Wednesday, November 1, 2006

Peter Marshall - Trice XL & Micro

Peter Marshall has an excellent website with reports of his Audax rides on Trice trikes. Peter notably successfully completed PBP in 1999 & 2003 as well as LEL in 1997 & 2001.

Saturday, October 28, 2006

Peter Mathews - Flying Furniture PBP Special

Location: Melbourne, Victoria (Australia)

LD experience:
  • Started by riding Around the Bay 206km in Melbourne in 1996. Training for that event I discovered Audax Australia, and from then on it gets obsessive!
  • Super Randonneur 5000
  • Multiple Super Randonneur series
  • Several Fleche Oppermans
  • Three PBP starts (1999 on a custom built Cecil Walker road bike, 2003 & 2007 on my Flying Furniture two wheeled bent)
  • Basic plan is to ride a brevet a month. Distances vary!

Bents: .Flying Furniture “PBP Special”, built by Ian Humphries in late 2002. This is a dual 406 SWB recumbent wit a mesh seat, U-bars, single disk at the front, after over 30,000km much of the equipment has been “rolled over”. Most recently I have changes from Shimano bar end shifters to SRAM twist shifters. After removing some unnecessary springs from these I am completely converted. The SRAM rear X-9 derailleur seems a little noisy but give very crisp changes. In normal mode (including lights, mudguards, water bladder, speedo etc.) it weights about 15kg.

Why a bent? After PBP 1999 neck and hand problems made me realize I could not contemplate very long distances in te future on a road bike – even a carefully fitted custom one.

Why these? At the time is was the only one I could get custom made in Australia. We produce more trikes than most oter countries but not many two wheelers!

Modifications from stock: No major physical mods. Parts have canged a little over time but mainly based on whim and availability when other bits wear out or break. The original front fork is a reverse camber and I am going to change it to a more conventional and hopefully less aggressive geometry soon.

Lighting: I make my own high performance LED lights. 18 of them participated in PBP with a range of different riders. None leaked or failed. Pete Heal provided the inspiration for them by lending me a light he had made when we rode the Great Southern Randonnee in 2005. A very bright tail light is my next development. Watch out for www.plites.com.au for details.

In 2003 I was of the people who was given an evaluation Lightspin generator. I rode many kilometers with one little beauties provided an exceptionally good feeding a Lumotec round and later oval head. Sadly the tyre on the roller wore out and I have been unable to replace it.

Hydration: I have used various 3l bladders in bags I have made to sling under my seat. I hot weather (we get a lot of it in Australia) I add an insulated bag around the bladder so as to try to avoid the water getting too hot and undrinkable.

Nutrition: Lots! Small quantities of low GI chewable food is my preference. I am a type 2 (NIDM) diabetic. I only ever use gells in emergencies.

Luggage: The latest iteration is one of my trusty Timbuktu courier bags with a couple of hooks added to sling from the back of my seat. It holds more than I ned for brevets and is very durable. I’ve added a stack of reflective tape to it to help improve rearwards conspicuity.

Riding in groups: With care, mainly because people are unfamiliar with the different way a recumbent rides, I have ridden very happily amongst groups of road bikes. If I am being nice I use my brakes going down hill to stay in formation but notice that they don’t always wait for me up hill.

There are few recumbent riders in Australia but it is always a pleasure to ride with the Peters, Simon, Andrew or Ian.

Bent riding technique: My technique has grown gradually I guess. My performance is still improving! My next goal is to complete the 200km version of the Audax Alpine Classic.( http://www.audax.org.au/alpine.htm) which involves 4400m of climbing in our summer heat. Gears are a critical element for successful recumbent riding!

What other bent would I like to try? Simon’s Baron or one of Pete’s big Lizards. I think I’d be too chicken to ride a No-Com.


