Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Laid back


I popped into bikefix today to pick up a spanner as my brooks is creaking like a good 'un. i couldn't even wait until i got home, the noise is just too much...

anyways, there was a very nice chap in there, we didn't get as far as shaking hands or exchanging names, but he was extolling the virtues of all things recumbent. he had his own machine in there, which looked far from my preconceived image of said machines, actually, he also broke that mental image.

basically, it was cool, i'm shocked to admit that, i've always admired the engineering (and the crazy chain length), but never, ever have i been tempted. until now.

i think it was the talk of hitting 30/40 mph that did it. but that was probably him more than the bike, i'm 'carrying' more...

it'll never wash with keito though.

5 comments:

Blue-eyed Devil said...

Ha, it's all in the aerodynamics...

High nerd factor notwithstanding, recumbents are faaast. Fastest land record was 81 mph, and was set by a 'bent (the 152 mph record was set by a conventional bike, but it drafted a pace car), though with its aero cowling, it resembles nothing like the 'bents you see on the road, ha.

horn said...

have you ridden one? i'm curious...they look quite scary...

Jerome said...

Bents are pretty bitchen. I've got the Volae pictured, and I've hit 80kph. You do the math. Uber comfy too. Cheers.

horn said...

i'd love one. now i just need to convince keito that we have room for one in the flat... oh and my bank manager that it's an investment...

one thing, do you ride in traffic? and if so, how's that? the physical height would make me nervous.

horn said...

oh, and i realize that is probably a VERY predictable question...