———- Message ———-

Subject: This recumbent life

From: J. E.
To: “Robert Matson”

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Hello, Robert!

I just thought I’d drop you a note to say how much I’m enjoying my trike [an HP Velotechnik Gekko fx 20 recumbent trike]. I’ve been a little tough on it when folding/unfolding, resulting in some scratches in the paint, but other then that it’s been great fun.

Thanks again for all your good teaching and service; I’ll keep you in mind when I have time to plan an adventure outing.

Hope you are well.

Best regards,

J.E.

[J, May I post your note to my website? – R.M.]

You surely may use my note, although it’s not very well written. Throw in there that it’s comfortable, fast and turns heads when I zip by!

Thanks again!

J.E.

HP Velotechnik Scorpion fs 26 available now on short-order

Quick 5-day shipping on HP Velotechnik’s Scorpion fs 26 “USA configuration” (ready in only 5-10 days). This SCfs26 is pre-configured for the USA market — good basic upgrades, nothing outlandish. Main thing: instead of waiting 5 weeks for a custom build, you can have it in 5-10 days! Available only in the USA. Call or write for info.

In stock right now at New York City Recumbent Supply for demo rides

HP Velotechnik

– Scorpion fs 26
– Gekko fx 26
– Gekko fx 20
– Speed Machine
– Street Machine
– Grasshopper fx

Cruzbike

– Vendetta A20
– Silvio S30
– Quest Q559

What an incredible journey.

Matthew Hopkins, a friend/customer just arrived Ushuaia, Patagonia.  He started in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska.  (Matthew rides an HP Velotechnik Street Machine Gte.)

His blog:
http://theroadoflittlemiracles.ghost.io/

His Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/theroadoflittlemiracles/?fref=nf

Jim Lipscomb, one of my Cruzbike customers/riders recently wrote Maria Parker (Cruzbike) and me an explanation of why he believes the Cruzbike is faster on hills.  For those of you who do a lot of research into recumbent bikes, I thought you might be interested in reading his analysis.

Dear Maria,

You mentioned that: “… I’d like to hear your explanation for why it (Cruzbike) is faster on hills.”

My take:
Cruzbikes appear to be at least 1 mph faster than other recumbent bikes overall.  In detail, faster both on hills and on the flats too (100-mile record on V20:http://cruzbike.com/blog/2015/10/13/record-report-oslund-sets-100-mile-record-on-v20/ ).

Firstly, this is real.
* I timed rides overall under various conditions of my Cruzbike Silvio vs. my Volae team, both bikes half-way racing recumbents.  The Silvio shows a 1, 2, and 3 mph advantage depending on test conditions.  My tests were pretty skimpy and comparing apples to oranges, so the fewer details the better.  I’ll officially go with 1 mph to the Silvio.
*  Ben Tomblin reports 1 mph faster overall over Bacchetta CA/2 in his report on the Solo Hoodoo 500
http://03bbf98.netsolhost.com/blog/2015/09/30/race-report-ben-tomblins-solo-hoodoo-500/

The magic is not so much what is in the Cruzbke, but the anti-magic on standard recumbents.

(1) The main reason for Cruzbike speed seems to be that power goes from the pedals to the ground.  Dirty little secret of the recumbent business: Traditional recumbents have long chains with losses in
* idlers (each link in the chain must climb a tiny hill to pass over an idler),
* chain stretch with each power pulse (3 times longer straight stretch of chain under tension),
* frame bend (the long distance between hubs gives purchase to substantially bend the traditional recumbent frame).
totaling to as if lightly dragging the brakes.  If you ever had brakes just very lightly dragging, so lightly that you have to spin the wheel and listen to hear the rubbing, you know that even that little bit can lose 1 mph.  It does not take much.  Sorry, nobody has numbers; it’s a crime.

(2) Another reason, secondary in my experience, that Cruzbikes are faster is that riders can rock the frame to push it against the pedals.  I say this is less of a factor, because all of my speed numbers above (1, 2, and 3 mph in different test conditions) I got without any frame rocking.  Frame rocking is highlighted in http://cruzbike.com/records   My experience is that I think I can get an additional 1 mph up a hill with frame rocking, just an estimate, looking at the speedometer.  This is just on hills, and just for as long as I’ve got the arms for it.

(3) Weight seems to have comparatively little to do with speed.  Cruzbikes are heavy compared to other racing recumbents, which can be a big source of skepticism:
* 26 lbs Cruzbike V20
* 21 lbs Bacchetta Carbon Aero
* 15-16 lbs Carbent Sea Dragon or Raven Pro with lightweight components
However, the Bicycle Speed Power Calculator at
http://www.kreuzotter.de/english/espeed.htm
shows that for my weigh and speed at least:
30 lbs = 1 mph difference climbing a hill,
pretty much independent of speed.  Adding 30 lbs slows the climb from 6 mph to 5 or from 15 mph to 14 mph.  So the 5-10 lb heavier V20 loses only 1/6 to 1/3 mph on account of weight.  Not significant compared to Cruzbike gains listed above in the 1+ mph range.

SUGGESTION
I suggest updating your webpage
http://cruzbike.com/records
combining points 1-3 above.
Just focusing on frame rocking is focusing on a minor aspect of speed and does not address weight skepticism.

