G S Banner wrote:
> But what about when you're approaching a car from behind - eg passing a line of stationery
> traffic. Aren't you a bit low to be seen in their wing mirrors?
It depends on the bike. My 'bent (a Streetmachine GT like Danny's) puts me about the same seat
height as I am in my Volvo 740, not exactly the world's lowest slung car, and quite a bit higher
than my friend in his Lotus. I don't think anyone much writes of Elises as dangerously low to
the ground...
> Yes... this was quite an eye opener! I have to confess that I enjoy climbing on my road bike more
> than descending. Basically, I'm get scared shitless descending at speed - it's the psychological
> fear of what would happen *if* I fell off.
But of course you are limited by a design that's bad for descending on roads. Being lower with
potentially better weight distribution a 'bent can corner significantly better than a wedgie, you
can see where you're going by default and if you do have to slam on the anchors or if you hit a big
hole at speed you're *very* unlikely to exit via the sky over the bars. And since a 'bent is also
more likely to be suspended than an upright road bike you're less likely to lose it in corners
anyway due to poor road surfaces, however it is you actually might crash...
> Once got frame shudder descending on my road bike fitted with aero bars
Ah, aero bars... devices that limit your control of the bike to attain an unnatural position of less
aerodynamic worth than can be achieved by sitting in a more sensible position to start with... A
'bent (at least one of suitable design) is just much better downhill on road than an upright road
bike. If you were on a better tool for the job, you'd probably enjoy it a lot more!
> **** myself there and then. MTBing has always struck me as a competition to see who breaks their
> collar bone last.
Sometimes seems that way, but simple fact is that on the rough an MTB is the best descent tool there
is, so you have more control if you choose to exercise it as an alternative to pushing the envelope
of what can actually be done. Same with a suitable 'bent descending on roads.
> "wedgies" "bents" - where the hell did those names originate??
It's not "bent", but "'bent": a simple abbreviation of "recumbent". "Wedgie" comes from the effect
of having your bumwear forced up your backside, though from sitting on a saddle rather than having
someone heave your pants out of your trousers manually. Which brings us back to the usual reason for
riding a 'bent, which is it's more comfortable. And that doesn't just mean more, it means an *order
of magnitude more*. I ride a Brompton for short trips as the fold makes it more convenient, but for
any sort of distance it's really a case of why on earth would I want my weight spread between my
arms on thin tubes and my bum on a wee triangle of leather when I can have it on bum and back
together on a large, sprung and generously padded chair which doesn't require a neck-crick to see
where I'm going?
(Oh, and it carries luggage much better as well, with lowrider panniers under the rider between the
wheels, *exactly* where weight should go, and rear panniers drafted by the seat.)
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/
