Recumbent Cyclist News - Steve Briggs

BIKE: 2007 RANS DynamikPRICE: $995CONTACT: www.ransbikes.comBy Bob Bryant2007 RANS Dynamik Crank ForwardThe 2007 Dynamik offers the most value and is the best all-around CF in the RANSline. There are two more Dynamik models that are more extreme MTBs.For 2007 RANS has expanded theDynamik crank-forward (CF) lineinto three new and distinct models.Our standard Dynamik test bike has anew TIG welded aluminum frame thathas reduced the weight by four pounds!The bike also has lower gearing as well asless extreme "Metro" tires — more suitedfor recreational riding and commuting. Thenew Dynamik is a very refined product thatlooks and rides great and offers more valuethan most bikes we test. Read on to see ifa RANS CF might be in your future.USE: While designated a mountain bike,this Dynamik has urban commuter tires onit and is a more all-around bike. If you wanta more serious mountain version, read onto the "Comparables" section.SEAT & COMFORT: The heart ofthe RANS CF bikes is their proprietaryPoly-Spade seat. The seat base is wide,ergonomic and flexes a bit as you pedal.The seat cover has minimal padding — sobe prepared for firm comfort. The seat isunique and is certainly the finest seat ofits kind available today. The seat post isslotted so it always faces forward and thereis a quick-release height adjustment andtilt adjustment. I like my seat flat, tilteddownward ever so slightly. It took meabout three tries to get it right.Recumbent riders will immediatelynotice the lack of a seat back. While youdon't get full back support, the backlessdesign lightens and simplifies the bike— and you'll get less sweaty. There is alip on the back of the seat base that allowsyou to push a bit.RIDE: RANS’ new and lighter aluminumframe is stiffer than the previousCroMo frame — you know you’re ridingan aluminum bike. The Dynamik geometrymakes it so you can pull yourself offthe saddle to deweight, or stand up whenyou need too. In reality, I didn't do thisvery often. The Dynamik’s steeper headangle makes for a more technical, “pointand-shoot”steering geometry — quickerhandling than the cruiser-like Cruz. Theriding position of the Dynamik is also morestretched out. It’s much like the comparisonbetween a relaxed geometry cruiserbike and a modern mountain bike. The2007 Dynamik has a neutral feel with nofront-end flop or bad habits. The steeringgeometry is more refined than previousRANS CF models I’ve tried.PERFORMANCE: At 26 pounds— this is the lightest $1000 bike we’vetested. It rolled along effortlessly and comfortably.The bike seemed fast enough tome, but I had a difficult time keeping upwith my recumbent rider pals on the flats.The Dynamik could be even faster withsome CF training and faster tires.CLIMBING: To climb hills fast on aDynamik — stand up on the pedals. Incontrast, the sit-down technique has youpulling yourself into the bars to generatepower. While this works for some, I hadmixed success with this technique. Forme, climbing with a CF is no easier thanclimbing with a recumbent — unless youcan stand on the pedals.FRAME: The new lighter weight TIGwelded aluminum frame is made overseasfor RANS — but you'd never know it. Thefabrication quality is every bit as good asthe USA-built RANS frames.The lightweight RANS aluminum forkhas threadless steerer tube (1-1/8") and alsohas disc tabs on it.The handlebars are 1.5” rise RANS barson a 7” RANS stem. This combo seemedto work perfectly. Other stems and bars areavailable.COMPONENTS: The specs on thisbike are a good mix of decent components,but with an eye on value. All of the partsheld up well throughout our test. The onlypart I’m upgrading are the brake pads (toKoolstop MTB).The SRAM 3.0 rear derailleur shifted bythe SX5 twist grip is entry level for certain.While I have broken these shifters before,our last three test bikes have been okay. Iwouldn’t upgrade it until you have to. Theonly real downside to this combo is thatthey seem to need a cable tension adjustmentmore often.GEARING: The gearing (17.2-104 gearinches) is ideal for my all-around riding, itmay be too low for flat-landers or go-fastriders.CHAIN MANAGEMENT: This modelhas no chain idler, nor does it need one.The chain is longer than a standard bike,but you don’t notice it.BRAKES: The Tektro V-brakes are verygood. They can be even better with upgradeKoolstop pads. If you want to upgrade fromhere, make the jump to disc brakes. I likecheap and simple — so we chose the basicDynamik for this test.WHEELS: Our early 2007 model testbike had 2006 wheels on it, with AlexDA16 rims and Shimano Deore hubs. Thewheels were problem free. We did not getthe opportunity to try the new "Jet Disc"cartridge sealed bearing wheels.TIRES: The Metro Duro tires areideal for the recreational rider/commuter.The bike will easily accept more robustMTB tires or slicks. Marathons, Cometsor Kwests would make the bike perform- 17 -