Tuesday, October 3, 2006

Peter Noris - RANS F5, Easy Racers TE & GRR

Location: full time RV; winter home Gainesville, Florida

LD experience:
  • Super Randonneur 5000
  • 10 Super Randonneur series, BMB
  • RM1200, PBP
  • six 1000K
  • a few extras here and there (permanents and other brevets)

Bents: Easy Racers Tour Easy and Gold Rush (both fully faired), Rans Force 5 with 700C wheels

Why a bent? Injured in car/bike dispute, after very long rehab realized I would never be able to ride a DF again.

Why these? I was fortunate to live near a 'bent shop with a wide selection; the TE was the first bike that felt like a performance bike (against, for example BikeE and a few others) that was not too expensive to put an aero kit on. The TE , a Large, was on the small side for me; the GRR was an XL and was much more comfortable and better handling since the weight distribution was better. While living in Colorado I got tired of dragging the weight of the aero kit up hill; the Force 5 was about 8 pounds lighter than the GRR.

Modifications from stock: The TE was bought as a frame, and built from boxes of parts left over from my DF days. Many of the parts were eight or nine years old (I said it was a long rehab). Shimano barcon shifters, Mavic tubular wheel on the rear, other odds and ends. The GRR I replaced it with was bought built up; I replaced the rear wheel (love those tubies), had Ultegra road brakes, barcons again, otherwise fairly stock. Since I have a relatively long torso I altered the fairing mounts to get the fairing higher.

The Rans wasn't offered with 700s when I bought it; as far as I know it was the first. I had no trouble with the extra height, and want as few non-standard parts as possible. It was also built up from a frame set - with the worst build I ever got from a bike shop. I eventually had the whole bike stripped and rebuilt.

Lighting: Except for the F5 I've used a Schmidt hub and Lumotec light. Very happy with this setup. On the F5 I switched to an LED in a BiSy light with battery power. While acceptable, I am going back to a generator system for 2008.

Hydration: 70 oz. CamelBack in rear seat bag; on the F5 I use a FastBack bag and really like it.

Nutrition: Until this year I ate regular food; this year on the F5 I mounted a bottle on the steering riser and used Hammer products; in cool weather it's possible to mix a 1500 calorie bottle that will last for a 400K. In addition, one or two flasks of gel in my rear jersey pocket.

Luggage: I got tired of bungeeing stuff to a rear rack; this year I bought a Terracycle EasyReach pannier system.

Riding in groups: I got lots of complaints with the Easy Racers; I'm not sure if it was how strange the bike looked or just the lack of draft. The F5 is aerodynamically somewhere between the GRR with a fairing and with the sock on it - no testing, just my impression. It's not really much higher than the GRR, but I get fewer complaints, possibly because it looks more normal and is shorter. The GRR didn't seem to benefit from drafting; the F5 does, but not as much as a DF. If people complain (rarely), depending on my mood I either drop them or tell them to pass.

Bent riding technique: It is difficult to ride with groups in hilly terrain; slower uphill, faster downhill. Very easy to blow out knees if you try and push a big gear from a start. With the F5, it took me a while to learn not to get the second foot clipped in until I had some speed - just get the foot on the pedal and keep going. Climbing and sprinting with the weight off the seat and pushing back into the back support gives lots of extra power.

What other bent would I like to try? Even though almost every part would not be standard, I'd like to get a hardshell low racer; I just don't know where I could buy one.


Sunday, September 10, 2006

Harry Spatz - Bacchetta Corsa


Location: Lexington, MA USA

Rando Experience:
- 2006-200K, 300K
- 2007-2-200K, 2-300K, 400K

In 2007 rode as a team Audax style with 2 other recumbent riders, neither of which had ridden more than 100 miles in a day. They both finished the entire series.

