How Many Recumbents Should I Own?

I have had 1, 2, 3, and four recumbents at various times. Concluded more than two requires too much maintenance time/cost and storage space. With more than two, bents sit around unused, taking up space and I feel as if I have wasted money. For the enthusiast, one isn't enough for a variety of reasons, including the need for a backup when the main ride is out-of-commission.

My conclusion -- two is the right number, a trike and a two-wheeler. My trike gets ridden the most because it is the most fun. I can do hours of carefree cruising in the country while listening to my iPod and/or doing solo Centuries, etc. The trike has gotten me involved with Georgia Trikers, a great group of trike riders. Trike groups are fun and provide a whole new experience, like trike pacelines and that "we are all oddballs" feeling. My two wheeler is there when I want to conform, go fast, socialize, and keep up with someone else who is on two wheels. I also love fast group rides on two wheels, an experience I wouldn't get if I only had a trike.

So, my recommendation is to buy two of the best recumbents you can afford and consider one trike and one bike.

But, you can get many other perspectives on this issue here.

Monster versus Carbon Aero - - Quasi-Time Trial

I arrived at my Longboat Key, Florida home on Tuesday, October 2 and decided to do time trials on the same course, under similar weather and traffic conditions with both my Trice Monster and Bacchetta Carbon Aero to compare times over the same distance and make other subjective observations about the differences between a performance-oriented trike and a two-wheel recumbent. The course is a 25 mile stretch of Longboat Key. The Key is about 10 miles long with a bike line on both sides of the only road, Gulf of Mexico Drive, running the entire distance. One full "lap" of LBK is about 20 miles. So, I added five miles to one lap as my TT course. The course is almost perfectly flat, although there is usually a 10-20 mile wind that is directly in my face for half of the ride. On both days the wind was about the same and the temp. was in the low 90s with high humidity. I rode the Monster on Wednesday, October 3 and the Carbon Aero on Thursday, October 4 and posted the results in BikeJournal.com.

I have my Monster set up with a 24 spoke rear aero wheel with a Hugi hub. Since this picture was taken, I have also added Dinotte 600 endurance series head and taillights. I use daytime running lights on Longboat Key because of the traffic, although when I did the 25 mile tt, the traffic flow was light. I didn't use the flag for the tt, fearing that it would produce unwanted drag. Although I call this a time trial, in reality I didn't go all out. I road hard beyond my comfort zone, but there was something left in the tank when I finished on both days. I felt that my level of exertion was about the same on both rides. I finished the Monster time trial in 1:30 (rounded), averaging 16.7 mph. The headwinds slowed me down quite a bit and feel I could have added more speed if I had gone all out on a wind free day.

Then I did exactly the same ride, exerting a perceived effort comparable to the previous day's ride on the Bacchetta Carbon Aero. The Aero is a pleasure to ride and the first thing I noticed was how effortless moving along on the Aero seemed. The Aero is set up with Nimble Crosswinds wheels and I use the same bike computer, a Polar 100 cs as on my Monster. I finished the 25 mile tt on the Aero in 1:21 (rounded), of 18.7 mph.

So, I completed the course under very similar conditions on both bents. The Aero, not surprisingly, was 1.9 mph faster. This pretty much tracks with the conventional wisdom of the speed variation between a two and three wheel recumbent. I know when I add serious climbing to the route the difference is much greater. Back in Atlanta on my 20 mile training loop in Northwest Georgia, I am about 3 miles per hour faster on the Carbon Aero compared to the Monster.

There were some other factors that seem to favor the Carbon Aero. I began to suffer some serious "hot foot" on the trike after about 20 miles of riding, wheras I completed the time trial on the Aero with no foot discomfort. Overall, I felt a bit fresher at the end of the ride on the Aero as compared to the Monster, but that is a very subjective observation. This doesn't take away from the Monster at all. For a trike, it moves along very nicely and over very long distances, where speed is not the primary issue, it might be preferable to the Aero for reasons of comfort and stability.

These are two terrific recumbents and I will continue to ride both, dividing my riding time about equally.

Progress report on my low fat vegan diet

For those of you interested, here is an objective and subjective progress report on the low fat vegan diet I started on July 16, 2007. For the 20+ years prior I had been on a lacto/ova vegetarian diet with occasional fish.My eating plan consists of whole starches (grains/legumes), vegetables and fruits. With some exceptions, I eliminated canned and packaged foods, refined sugars and all added fats/oils, including the so-called good oils like olive oil. I do add ground flax seeds to morning foods to get Omega 3/6 fat. I get about 10% of calories from fat.

The only supplements I take are a B12 vitamin, Saw Palmetto (for an enlarged prostate) and an enteric baby aspirin daily. I take no prescription drugs regularly.

I have averaged 150-200 miles per week on my bents during this period and lift weights 2 times/week.

I have eliminated most engineered bike foods including Gatorade, granola bars and Clif Bars, etc. I drink fruit juice flavored water or water with Nuun, on the bike and get my on bike calories (and electrolytes) from pretzels, sometimes Nuun, fruits and veggies that I carry along or buy at grocery stores. I have done 2 hot weather Centuries like this without a problem with cramping, etc. I will probably eliminate the Nuun entirely.

Objective results over the two month period:

o Total cholesterol dropped from 220 to 167.
o Weight dropped from 192 to 177.
o Blood pressure has actually increased for reasons I can't explain. I am going to continue to track. Think this is just a blip due to some life stresses I'm dealing with.

