Falco Frank
Veteran
- Location
- Oup Norf'
Hello,
I hope no-one minds me jotting some initial thoughts down on my first 2 weeks of recumbent initiation!
A decaying hip joint prompted the idea of getting a bent, especially as riding my DF bikes was getting so uncomfortable. So, after watching many bikes go for silly prices on Ebay, Gumtree of all places flagged a Toxy TT for sale in Scotland. After a few questions, it was essentially a done deal and was mine:
Similar to this factory image, mine has over seat steering, lower spec wheels and a rear pannier rack. Thankfully the seller was a similar height and leg to myself so, Ive not experimented with altering riding position yet.
My partner was convinced this was a poor decision and after an initial VERY wobbly ride I could almost see why but, could see the potential and was impressed by the overall quality of the build. No pain in my hip was, I admit a BIG seller for me to continue.
I might not be an engineer but could see a few issues, mudguards catching tyres, chain pulley wheel not rotating with the chain and poor cable routing fouling the steering. An afternoon spent sorting these and squirting some teflon lube down the L O N G chain tubes seemed logical to me.
Time for a decent run. Thankfully, we have a nice seafront boulevard at Seaton Carew that runs to Hartlepool marina so, resisting fish 'n' chips I got stupidly over dressed in cycling gear and set off...
Starts were feeling much better already even if I soon discovered 3rd gear on the smallest front ring and not 1st was easiest for this beginner, otherwise the pedals simply spun around too fast for me to get a second foot up onto the opposing pedal. I really rate the Magura disc brakes already, Ive used their hydraulic calipers in the past on a MTB but these seem better again.
The gears worked well with the SRam gripshifts but the steering felt SO twitchy, I knew most of this was my fault, over compensating on the bars but I cant help feeling the long 'tiller' just isnt for me or, is going to take a lot longer for me to get used to. A lot of side-to-side movement was also my fault from poor pedalling action however, the 30 minute ride was good,without incident apart from a host of odd-stares, looks and finger pointing from the general public.
A check over the bike showed no issues and after leaving the Schwalbe tyres 10psi below rated maximum I decided to try a near full 70psi for the next ride.
HILLS!!!
A naff Chinese Km only bike computer was fitted as was my JVC Adixxion action cam, just to record the fun as I intended a ride down the road and off a side road, down to the beach banks not far from home. I guess my maths had failed me at attempting to get the computer to display mph when downhill it showed 88 mph!!! Never the less, downhill was breathtaking & the fastest I've been on a pedal bike for a LONG time. 30 seconds later I was over looking the sea. Google maps informs me that the elevation change is only 150ft of climbing but, in the space of 0.2 miles, I used to be able to do it on a folding bike up to the middle of last year but I didnt even make it HALF WAY up the hill despite using granny gear (if that phrase is allowed in bent circles - lol).
I admit to being disheartened by this, both in bike and personal fitness terms.
I pushed the bike to the top of the hill and vented my frustration by flying along on the flat to home, managing to save some face, in my own mind if nowhere else.
In addition to the florescent on the back of the carbon fibre seat base to alert motorists, I decided a spare bright LED might be a useful addition and also fitted the CF headset that the previous owner kindly supplied along with underseat bars, spare semi-slick tyres and a high press shock pump for the under seat unit.
The next day a click of extra preload on the budget front suspension and perhaps the slightly rash early fitment of my SPD Shimano pedals completed the prep for my hill climbs. My SPDs are fitted with a plastic free-ride plate on one side of each so I figured were ideal for the task and truth be told, it felt good to get my cycling shoes back on.
Why is there always a down side, LoL. I really cant win from our house, I either have a half mile ride and the a severe climb OR a climb straight from the door of 100 feet vertical over a distance of 0.6 mile. Its tough for me but I knew I wasnt ready for the former so after a few rides and stop/starts to check the Spuds still worked as expected, I set off hill climbing again. Not to be denied, I made it to the top but was panting like I really dont care to recall. The downhill and flat after it were fun but my energy was sapped for the next easier climb but I made that one as well.
I now found it MUCH easier to push my lower back into the seat base and use the SPuds to properly spin, an extra benefit being that the side to side 'yawing' of the ride was much lesser too. After stopping for a breather, I continued on the flat and managed top gear for a mile or so before reaching a nearby village. Downhill almost all the way home, apart from one slight rise that I was able to 'blast' in a pretty big gear - felt good!
Google informed me my 3.6 mile ride went up & down by around 170 feet and should of took 19 mins? I took me 24 but that was with some testing as detailed so, I was quite happy to survive unscathed for my first use of clips.
So, Next? Gotta try the semi-slicks to see if they aid riding as much as I hope. I'm going with the tiny increment improvements here so please bear with me....