Recumbents: Barcroft Dakota 2002 w/2006 frame used in 2006 brevets, Bacchetta Corsa used in 2007 brevets

Why bents?: I started riding ‘bents after my wife and I rode a Bike Virginia (5 days 300 mi. tour) on our wedgie tandem, and met a couple on a Double Vision. They were not fast, but they always finished and had so much fun that I had to try a ‘bent. I tried a couple of ‘bents at Belmont Wheelworks, Visions, I believe, then when my daughter wanted to visit schools in Washington DC I also visited with Bill Cook at Barcroft. It was an expensive trip! I bought a Barcroft Dakota and my daughter went to George Washington University. In 2006 the frame on the Dakota broke in two. That, along with not liking to carry tubes and tires for two different sizes and hearing that high racers were faster incentivised me to look again. I tried most everything available at Brian Ball’s Bentrider Rally in Hammondsport, NY and ended up with a Bacchetta Corsa

Modifications: included going to an FSA mountain crank with 22/34/44. I use a 12-28 rear cogset. I see no reason for high gears on hilly brevets. I am willing to coast at speeds over 28 mph and in return have more tightly spaced cogs than the normal 12-34 that many use. I also do not think that 20 or 24 spoke wheels are optimal for brevet use so I use 32 spoke 3 cross wheels. The front hub is a SON generator hub. My rims are CR18 Sun with flat cross section. With 32 spokes, these make a rugged soft riding wheel. The deep V style rims ride very hard, so I do not recommend them. I changed from 571 (650C) to 559 (mountain bike size) to give me an extra 6 mm in radius to use wider tires than 650C allows. I use Schwalbe Stelvio 559-28 tires.

Lights: I use a Solidlights 1203D attached to my SON hub. The 1203D gives a very wide beam from two 3-watt LEDs. It’s attached via a Cronometro NOB to the left fork. First I stretched a tube over the fork blades and onto the fork so the Cronometro can bed into the tube and not scratch the fork. The Cronometro has never slipped in 3000 miles of useage. Low on the fork is ideal because it lights up road irregularities well. I know many use the front derailleur mount. That location is far inferior because the light does not turn with the steering like it does on the fork blade. I use two Trek LEDs, one attached to each chain stay for the rear lights. They run on 2 AAA batteries. I also use the obligatory reflective anklets. Mine have an LED band built in.

No fenders: The Corsa has limited clearance although if I thought that they were really important, I would find way. I used to race and of course racers don’t use them. If you draft to the right or left of the wheel, you do not get sprayed that much.

Luggage: I use a Bacchetta Brain Box on the seat. Also use several Fastback Designs Items including a Norback with a multitool, Endurolytes, caffeine pills, and ibruprofen in it. Also I use a Flash frame pack for things I want to get at while riding. I also use a Double Century. One side uses a 70 oz. bladder and the other side I might put a jacket or spare clothing in. This bike is excessively rear heavy so stuff should go low and forward. I carry 1 bottle in a Fastback bottle holder attached to the boom way up front. It’s a spare that I cannot reach when riding. I carry another in a bottle holder attached to the left side of the seat. I can still get the bladder in and out of the double century even with the seat attached holder in place. I carry a third bottle in another Velcro attached Fastback holder under my seat on the left side. That makes 3 bottles and a 70 oz. bladder on the bike. I am 195 lb. and 5’9” and use a lot of water. That water is good for 80 mi. in hilly terrain under 75 degrees or maybe 40 miles in 95 degree heat.

Navigation: I use a Garmin Etrex Vista HCx. I program waypoints so that I can navigate without need for a cue sheet. Garmin does not make it easy to do this. It takes time and mistakes to see how to do this correctly.

Recumbent Riding Techniques: I have heard from many sources that spinning is imperative when riding a recumbent. I typically have a cadence of 75 to 90 on flats or downhills, but slow down going uphill. I have found that a cadence of 60 to 70 works on uphills, but it takes practice to do this without knee pain. The last brevet I rode, a 300K, I rarely used my low gears on the hills and improved my time without any knee pain. I tend to push hard right after cresting a hill to gain momentum quickly for the way down.

Riding with Others: I find it difficult to ride with DFs except on level ground. I can’t climb with someone of equal ability and I get way out in front on the downhills. Even with other SWB bents there is some yoyo effects. I find it hard to draft other ‘bents, harder than when on a DF. When I rode the brevets as a team we did not usually draft. There was fear of accident due to inattentiveness when tired.

