"Peter Clinch" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Wirral John wrote:
> > "Vincent Wilcox" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
>
> >>It would seem that if you want to make a fast getaway
> >>that there are better choices than a recumbent!
Sore
> >>thumb.
>
> > what What WHAT! Obviously never riden or seen a bent!
>
> They're not great for a fast getaway, whatever sort it is
> of the ones I've seen and ridden. First up you have to get
> on and get sat down before you can go anywhere. On a
> wedgie you just run along and mount in motion if you're in
> a hurry. From a standing start /off/ the cycle I would
> defy any 'bent rider to make a quicker getaway than anyone
> who can do a rolling mount on any wedgie of roughly the
> right dimensions for them. And that's an experienced 'bent
> rider. Most people start off by wondering if they even
> /could/ ride the thing, let alone the best way to get on
> and make a fast getaway. The easiest way to nick one in
> most cases would be to park your white van next to it,
> pick it up, pop it in the back and drive off. And the fact
> they tend to be heavier and more awkward to carry doesn't
> help there...
>
> > As the proud owner of a Windcheetah Club Sport I take
> > you to task sir.
On
> > the flat and of course downhill, or even against a head
> > wind, a bent
will
> > out match a 'normal' bike anytime, espescially a MTB.
>
> You say "a" rather than specifically a Windcheetah. If you
> can outrun a Giant OCR on a Flevo OkeJa with a similar
> standard of rider on the OCR I would be /very/ surprised.
> The OkeJa doesn't have the light weight, the aerodynamics,
> the low rolling resistance wheels or the gearing for any
> sort of speed. All 'bents are not the same. For a quick
> getaway you might note that Sam Whittingham has ridden a
> Bike Friday (and not the recumbent model!) in standing
> start sprints at HPV events...
>
> > Not only that, but they get the attention on car drivers
> > more, look cool
and
> > are far better all round.
>
> Though not "all around", for what I want I agree, which is
> why I ride one, but I'll get off the starting blocks
> quicker on my Brompton than the Streetmachine!
>
> Pete.
Without wanting to get to involved, after all, my pervious
reply was meant to be light hearted, as I am probably biased
towards the Club Sport I still think that I can out perform
riders of a similar fitness/standard than myself. But, there
are bikes and bikes, and you may well be right.
One way that I out perform almost every other bike is from a
start where both are already on the machine. For me already
clipped in and ready to go, and others trying to balance
then getting the feet clipped.
But Hey! What the hell. So long as you're happy with what
you've got and I'm happy with what I've got what does it
matter :¬))
Cheers John
BTW Even tortoises go faster than me!