Subjective results

o I sleep much more soundly and wake more refreshed in the am. I didn't anticipate this. This is a terrific plus.
o I climb better on my bents and my recovery period after long rides is better. Alas, I am not faster, but seem to have more endurance.
o I eat in restaurants less frequently, but when I do, getting meals that conform to my plan is a hassle, but not too bad.
o Eating at friends homes is a bit awkward, but I notify in advance and it works okay. My new eating plan generates dinner conversation.
o I am increasingly convinced that much of the literature on protein needs is hogwash. My cycling has, if anything, improved. I get about 40 grams of plant protein/day. We will see if performance is sustained over the long haul.
o I don't miss added oils, processed, canned and packaged foods, or dairy foods. I do crave desserts that I've foregone.

In sum, I am very pleased thus far. I am a bit surprised how easy this transition is, but that could be because I started from a vegetarian base. I will make this a lifelong commitment along with bent riding.

Trike Ride with Central Georgia Cyclists

Trplay, Steve and I had a great ride on our trikes with the Central Georgia Cyclists yesterday, Saturday, August 25. Steve, who organized the ride, is a member of the group and lives in Perry, Georgia. Trplay rode over from Cochran and I took the 2.5 hour drive down from Atlanta.

We met at 8 am near the Georgia National Fairgrounds for the start. There were six other riders, all on diamond frames. At the outset, I thought that three trikes riding with a group of riders on conventional bikes might be a problem, but it was not. The group stayed together well throughout the ride, with various riders taking the lead throughout the morning. Our ride was over gently rolling terrain. We had two store stops to cool off and fuel up. It turned very hot around 10:30 am and there was very little shade.

It is really a treat to ride with other trike riders. Trplay, Steve and I ride at about the same pace and had a great time. Steve's Greenspeed X3, Trplay's Catrike 700 and my Trice Monster did a few relaxed pacelines and we continue to be impressed with the extra speed we can muster with trike pacelines. We certainly had no trouble staying with the other riders, even on the hills.

Some of the other riders were quizzing me on the safety of trikes. One asked whether I felt safe in traffic and I responded that I felt about the same in traffic as on a conventional bike. She was surprised. One of the barriers to more trike sales is the safety issue, even though I could tell that some of the other riders were envious of our relative comfort.

There are some drawbacks with mixing trikes and diamond frames on a ride. It is hard to converse while riding because of our low position. Also, while we can catch a slipstream from the upright bikes, they cannot from us, so there is some inequity. As it turned out, for some of the ride, the three of us rode in a little group, even though we all stayed together with the other riders for most of the time.

Central Georgia has some beautiful roads. At the parking lot after the ride we talked about our trikes and did a little test ride of each other's machine. Trplay's Catrike is set up for his shorter legs and I had a hard time getting the feel for it. It has direct steering and that long wheelbase I am familiar with on my Monster. It is a beautiful trike and is undoubtedly one of the fastest trikes in the world. Trplay and I were wondering what the next advances in trike engineering will be. Steve's X3 sits a little higher off the ground and has a plush ride with the Scorcher tires. The X3 is a nice little package which folds for easy transportation. Both the X3 and the Catrike have slightly wider wheelbases. The mesh seats help wick the sweat on hot days. My hardshell seat has some performance advantages but, even though it has ventilation holes, is probably less comfortable over long distances on hot days compared to the other two. Otherwise, my back feels better on a hard shell seat, although I have heard others sing the praises of both the Catrike and Greenspeed mesh seats, especially as it relates to comfort. I can see all three of these trikes doing well on the racetrack.

We covered 63 miles, and averaged between 14 and 14.5 miles per hour depending upon whose computer you believed. We pledged to expand our Georgia trike group (we now have four) and keep on riding together as much as possible.

Georgia Trike Riders

Yesterday, July 28, 2007, will go down in cycling history as the inaugural ride of Georgia Trike Riders. There were three of us -- Trplay, hailing out of Cochran, on his Catrike 700, Marshall, out of Macon, Georgia, on his Greenspeed GT3, and me, Atlanta, on my Trice Monster. We were a sight to behold cruising along the gently rolling hills of beautiful central Georgia. I would bet that the good folks of Bleckley County have never seen anything quite like it.

Trplay and I have been planning to put together a trike riders group in Georgia ever since we did our first ride together a couple of weeks ago, a 106 miler, on the Silver Comet Trail. We envisioned a group of 6-10 trikers training together and showing our stuff doing pacelines in some of Georgia's premier cycling events. Trplay is a strong rider, an experienced randonneur, and can show the rest of us all his long distance secrets.

It was an overcast warm day that threatened, but never delivered, rain. We started out at 9 am from Cochran. Trplay mapped out a route that included one fairly steep climb, for central Georgia. Mostly we cruised along chatting at about 14-16 mph on the rolling terrain and had a great time. One of our goals was to try out a couple of "trike pelotons." On one long stretch, I don't remember the exact mileage, we did a paceline, changing pullers about every 5 minutes or so. Since the three of us were inexperienced with pacelines, we were surprised at the speeds we could maintain. Even on long gentle inclines we were easily maintaining 22-25 mph. Our estimate was that if we could keep the pacelines going for most of a full metric or full century we could pick up at least 5-6 miles per hour as compared to riding solo. Trikes have a wide low profile, which, it seemed to us, is ideal for drafting, as long as you are doing it with other trikes.

Anyone else have experience with trike pacelines?

Our ride was about 68 miles. One of the other highlights was a celebration of Marshall's first metric century. He moves down the road well on his Greenspeed and we expect he has many cycling feats awaiting in his future. Marshall, trplay and I are looking for other Georgia trike riders to join us for future training rides. We would like to have a group interested in training hard together and riding in metrics, full centuries and possibly some brevets. If interested, please contact me. If you live within commuting distance in other parts of the Southeast, it also might be possible for you to join us for rides.