Eating on the move: I do not enjoy eating on a ‘bent. If I get food on my hands, shifting the grip shifters is difficult. I eat by drinking Perpetuum or other such additions to my water.

What bent would you buy if you were start from scratch?: If I were to start again, I might well end up with the same ‘bent. If I traveled more, I might like a take-a-part model that would take 700C wheels and had clearance for wider tires. 700C gives more tire options.

Monday, July 10, 2006

Andrew Sorensen - Bacchetta Aero


Location: Anchorage, Alaska

Rando Experience: PBP 2007

Recumbent: Bacchetta Aero

Why did you start riding bents?: Ergonomics

Why did you pick this model?: Lightweight & aerodynamic

Modifications from stock: Long cage derailleur

Lighting: Cateye HL530, TL1000&600, BOTH tail-lights failed me - perhaps due to rain(?) and/or bad switches.

Fenders: Planet Bike Speedeze, 700c radius, but still work w/ 650c wheel.

Luggage: Brainbox

Navigation: none

Bent specific riding techniques:

Riding with other bents & DF bikes: limited

Eating on a bent: as much as possible!

If you were to start again what bent/setup would you get? I find that an upright seat position is better for balance, particularly when sleep deprived. As I raise the seatback I need to move the seat backwards to maintain correct leg length. The Aero's seat attachment mechanism is not conducive to fore/aft movement on the road.

Other than that the Aero is a wonderful rando bike.

Tuesday, January 10, 2006

Michael Wolfe - Bacchetta Aero


Michael has a great blog discussing his rando & ultra riding accomplishments.

Monday, January 1, 2001

Dean Zimmer - Renyolds Z-Bone & Peterbuilt GTRS


Location: Winnipeg MB Canada

Rando Experience:

  • Full series each year 2004 to 2007 (and beyond if the creek don’t rise)
  • 1000K: 2004 & 2006 Manitoba 1000
  • 1200K: 2005 Last Chance 1200, 2006 Van Isle 1200, 2007 PBP

Bent Make/Model:

  • Bachetta Corsa 2004-2005
  • PeterBuilt GTRS dual 26 Hi Racer 2005-present
  • Reynolds Zbone dual 26 2006-present
Why did you start riding bents? Mostly because they were different, comfort was a factor.

Why did you pick this model?

Started into bents with BikeE, then Rans Vrex, then a Bachetta Corsa. The hi racer was most comfortable for me doing long rides. I think the Vrex could work with different seat however I still prefer a higher bottom bracket.

The Bachetta was good however I am 5’ 7” and it had too tall a seat height for me to be comfortable starting and stopping especially when tired, I used it for 1 and ½ seasons then switched.

The Peterbuilt is custom built by a local builder (sort of a steel version of a TBone. It uses the Bachetta Euromesh seat which I feel is the most comfortable seat available, well worth any extra weight. It has a longer wheelbase and lower seat height than the Corsa. It is extremely comfortable and durable making it an excellent Rando bike. It’s only drawback is that it is heavier than other bikes that are out there (however they use exotic materials and cost way more). I have done 2 1200’s and 2 1000’s on this bike, I will always keep this bike, it is the gold standard that I will measure everything else by.

Zbone (no longer in production) is a lightweight front wheel drive titanium, aluminum, and carbon fiber creation. In its original configuration it had rear suspension, this also allowed the rear end to come apart and essentially the frame would fold in half making a very small package for travel. The rear suspension created a lot of flex in the bike (the rear wheel was bopping around side to side) so I replaced the rear shock with a solid piece and tightened up the rear swingarm pivot point. This made it less flexy and I didn’t miss the suspension. The Astroturf seat covering was replaced with a foam pad. This bike works OK for long rides, I used it for PBP and found that I had some wheel slip on some of the uphill sections where the pavement was wet, or there was loose stones, or cobblestones. Adding weight to the front boom (water bottle) helped some with this. For flat out speed it is faster than my Peterbuilt, however not as comfortable.

