I am hooked! First rides.

[Ken M]

I test rode two SUNS today. I had forgotten how comfortable the laid
back positioning is compared to a diamond frame! Any way I rode the
EZ-1SX and the EZ-SPORT. The dealer had the EZ-1 priced at $499 and the
SPORT at $799. I didn't notice too much difference for the additional
$300. But I did notice NO pressure on my hands, wrists, back, or saddle
contact points. I was supposed to go to another dealer tomorrow to test
ride a RANS or two, but I just got off the phone with them and they are
still recovering from the hurricane last year and only have one left,
and I didn't even see the model listed on the RANS website. So now I
might have to go further if I really want to test ride the RANS.

So now I am not sure what to do. I liked both the SUNS, the SPORT looked
nicer, but the EZ-1 looked better than the picture on the SUN website.
It looks better in real life. The SPORT might have given a little better
of a ride. But I am still not sure the small differences are worth the
difference in price.

Feedback?

Ken
--
[T]he bicycle is the most efficient machine ever created: Converting
calories into gas, a bicycle gets the equivalent of three thousand miles
per gallon. ~Bill Strickland, The Quotable Cyclist

Homepage: http://kcm-home.tripod.com/

 

[gotbent]

"Ken M" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I test rode two SUNS today. I had forgotten how comfortable the laid back
>positioning is compared to a diamond frame! Any way I rode the EZ-1SX and
>the EZ-SPORT. The dealer had the EZ-1 priced at $499 and the SPORT at $799.
>I didn't notice too much difference for the additional $300. But I did
>notice NO pressure on my hands, wrists, back, or saddle contact points. I
>was supposed to go to another dealer tomorrow to test ride a RANS or two,
>but I just got off the phone with them and they are still recovering from
>the hurricane last year and only have one left, and I didn't even see the
>model listed on the RANS website. So now I might have to go further if I
>really want to test ride the RANS.
>
> So now I am not sure what to do. I liked both the SUNS, the SPORT looked
> nicer, but the EZ-1 looked better than the picture on the SUN website. It
> looks better in real life. The SPORT might have given a little better of a
> ride. But I am still not sure the small differences are worth the
> difference in price.
>
> Feedback?
>
> Ken
> --
> [T]he bicycle is the most efficient machine ever created: Converting
> calories into gas, a bicycle gets the equivalent of three thousand miles
> per gallon. ~Bill Strickland, The Quotable Cyclist
>
> Homepage: http://kcm-home.tripod.com/
>
>
>

What you'll do is make some kind of decision and ride the hell out of your
new bent, but you'll soon find that bents are like potato chips. One is
NEVER enough! And the search will begin for you next bent...
Enjoy whatever you buy.



----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet News==----
http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups
----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =----

 

[Mike Rice]

On Tue, 03 Jan 2006 14:50:11 -0500, Ken M <[email protected]> wrote:

>I test rode two SUNS today. I had forgotten how comfortable the laid
>back positioning is compared to a diamond frame! Any way I rode the
>EZ-1SX and the EZ-SPORT. The dealer had the EZ-1 priced at $499 and the
>SPORT at $799. I didn't notice too much difference for the additional
>$300. But I did notice NO pressure on my hands, wrists, back, or saddle
>contact points. I was supposed to go to another dealer tomorrow to test
>ride a RANS or two, but I just got off the phone with them and they are
>still recovering from the hurricane last year and only have one left,
>and I didn't even see the model listed on the RANS website. So now I
>might have to go further if I really want to test ride the RANS.
>
>So now I am not sure what to do. I liked both the SUNS, the SPORT looked
>nicer, but the EZ-1 looked better than the picture on the SUN website.
>It looks better in real life. The SPORT might have given a little better
>of a ride. But I am still not sure the small differences are worth the
>difference in price.
>
>Feedback?
>
>Ken

Ken you are going to get a recumbent, and you won't go far wrong with
either of the 'entry' models you have tried thus far.

But if at all possible do go for as long a test as you can with any
and all styles you can get to. If you ride a nice RANS or a Tour Easy
or even a good Burly you will feel the difference that you couldn't
really notice between the two Sun models. Enough of a difference that
it was worth it to me to spend the extra and skip the 'entry'
versions.

Indiana Mike

PS- I know that some folks deplore Ebay, but I notice tonight a SWB
vision offered at $400 with no bids, a Sun Speedster at $500 (ends
tomorrow), and an ActionBent (?) Tidal Wave at $510, I stopped looking
cause it's getting two days out and final price often is booted up at
the last minute.