Our main goal is to have lots of fun riding together.
__________________

Customizing the Trice Monster

Trikes, maybe all bents, are nonstandard. It seems that many upgrades and modifications require some ingenuity because parts are not standard and every bike/trike model is different. This is either a plus or a minus, depending upon how you look at it. Some people like to fiddle, others do not. I have grown to like to work on my bents and get enjoyment from it.

Trike Work Stand - I bought the trikestand shown in this picture from trikestand@gmail.com. It was $299, which is expensive, but I have found it invaluable in working on the Monster without getting a sore back stooping over. The stand looks is sturdier than it looks and puts the trike at just the correct height. The trikestand comes apart in three pieces and is ideal for traveling. I keep it in the back of my truck and have used it often for pre and post-ride repairs.

Trike Lights

Shown above are the front and rear Dinotte lights that I have added to my Monster. Also notice the Radical Solo Lowracer bags that fit the Monster seat almost perfectly. My seat is a 2004 model. These bags may or may not fit later versions of the Trice carbon seat. I keep food for my journeys, spare tires and tubes and tools in the bags.

The headlight was easy to mount on the front derailleur post using a Terracycle Accessories Mount. The taillight took some ingenuity. I used one of the accessories mounts supplied by Trice with the trike attached to the rear dropout and secured to one of the fender stays. The light is held securely to the accessories mount and the battery pack is zip tied to the accessories mount. This setup works pretty well. I use the lights for my night rides and also on most day rides when their is traffic. I have received many positive comments from motorists about the increased visibility the Dinotte lights provide in heavy traffic.

Velocity 24 spoke 650c rear wheel with Hugi hub

I recently added a lighter, faster rear wheel. This is the smoothest rolling rear wheel I have tried on the trike. You will also notice that I have cut back the rear fender to provide some rain protection, but to reduce weight. The wheel was built up for me by All3Sports an internet triathlon shop that is based near my home in Atlanta. It is a very quite running wheel, which is especially nice for trikes since my head is so close to the rear end of the drivetrain. So far, the 24 spoke setup has held nicely. I will probably switch to a heavier duty rear wheel if I tour, but for day rides and group rides with two wheelers, this would be my choice.

Terracycle Idlers

I have replaced the stock Trice idlers with front and rear Terracycle Idlers. This accomplishes several things. First I have rid myself of most of the chain tubes, which makes for a quieter and smoother running drivetrain. There is still a short bit of chain tube for the return chain next to each idler. Secondly, the idlers provide, theoretically, a bit more power. Third, I save some weight not only from getting rid of the tubes, but also the mechanism that the tube clamps are attached to can be eliminated. I found that these idlers where tricky to install on the Monster, especially since Terracycle does not have the parts exactly customized to the Monster as yet. Using hardward parts and some new parts from Terracycle, I finally have it right.

Polar Wireless Computer

After trying the Garmin 305 Edge, I went back and bought a Polar computer. The Edge was not accurate. After calibrating my Polar to a 16" wheel I discovered that the Edge was measuring .5-.75 miles per hour slower. The Polar costs a lot less, although it doesn't have as many capabilities. The sensor is mounted close to the front right wheel and with the computer mounted on the main tube using another Trice accessories mount, it is within the 18" necessary to pick up the wireless signal. I get much more accurate and consistent reading with the Polar as compared with the Edge 305.

