Hmm...Do you know Mike Vogel? He rides Mt. Evans on a recumbent mod. Strada...and a DF. He has
posted some interesting times. While he stated he is faster on a DF, but not much as I remember.
Some seem to think that since they can't equal their ability or in many cases surpass their df
climbing abilities...that no one can. I was looking at the neat Cherry Pie pictures and riders were
not youngsters. I was thinking that I have NEVER met a regular recumbent rider in the 20 to 30 age
group....can't remember a whole bunch in the 30 to 40 year old age group. The late 40's to 50 and
above catagory is what I see most of. Seniors and Masters. Most young racerheads see recumbents as
geeky. I often wonder what a team of well Lance wannabees trained on state of the art sub 20#
recumbents would do to this climbing issue. Are there recumbent riders with the ability, genes and
training of a TDF caliber rider? IMO damm few. The field for comparison is so small its not
comparable. There are however a few billy goats that have piped up on this NG and BROL to say that
they ride hills with DF Cat2/3 guys and finish in the middle of the pack. One I can think of is 49.
When I met him I thought he was all of say.... 40/42. The team coaches/ trainers will tell you that
it takes time to adjust to a new ride. The muscles and technique required for climbing on a
recumbent differ. I say this because if I was to go get my sewup clad sub 20# DF out and go climb on
it I don't believe I would be equal to my climbing ability on my recumbent. The last time I was on a
DF was in November for all of 75 miles.
This subject is soooo much fun.
Jude....///Bacchetta AERO St. Michaels and Tilghman Island.. Maryland Wheel Doctor Cycle and Sports,
Inc 1-800-586-6645 "Chris Crawford" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> In article <
[email protected]>,
>
[email protected] says...
> > There's not a bent rider that I've ever seen or heard of, that could smoke a mediocre to good DF
> > rider in the hilly terrain I ride
in.
> > Maybe in Florida, but not where htere are numerous 11% grades on a 40
mile
> > ride that climbs >4000 ft. On a ride like that with 1-3 mile climbs, a
bent
> > can't catch up on the downhills and there are no flats. I know of only
one
> > flat in the area that is a little over 2 miles. A 60 mile ride that
climbs
> > only 3000 ft. is rated as a flat ride around here. Naturally bents are
a
> > rarety around here.
> >
> > Gene
> >
> > "EZ Biker

" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
> >
news:[email protected]...
> > > Re: He also rides with Pinto and Schlitter. Who must be extraordinary engines.
> > >
> > > Tom, I got to experience first hand, how FAST Pinto and Schlitter
REALLY
> > > are, at out Bacchetta Rally earlier this month in South Florida. Those
two
> > > were actually scoping on possible GO FAST DFer's to catch em and SMOKE
em!
> > > In a 10+ mph, 38 degree (Temperature) HEADWIND both of these REAL
KILLER
> > B's
> > > were rolling along at 25+ mph down A1A, with NO Problem at all. I know because I was fading at
> > > the time and barely holding on to my 22 mph on
my
> > > GRR Ti. For once I seem to really feel, that my fairing was actually hampering my over all
> > > performance, rather than helping it. Clearly
those 2
> > > guys were aerodynamically laid back with the only frontal area
sticking
> > up,
> > > being their head; a lot more narrow than my Zzipper fairing. I don't
know
> > > about anyone else (OK Tom Sherman, get ready...) but I'm convinced you
> > don't
> > > need a fairing, if your body is already aerodynamically placed on a
bike
> > > frame... especially if it's a Bacchetta! (Or similar SWB's as well) EZ Biker

Pompano
> > > Beach, Fl. (GRR Ti, Tailwind and SOON, Bacchetta
Aero
> > > Pilot)
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > "Tom Blum" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> > > > Amen to that statement.
> > > >
> > > > I recently rode with a new convert to the church of Bacchetta. He
was a
> > > > Novitiate (sp?) awaiting delivery of his steed.
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> Gene - where are you riding? I'm in Colorado and I have to chuckle when I hear all the "bents
> creaming roadie" stories. Of course I haven't seen any of these guys in the stories around here
> riding the Mt. Evans Hill Climb or doing the triple-bypass ride. I'm the only one out there on
> a bent. Survival is more the watchword when climbing 7 or 8 thousand feet against roadies on 18
> lb bikes.
>
> Chris