 

[Johnny Sunset]

Ken M wrote:
> I test rode two SUNS today. I had forgotten how comfortable the laid
> back positioning is compared to a diamond frame! Any way I rode the
> EZ-1SX and the EZ-SPORT. The dealer had the EZ-1 priced at $499 and the
> SPORT at $799. I didn't notice too much difference for the additional
> $300. But I did notice NO pressure on my hands, wrists, back, or saddle
> contact points. I was supposed to go to another dealer tomorrow to test
> ride a RANS or two, but I just got off the phone with them and they are
> still recovering from the hurricane last year and only have one left,
> and I didn't even see the model listed on the RANS website. So now I
> might have to go further if I really want to test ride the RANS.
>
> So now I am not sure what to do. I liked both the SUNS, the SPORT looked
> nicer, but the EZ-1 looked better than the picture on the SUN website.
> It looks better in real life. The SPORT might have given a little better
> of a ride. But I am still not sure the small differences are worth the
> difference in price.
>
> Feedback?

I have ridden the SUN EZ-1 SC and it is a fun little bike that handles
well. For running errands, riding around the neighborhood for fun,
taking the occasional hiking trail or dirt road (where bicycles are
permitted) it should do fine.

The upright seating position and low BB has its advantages and
disadvantages. This riding position improves low speed balance (and
balance on loose surfaces), makes starting and stopping easier, allows
riding without foot retention devices for moderate distances, and
seldom leads to foot numbness. The downside is lesser seat comfort on
longer rides and poor aerodynamics.

If you are willing to accept performance similar to an upright hybrid
bike and components that are less durable (bottom bracket and hub
bearing may only last a few thousand miles) than on more expensive
bicycles, the EZ-1 SC is an excellent value for the money.

It also makes a good second recumbent, so a second bike can be added at
later date that is more oriented to longer rides at higher speeds
(assuming this is an interest of the owner).

--
Tom Sherman - Fox River Valley

 

[[email protected]]

Hey there Ken,

I own both the bikes your rode today for several years , both are great
bikes... Now having said that, my reason for switching to the Sport
from the EZ-1 was simple, the Sport is faster....

I took the link you posted to tripod, and from that I see, you talk
about the speed that you ride.... That tells me that not only comfort
is an issue for you, but speed might be as well.....

When spinning similar gears on those two different bikes at the same
cadence, that 26 inch rear tire on the Sport gives you more gear
inches, thus more speed.... Is the extra speed worth the extra cost to
you?

You listed Sheldon Brown's web site on your Tripod site, let me make
this suggestion... Go there and check out the speed chart he has....
Type in the gear ratios and see what the speeds would be with the
gearing on the two bikes your considering..... That might help you in
deciding if the extra money is wotth it.......

I rode my EZ-1 from September to early January the first year I had it,
and logged in about 1800 miles.... They were trouble free miles, that
bike is solid...... The EZ-Sport has over 11,000 miles on it now......
I've just done normal maintenance on this bike, it wears like iron as
well.........

What ever bike you pick, I wish you many happy and healthy miles riding
it!........

TA
Joliet Il
EZ-1, EZ-Sports, Tour Easy

 

[Slugger]

In article <[email protected]>,
<[email protected]> wrote:

> Hey there Ken,
>
> I own both the bikes your rode today for several years , both are great
> bikes... Now having said that, my reason for switching to the Sport
> from the EZ-1 was simple, the Sport is faster....
>
> I took the link you posted to tripod, and from that I see, you talk
> about the speed that you ride.... That tells me that not only comfort
> is an issue for you, but speed might be as well.....
>
> When spinning similar gears on those two different bikes at the same
> cadence, that 26 inch rear tire on the Sport gives you more gear
> inches, thus more speed.... Is the extra speed worth the extra cost to
> you?
>
> You listed Sheldon Brown's web site on your Tripod site, let me make
> this suggestion... Go there and check out the speed chart he has....
> Type in the gear ratios and see what the speeds would be with the
> gearing on the two bikes your considering..... That might help you in
> deciding if the extra money is wotth it.......
>
> I rode my EZ-1 from September to early January the first year I had it,
> and logged in about 1800 miles.... They were trouble free miles, that
> bike is solid...... The EZ-Sport has over 11,000 miles on it now......
> I've just done normal maintenance on this bike, it wears like iron as
> well.........
>
> What ever bike you pick, I wish you many happy and healthy miles riding
> it!........
>
> TA
> Joliet Il
> EZ-1, EZ-Sports, Tour Easy
>


I must echo the EZ-Sport love. It coasts forever. Also its very
stable. More so than the smaller wheeled EZ-1. The EZ-1 is great for
manueuvering however. But at really high speeds coasting down a hill
the EZ-Sport just rolls steady. Even at 50km/hour if you have a steep
hill to roll it down.

