maltvinegar Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 I'm curious if anyone rides recumbent bikes. They offer much greater sensation of 'cornering' It's great if you have a traffic-free cycle path Situation there is similar, only small (but dedicated) companies make them, but the popularity is growing bigger and bigger. I'm also curious if anyone does skydiving here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skatha Posted January 8, 2008 Report Share Posted January 8, 2008 I don't recumbent or "bent" cycle, but I was almost killed by someone who does...does that count? He was talking with his buddies and didn't seem to realize that any leaning in on those things causes the whole bike to veer. He squeezed me into the opposite flow of traffic, despite my numerous "on your lefts" where I almost bought it with a 1 ton pickup truck...I then gave my a piece of instruction that involved getting his head outta a certain part of his anatomy and placing his bike in the vacant spot. As for skydiving, I'm retired USAF. I hold true to the saying "why jump out of a perfect good plane?" See ya on the roads...I got a fairly nondescript Trek Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willywhit Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 maybe retrofit that thing for the snow "on your left !" I've a few tandem freefalls and a static line jump. I wanna learn hang gliding/ soaring and maybe BASE jumping eventually. For now, just kitesurfing :rolleyes: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Prokopiw Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 I live on the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes which is a 72 mile 10 foot wide paved bike path.Since it is an old rail bed it maxes out at about 3 to 3 1/2 percent grade at each end so it's perfect for recumbents.We see very large groups and clubs that come from all over North America.I have a client that has Cat Tryke that I helped trick out and installed Rotor Cranks on it.It is the coolest bent I have seen and makes me want one,but I'm usually too busy doing the many great road climbs/descents around here or using the path to go 30mph on my TT bike to want one that bad.ps,I want the bike in that pic since the path is snowpacked! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ncermak Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 never done either - But For Christmas, my brother gave me an indoor skydiving package. Basically a vertical wind tunnel. it was wicked cool. check out the website: www.indoorskydiving.org they are in Denver... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willywhit Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 Noah, looks like there's one in Nashua , too. This looks super fun/expen$ive. kinda like F1 indoors, now I want a shifter cart that goes 100 mph. :rolleyes: http://www.skyventurenh.com/location.html gonna have to check this out. Still, nothing like getting pushed out the side of a plane at 10,000 feet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allee Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 Yay for the City of Calgary and the 635 km of bike paths they have in this city. I've seen a few recumbents on the paths while I've been out rollerblading this summer, and some more on the TransCanada between Calgary and Banff, and the Icefields Parkway between Banff and Jasper. They seem to be pretty popular for touring out this way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dingbat Posted January 9, 2008 Report Share Posted January 9, 2008 Never sky dived, but I've gone up in a glasair to help diagnose an engine stalling problem that would only occur in flight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derf Posted January 10, 2008 Report Share Posted January 10, 2008 I dreaming of getting a recumbent, even thinking of making one myself (I'm in mechnical engineering). But for now, space is limited, I already have 3 bikes and I'm not shure I can pay 1500-2000$ for one right now. I rode a couple of recumbents and I really got hooked. Like they say, the first one's free, then you have to pay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big canuck Posted January 10, 2008 Report Share Posted January 10, 2008 I know i'm going to piss off some engineers on this one and If you have back issues you're off the hook. Have you ridden a recumbent? up a hill? I have a little shop in Calgary and we used to sell "Bike E" and Cannondale recumbants. Bike E is out of buisness, C'dale no longer makes the product. My issues are the following: the longer wheel base (depending on which model you buy) on steeper climbs is pretty "tippy". On a hill I climb often, I'm a middle ring guy on the mtn bike, the recumbant I rode home, I was in one of the easiest gears I could grab. Secondly, It is hard for people (cars) to see you. Conversley your line of site is less too as you are lower. Parts availability. If it has a weird front or rear wheel size you had better have a lot of extra tubes, tires etc... This is, often petty specific stuff people, not every mom and pop shops will have what you need. Did I mention 2 of the Recumbant comapnies are either out of buisness or ceased production of these "bad boys"? Honestly, if this is the mode of transport you want to use over a car..MORE power to you. PLease, please please have a look at all the different styles of bikes that are avail from the "bigs" such as Specialized, Cannondale, Trek, Giant etc. I bet you'll find a bike that will fit your needs. I absoulutley respect wanting to ride something "different"..... Look at all of us weirdos we ride "snowboards" that most people have never seen before. Snowboarders don't want to ride the lift with us, to skiers we're snowboarders. (maybe I just smell) Bottom line. If it gets you out there and puts a smile on your mug. Give er. I have heard if you are looking for "recumbant specialists" on this forum I'd contact Fin, Curtis (cfj04), Divebomber or Durace. Side note I heard through the grapevine Curtis and Fin are working on a prototype "fairing" for their road bikes, but you cannot tellk anyone.... Curtis, being unable to snowboard, will no question accelerate the launch of his top secret fairing. You've been warned... This is one man's opinion. I took grade 12 math twice and got 50% both times. Take it for what it's worth. Have fun!! Kurt Oh yeah, I forgot I have "skydived" once. Terri****ingfying. Of course they make the fat kid jump first. They tell you to "arch" your back and you'll naturally fall into the right position? BS. I started running, FYI this is not effective. Once, only once. Never been happier to be on the ground. Oh yeah, the one of 2 skydive places in and around Calgary 4 people have died in the past 5 years.... Doh!!!! Please forgive me, I think someone put something in my "coffe" tonight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pebu Posted January 10, 2008 Report Share Posted January 10, 2008 I took grade 12 math twice and got 50% both times. Well, 2 times 50% is 100%... That sounds pretty good to me... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfj04 Posted January 10, 2008 Report Share Posted January 10, 2008 Don't know how (or why) Fin and I got thown under the bus but I can assure you I have no "super duper super secret" fairing design in the works. It must be Fin whose doing the research. I do own three tandem bikes if that matters Canuck - don't make me pull out the photo of you wearing neon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