The Bicycling Paradox: Fit Doesn’t Have to Mean Thin - NY Times July 18, 2007


Andy Hampsten, the former pro cyclist, the only American ever to win the Tour of Italy, the first American ever to win the grueling Alpe d’Huez stage of the Tour de France, does his best to discourage casual riders from signing up for the cycling trips he leads in Tuscany.
"All of our trips are designed to satisfy experienced riders," Mr. Hampsten writes on his Web site. To train, he suggests, "you should ride at least 100 miles a week for at least 6 to 10 weeks" on routes with "as many hills as you can find."
So I had an image of what our fellow cyclists would look like when my husband, son and I arrived in Castagneto Carducci for a cycling vacation. They would look like Mr. Hampsten, who at age 45 remains boyishly thin and agile, bouncing with energy.
I was wrong. For the most part, our group consisted of ordinary-looking, mostly middle-age men and a few middle-age women.
These were serious cyclists. One of them was Bob Eastaugh, a 63-year-old justice on the Alaska Supreme Court who said he rode mostly to stay in shape for his true passion, downhill ski racing.
And our trip was challenging. The longest hill was 15 miles, the steepest had a 15 percent grade, the longest one-day ride was 90 miles, and the terrain was never, ever flat. It is hard to imagine that a group of middle-age adults could have handled an equivalently difficult 10 days of running. What, I wondered, made bicycling different?
It turns out that others, too, have been struck by the paradox of bicycling fitness.
"When I first got into cycling, I would see cyclists and say, ‘O.K., that’s not what I perceive a cyclist to be,’ " said Michael Berry, an exercise physiologist at Wake Forest University. Dr. Berry had been a competitive runner, and he thought good cyclists would look like good runners — rail-thin and young.
But, Dr. Berry added, "I quickly learned that when I was riding with someone with a 36-inch waist, I could be looking at the back of their waist when they rode away from me."
He came to realize, he said, that cycling is a lot more forgiving of body type and age than running. The best cyclists going up hills are those with the best weight-to-strength ratio, which generally means being thin and strong. But heavier cyclists go faster downhill. And being light does not help much on flat roads.
James Hagberg, a kinesiology professor at the University of Maryland, explains that the difference between running on a flat road and cycling on a flat road has to do with the movement of the athlete’s center of gravity.
"In running, when you see someone who is obviously overweight, they will be in trouble," Dr. Hagberg said. "The more you weigh, the more the center of gravity moves and the more energy it costs. But in cycling, there are different aerodynamics — your center of gravity is not moving up and down."
The difference between cycling and running is like the difference between moving forward on a pogo stick and rolling along on wheels. And that is why Robert Fitts, an exercise physiologist at Marquette University who was a competitive runner, once said good runners run so smoothly they can almost balance an apple on their heads.
Even Mr. Hampsten has been surprised by the cycling paradox. He recalls a woman from San Diego who went on one of his trips. "She was quite overweight," he said, and even though she claimed to be an experienced cyclist, he worried that she would have trouble keeping up with the group. He was wrong.
"She rode so well," Mr. Hampsten said. "Her cadence was very efficient. I was just amazed and delighted."
As for the effects of aging, serious recreational cyclists do slow down, but they are not penalized as much as runners by the passing of years, Dr. Hagberg said. It’s because cycling, while grueling, is not as demanding as running.
"The best example of that, in a bizarre way, is the Tour de France," Dr. Hagberg said. "What runner could go out six hours a day for three weeks and not be totally trashed after a day or two? That’s a microcosm of the aging issue."
Still, even the best serious recreational cyclist is almost a different species from a professional rider. How much faster, our touring group asked Mr. Hampsten, would a professional rider go up that 15 percent grade during a race? About twice as fast as the fastest in our group, he replied.
And how about recovery after racing? Mr. Hampsten used to compete in 100 races a year, including the Tour de France, and he would recover by going for a long, relaxed ride. It sometimes took him three hours of cycling to warm up after a hard race. Then he’d continue for another two hours.
But recovery does become a limiting factor for professional cyclists, Mr. Hampsten said. It’s why most professional riders can no longer win long, multiday races after age 32.
"It’s almost eerie that at 32 years, you stop winning," Mr. Hampsten said. "The endurance seems to stay, but recuperation doesn’t come around."
When Mr. Hampsten retired, he was 34, "and I hadn’t won a race in two years."
Now, he estimates, he is 80 percent as fit as he used to be.
But 80 percent for Andy Hampsten is still impressive. As soon as our cycling tour ended, he headed out on a fast ride that included a long hill to the town of Suvereto, taking a road with 187 switchback turns.
"It is my favorite road to ride," he said.■

Why are Trikes so Satisfying?

I split my time about 50/50 between my Aero and my trike these days. Why, you might ask, would I like riding a trike when I speed along so nicely and comfortably on the Carbon Aero? It isn't that I favor the trike, but there are some days and some situations where the trike is more satisfying.

The Aero blends in nicely with other riders of all types. It is no longer unusual to ride an event with several bents, most of them Bacchetta Corsas and Aeros, with some EasyRacers and Rans bikes. With the trike I stand out, which is both good and not so good. At a recent event I received a couple of negative comments from upright racer types. One queried, "Why do they make those damned recumbents so low?" as he sped by in his peloton. A few other riders actually stopped me to ask a bunch of questions and offer compliments. Okay, the truth is, on occasion I like being different. The attention and the conversations generated are fun.

Secondly, riding long distances on trikes is very satisfying. I don't go as fast. Sometimes I am as much as an hour slower on the trike for 100 miles. Nevertheless, it almost always is a great ride. I can stop at intersections without unclipping. I can relax at rest stops without dismounting and the way I have my Monster set up everything, including hydration bottles are close and convenient. Yes, the second truth is that sometimes I am a bit lazy when I ride.

Next, I have the sensation of speed even though three wheels move along somewhat slower than two. My closeness to the ground gives a very special sensation, especially on fast descents. Now I know what kids in their go-carts feel like. At 65, it is nice to feel young. I guess that is the third truth.

Trikes are mechanically very interesting. I enjoy obsessing over the merits of direct versus indirect steering, just the correct way to mount a mirror on each side, which tires will be the most durable given the pecular cornering characteristics of trikes. I can spend lots of enjoyable time experimenting with various rear wheels to see if I can squeeze out a little extra speed as well as making sure the two idlers on my Monster are running smoothly. The truth is I am not mechanically gifted, but I do like fooling with these things. My two wheeler is much simpler and straight forward. But, with my new trikestand, I can spend enjoyable hours fine tuning my three-wheeled machine.

And then there is that silly flag to make me visible in traffic. I never ride in traffic without the flag plus front and rear day running lights (Dinottes). My latest is an American flag made by a nice lady who specializes in making interesting flags. Riding around my neighborhood on Independence Day flying my colors was a special experience. Generated lots of attention. See truth number one. Does riding around on that low trike with the flag waving make me look like a dork? Probably.

Finally, there is a special bond between me and other trikers. We know we share something undefined and unspoken. I am hoping to assemble a small group of trikers who will periodically ride together and maybe even take on some challenges together, like Sebring 12/24, for example.

Yes, trikes are special and I'll probably ride one for many years to come.

MY RECUMBENT STORY IN BRIEF

I transitioned from being an avid runner to being a passionate cyclist about 30 years ago. My wife bought me a traditional upright bike since I had Walter Mitty notions of becoming a triathlete. Due to my dislike of swimming, I never made it as a triathlete, but cycling soon overtook running in my affections. Although I never raced, for many years I participated in as many cycling events as my work schedule would allow.