Modifications from stock:

I experimented with a Mueller windwrap fairing on the Corsa. This worked well for rides early and late in the year as it kept my feet warmer, and drier. The downsides were that it interfered with my forward vision (not everyone would have this problem depending on your size and the bikes size), it was noisy as it seemed to reflect drivetrain sound back at me, and it was awkward when transporting, or just moving the bike around. I didn’t do any roll down tests to get any real measurements however I didn’t feel that it made the bike any more aerodynamic. For me the cons outweighed the pros.

Lighting:

SON dyno hub and an E6 light. I use a Cateye EL530 as a backup and it works as a standlight if I think it is necessary.

For light mounting I use the Minoura Besso Fork Mount Holder to mount lights on the fork, and I have used the Volae T-Bar Light Mount although I have found it interfered wuth forward vision. I use a custom made mount similar to a teracycle accessory mount that works very well.

Rear lights are 2 Cateye LD600’s (use rechargeable AAA batteries)

If I were to invest in new lighting right now I would defer as long as I could and check out LED battery operated lights rather than investing in a dyno hub. The LED area is improving so rapidly and especially the battery run times. Its is not going to be long before a run all night with lots of illumination LED light will be available for a reasonable price. I have done an entire 1200 event using only an EL500 (a user malfunction kept the E6 from working), it was manageable however I was lucky there was no rain.

Fenders: Plastic fenders on the rear only.

Luggage:

Love the Hostel Shoppe Euro Large Seat Bag, the mesh bottle pockets on either side are super handy for cloths, gloves, bananas, you name it.

For extra storage I have used the Radical lowracer bags although I find them too big and floppy, so I have also made a set of small bags out of backpack side pockets which I found at MEC. Mine are nearly worn out and I have not been able to find a replacement. Essentially I used them to make a mini version of the Radical lowracer bags.

Navigation:

Cue sheets in a waterproof holder, and a Cateye Astrale 8 bike computer. I use cadence more than anything and I have found this computer works well in all conditions and is easy to read (I have 5 of them)

Bent specific riding techniques:

Rubber side down. Bring lots of gears if there is climbing and train, train, train.

I have taught myself high cadence (90-110) and I have never had a knee problem.

Riding with other bents & DF bikes:

On a high racer you can provide a draft, and DF riders in my Rando group will draft off me, shorter riders or people using the drops get the most benefit. I don’t draft off others as I am not comfortable following close to someone when the furthest front part of my bike is a sawblade, plus not drafting makes me a stronger rider.

Eating on a bent:

I find it hard to carry food in a place where I can access it easily on the bent, still working on this. It would be nice to eat some while I am moving however I don’t count on that. I try to stop every 50-80K for some sort of snack/sandwich (usually convenience store food as that is where our controls are) and usually every 2nd one of those is a larger meal either at a fastfood place or local restaurant. Real food works best for me. On longer rides that go through the night here we can end up facing 200K with no services, so I plan an evening meal stop where I get them to make some sandwiches I can take along, and I make sure I have coins in order to use the outdoor drink machines. I tried Powerbar/Cliff bar type energy bars, I can eat them but to me they taste like sh*t, so I use Payday bars, and Nature Valley sweet and salty type granola bars, plus bananas are a great carry along food.

Hydration:

I use a 70oz bladder in the hostel shopper seat bag. In it I use a simple maltodextrin (purchased at a local nutrition store) and water mix to which I add a little bit of Crystal Light powder for flavor, this gives me about 300 calories per bladder. Depending on the ride length I will carry little baggies with pre-measured amounts maltodextrin/crystallight. I also carry a water bottle with plain water in it.

If you were to start again what bent/setup would you get?

As you can guess I am extremely happy with my PeterBuilt dual 26 hi-racer format bike. While riding PBP I rode with a couple of lowracers bikes and was blown away by how fast they were on descents (it had to be aerodynamics because they weighed the same or less than me) so I am going to give that style a try as well.