A Peer Gynt' owner.

[grldtnr]

I've been on a quest for solo recumbent for some time, but a SWB or compact longblke, this one came up for a ridiculous price, so I took it, I've yet to fall in love with it, but I don't intend to keep it, at least that's what i tell myself

 

[grldtnr]

First 'real time' road condition ride on 'PG Tips' the Peer Gynt, do far is been on cycle tracks or well away from traffic,
I've learnt not to fall off it, but there's always that chance, but i am finding it hard to gel with it , still having the wobbles starting off, stopping is also a concern, but it seems to climb better than my trikes.
At the moment, I am of the opinion it will have to go, but I'm very given it a chance.

Perhaps a SWB bike will be better,
I'll keep my eyes open for something appropriate.

 

[deejayen]

I also have a Peer Gynt, but only rode it a handful of times last year. I don't remember it being wobbly when starting off, but I've ridden some other recumbents which were worse for me.

Your picture of the bike in the workstand looks like the seat is pretty well reclined. If so, it might be worth setting it to a more upright position to see how you get on with it.

I think the main thing I noticed was its weight when climbing, and especially when attempting to lift it - it's a heavy beast! I weighed mine the other night, and it's 42lbs without pedals, but with mudguards, rear rack and light, one bottle cage, a pump, and a small saddlebag. The bike reminds me of an old Mercedes - it seems solid and well-built, with some nice touches.

I'm preparing it for riding again to see what I think of it - hopefully, I'll get out on it within the next few days.

I'm pondering the idea of having a new front wheel built for either a 451 or 406 tyre, which will possibly also necessitate a new front brake etc.

I've fitted a new rear tyre to see if that gives a slight performance boost. In doing so, I noticed the rear wheel is slightly out of true.

Perhaps the chain management could be improved - I'm not sure if mine is as it came from the factory, or if some previous owner has modified it.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I'm pondering the idea of having a new front wheel built for either a 451 or 406 tyre, which will possibly also necessitate a new front brake etc.

I think 406 size has more tyre and tube options available. The front of my SWB is 406

 

[deejayen]

I think 406 size has more tyre and tube options available. The front of my SWB is 406

Thanks, Ming. Yes, the 406 size has a lot more tyre options than 451. However, the 451 is a lot closer to the size of the original wheel\tyre combo. Also, although I've not yet confirmed it, it looks like there may be sufficient adjustment in the existing brakes to allow them to work with a 451 rim. However, I've made unwise wheel purchases in the past, so I'd like to be doubly sure before buying anything!

 

[a.twiddler]

Thanks, Ming. Yes, the 406 size has a lot more tyre options than 451. However, the 451 is a lot closer to the size of the original wheel\tyre combo. Also, although I've not yet confirmed it, it looks like there may be sufficient adjustment in the existing brakes to allow them to work with a 451 rim. However, I've made unwise wheel purchases in the past, so I'd like to be doubly sure before buying anything!

Old bikes, odd wheel sizes. Maybe ancient history now, but my Linear came with a 440 front with drum brake. I was fortunate to come across a used 406 with drum brake which gave me a quick swop and instant increase in tyre choices.

I would imagine that the Magura brake on the front of the Peer Gynt is both a blessing and a curse, being both too good to throw away but limiting you to specific wheel sizes even if you spend the money to get the wheel rebuilt to something within its range of adjustment. If you do your own wheel building of course, that's one less expense.

Maybe a used 406 with drum brake could be a solution to the tyre choice and brake issue in one move If you struck lucky enough to find one cheaply enough for the Peer Gynt. A fork leg bracket for the torque arm would be the only other requirement in that instance. You would then have the ability to return it to original condition if you ever chose to sell it.

The Magura brake has a good reputation but you don't actually need a fierce brake on the front of a LWB bike, as most of the weight is on the back. Certainly the Sachs drum was powerful enough, while also having a lot of feel, on the front of the Linear. The Rans Stratus front disc certainly is overkill, and I treat it with some respect.

 

[FrankCrank]

Old bikes, odd wheel sizes. Maybe ancient history now, but my Linear came with a 440 front with drum brake. I was fortunate to come across a used 406 with drum brake which gave me a quick swop and instant increase in tyre choices.

I would imagine that the Magura brake on the front of the Peer Gynt is both a blessing and a curse, being both too good to throw away but limiting you to specific wheel sizes even if you spend the money to get the wheel rebuilt to something within its range of adjustment. If you do your own wheel building of course, that's one less expense.

Maybe a used 406 with drum brake could be a solution to the tyre choice and brake issue in one move If you struck lucky enough to find one cheaply enough for the Peer Gynt. A fork leg bracket for the torque arm would be the only other requirement in that instance. You would then have the ability to return it to original condition if you ever chose to sell it.

The Magura brake has a good reputation but you don't actually need a fierce brake on the front of a LWB bike, as most of the weight is on the back. Certainly the Sachs drum was powerful enough, while also having a lot of feel, on the front of the Linear. The Rans Stratus front disc certainly is overkill, and I treat it with some respect.

