... into the recumbent water ...
After long and protracted negotiations I have secured approval and funding to increase N by 1.
Rather than get another upright bike to join the 5 I already have I am thinking about laying down.
Now, the budget may be generous for an upright, but I am fast finding out that I am being limited to either a Raptobike if I stay with 2 wheels or a KMX if I have 3.
A few questions to start if I may (probably more to come) ...
- I notice that neither of these have rear suspension ... Will this give a harsh ride?
- How long would your average person take to stop falling of a 'bent bike?
- How easy is it to get a trike through traffic?
- When confronted with the potholes that festoon our roads, is is easy to guide a trike through them without catching a wheel and spinning?
I use an ICE QNT as every day commuting transport. It does have suspension, but I think it's unnecessarily soft even on Edinburgh roads.
My Raptobike has no suspension, & it's a real boneshaker. My glasses sometimes bounce about so much that sometimes I can't see where I'm going for short periods. It took me about a day of practice to not fall off, and after about 500 miles I felt reasonably happy for general bowling along, but still nervous in traffic. I get off and walk for some junctions. If the delta trike conversion becomes available, i will be tempted.
As a local example, My commute includes Ferry Road from Davey Mains to Crewe Toll. In the mornings 8.0 -9.00 , I can overtake on the right when appropriate quite happily as the traffic is flowing nicely an isn't bumper-bumper. Going home at ~17.00-18.00, D. Mains is block solid and the wide turning circle (17ft for a QNT...) of the trike means that if I overtake, there's a danger of not being able to get back into the lane. Hence I usually take the cycle path via Blackhall. The gutter is of course out of the question. The trike really shines at junctions & roundabouts - always clipped in and stability can be ignored.
Tackling the linear lunar landscapes which substitute for roads in Edinburg is part of everyday cycling, as I'm sure you are aware. With the trike it's just a matter of remembering where your 3 wheels are. The small front wheels are very strong and can take a remarkable amount of abuse- bumping up 3-4 ins of kerb/hole can be done at speed if taken square on, although with the risk of an odd broken spoke. On the Raptobike, getting a pothole wrong dumps me immediately. Catching the side of a hole tips the bike over rather quickly, with the resulting blue thigh and raspberry jam arm. The very laid back riding position foreshortens the view forward, so there's little warning of impending disaster. If I wanted a more serious every day 2 wheel recumbent, I think I'd look for something a bit less horizontal, but I bought the bike for fun, fully aware of the 'features'.
Icy conditions, of course, the trike is superb, although 3 wheel drifts downhill can be unsettling.
I've no personal experience of KMX, but while excellent for their intended purpose I gather that for normal road use it could be disappointing - maybe better look for a 2nd hand ice/catrike etc.
David at Laidback will doubtless be willing to help if he can, but if you want to try either of my loungers, I'd be happy to help. The trike is very leg length specific (set for 29 in trousers & cleats on the instep) , the Raptobike slightly more adjustable.
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