Tim Hall wrote:
> Off the top of my head..
>
> Water bottle (not sure how easy it is to fix to an optima) Rack?
On my Streetmachine I don't actually bother (though HPVel give instructions as how to mount one on
the side of the seat and have bosses under the seat and on the derailleur tube) as I just leave the
bottle in a pannier pocket or use a Platypus parked in a pannier. Which means I need a rack, though
you could hang a Platypus pocket on the back of the seat. Since a rucksack isn't really terribly
practical on a 'bent, any luggage will want a rack. I note that lowriders are an option. I have some
on the Streetmachine, and for heavy loads they're *superb*. Having weight between the wheels and
under the rider means that the handling is hardly affected by bags that make an upright rather
twitchy at best. If you'll be carrying heavy loads, recommended (assuming they go in more or less
the same place as HPVel's).
> Cycle computer so you can see how much faster you're going than all the other cyclists.
Not really going to happen much on a dual 26" tourer. Though the Streetmachine is faster than most
things downhill (especially on marginal roads where I can let the suspension take some of the
strain) I've never bothered with a computer.
> High visibility clothing and/or high visibility tape for the bike.
The back of the seat gives a great place to cover in reflectives.
> Clipless pedals and shoes to suit
Very well worth it on any tourer, especially on a 'bent as your feet don't rest naturally on the
pedals. SPuDs or similar means you don't have to hold your feet up.
> Neoprene overshoes
Much less of an issue as your feet are well clear of road spray and the waterproof soles are facing
into the rain. I've never bothered with overshoes on the 'bent, though I used them a lot on my old
upright tourer.
Make sure it has mudguards, preferably SKS.
Guy and Danny are both keen on gloves. I used to wear them religiously but tend not to bother now.
I've come of the Streetmachine a couple of times (one slide on gravel under heavy braking, the other
I think must have been a patch of diesel) and never scraped my hands at all. It crashes in a far
more civilised way than my upright! ;-/ My previous Orbit I wiped out on once, finally proving it
wasn't unbreakable on corners (110 degrees on an adverse camber, down a small hill and I'd
"forgotten" to brake and was trying not to use the far side of the road even though I knew it was
clear, all my own work rather than a flaw with the bike in other words), again without gloves and
again no unpleasantness on my hands. It seems one is rather less prone to part company with a 'bent
than an upright... I usually wear glasses, Bolle Vigilantes as they take a prescription insert and
though I can cycle okay without my vision corrected it seems silly not to as I often wear glasses to
keep flies, rain and cold wind out of my eyes. Interchangeable lenses are nice. Various other
manufacturers do similar.
I have a B&M Cyclestar mirror on the bars of the Streetmachine: works quite well, nice piece of kit.
One thing about under-seat steering is it means fitting lights can be a bit of a game. The
Streetmachine solved that by having a fitting built in at the front, but do check that your front
lamps will mount okay. If you don't have a SON dynohub then I'd seriously look into one. They're
really quite superb bits of kit.
Pete.
--
Peter Clinch University of Dundee Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net
[email protected]
http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/