About six years ago I retired from my career as a management consultant. One of my first retirement projects was to organize a week long tour of the Upper Peninsula in Michigan with my then 32 year old son. Problem was that we didn't have touring bikes. My son had seen advertisements for recumbent bikes and he thought it would be a blast to do our tour on bents. We both bought Rans V2 long wheelbase bents and off we went.

My conversion to bents had nothing to do with being uncomfortable on upright bikes, or getting older or any of that. I tried it because my athletic son wanted a different kind of adventure. And in the process I found a form of cycling that was enormously satisfying and challenging.

After a year I sold the Rans and bought what I think was the first titanium Aero in the state of Georgia. One day I walked into a local bike shop in Atlanta at just the time they were assembling a Bacchetta Aero to be displayed in their showroom. I watched while they assembled the bike, was immediately smitten, did a test ride around the parking lot and bought the Aero on the spot. I rode that wonderful bike for three years and now have a Carbon Aero and a Giro 20 in addition to a recumbent trike.

Recumbent cycling in general, and Bacchetta in particular, have been major factors in the enjoyment of my retirement years. I have done countless Centuries and many long distance events. I have done Bike Ride Across Georgia five times, four of them on Bacchetta bikes. In 2003 I did a self supported tour of the East Coast on a Bacchetta Strada. Although I am certainly not going to win any speed records, or am I particularly competitive these days, I love riding and have averaged over 7500 miles per year since purchasing my first Aero. This year my goal is 8,000 miles.

I have been health conscious and have participated in various aerobic sports most of my adult life. Cycling has been an important factor in keeping me healthy. After spending many years on a traditional bike and now recumbents, I would urge both cycling veterans and newbies, regardless of age, to consider recumbents. They are loads of fun, easier on the body, especially over long distances, safe and every bit as challenging and performance oriented as upright bikes. Whether you are a leisure rider or serious competitor the recumbent design can meet your needs. I doubt that I would be riding as many miles if it weren't for the recumbent, especially the Bacchetta Aero, which is light, fast and able to eat up the miles comfortably.

I had no idea when I started my first bent ride how important cycling would be to my life. At every opportunity I am now an ambassador for sport of recumbent cycling.

TRIKE STAND

I have been using a new trike repair stand for about a month. It was developed by Brown Loper, a bike mechanic at the Silver Comet Depot in Atlanta. The cost is a bit steep, $299, but it works fine. It easily comes apart and I carry it with my trike in the back of my pickup truck.

The stand comes in three pieces that attach easily together with thumb screws. At first I thought it was a bit "flimsy", but after using it several times I discovered that it holds the trike very securely during repairs. It works fine for tunups, and all repairs that I have attempted. Recently I used it to do a quick cycling computer installation right before a long ride.

The trike stand can be purchased from Brown Loper trikestand@gmail.com.

First Century on the Trice Monster

Yesterday I completed the Sweet Onion Century in Vidalia, Georgia. I had planned to ride the Bacchetta Carbon Aero, but since rain was forecast I decided that the trike was a better choice. While it rained heavily the night before the ride, so much so that the electricity went out in my motel room, there was no rain during the ride. We started just before 7 a.m. and the weather looked threatening, but as we rode throughout the day the clouds disappeared and it actually became very hot and humid about noon.

I rode along with an acquaintance, Roger Zoul, who I met on BentRiderOnline. Roger is relatively new to recumbent cycling and he was aiming for his first full Century. We had a very pleasant time riding together. Roger rides a RANS Stratus dual 26. We had a very pleasant time riding together. We were engaged in interesting conversation most of the way and were able to help each other out at certain points of the ride. I had some fender problems, which cost us some time. Additionally, we were so engaged in our discussion that we missed a turn and went 3 miles out of our way. In all, that missed turn cost us about half an hour of time. Together with the fender issues, our finishing time was rather slow. Nevertheless, I did prove that riding a trike on a Century is a very pleasant experience.

Except for my perennial hotfoot problems and the heat in the afternoon, I was completely comfortable during the entire ride. I do lose a little speed on the trike, but if speed is not a major issue, riding long distances this way has some real advantages. Not having to unclip at stops, not having to be concerned about balance during climbing and being very fast and stable on descents offset some of the loss of pure speed.

I wish I could find a way to solve the hotfoot problems, which significantly detract from my comfort and speed during the latter parts of a long ride on a hot day. At the end of the ride, we were talking to two female riders who told Roger and me that they now ride without cycling socks and that seems to alleviate their problems with sore feet.

One of the really nice parts about this ride or the rest stops. Although we did not stop at every one, the people who staffed the rest stops were very pleasant. Our last rest stop was staffed by a Girl Scout troop and they were very attentive. My trike attracts a lot of attention, especially among children. At the end, as people were winding down, a couple of the race organizers took my trike for a spin around the parking lot.

If I ever do brevets in the future, trikes maybe the best way to go.

1500 Miles on the Carbon Aero

I will cross the 1500 mile mark on my Carbon Aero this week, so I thought I would update my impressions. First of all, I am very sad that the production of the Ti Aero has been suspended. That bike is a classic and hope we will see it back at some point. But, thanks to Bacchetta for bringing us the Carbon Aero. Without this wonderful bike, I would be sadly Aeroless.

Thus far, I am hard-pressed to find any significant flaws in this bike. I have had to fiddle a bit with the carbon seat to put extra padding in just the correct places to avoid "hot spots" on my tush. But, in fairness, the seat has an excellent pad and I am, for the most part, very comfortable on either short or long rides.