On that note you will find you'll probably want a second 'bent after
this one.
I'm now leaning toward this one for my next bike:
http://www.ransbikes.com/V26formula.htm# with the M5 seat.


Cheers,

 

[Johnny Sunset]

[email protected] wrote:
> ....
> When spinning similar gears on those two different bikes at the same
> cadence, that 26 inch rear tire on the Sport gives you more gear
> inches, thus more speed.... Is the extra speed worth the extra cost to
> you?...

However, all else being equal, it will take more power to go faster. If
the EZ Sport is faster for a given power input than the EZ-1 SC, it is
due to some combination of lower drivetrain friction, lower rolling
resistance and/or lower aerodynamic drag, not higher gearing.

--
Tom Sherman - Fox River Valley

 

[Johnny Sunset]

Slugger wrote:
> ...
> I must echo the EZ-Sport love. It coasts forever. Also its very
> stable. More so than the smaller wheeled EZ-1. The EZ-1 is great for
> manueuvering however. But at really high speeds coasting down a hill
> the EZ-Sport just rolls steady. Even at 50km/hour if you have a steep
> hill to roll it down....

I would be remiss if I did not mention that there is a SWB bike with an
ISO 305-mm/406-mm wheelset that is stable at 90+kph/50+mph.

--
Tom Sherman - Fox River Valley

 

[[email protected]]

> [email protected] wrote:
> > ....
> > When spinning similar gears on those two different bikes at the same
> > cadence, that 26 inch rear tire on the Sport gives you more gear
> > inches, thus more speed.... Is the extra speed worth the extra cost to
> > you?...
>
> However, all else being equal, it will take more power to go faster. If
> the EZ Sport is faster for a given power input than the EZ-1 SC, it is
> due to some combination of lower drivetrain friction, lower rolling
> resistance and/or lower aerodynamic drag, not higher gearing.
>
> --
> Tom Sherman - Fox River Valley

Tom,

I think your exactly right, you have to be able to provide the 'power'
for the speed..... But notice that I didn't say higher gearing provides
the speed..... I mentioned spinning similar gears with a bigger rear
wheel provides more gear inches thus more speed at similar cadence.....

The lower drivetrain friction, the lower rolling resistance and lower
areo drag of a given bike will give you the potential speed for that
bike, the motor still has to provide the power.....

I like your posts Tom, you say a lot in a few words and always get one
to think...

Now having said all that, I wish Ken lived close, I'd let him borrow
the two bikes to ride for a few weeks each, and then he could decide
what tripped his trigger better........;-)

TA
Joliet Il
TE, EZ-Sports, EZ-1 SC

 

[Ken M]

[email protected] wrote:
>>[email protected] wrote:
>>
>>>....
>>>When spinning similar gears on those two different bikes at the same
>>>cadence, that 26 inch rear tire on the Sport gives you more gear
>>>inches, thus more speed.... Is the extra speed worth the extra cost to
>>>you?...
>>
>>However, all else being equal, it will take more power to go faster. If
>>the EZ Sport is faster for a given power input than the EZ-1 SC, it is
>>due to some combination of lower drivetrain friction, lower rolling
>>resistance and/or lower aerodynamic drag, not higher gearing.
>>
>>--
>>Tom Sherman - Fox River Valley
>
>
> Tom,
>
> I think your exactly right, you have to be able to provide the 'power'
> for the speed..... But notice that I didn't say higher gearing provides
> the speed..... I mentioned spinning similar gears with a bigger rear
> wheel provides more gear inches thus more speed at similar cadence.....
>
> The lower drivetrain friction, the lower rolling resistance and lower
> areo drag of a given bike will give you the potential speed for that
> bike, the motor still has to provide the power.....
>
> I like your posts Tom, you say a lot in a few words and always get one
> to think...
>
> Now having said all that, I wish Ken lived close, I'd let him borrow
> the two bikes to ride for a few weeks each, and then he could decide
> what tripped his trigger better........;-)
>
> TA
> Joliet Il
> TE, EZ-Sports, EZ-1 SC
>
Well from all the advise that I have gotten, one thing seems prevalent,
no matter what bike I decide on, it seems that most will say that I will
eventually "outgrow" the first one and seek something better at some
point in the future. And that how far in the future I reach that point
may depend on the bike I buy for my first bent.