440 is an odd size, but also used on the Dawes Kingpin I believe.
Have converted 3 of my Raleigh Twenty's from 451 to 406 - gives access to much greater tyre choice.
The other benefit is having fatter tyres for a more cushy ride.

 

[deejayen]

Thanks! I'll need to think some more about new wheel options. I was planning on waiting until I'd had at least one more ride on the bike. My first thought was a 406 with drum brake, but that would lower the front of the bike, and would need a new brake lever and cabling etc. I think 451 might work with the existing brakes, and it woudn't change the front end height much (I'd probably use a 30mm tyre with 451 rather than the current fatter tyre on the 500A 440 rim). The main downside to 451 is the limited tyre choice, but there are some BMX tyres available in that size which are supposed to give good performance and grip.

 

[grldtnr]

I also have a Peer Gynt, but only rode it a handful of times last year. I don't remember it being wobbly when starting off, but I've ridden some other recumbents which were worse for me.

Your picture of the bike in the workstand looks like the seat is pretty well reclined. If so, it might be worth setting it to a more upright position to see how you get on with it.

I think the main thing I noticed was its weight when climbing, and especially when attempting to lift it - it's a heavy beast! I weighed mine the other night, and it's 42lbs without pedals, but with mudguards, rear rack and light, one bottle cage, a pump, and a small saddlebag. The bike reminds me of an old Mercedes - it seems solid and well-built, with some nice touches.

I'm preparing it for riding again to see what I think of it - hopefully, I'll get out on it within the next few days.

I'm pondering the idea of having a new front wheel built for either a 451 or 406 tyre, which will possibly also necessitate a new front brake etc.

I've fitted a new rear tyre to see if that gives a slight performance boost. In doing so, I noticed the rear wheel is slightly out of true.

Perhaps the chain management could be improved - I'm not sure if mine is as it came from the factory, or if some previous owner has modified it.

The seat recline is fixed, it's a bit odd that if you adjust the seat for leg length, then everything regards the steering needs to adjust as well, is a bit of nuisance that.
The wobbly steering could be that I ride a recumbent trike, which is a different experience over the longbike, with the inbuilt stabilising wheels, not something I am used to,with the front wheel so far in front and the remote steering linkage may have something to do with it. I recall the same type of wobbling from a quick ride of a Dutch cargo bike I tried, perhaps that's just unfamiliarity, but once on the go with momentum, it cancels out, but it does still wander.
Maybe I need a longer time with it,but there are things I do dislike, the long steering linkage rod, rubs my calf muscle , which perhaps induced the twitchyness, not ideal, the other, is the fabric chain guard, a patch of canvas, also does the same the other side, but that ought to be fixable., Kevin Dunsheath , he of D-tek, advised against fitting a wider tyre the 37× 440 , as it upsets the geomtry, confirmed by his wife who also owns and rides a Gynt, could be that.
I really do not want to go through the expense of resizing the brakes & wheel, it goes against the factory original of the bike, the only reason I fitted the balloon tyre was to try and ride it, I don't think it has actually been used much, for one there is hardly any wear on the rims or brake pads,, which given how old it is, rather remarkable.
Anyway I'm giving it it's best shot, but I think I'll will move it on.

 

[deejayen]

It's been a while since I adjusted mine, so I'm probably wrong, but I thought seat angle was adjustable. I remember needing to undo quite a few clamps and moveable parts, including, as you say, the steering. I had a sit on it last night, and I thought my seat was a bit too reclined for me - I either like to sit upright or on my back on a recumbent, and this felt more like an upright seat with a bit too much recline for the pedal height. I noticed that the seat stays were only extending from their clamps by a centimetre or so, so there's probably not much adjustment to set it more upright - if any, if what you say is correct.

The seat 'pan' is also quite short - presumably so it won't get in the way of pedaling muscles. Because it's part of the seat frame, if the backrest were more upright the seat pan would be sloping down so you'd probably end having to keep pushing yourself back.

Mine doesn't have the fabric chain protector, but there is a length of chain tube on the power side of the chain.

i don't remember the steering rod or anything else getting in the way of my calves, but mine could be under-sized!

I think the bikes were so well built that they hide any usage very well. Mine is also in excellent condition.

 

[grldtnr]

It's been a while since I adjusted mine, so I'm probably wrong, but I thought seat angle was adjustable. I remember needing to undo quite a few clamps and moveable parts, including, as you say, the steering. I had a sit on it last night, and I thought my seat was a bit too reclined for me - I either like to sit upright or on my back on a recumbent, and this felt more like an upright seat with a bit too much recline for the pedal height. I noticed that the seat stays were only extending from their clamps by a centimetre or so, so there's probably not much adjustment to set it more upright - if any, if what you say is correct.

The seat 'pan' is also quite short - presumably so it won't get in the way of pedaling muscles. Because it's part of the seat frame, if the backrest were more upright the seat pan would be sloping down so you'd probably end having to keep pushing yourself back.

Mine doesn't have the fabric chain protector, but there is a length of chain tube on the power side of the chain.

i don't remember the steering rod or anything else getting in the way of my calves, but mine could be under-sized!