There have been some challenges getting sufficient carrying capacity. I like the Larry Graham headrest alot, especially for longer rides. The price I pay is that the Bacchetta Brainbox will not fit over the back of the seat, unless I fiddle with the seams of the bag, which I have not yet done. So I use a very good, but more limited capacity OFA bag. Since bladders are my preferred hydration approach, and I stuff a 70 oz bladder in the OFA, there isn't much more room to carry stuff. Now, I try to carry limited stuff because the bike is very light, and I want to keep it that way, but still I use tubulars and must carry at least one extra tire, two on Centuries and beyond. Unfortunately, my beloved FastBackSystem Norback will not fit over the belly that protrudes down from the main tube. The velcro holders are not long enough to fit around the belly. I have temporarily solved the problem with a plastic tie and can carry extra gear in the Norbak. Mike - we need a Norbak for the Carbon Aero!

Now that I am back in hill/mountain country and gone from the Florida flats, I have been able to test out the CA on hills. On my usual training ride around Stone Mountain Park there are plenty of short and longish steep climbs. The CA is a great climber with its stiff frame. I have Q-Rings on my FSA Carbon crank and the lowest chainring is a 30. The chainline on the CA prevents a 34tooth cog on the rear so my lowest in the back is 32. Rotor Cranks (Howie) claims, as I understand it, that given the extra climbing power provided by the Q-Rings a 30 works like a standard round 26 chainring. Thus far, I would say he is correct. I have plenty of low gear even for longish climbs in the 12 - 16 percent grade range. I have never gone Granny-Granny and think I can handle much steeper ascents with my current gearing. On my previous bikes I have used 53-39-26 and 11-34 in the back for Atlanta terrain. I am not a strong climber, and the CA gives me an extra mechanical advantage that I need.

I have also been pleased with the versatility of the bike. It goes anywhere --no problems at all in heavy Atlanta traffic. As a matter of fact, I feel very much in control on this bike, even at very low bumper-to-bumper speeds. I still do struggle a bit getting started when I get caught at a stop going uphill. Thanks to Terracycle mounts I can mount lights on derailleur post and off the back of my headrest, so I am also good to go at night. I haven't yet given the CA a good run on rough roads yet, but I am not expecting any surprises.

One bit of advice to other CA owners....check the torque on the seat bolts regularly. I carry my bike around in a pickup truck and the seat bolts gradually loosen over time due to the vibration. I tighten them before every 4th or 5th ride and they always need an extra 1/2 turn or so. The seat likes these bolts to be tight. I assume this is an issue with the Ti Aero as well.

I am hoping that Bacchetta can pick up production of the Carbon Aero, bring down the price, and get as many out there as its late Ti Aero brother. This is a great bike for performance-oriented riders to enjoy. I am looking foward to Bicycle Ride Across Georgia on the CA this year.

Cross Training with Weights

I am about halfway through reading Bike for Life by Roy M. Wallack and Bill Katovsky. Wallack is a world bike tourer and Katovsky is a former Ironman Triathlete. The theme of the book is about being able to ride a Century at 100 years of age. Sounds good to me.

The best advice given is that cyclists should NOT do only cycling. For longevity on the bike, they highly recommend weight training and yoga to maintain all the body's muscles and joints. To them it is not controversial, serious cyclists must weight train.....no debate. That is good enough for me, so I have started up weight training again, as cross training with cycling.

I used to be an avid strength trainer. Unfortunately, I gravitated away from weights when I became an avid recumbent cyclist. Although I have hit the gym intermittently, I have not observed any organized training program for about 2 years. That changed last week. I have committed myself to at least two sessions in the weight room per week in addition to cycling 3-4 days per week. I am aiming for 150-200 miles per week on the bike.

I did my first return to weights workout late last week and the next day I rode the Carbon Aero 47 miles. Boy, was I sore. The long steep climbs were torture because my legs were stiff and sore from the weight workout. I assume that after my legs get acclimated to the strength training I'll be okay, but I should probably avoid a session in the gym the day before important rides.

Wallack and Katovsky advise a program that concentrates on three groups of muscles: Those that are used by cycling, those that are ignored by cycling, and those that are damaged by cycling. The routine that I will follow is shown below. I have done two sessions and it feels very good. I have modified the routine a little but from the authors' recommendations, but what follows is essentially their program.


On-Bike Benefits of Strength Training

Strengthen the Core (Abs, hips, lower back)
Improve power
Maintain reaction time and balance


Off-the-Bike Benefits of Strength Training

Corrects imbalances
Adds stability
Strengthens unstressed muscles
Keeps you younger

The Program


Cycling specific exercises

Decline situp
Bench leg raises - lower abs
Stretches
Barbell dead lift
Leg curls
Calf raises
Zane squat
Single leg presses
Bench press
Single arm cable rows

Muscles that don't get worked by cycling

Leg presses with heel for Glutes
Upright rows
Pec flys
Tricepts
Seated rows
Deltoids

Exercises that undo cycling's damage

Back extension
Hip flexor lunge stretch
Row
Scorpion tail raises

Carbon Aero and VK2 - My Thoughts

I really hesitate to comment about speed because there are so many factors involved and it is impossible to be entirely factual. That having been said, here goes. You can take my experiences for what they are...my experiences.

I am a middle of the pack (MOTP) rider who has ridden a ti Aero for three years, a VK2 for one year, and a Carbon Aero for 1.5 months. My conclusion: they are all wonderful bikes. Unless you are a serious racer, I wouldn't worry about the speed differences.

