Recumbents? (was: Longest wearing 10 speed chain??)

[Tom \Johnny Sunset\ Sherman]

Andrew Muzi mused:
> ...
> Looking for recumbent specialty items in the bicycle industry will prove
> frustrating, I agree. As I mentioned earlier, the recumbent business is
> different from our own in many respects. Fortunately, they have their
> own experts!

True in many respects. Most successful recumbent dealers sell only
recumbents, or have a separate building or store with staff dedicated to
recumbents. The attempt by many LBS to sell recumbents as a sideline in
the late 1990's was typically not successful.

However, except for seats, handlebars and risers and chain management
idlers, about every other component found on most recumbents is a part
originally designed for an upright bicycle.

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
A Real Cyclist [TM] keeps at least one bicycle in the bedroom.

--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

 

[Peter Clinch]

Tom "Johnny Sunset" Sherman wrote:
> Andrew Muzi mused:
>> ...
>> Looking for recumbent specialty items in the bicycle industry will
>> prove frustrating, I agree. As I mentioned earlier, the recumbent
>> business is different from our own in many respects. Fortunately, they
>> have their own experts!
>
> True in many respects. Most successful recumbent dealers sell only
> recumbents, or have a separate building or store with staff dedicated to
> recumbents.

In the UK several of the Usual Suspects for buying a 'bent aren't
recumbent only, but specialise in any sort of bike you wouldn't expect
to see in a typical bike shop. So you might well find folders,
freighters, cargo trailers, roadsters etc. as well as 'bents but not a
mountain bike or road racer in sight.

> However, except for seats, handlebars and risers and chain management
> idlers, about every other component found on most recumbents is a part
> originally designed for an upright bicycle.

Indeed. My LBSs don't sell 'bents but when I took in my first one to
have a triple put on it was immediately realised that it was going to be
exactly the same job as on an upwrong and the job was happily taken on
and a good job done with everyone happy.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email protected] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/