Ken
Oh yeah, I saw a TOUR EASY at the shop yesterday, it's the first I had
ever seen up close, and I must say the craftsmanship of the EASY RACER
frame was obvious. It was truely a pretty bike.
--
[T]he bicycle is the most efficient machine ever created: Converting
calories into gas, a bicycle gets the equivalent of three thousand miles
per gallon. ~Bill Strickland, The Quotable Cyclist

Homepage: http://kcm-home.tripod.com/

 

[Johnny Sunset]

[email protected] wrote:
> ...
> Now having said all that, I wish Ken lived close, I'd let him borrow
> the two bikes to ride for a few weeks each, and then he could decide
> what tripped his trigger better........;-)
>
> TA
> Joliet Il

Ken could probably drive to Joliet in the same time I could. People
have been known to starve to death trying to get through Plainfield on
Route 59.

--
Tom Sherman - Fox River Valley

 

[Mike Rice]

On Wed, 04 Jan 2006 11:28:13 -0500, Ken M <[email protected]> wrote:



>>
>> Now having said all that, I wish Ken lived close, I'd let him borrow
>> the two bikes to ride for a few weeks each, and then he could decide
>> what tripped his trigger better........;-)
>>
>> TA
>> Joliet Il
>> TE, EZ-Sports, EZ-1 SC
>>
>Well from all the advise that I have gotten, one thing seems prevalent,
>no matter what bike I decide on, it seems that most will say that I will
>eventually "outgrow" the first one and seek something better at some
>point in the future. And that how far in the future I reach that point
>may depend on the bike I buy for my first bent.
>
>Ken
>Oh yeah, I saw a TOUR EASY at the shop yesterday, it's the first I had
>ever seen up close, and I must say the craftsmanship of the EASY RACER
>frame was obvious. It was truely a pretty bike.

I must thank you for that particular mispelling (truely), as I once
sucessfully baited Mr. Dolan with the same variant.

No matter how I later mangled the word (troolee, troughly, et al) he
wouldn't bite a second time. But it was fun while it lasted.

Indiana Mike

PS- Did you ride the TE?

 

[Ken M]

Mike Rice wrote:

> PS- Did you ride the TE?

NO! I wish I had the chance. It looked like it was a customers bike in
for service or maybe a used bike that will be for sale some time in the
future. The front wheel was removed, but I did get close enough, due to
the way the shop was laid out, to get to look at the frame pretty good.
Very nice looking bends and welds. Pretty bike. Ah if only I could
afford $2300 for a new TE.

Ken
--
[T]he bicycle is the most efficient machine ever created: Converting
calories into gas, a bicycle gets the equivalent of three thousand miles
per gallon. ~Bill Strickland, The Quotable Cyclist

Homepage: http://kcm-home.tripod.com/

 

[[email protected]]

Good morning everyone,

Tom you know the area!...... When going to the Fox River Trail driving
through Plainfield, you make sure you've had a big breakfast because
it's almost lunch time before you arrive in Aurora..... Speaking of the
Fox River Trail, the next time you decide to ride it, drop me a line
and I'd love to ride it with you.....

Ken you have it exactly right, most of the guys I ride with "outgrow"
that first bent after a while..... Then it's look out world, here comes
number two!.... Good luck with your choice and be sure to write about
the bent you finally decide on!....;-)

TA
Joliet Il
TE, EZ-Sports, EZ-1 SC

 

[Edward Dolan]

"Mike Rice" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Wed, 04 Jan 2006 11:28:13 -0500, Ken M <[email protected]> wrote:

>>Oh yeah, I saw a TOUR EASY at the shop yesterday, it's the first I had
>>ever seen up close, and I must say the craftsmanship of the EASY RACER
>>frame was obvious. It was truely a pretty bike.
>
> I must thank you for that particular mispelling (truely), as I once
> sucessfully baited Mr. Dolan with the same variant.
>
> No matter how I later mangled the word (troolee, troughly, et al) he
> wouldn't bite a second time. But it was fun while it lasted.