queequeg Posted January 10, 2008 Report Share Posted January 10, 2008 I hear recumbents are pretty good for reducing wind drag and such, that said, you wouldn't catch me dead on one here in NYC: cars can't see you worth a damn while you're on one. I went skydiving once (tandem) ... way fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchy_in_SD Posted January 10, 2008 Report Share Posted January 10, 2008 Hi ! I'm a skydiver. About 700 jumps in Southern California. :) Blue sky Didier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maltvinegar Posted January 12, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2008 I wouldn't be concerend about 'unique parts' The only truly unique part is the frame. Everything else is same as other 'normal' bikes. Regarding wheels, there are strong tendency to use 700c (std. road bike size), 26" (std. MTB size), 20" (std. folding bike size) wheels. The good thing about low is that the sensation of speed is much greater. As much as I like recumbents, I do not recommend riding them in heavy traffic. Not so much because of cars being able to see you, but the start/stop is much easier on upright. For short distance urban riding, upright bikes are light years ahead. However, recumbents absolutely SHINE at places where there are uninterrupted bike path. Challenge is a great manufacturer of recumbent bikes. Bacchetta is great if you are concerned about visiblity, and its American! Windcheetah is the holy grail of recumbent trike Velokraft NoCom is for one thing only. SPEED Mike Burrows Ratracer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ecnalubma Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 Not sure if I did this right, but here' s my "recumbent" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paragonUE Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 whay does that guy on the 3 wheeled recumbent need a helmet? i have a hard time believing that that thing is quite dangerous enough to warrant one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dingbat Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 whay does that guy on the 3 wheeled recumbent need a helmet? i have a hard time believing that that thing is quite dangerous enough to warrant one So in the event of a head-on colision he can quickly slide it over his nuts before they get mangled by the chainrings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maltvinegar Posted January 15, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 whay does that guy on the 3 wheeled recumbent need a helmet? i have a hard time believing that that thing is quite dangerous enough to warrant one You CAN flip, I've seen it happening Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawndoggy Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 doncha need a huge beard to ride a 'bent? I've never seen anyone other than aging bearded beerbelly guys on bents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ecnalubma Posted January 17, 2008 Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 No beard required on mine, a fat 'stache and a beer gut add some authenticity though. And yeah it carves HARD! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Bell Posted January 17, 2008 Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 I tried it once, and it was great. Funny thing was, the scariest part was the ride up on the little prop plane. Once I'd jumped out with the trainer guy hooked to my back, it was a novel sensation--but not really that exhilarating in a stomach-dropping way. There was no falling sensation--I believe because the plane was already going a certain speed. I think it cost me $160 in 1996, but I'm glad I tried it, even though I didn't get a huge rush of danger. What did give me that rush was tandem-aerotow hang gliding. This is where you are strapped into a harness and an instructor is with you in another harness, usually hooked up under yours (sometimes to the side). Then an ultralight plane tows you up to altitude, the HG pilot cuts loose, and you glide around till you land. You take off at a general-aviation airport, and the glider has wheels mounted onto it, since it can't land the normal way (wherein the pilot stalls it near the ground and lands on his feet). My instructor had been an acrobatic competitor, and I asked him to put the glider into some cool maneuvers. First he stalled the glider--it literally comes to a stop in midair--and then put it in a nosedive. Let me tell you: I can't imagine anything more frightening (in a good way) as that. It was that roller-coaster sensation, but with the genuine fear of death. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pebu Posted January 17, 2008 Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 My brothers roommate made a bike similar to ecnalubma's, only the front was a 12" tire and had about 9 inches of suspension travel (springer style) and the back was a 21 inch tire with about 2 feet of travel. The rake angle was so crazy that you had a hard time keeping it straight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willywhit Posted January 17, 2008 Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 my 1st skydive was a bachelor party and we had practiced hard the night before so felt a lil green. Tweaked my ankle playing frisbee an hour before the jump, too.The jumper on my back said I was one of the biggest guys he had "ridden" down, lil bald psycho dude. After the jump I was taking off the jump suit and when I took off my t shirt, hot and sweaty in North Hampton that day, I had BIG black and blue under my arm pits from the tremendous yank when the chute opens. DUDE ! OMG ! nice bruises !! wish I had a pic of that. Best bachelor party ever, it was. Can't discuss the rest of the day and night but the skydiving was the "tamest" part. :D:freak3::o:nono: and I think Chris is still married, 15 years later:1luvu: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dingbat Posted January 17, 2008 Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 Can't discuss the rest of the day and night but the skydiving was the "tamest" part. Whately Ballet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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