B
B. Sanders
Guest
Lowracers. They're sexy. They're fast. They're not for everybody, and they're kinda dangerous on the
street (think SUV bumpers above your head). But they don't have to be expensive, as the WISIL folks
have proven with their wonderful home-brew examples:
http://www.wisil.recumbents.com/wisil/whatsup.htm
I am definitely taking notes from the WISIL project bikes. Has anybody here built one? The Alley Cat
looks interesting. Do the tiny 305mm front wheels work well on less-than-perfect streets?
I've read reports from lowracer owners that they are not getting the speed gains that they had hoped
for. So what's the big deal about lowracers, and why do people swear by them? I will admit that the
M5 attracted coeds like a magnet, which may be one very good reason to own one; but that's not why I
bought a lowracer
If not for speed, then why own one?
Ed Gin is, by all reports, a bona fide speed demon on his unfaired Festina. Certainly there are
plenty of others who fairly smoke the track on their Jesters, Barons, M5's, Zox's, Wishbones and
Taifuns (did I miss any?) But for some of us, the promise of noticeable speed gains has remained
elusive. I'm still convinced that there are speed gains to be had; but I can't figure out the
formula for speed. I has been said that different riding positions require different muscle
training, and that surely could explain some of my disappointing results with the M5 (I didn't ride
it enough.)
Is it that simple? Is the only advantage of lowracers in the lowness? It can't be the seat angle,
because the Barracuda, Festina, Sunset and Low Phat (for instance) all have fairly steep seat
angles. Why aren't sleek laid-back quasi-lowracers like the Taifun just as fast? Why are Ed Gin's
ultra-low Festina and Warren Beauchamp's Barracuda so blazing fast? Would Ed and Warren still fly on
a SpeedMachine or a Taifun - or would the bikes hold them back?
At time, I think I should just buy a Festina (pretty expensive), or build a Barracuda clone. I have
few framebuilding resources, no garage in which to work, and not a lot of money to spend. I want my
lowracer to be "streetable", which points to something like the SpeedMachine, Stinger or Taifun. I
do prefer a larger rear wheel - mostly for aesthetic reasons, but also because bikes so equipped
seem to be faster. (Why?)
I have designed a bike that might work. I call it the Speed Racer:
http://www.bsanders.net/SpeedRacer.jpg
I figure I can probably build this bike with a 6061-T6 aluminum main tube and a commercial
fiberglass hard shell seat for under $600, including all of the components (many of which I already
have), and paying a pro to weld the frame. I was planning to harvest the rear triangle, suspension
and headtube from a junked aluminum full-suspension department store type MTB. I'm planning to
include a suspension lock-out; but haven't figured that out yet. Can't be too hard, I suppose.
What I'm looking for are the magic formulas, money-saving strategies, and perhaps some guidance
about how to go about successfully building a (quasi)lowracer (including names of people who can aid
in building a frame). Alternatively, I am seriously considering just buying a Taifun frameset,
building it up, and calling it a day. Your comments and suggestions welcomed.
-Barry
street (think SUV bumpers above your head). But they don't have to be expensive, as the WISIL folks
have proven with their wonderful home-brew examples:
http://www.wisil.recumbents.com/wisil/whatsup.htm
I am definitely taking notes from the WISIL project bikes. Has anybody here built one? The Alley Cat
looks interesting. Do the tiny 305mm front wheels work well on less-than-perfect streets?
I've read reports from lowracer owners that they are not getting the speed gains that they had hoped
for. So what's the big deal about lowracers, and why do people swear by them? I will admit that the
M5 attracted coeds like a magnet, which may be one very good reason to own one; but that's not why I
bought a lowracer
Ed Gin is, by all reports, a bona fide speed demon on his unfaired Festina. Certainly there are
plenty of others who fairly smoke the track on their Jesters, Barons, M5's, Zox's, Wishbones and
Taifuns (did I miss any?) But for some of us, the promise of noticeable speed gains has remained
elusive. I'm still convinced that there are speed gains to be had; but I can't figure out the
formula for speed. I has been said that different riding positions require different muscle
training, and that surely could explain some of my disappointing results with the M5 (I didn't ride
it enough.)
Is it that simple? Is the only advantage of lowracers in the lowness? It can't be the seat angle,
because the Barracuda, Festina, Sunset and Low Phat (for instance) all have fairly steep seat
angles. Why aren't sleek laid-back quasi-lowracers like the Taifun just as fast? Why are Ed Gin's
ultra-low Festina and Warren Beauchamp's Barracuda so blazing fast? Would Ed and Warren still fly on
a SpeedMachine or a Taifun - or would the bikes hold them back?
At time, I think I should just buy a Festina (pretty expensive), or build a Barracuda clone. I have
few framebuilding resources, no garage in which to work, and not a lot of money to spend. I want my
lowracer to be "streetable", which points to something like the SpeedMachine, Stinger or Taifun. I
do prefer a larger rear wheel - mostly for aesthetic reasons, but also because bikes so equipped
seem to be faster. (Why?)
I have designed a bike that might work. I call it the Speed Racer:
http://www.bsanders.net/SpeedRacer.jpg
I figure I can probably build this bike with a 6061-T6 aluminum main tube and a commercial
fiberglass hard shell seat for under $600, including all of the components (many of which I already
have), and paying a pro to weld the frame. I was planning to harvest the rear triangle, suspension
and headtube from a junked aluminum full-suspension department store type MTB. I'm planning to
include a suspension lock-out; but haven't figured that out yet. Can't be too hard, I suppose.
What I'm looking for are the magic formulas, money-saving strategies, and perhaps some guidance
about how to go about successfully building a (quasi)lowracer (including names of people who can aid
in building a frame). Alternatively, I am seriously considering just buying a Taifun frameset,
building it up, and calling it a day. Your comments and suggestions welcomed.
-Barry