[email protected] (RANS396) wrote in message news:<
[email protected]>...
> I've had a VREX for 3+ years. I still like it, some days I fly like the wind on it. I had been
> thinking about a trike TT 3.4. It sounds like I would be slower on a TT 3.4. True? So lately I've
> been thinking about two wheels again. Would a Giro feel too much like the VREX? The Giro has a
> longer wheelbase, besides a smoother ride what else does the longer WB do? I don't want to go over
> $2000.00. I'll be keeping the VREX. Would I have problems going back and forth between a high BB
> and a lower BB?
If you can go slightly north of $2000 then I heartily recommend a Barcroft Virginia. I had a 'Rex
for 2 years and 3600 miles. I then started looking at alternatives as I wanted more performance. I
tried a lot of different recumbents and decided that there just wasn't anything out there that was
worth giving up my Rex for (for me). As an afterthought I rode the Virginia. Its handling was
similar to the V-Rex which I liked, but it was longer, lower, more stable, faster, climbed better
and gave me more performance. It isn't the all around bike the V-Rex is (only handles narrow
tires, doesn't use fenders, doesn't carry as much) but since I wanted more performance in a
package that I felt comfortable with, this was the bike. For more versatility I would look at the
Barcroft Dakota. Has more all around attributes and slightly less performance. I rode the Giro but
thought it to be the same as the V-Rex. The V-Rex is a stable bike. The longer wheelbase of the
Barcrofts (or the Giro) gives them slightly more stability at speed. It may rob them of a little
slow speed turning performance (a u-turn would be a little wider) but other than that no ill
effects. I now have 2700 miles on my Virginia and for the first time in a long time am not
considering another bike. It is a great machine. And with Barcroft you can pick and choose colors,
components, etc. Good luck on your search.
Mike S. St. Louis, Mo.
Barcroft Virginia Barcroft Columbia RANS Rocket