I think the bikes were so well built that they hide any usage very well. Mine is also in excellent condition.

Whatever happens, it was worth the 'punt' I took on it when I bought it, still, let's see what develops, at the very least I have tried it out, and I know,I can eventually move it on without too much of a financial loss.
Odd, but everyone who stops me to ask about it, are very enthusiastic about it, most of my cycling chums know about the Peer Gynt or Dino, but are confirmed 'Upwrongers', express the opinion 'Wow, a Peer Gynt!' such is it's reputation.
I count myself lucky to have it.
I did get in an erstwhile conversation with a German friend about it, we have a 'bent leaning to wards recumbents,, he is reticent to ride my Azub trike, , but I'm keen to try out his Velotech Street glider, he had strong opinions regards LWB recumbents, ,which he isn't in favour off.
I am on the fence regards the various 2 wheelers, ,would love to try out a Crystal Speed Ross or the Orbit,, The PDQ , all old skool recumbents, I did try out a Barchetta something or other, but got seduced to the dark side of recumbent trikes.......the force is strong !

 

[classic33]

Whatever happens, it was worth the 'punt' I took on it when I bought it, still, let's see what develops, at the very least I have tried it out, and I know,I can eventually move it on without too much of a financial loss.
Odd, but everyone who stops me to ask about it, are very enthusiastic about it, most of my cycling chums know about the Peer Gynt or Dino, but are confirmed 'Upwrongers', express the opinion 'Wow, a Peer Gynt!' such is it's reputation.
I count myself lucky to have it.
I did get in an erstwhile conversation with a German friend about it, we have a 'bent leaning to wards recumbents,, he is reticent to ride my Azub trike, , but I'm keen to try out his Velotech Street glider, he had strong opinions regards LWB recumbents, ,which he isn't in favour off.
I am on the fence regards the various 2 wheelers, ,would love to try out a Crystal Speed Ross or the Orbit,, The PDQ , all old skool recumbents, I did try out a Barchetta something or other, but got seduced to the dark side of recumbent trikes.......the force is strong !

Don't go forgetting the third post on this thread!

 

[a.twiddler]

It's a shame that your experiences of the USS, LWB format have been so lukewarm. My life with the Linear had its ups and downs over the five years that I had it but I never had the feeling that I would give up on it. I suppose different bikes, different frame materials will give different rides even if the layout and geometry are the same. For myself, if the Rans Stratus XP hadn't come along I'd still be riding it. Even then, I'm still riding a LWB bike, though it's a very different beast.

I do have a pang sometimes when I think about that under seat steering, the way my palms would hit the forward curve of the bar extensions so naturally, the feel of the bar end shifters between finger and thumb. I never did manage to fall off it in earnest, just the odd capsize off road in the early days of riding it. It was a very stable machine even at ultra low speed.

 

[deejayen]

I do have a pang sometimes when I think about that under seat steering, the way my palms would hit the forward curve of the bar extensions so naturally, the feel of the bar end shifters between finger and thumb. I never did manage to fall off it in earnest, just the odd capsize off road in the early days of riding it. It was a very stable machine even at ultra low speed.

As I said before, I only rode my Peer Gynt a handlful of times last year, and not at all since then, but I think one of the things which disappointed me was that I didn't find the USS to be outstandingly comfortable. Its handlebar position is quite different to some other USS bikes, including the Linears. On the Peer Gynt the grips are parallel to the seat pan frame, and quite close to it. On the likes of the Linears they're positioned further forward and pointing upwards, which is possibly a more natural position for shoulders, arms and wrists. One of the earliest USS bikes, the Avatar 2000, had horizontal handlebars (like an old mountain bike) near the rear of the seat and sticking out to the sides - I kind of think this may have been better than the Peer Gynt's setup.

 

[a.twiddler]

The process of setting up the Linear was a progressive one. As bought, the bars were just bars across the frame under the seat. I could just reach the grips, and the brake levers and gear shifters were out of sight. It really was like riding by remote control! As long as my fingertips were touching the grips, I could find the controls, but keeping track of what gear I was in could only be done by touch and how the load felt to my legs. The gears weren't indexed, even the 3 speed hub gear used a thumb shifter with no click stops.

As time went by I fitted bar ends, mounting the gear changers on them, and eventually fitted longer cables, longer handlebar ends and thumb shifters on the end of them similar to the later production runs of Linears. The advantage of bar end levers on the long bar ends was that I could see the position of the levers -fully forward in both cases for high gear, fully back for low with an instinctive feel to the fingers.

The Linear was really an alien concept when I first had it, and it was only through a lot of riding and work on it that it became the familiar, comfortable ride-anywhere do-anything bike that I felt so comfortable on after the first year or so. It just didn't happen overnight.

The Linear was the sort of bike that rewarded that kind of input. I had wondered if changing the bars might be possible, to fit something that would allow for bent up ends but finding some suitable bar ends on line solved that.

Since I've been riding OSS exclusively since it went, I expect riding a bike with USS would feel strange now without getting used to it again.