switching from a trike to an upright? - Page 8

07-04-2004, 06:22 AM

On Sat, 03 Jul 2004 23:04:08 -0500, Mike Schwab <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>
wrote:

>I ordered an EZ-1 through my LBS, paid 504 less 10 discount,

Still doesn't compete with cheap or free, my friend.

And I'm not even talking about horrid 50 dollar X*Mart bikes; there's
an immense pool of old bikes out there of reasonable quality that
people merely *give* away.

Note that I'm not disputing any of the *technical* merits of the
recumbent bicycle--far from it. I'm merely suggesting that, for
someone who's new to cycling and who doesn't have much (or any!)
money, the price of even the cheapest recumbent is a significant
barrier to entry.

You will of course argue that the most expensive bike is the one you
don't ride--which is also true. But for someone who isn't *yet*
hooked on cycling as an activity, five hundred dollars may be a bit
too much to ask, especially where decent-quality uprights can be had
for half that price, and reasonable quality used bikes had for an even
smaller fraction.

-Luigi

07-04-2004, 03:45 PM

>
>Not to mention scary in traffic, I would imagine. A 700c or 650c recument is
>one thing, but a recumbent trike or lowracer are a bit low. Even with a flag
>I wouldn't feel safe playing with SUVs on one.

Off the top of my head, the only bike I haven't owned and ridden in traffic
would be a high wheeler..Penny Farthing, and I am looking for my chance just to
try one out, all bikes are fun.

While I do not ride in the 'big city' like San Francisco, in my little town, and
the country roads I ride, I do just fine in traffic with the cars and trucks
that rumble down the streets.

In my experience, the machine that I am least noticed on is a normal bike
Next on the list is the normal height recumbents
Adding a fairing increases visibility, particularly to oncoming, but seems to
help from behind
A regular tandem
A recumbent tandem
The trike, butt 8 inches off the ground, no flag, is most noticed.. to the point
that motorists stop and tell me I need a flag because they can't see me???? How
did you know I was there then?

The very unusual profile of a low slung three wheeled vehicle is just too
strange to not notice it seems. The only time I use a flag is when I am in an
organized ride so other cyclists will see me. Parking lots would be another, but
I don't often find myself in that predicament, so I am just extra careful....

07-04-2004, 03:45 PM

>
>Not to mention scary in traffic, I would imagine. A 700c or 650c recument is
>one thing, but a recumbent trike or lowracer are a bit low. Even with a flag
>I wouldn't feel safe playing with SUVs on one.

Off the top of my head, the only bike I haven't owned and ridden in traffic
would be a high wheeler..Penny Farthing, and I am looking for my chance just to
try one out, all bikes are fun.

While I do not ride in the 'big city' like San Francisco, in my little town, and
the country roads I ride, I do just fine in traffic with the cars and trucks
that rumble down the streets.

In my experience, the machine that I am least noticed on is a normal bike
Next on the list is the normal height recumbents
Adding a fairing increases visibility, particularly to oncoming, but seems to
help from behind
A regular tandem
A recumbent tandem
The trike, butt 8 inches off the ground, no flag, is most noticed.. to the point
that motorists stop and tell me I need a flag because they can't see me???? How
did you know I was there then?

The very unusual profile of a low slung three wheeled vehicle is just too
strange to not notice it seems. The only time I use a flag is when I am in an
organized ride so other cyclists will see me. Parking lots would be another, but
I don't often find myself in that predicament, so I am just extra careful....

07-04-2004, 03:45 PM

>
>Not to mention scary in traffic, I would imagine. A 700c or 650c recument is
>one thing, but a recumbent trike or lowracer are a bit low. Even with a flag
>I wouldn't feel safe playing with SUVs on one.

Off the top of my head, the only bike I haven't owned and ridden in traffic
would be a high wheeler..Penny Farthing, and I am looking for my chance just to
try one out, all bikes are fun.

While I do not ride in the 'big city' like San Francisco, in my little town, and
the country roads I ride, I do just fine in traffic with the cars and trucks
that rumble down the streets.

In my experience, the machine that I am least noticed on is a normal bike
Next on the list is the normal height recumbents
Adding a fairing increases visibility, particularly to oncoming, but seems to
help from behind
A regular tandem
A recumbent tandem
The trike, butt 8 inches off the ground, no flag, is most noticed.. to the point
that motorists stop and tell me I need a flag because they can't see me???? How
did you know I was there then?

The very unusual profile of a low slung three wheeled vehicle is just too
strange to not notice it seems. The only time I use a flag is when I am in an
organized ride so other cyclists will see me. Parking lots would be another, but
I don't often find myself in that predicament, so I am just extra careful....

07-04-2004, 03:45 PM

>
>Not to mention scary in traffic, I would imagine. A 700c or 650c recument is
>one thing, but a recumbent trike or lowracer are a bit low. Even with a flag
>I wouldn't feel safe playing with SUVs on one.

Off the top of my head, the only bike I haven't owned and ridden in traffic
would be a high wheeler..Penny Farthing, and I am looking for my chance just to
try one out, all bikes are fun.

While I do not ride in the 'big city' like San Francisco, in my little town, and
the country roads I ride, I do just fine in traffic with the cars and trucks
that rumble down the streets.

