Just Trek, Fisher (made by Trek, I
think), and some others I'm not familiar with, probably customs.

-B
--
Email Replies to johnson<nospm>01j <att> ntelos <dott> net

In article <p95bpv4attaaqshpd5mvhvk9h3tls2sk0j@4ax.com>, B a r r y B u r k e J r .
<*removethis*nospam@snet.net> wrote:
>On Tue, 21 Oct 2003 14:50:22 +0000 (UTC), baj7d@node5.unix.Virginia.EDU (Badger South) wrote:
>
>>
>>
>>Is this for real, or has Giant flipped out? <grin>
>
>Try one some time.
>
>We have one at the shop, and it's an absolute blast to ride.
>
>Barry

OK, where's your shop? ;-)

I imagine it _is_ fun to ride, but have you made it so easy and efficient that you've taken the
'exercise' part out of the biking equation? <g> That's just -rong-!

They did a nice job on the video at their site, and it sure makes a lot of sense, upright posture,
better ergonomic angle for the legs.

Do you think anyone besides comfort riders will purchase one? I just have trouble seeing it as
becoming mainstream, although it does seem like it has the potential to step ahead of the classic
recumbent.

-B
--
Email Replies to johnson<nospm>01j <att> ntelos <dott> net

On Tue, 21 Oct 2003 21:48:19 +0000 (UTC), baj7d@node15.unix.Virginia.EDU (Badger South) wrote:
>
>OK, where's your shop? ;-)

Middletown, CT

http://www.pedalpowerct.com

Barry

In article <b1rbpv05etnl5nr9njt3o1phhmf5hch3qi@4ax.com>, B a r r y B u r k e J r .
<*removethis*nospam@snet.net> wrote:
>On Tue, 21 Oct 2003 21:48:19 +0000 (UTC), baj7d@node15.unix.Virginia.EDU (Badger South) wrote:
>>
>>OK, where's your shop? ;-)
>
>Middletown, CT
>
>http://www.pedalpowerct.com
>
>Barry

OK, that's a bit far for me. Maybe if we go skiing next winter, though? ;-)

-B (ps site wouldn't load for me...)
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