The only real speed comparison I can give is between the Ti Aero and the VK2 because I have ridden those two bikes over and over again on exactly the same route under the same varying conditions. The route is an approximately five mile loop at Stone Mountain Park near Atlanta with about 360 feet of climbing per loop. There are some longish climbs reaching 10 % grade and some sections that you can build up optimal speed on downhills and rollers. For 3 loops I was consistently about 1.5-2.5 minutes faster on the VK2.

But, I have not done this comparison yet with the Carbon Aero, which I will do when I return to Atlanta (I am now in flatland Florida). The Carbon Aero is stiffer and I will not be surprised if my speeds on the CA compared to the VK2 are very close.

There is a school of thought out there, that I cannot yet prove, that highracers are better climbers than lowracers when you hit mountainous terrain. Seems logical, but, to me, the VK2 climbs very well. It feels about the same to me on steep climbs as compared to the Ti Aero. Again, when I hit the steep grades in Atlanta with the CA I'll get a better feel for it.

It is my "guess" based on nonscientific experience that the Carbon Aero and the VK2 are very, very close. Both are beautiful bikes and it depends upon whether one likes the high or the low racer configuration.

I will chime in on some other issues as well. The Carbon Aero is better engineered and more user-friendly than the VK2. I had a bit of a struggle getting my VK2 dialed in and working properly. For example, getting the boom length correct was a major event on the VK2. Adjusting the seat and dialing in the CA is a piece of cake. But once set up properly, the VK2 bike really flies and is very, very comfortable. The VK2 is a bit harder to transport because the front forks don't mount on a traditional bike rack. The chainline runs right next to the wheel and rubs against the wheel in sharp turns - a minor issue that rarely affected riding conditions. I am more confident riding the CA in almost any circumstance whereas I was a little hesitant to ride the VK2 in heavy traffic (I know, all in my head). Having ridden both, I feel a bit more at home on the highracer. The VK2 tended to freak out my local bike mechanics more than the Aero. If one is mechanically gifted, this is a non-issue. One drawback of the CA for those living in very mountainous terrain is that it will not handle a 34 tooth rear cog. The chainline likes a 32, but not, I discovered yesterday, a 34.

Finally, I am not a conformist, but the CA fits in better with other bent riders and DF riders. I wouldn't make too much of this, but there are a lot more highracers out there than lowracers. This does impact a bit on the social aspect of riding. When I ride with my buddies on their Corsas, we can converse more easily. There is a large contigent of Bacchetta riders in Atlanta and hardly another lowracer to be found.

This is more than you wanted, but I think the VK2 with all its strengths is a bit more tempremental than the CA. But, for lowracer lovers, it is probably hard to beat the VK2. The highracer design works better given the circumstances in which I ride.

New Bacchetta Giro 20

I picked up my new Giro20 from Power On Cycling in Plant City, Fla. this afternoon. Power On's owner, Mark Powers is an excellent recumbent dealer. His service is outstanding. He carries a wide selection of bents, and best of all, he is a bent rider who is very familiar with all the peculiarities of my favorite bikes. He is especially experienced with Bacchetta bikes.

This is my second recumbent purchase this year and it is only April. Well, I decided to complete my inventory of bents with a city assault bike to be used mainly in Atlanta and Sarasota for running chores and visiting family and friends. I am committed to spending less time in the car and more time on the bike, not just for training, but for activities of daily living. My Aero and Monster will undoubtedly get many more miles, but the Giro will be my functional bike.

Atlanta, and Sarasota in the high season, have lots of aggressive traffic and I needed a bike that would withstand the rigors of urban life. So I set up the Giro with wider tires (Kenda Qwest), fenders, front (Light and Motion Vega) and rear (Dinotte Taillight) lights mounted on two Terracycle accessories mounts, a Hostelshoppe seat bag and a kickstand. I have not had a bike with a kickstand in several years and I will welcome not having to find a post to lean the bike against. The lights will be used in flashing mode during daily rides as an extra safety feature. I have installed a Garmin 305 mount so I can keep track of my mileage even when piddling around and not training.

I suppose I could use either the Aero or the Monster for city riding, but decided that a more upright bike would be a bit safer, at least in my head. The Aero runs tubular tires and flats are very expensive, so using the Aero for daily runs to the store or visiting my mother, while doable, is not ideal. And I tend to employ the Monster as an alternative training bike used for country and trail rides. I ride the Monster in heavy traffic, but I'll feel more comfortable on the Giro for that purpose.

This is my last bike purchase for a long time (yeh, right). My stable is complete and barring any unforeseen circumstances I will be happy with this bike group for several years to come.

I haven't had a chance to get any mileage on the Giro20, except for a short test ride. As I get more experience I'll post my impressions. It is certainly a good looking bike and my impression thus far is that it will be ideal for its urban assault duties.

Bacchetta Carbon Aero



(Click on picture to enlarge)

I just reached 500 miles on the Carbon Aero. Here are my impressions.The bike rode flawlessly from the get go. I had to dial in the seat and headrest, but aside from that I was good to go right from the factory.

I ordered the CA with Terracycle Accessories Mount on the front derrailleur post and the back of the Larry Graham headrest, perfect for Dinotte headlight and taillight. Also requested were two water bottle cages affixed under each side of the Bacchetta carbon seat. I mounted an OFA seat back bag, which doesn't interfere with the headrest. I have plenty of carrying capacity. With a little extra padding under the shoulders, the riding position is supremely comfortable. The headrest is a plus for long rides when fatigue sets in. My longest ride has been 80 miles. That was actually the first ride. I had a little trouble readjusting to the higher bb, but that took about 15 minutes. It has been a year since I've ridden a highracer. By the way, Bacchetta has redesigned the seat struts and seat mounting plate making a more solid seat setup with less flex. It is an improvement over my previous ti Aero.

