Chopper recumbents in New Mexico - Steve Briggs

For those of you who have been wondering as to
whatever happened to John Schlitter, well here it
is! He and his wife Janice have just opened a
new full service bicycle shop in Hays, Kansas.
The BIKE DEPOT is the shop's name and it is
located at 900 Main Street, in the heart of
downtown Hays, right next to the railroad tracks.
And I mean RIGHT next to the railroad tracks!
So if you call and it sounds like a freight train is
running through the shop, it probably is.
Recumbent bicycles will be the main focus of
the shop. John’s experience in co-developing the
RANS Recumbents over the last twenty five
years easily makes him one of the most
knowledgeable persons in the world on RANS
products. So don’t hesitate to give him a call if
you're in need of some help or you’re just a
RANS bike freak and need to talk. (But please
keep it short, they need him to get some work
done around the shop)
John and Janice are also avid SCREAMER
tandem riders and sponsor the local Hays Area
X-EYED underseat rack available from Bike Depot
Recumbent Mystery Solved!
Recumbent Drivers, H.A.R.D. with 6:00 a.m.
rides scheduled everyday of the week with
tandems or singles.
The Bike Depot will also be the exclusive
outlet for the up coming
X-EYED Design products by John and his
partner in crime, Mark Colliton. John and Mark
started X-EYED Design to give themselves an
outlet for all the ideas they’ve had over the years
but haven't had a chance to build yet.
The Mid-Ship Rack is their first project and
will help fund the other
things they want to build, like bikes! Yes, there
are bikes in the works, but they take time and
money. Soooo, if you want to help move things
along, order a rack and keep an eye out for more
X-EYED stuff in the near future.
You can contact John and Janice at 785-625-
5685, or e-mail bikedepo@ruraltel.net for your
recumbent needs or ride information in and
around the Hays, Kansas area.
Source: X-EYED/Bike Depot
Recumbent Rumors
BikeE—Tandems are being shipped. We have
heard a rumor of a 2001 RX road bike with a
bead blasted natural anodized frame and rear or
full suspension priced from $1395. We have also
heard rumblings of a more affordable BikeE.
Burley—Rumor has it that they are working on
a new SWB ASS performance recumbent.
Big Cat HPV—This new trike is designed and
built by Steve Delaire at Rotator and sold by Big
Cat HPV. It sells for $2300 + shipping. See
them at www.catrike.com
Easy Racers—The folding rear-suspension
model is being finalized for production. There is
a rumor of a Tour Easy and TiRush versions as
well as the Gold Rush version shown in
RCN#56.
Fools Crow—Ed Deaton is importing Challenge,
Flevo, M5, Zox (FWD) and other slick
European recumbents. See information at
www.foolscrow.com
Lightning—The new Raptor B2 is a 105
equipped redesigned Stealth. It comes with “V”
or drop bars, has a 44-inch wheelbase and 26-
inch rear wheel. An S & S coupled P-38 suitcase
model is also available.
Longbikes—Our Longbikes test bikes were
abruptly canceled this spring. Delays, production
problems and R & D woes (SWB seat and LWB
ASS) are some of the problems. Rumor has it
that production will soon cease until Taiwan
production can be ramped up.
ReBike—Due to overwhelming demand, this
recumbent is no longer available (what).
Yellowbike—This new company has imported
a container load full of European Optima
recumbents (lowracers, Euro low SWB and a
trike model) into the USA. These are said to be
premium quality recumbents and they are all
painted yellow (we like that!). See them at
www.yellowbike.com
Vision—Dealers are being pitched on the new
tall boy Saber SWB. We’ve only heard from one
RCN reader who has purchased one and one
dealer we know has one on closeout already.
WizWheelz—An updated model is now
available. Wiz reported their BEST sales month
ever after the RCN article in RCN#57.
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