There is only one way to spell 'truly'. It you spell it any other way, then
you are spelling it wrong. How to spell words is not something that is left
to the discretion of the writer - unless he is a very Great Writer like
yours truly. We Great Writers are the exception to the rules. We also
capitalize whatever we please. Don't you wish you were Great like me?

Regards,

Ed Dolan - Minnesota

 

[[email protected]]

>
> I must thank you for that particular mispelling (truely), as I once
> sucessfully baited Mr. Dolan with the same variant.
>
> No matter how I later mangled the word (troolee, troughly, et al) he
> wouldn't bite a second time. But it was fun while it lasted.
>
> Indiana Mike
>
> PS- Did you ride the TE?

Mike,

Seems to have worked again......;-) Did you check out Ed's reply.....

"There is only one way to spell 'truly'.It you spell it any other way,
then
you are spelling it wrong."......... I guess Great, no, truely Great
Writers can spell the word "IF" any way they want!....... ;-)

TA
Joliet Il
TE, EZ-Sports, EZ-1 SC

 

[Johnny Sunset]

Ken M wrote:
> Mike Rice wrote:
>
> > PS- Did you ride the TE?
>
> NO! I wish I had the chance. It looked like it was a customers bike in
> for service or maybe a used bike that will be for sale some time in the
> future. The front wheel was removed, but I did get close enough, due to
> the way the shop was laid out, to get to look at the frame pretty good.
> Very nice looking bends and welds. Pretty bike. Ah if only I could
> afford $2300 for a new TE.

Ken,

Stay away from polished aluminium finish GRR's then - it is impolite to
drool on other people's bikes.

--
Tom Sherman - Fox River Valley

 

[Edward Dolan]

<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
>>
>> I must thank you for that particular mispelling (truely), as I once
>> sucessfully baited Mr. Dolan with the same variant.
>>
>> No matter how I later mangled the word (troolee, troughly, et al) he
>> wouldn't bite a second time. But it was fun while it lasted.
>
> Mike,
>
> Seems to have worked again......;-) Did you check out Ed's reply.....
>
> "There is only one way to spell 'truly'.It you spell it any other way,
> then
> you are spelling it wrong."......... I guess Great, no, truely Great
> Writers can spell the word "IF" any way they want!....... ;-)

Tut, tut my dear Sir! Nothing but a typo. We Great Writers make these little
slips all the time as we require servants and slaves to do the drudge work.
And proof reading a copy for typos is definitely drudge work.

Great minds like mine are in the stratosphere and rarely descend to the
lower depths where you will find drudges like Mr. Sherman. You realize of
course that when I am on ARBR I am slumming. It amuses me to see how my
inferiors think.

Mr. Sherman never makes typos, a sure sign of a drudge. However, his grammar
is not always as perfect as he imagines it to be. But that is another story
for another day.

But the world needs peasants too. We can't all be aristocrats like me.

Regards,

Ed Dolan - Minnesota

 

[HH]

"Johnny Sunset" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
<snip>
> Stay away from polished aluminium finish GRR's then - it is impolite to
> drool on other people's bikes.
>
> --
> Tom Sherman - Fox River Valley
>

I don't believe GRR's have a polished aluminum finish, but a few of them do
have aluminum frames without a finish. It is the polishing of the
unfinished aluminum frame that invokes involuntary drooling by beholders.
The ER website refers to this as a "Polished Aluminum GRR".

Thought you would want to know.........

 

[Don Boring]

On Tue, 03 Jan 2006 14:50:11 -0500, Ken M <[email protected]> wrote:

>
>So now I am not sure what to do. I liked both the SUNS, the SPORT looked
>nicer, but the EZ-1 looked better than the picture on the SUN website.
>It looks better in real life. The SPORT might have given a little better
>of a ride. But I am still not sure the small differences are worth the
>difference in price.

Buy the SPORT! Neither can be taken on a BUS
but as an owner of an EZ-1 I can say that while I
enjoy riding it once in a while, I much PREFER to
have a 26 or 27" wheel in the rear position.

I don't know physics, but it seems to me the bigger
the wheel, given the same crank setup, you are gonna
get better speed and an easier ride out of the SPORT!

Hope you buy the SPORT!


Don Boring
Glendora, CA. USA
Easy Racer EZ1-SC http://www.easyracers.com/ez_1_sc.htm
Lightning Thunderbolt http://www.lightningbikes.com/thunderbolt.htm