C y c l i s t Recumbent - Steve Briggs

Letters 2005 Continued from page 7I am looking for advice from you o whatrecumbent can climb best and is fast and stablewithout a twitchy front end. I’m selling myLemond racer for the ultimate recumbent.Edward KemenaEditor Comments: What makes a good climberis a light and efficient bicycle that you are comfortableon. Most performance oriented cycliststhese days would probably sat that is alightweight highracer, such as a BacchettaAero, Volae or RANS Force 5. These are tallbikes with reclined seats and high bottombrackets. I would agree that they are goodclimbers, but they are road performance bikesand may not be the best for all around rides,touring, commuting, etc.Before highracers came along, bikes like theLightning P-38 and RANS V--Rex were consideredgood climbers. I climbed the Rockieson a V-Rex and would agree that it is a fineclimber. I would choose one over a highracer,though I believe the highracer is probablyfaster.The Easy Racer Gold Rush Replica andTiRush are fine climbers. They probably offerthe best mix of performance, user-friendliness,high speed handling and stability. They arealso fine all arounders (your, commute, clubrides).I suggest reading all you can on the bikesthat make your list and then ride several beforeyou spend your money. ◆. . . Safety by continued from page 21booklet has sold 300,000 copies. Clubs and organizationscan purchase the book in bulk atreasonable prices. You can also buy a singlecopy online at: www.tamassee.com or you canread it online at: www.bikexprt.com/streetsmarts/index.htm.2 SEAT BIKEDRIVES LIKE A CAR• Easy to Pedal• Multi-Speed• 1, 2 & 4 Seaters• Optional Electric MotorFREE BROCHURE1-800-974-6233 Ext. 16186 • www.4wc.com/#16186Dept. 16186 • 125 Rhoades LaneHendersonville, Tennessee 37075www.bicyclesafe.comwww.commuterbicycle.comwww.bicyclecommuter.comwww.bikeforums.net (active commuter thread)www.bikeleague.orgwww.urbancycling.com (Mike Librik and AmyBabich from Easy Street Recumbents teach acourse in the Austin, TX area.)EASY RIDERS RECUMBENT CLUB MAGAZINETo order a sample issue, or tosubscribe: www.geocities.com/e_r_r_c or sample copy $5 to:Connie McAyeal, PO Box 1688,North Plains, OR 97133-1688BooksBicycling Street Smarts (see above)Urban Bikers’ Tricks & Tips by DaveGlowacz: This is a good-natured graphicallyorientedbook that is a really fun read and willhelp you select a bike, fix your bike, and rideyour bike. The book is full of tricks and tips.This is a must read.The Art of Urban Cycling: Lessons fromthe Street, by Robert HurstThis is a book of essays about urban cyclingand the like. I was somewhat disappointed withthis book until I got to the Beyond VehicularCycling chapter which really empowered meand my own urban cycling style. These chapterswere worth the cost of the book. ◆Atlantic Bicycle is one of the east’s largest recumbent dealersoffering models from RANS, Haluzak, Lightning, Easy Racers,Burley, Sun and others.6350 West Atlantic Blvdin Margate, Florida(near Ft. Lauderdale)www.atlanticbicycle.com888-41-BENTS or 954-971-9590Bike Technology FromA Different AngleStock and Custom Spec’ed RecumbentBikes, Trikes and Tandems!Bacchetta• Bacchetta• Easy Racers• RANS• HP Velo• Vision• Greenspeed• Haluzak• Quadraped• mC2• Altitude• Tandems• Aerotrunks• Bags• AccessoriesCALL 800-793-3038www.angletechcycles.com28 Recumbent Cyclist News