The bike rides solid and smooth. Rough roads are no problem. The frame absorbs shock very well. I had some Nimble Crosswinds 650c tubulars from a previous bike that I put on the CA. I love the ride of tubulars combined with the CA.

I have done several rides in heavy seasonal Florida stop and go traffic. The bike handles very well under these conditions. Visibility from the riding position is good. I feel as if I can ride this bike anywhere without concern. Being in Florida, I have done zero climbing on the bike, but from the feel of the solid frame thus far, I predict this will be an excellent climber, as Larry Graham has stated in his review.

The engineering is amazing in its simplicity. Bike shop mechanics shouldn't freak out when I bring it in for service. The frame has a "belly" under the main tube and I haven't yet figured out how to mount the CA on a traditional bike repair stand.

There are only three potential drawbacks that I can see to this high performance bike. First is the price. My feeling is that the CA is well worth it. But, others might see the Corsa or the Ti Aero so close....why spend the extra money? Second, the high bb is not for everyone. I love the reclined reclined seat, high bb combination. The foot position relative to the ground in stop and go traffic is not an issue for me. I can see where it wouldn't be for everyone though. Third, although the carbon frame seems very tough, it is vulnerable to being damaged in crashes and rough handling. I would probably be very reluctant to pack this bike up for shipping or carrying on a plane, although I might find an easy way to do this that would satisfy me.

Bacchetta produces wonderful recumbents and their customer service is outstanding.

Email from Francesco Volpi endorsing the Monster as a brevet machine

Ciao Howard

On my Monster = i have on rear XT hub with Mavic 317 32 holes and tire Specialized Pro 26x1 . On f= ront Ice disc hubs Alex rims 32 holes and Stelvio tires 26x1.

Yes Monster is= a great randonneur , fast and comfortable . I pedal also with great satisfact= ion my Baron but believe me there is not so much difference on long ride about = the finish time . In mountain there is a great difference between the two : mor= e relax with Monster ! When you stay on bike many many hours you need relax more th= en speed . For this reason i have decided to go to the next PBP 2007 with Mons= ter.

Ciao Francesco=

-----Messaggio originale-----

Da: Howard Vei= t @ 'BentRider Online Forums [mailto:ve= ithr@bellsouth.net]

Inviato: sabat= o 29 luglio 2006 17.14

A: Volpi F.

Oggetto: Monst= ers setup

Volpi,

I hope that yo= u are doing well and doing lots of riding. I am considering doing some long-dista= nce riding this year on my Monster and wonder whether you might share some information. I bought my Monster used, and it came with very lightweight wh= eels (Sun Rims) and Titanium spokes. The titanium spokes are quite fragile and I have already broken three. I am thinking about either getting a new set of front wheels. ICE sent me a set of hubs. What wheels do you run on your Monster? What tires? I read your post on the recent ultramarathon event that you did on your Monster. Congratulations! Do you use your Monster on all yo= ur ultra events? Generally, do you consider the Monster to be a good randonneur bike? Others have argued that a two wheel recumbent would be more efficient= and faster on such a ride. I agree, but there are trade-offs. The longest ride = that I have done on my Monster is about 100 miles. I finished comfortably but was about 45 minutes slower than my normal Century time.

Thanks in adva= nce for any insights.

Cheers, Howard=

--------------= ------------------------------------------

Le informazioni contenute in questo messaggio di posta elettronica sono riservate e confidenziali e ne e' vietata la diffusione in qualunque modo eseguita. Qua= lora Lei non fosse la persona a cui il presente messaggio e' destinato, La invit= iamo gentilmente ad eliminarlo dopo averne dato tempestiva comunicazione al mitt= ente e a non utilizzare in alcun caso il suo contenuto. Qualsivoglia utilizzo non autorizzato di questo messaggio e dei suoi eventuali allegati espone il responsabile alle relative conseguenze civili e penali.

My Next Bent - Bacchetta Carbon Aero

Several weeks ago while riding the Silver Comet Trail in Atlanta, John Schlitter, Bacchetta RAAM team member and co-founder of Bacchetta Bikes rolled up next to me. What a pleasant surprise. John was in town riding with the Atlanta Bacchetta group. We spent the next 15 miles or so riding together and chatting about his Carbon Aero and my VK2. The Carbon Aero is a very impressive looking bike and I learned plenty about it from John. Following the ride, we had an exchange of emails which resulted in my visit to Bacchetta Bikes in St. Petersburgh in mid-January. We spent a pleasant couple of hours discussing potential setup issues and I returned to my home in Sarasota with visions of Carbon Aeros dancing around my lustful brain. A couple of days later I pulled the plug and ordered one.

I am hoping for delivery in mid-February. Some of the special features will be:

• Nimble Crosswind 650c tubular wheels with Tufo S3 lite tires
• A custom headrest
• A light mount with a Dinotte taillight attached to the back of the headrest. We are still trying to figure out how to do this
• A Terracycle accessories mount for a Light and Motion headlight attached to the front derailleur post
• A FSA carbon crankset with 53-40-30 Q-Rings. I bought this crankset for my VK2, but due to the steep angle of the VK2 front derraileur post, shifting onto the ovalized Q-Rings does not work properly. So I am putting this FSA/Q-Rings setup on the Carbon Aero.
• Water bottle holders attached under the Bacchetta seat.
• Shimano Durace bar end shifters

I plan on spending lots of time in Florida during the next few years. I received my Medicare card today as my 65th birthday approaches. The Carbon Aero is my birthday present to myself. Afterall, if we have to get old, we might as well go in style.