WHY
So, why am I writing now?  If you have been following the Tarzan Ride, Kurt Searvogel’s High Annual Mileage Record (HAM’R) ride, you may have heard that he rode a Bacchetta part of the time.

https://www.facebook.com/tarzanrides/

And just today as he finished he wrote:
“It appears that we finished this endeavor …. Today we are … before heading to Vite Bikes tomorrow to pick up a bent for Alicia. If she is going to go after the women’s record she will need the right tools and training. ….”

Oh noooooo.  I wrote in reply my short version, as you can see on that facebook page:
James Lipscomb   ‘Sigh, “… heading to Vite Bikes tomorrow to pick up a bent … right tools ….” No Cruzbikes that I saw on the Vite Bike page. Riding part-time a non-Cruzbike recumbent probably cost Kurt 1,000 miles. Dirty little secret of the recumbent business: Cruzbikes seem to be at least 1 mph faster than other racing recumbents, whose long chains have losses in idlers, chain stretch, and frame bend, as if lightly dragging the brakes (weight has comparatively little to do with speed). Nobody knows, except the few Cruzbike riders. For me the ride difference is ohgodohgodohgod.’

Regards,
Jim Lipscomb

Eat, sleep, ride, Jim,

Robert

This review of the HP Velotechnik Scorpion FS 26 S-Pedelec was recently posted by Electric Bike Review. It’s a relatively extensive review.  I hope it might help riders who are shopping for a high-end electric trike.

(My own review of the S-Pedelec is simply: “Great machine. It’s basically a one-person electric sports car.”

– RM

New Cruzbike race reports just arrived.

These well-written, entertaining and informative stories contain great tips for riding Cruzbikes in general, and the Vendetta in particular. (These tips apply to the Silvio as well.) They also describe some easy customizations these riders made as a normal course of making the Vendetta optimally fit their bodies. Another thing both these stories illustrate, because both riders were new to Cruzbikes, is that the muscles involved are nearly identical to those needed for running and cycling on a standard frame bike, removing one of the barriers to “going recumbent,” namely, the long period of building recumbent-specific muscles.

Jason Perez’s 24 World Championship on a Cruzbike Vendetta

474 miles in 24 hours. Winner: First American, First Recumbent

Jason is a mountain bike racer who rode a 24 hour race on a Cruzbike recumbent with only 6 weeks to learn how to ride a Cruzbike.

Race Report: Rob DeCou’s 24-Hour World Championship on a Cruzbike Vendetta

374 miles in 24 hours

Rob placed 16th overall after only a few months riding his Cruzbike Vendetta V20. Rob is taking on Solo Race Across America 2016 on the V20, representing Cruzbike and racing to beat brain cancer for 3000 Miles to a Cure.

Some people are under the impression that you need to be named “Rob” or “Robert” to ride a Cruzbike.  Strictly speaking, that’s not true, however it does seem to help.

Ride on,

Rob (Matson)

Next weekend, I’ll be at the Philly Bike Expo (in Philadelphia) and so will Cruzbike and Rad-Innovations.  You’ll be able to find me with the Cruzbike team at their booth.  And, on Sunday, if you want to ride with me, I plan to do the 7am group ride if it works out in terms of timing and competing demands.  Come and join us!

Home

Bik + Rid,
Robert Matson

HP Velotechnik accessory mounts: rear light without rear rack, water bottle, computer

I’m posting this short e-mail conversation with a customer because these questions get frequently asked.

Hi Robert,

Question: If I get the B&M Dymotec light system, do I need to also get the rear rack to attach the rear light to? I was thinking of skipping the rack for now, but think I will get the lights.

I worked up a configuration using HP Velotechnik’s configurator.  Would you check it for me?  It’s # 7—-.

Thanks,

F—
Hi F—,

For all HP Velotechnik light systems, incl. the B&M Dymotec, you do NOT need a rear rack in order to attach the light. The factory mounts the rear light on the seat-back if there is no rack (the wires are connected by way of a plug so you can remove the seat). No problem.

The advantage of the seat-mounted light is that it drops the weight and expense of the rack. I have some nice carrying bags from Radical Design that don’t require a rack so you can still carry stuff. And a rack can always be added later.

I like your configuration. I think you’ll appreciate having the disk brakes. The pearl orange color is really nice.

Notes/questions about your configuration:

You specced the Mirrycle mirrors, left and right, which mount on the handlebars. They both include a strong mount that can be used for an odometer, or smart phone attachment, etc. You also listed the $12 computer mount. It mounts near the front of the bike and is good for an extra light, cadence sensor or odometer display. But if you only need an odometer display, that mount isn’t necessary if you get the Mirrycle mirrors that you are ordering.

Water bottle mount and bottles: The price, which probably appears high, actually includes the custom CNC-machined mounting plate, two good bottle cages, two good water bottles, and all mounting hardware. Even if you don’t think you’ll need two water bottles, you can use one cage to hold your wallet, keys and a repair kit for short rides and the other for a bottle. If you still decide to forego the water bottle mounts, there is one other place to mount a water bottle cage: under the frame, underneath the seat.

Nothing more to see here, folks,

Robert

New York Times article “Cycling 101 Needn’t Be Collision Course.”

Many of the cycling injuries described in the article (ouch!) might be avoided by riding a recumbent bike or trike instead of a standard frame bike.  Just sayin’.

From The New York Times
“Cycling 101 Needn’t Be Collision Course”
“The number of cyclists has increased in recent years, and cyclists and drivers are still adjusting.”

Robert