In my experience, the machine that I am least noticed on is a normal bike
Next on the list is the normal height recumbents
Adding a fairing increases visibility, particularly to oncoming, but seems to
help from behind
A regular tandem
A recumbent tandem
The trike, butt 8 inches off the ground, no flag, is most noticed.. to the point
that motorists stop and tell me I need a flag because they can't see me???? How
did you know I was there then?

The very unusual profile of a low slung three wheeled vehicle is just too
strange to not notice it seems. The only time I use a flag is when I am in an
organized ride so other cyclists will see me. Parking lots would be another, but
I don't often find myself in that predicament, so I am just extra careful....

07-04-2004, 03:45 PM

>
>Not to mention scary in traffic, I would imagine. A 700c or 650c recument is
>one thing, but a recumbent trike or lowracer are a bit low. Even with a flag
>I wouldn't feel safe playing with SUVs on one.

Off the top of my head, the only bike I haven't owned and ridden in traffic
would be a high wheeler..Penny Farthing, and I am looking for my chance just to
try one out, all bikes are fun.

While I do not ride in the 'big city' like San Francisco, in my little town, and
the country roads I ride, I do just fine in traffic with the cars and trucks
that rumble down the streets.

In my experience, the machine that I am least noticed on is a normal bike
Next on the list is the normal height recumbents
Adding a fairing increases visibility, particularly to oncoming, but seems to
help from behind
A regular tandem
A recumbent tandem
The trike, butt 8 inches off the ground, no flag, is most noticed.. to the point
that motorists stop and tell me I need a flag because they can't see me???? How
did you know I was there then?

The very unusual profile of a low slung three wheeled vehicle is just too
strange to not notice it seems. The only time I use a flag is when I am in an
organized ride so other cyclists will see me. Parking lots would be another, but
I don't often find myself in that predicament, so I am just extra careful....

07-04-2004, 04:03 PM

On Sun, 04 Jul 2004 23:45:59 GMT, Mike Euritt
<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

>The trike, butt 8 inches off the ground, no flag, is most noticed.. to the point
>that motorists stop and tell me I need a flag because they can't see me???? How
>did you know I was there then?

The fact that the tricycle takes more of the lane than the two-wheeled
machines probably has a lot to do with this. Motorists dont' like
narrow things like bicycles or motorcycles, but will give tractors,
horses, construction equipment, lawn mowers, etc a very wide berth
because they seem to occupy the whole lane.

The lesson for two-wheeled traffic here is to take more of the lane if
you wish to be seen, especially in situations where being passed would
be unsafe.

By the way, I wouldn't be wild about riding your rig here in suburbia.
The cellphone-chatting, hummer-driving trophy wives have their
attention anywhere but on the road...

-Luigi

07-04-2004, 04:03 PM

On Sun, 04 Jul 2004 23:45:59 GMT, Mike Euritt
<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

>The trike, butt 8 inches off the ground, no flag, is most noticed.. to the point
>that motorists stop and tell me I need a flag because they can't see me???? How
>did you know I was there then?

The fact that the tricycle takes more of the lane than the two-wheeled
machines probably has a lot to do with this. Motorists dont' like
narrow things like bicycles or motorcycles, but will give tractors,
horses, construction equipment, lawn mowers, etc a very wide berth
because they seem to occupy the whole lane.

The lesson for two-wheeled traffic here is to take more of the lane if
you wish to be seen, especially in situations where being passed would
be unsafe.

By the way, I wouldn't be wild about riding your rig here in suburbia.
The cellphone-chatting, hummer-driving trophy wives have their
attention anywhere but on the road...

-Luigi

07-04-2004, 04:03 PM

On Sun, 04 Jul 2004 23:45:59 GMT, Mike Euritt
<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

>The trike, butt 8 inches off the ground, no flag, is most noticed.. to the point
>that motorists stop and tell me I need a flag because they can't see me???? How
>did you know I was there then?

The fact that the tricycle takes more of the lane than the two-wheeled
machines probably has a lot to do with this. Motorists dont' like
narrow things like bicycles or motorcycles, but will give tractors,
horses, construction equipment, lawn mowers, etc a very wide berth
because they seem to occupy the whole lane.

The lesson for two-wheeled traffic here is to take more of the lane if
you wish to be seen, especially in situations where being passed would
be unsafe.

By the way, I wouldn't be wild about riding your rig here in suburbia.
The cellphone-chatting, hummer-driving trophy wives have their
attention anywhere but on the road...

-Luigi

07-04-2004, 04:03 PM

On Sun, 04 Jul 2004 23:45:59 GMT, Mike Euritt
<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

>The trike, butt 8 inches off the ground, no flag, is most noticed.. to the point
>that motorists stop and tell me I need a flag because they can't see me???? How
>did you know I was there then?

The fact that the tricycle takes more of the lane than the two-wheeled
machines probably has a lot to do with this. Motorists dont' like
narrow things like bicycles or motorcycles, but will give tractors,
horses, construction equipment, lawn mowers, etc a very wide berth
because they seem to occupy the whole lane.

The lesson for two-wheeled traffic here is to take more of the lane if
you wish to be seen, especially in situations where being passed would
be unsafe.

By the way, I wouldn't be wild about riding your rig here in suburbia.
The cellphone-chatting, hummer-driving trophy wives have their
attention anywhere but on the road...

-Luigi