Cheers - Frank
I hope no-one minds me jotting some initial thoughts down on my first 2 weeks of recumbent initiation!
A decaying hip joint prompted the idea of getting a bent, especially as riding my DF bikes was getting so uncomfortable. So, after watching many bikes go for silly prices on Ebay, Gumtree of all places flagged a Toxy TT for sale in Scotland. After a few questions, it was essentially a done deal and was mine:
Similar to this factory image, mine has over seat steering, lower spec wheels and a rear pannier rack. Thankfully the seller was a similar height and leg to myself so, Ive not experimented with altering riding position yet.
My partner was convinced this was a poor decision and after an initial VERY wobbly ride I could almost see why but, could see the potential and was impressed by the overall quality of the build. No pain in my hip was, I admit a BIG seller for me to continue.
I might not be an engineer but could see a few issues, mudguards catching tyres, chain pulley wheel not rotating with the chain and poor cable routing fouling the steering. An afternoon spent sorting these and squirting some teflon lube down the L O N G chain tubes seemed logical to me.
Time for a decent run. Thankfully, we have a nice seafront boulevard at Seaton Carew that runs to Hartlepool marina so, resisting fish 'n' chips I got stupidly over dressed in cycling gear and set off...
Starts were feeling much better already even if I soon discovered 3rd gear on the smallest front ring and not 1st was easiest for this beginner, otherwise the pedals simply spun around too fast for me to get a second foot up onto the opposing pedal. I really rate the Magura disc brakes already, Ive used their hydraulic calipers in the past on a MTB but these seem better again.
The gears worked well with the SRam gripshifts but the steering felt SO twitchy, I knew most of this was my fault, over compensating on the bars but I cant help feeling the long 'tiller' just isnt for me or, is going to take a lot longer for me to get used to. A lot of side-to-side movement was also my fault from poor pedalling action however, the 30 minute ride was good,without incident apart from a host of odd-stares, looks and finger pointing from the general public.
A check over the bike showed no issues and after leaving the Schwalbe tyres 10psi below rated maximum I decided to try a near full 70psi for the next ride.
HILLS!!!
A naff Chinese Km only bike computer was fitted as was my JVC Adixxion action cam, just to record the fun as I intended a ride down the road and off a side road, down to the beach banks not far from home. I guess my maths had failed me at attempting to get the computer to display mph when downhill it showed 88 mph!!! Never the less, downhill was breathtaking & the fastest I've been on a pedal bike for a LONG time. 30 seconds later I was over looking the sea. Google maps informs me that the elevation change is only 150ft of climbing but, in the space of 0.2 miles, I used to be able to do it on a folding bike up to the middle of last year but I didnt even make it HALF WAY up the hill despite using granny gear (if that phrase is allowed in bent circles - lol).
I admit to being disheartened by this, both in bike and personal fitness terms.
I pushed the bike to the top of the hill and vented my frustration by flying along on the flat to home, managing to save some face, in my own mind if nowhere else.
In addition to the florescent on the back of the carbon fibre seat base to alert motorists, I decided a spare bright LED might be a useful addition and also fitted the CF headset that the previous owner kindly supplied along with underseat bars, spare semi-slick tyres and a high press shock pump for the under seat unit.
The next day a click of extra preload on the budget front suspension and perhaps the slightly rash early fitment of my SPD Shimano pedals completed the prep for my hill climbs. My SPDs are fitted with a plastic free-ride plate on one side of each so I figured were ideal for the task and truth be told, it felt good to get my cycling shoes back on.
Why is there always a down side, LoL. I really cant win from our house, I either have a half mile ride and the a severe climb OR a climb straight from the door of 100 feet vertical over a distance of 0.6 mile. Its tough for me but I knew I wasnt ready for the former so after a few rides and stop/starts to check the Spuds still worked as expected, I set off hill climbing again. Not to be denied, I made it to the top but was panting like I really dont care to recall. The downhill and flat after it were fun but my energy was sapped for the next easier climb but I made that one as well.
I now found it MUCH easier to push my lower back into the seat base and use the SPuds to properly spin, an extra benefit being that the side to side 'yawing' of the ride was much lesser too. After stopping for a breather, I continued on the flat and managed top gear for a mile or so before reaching a nearby village. Downhill almost all the way home, apart from one slight rise that I was able to 'blast' in a pretty big gear - felt good!
Google informed me my 3.6 mile ride went up & down by around 170 feet and should of took 19 mins? I took me 24 but that was with some testing as detailed so, I was quite happy to survive unscathed for my first use of clips.
So, Next? Gotta try the semi-slicks to see if they aid riding as much as I hope. I'm going with the tiny increment improvements here so please bear with me....
Cheers - Frank
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to both CC and the Darker side ...
People will look, point, smile 
, laugh, comment favourably and be very friendly towards you; cars will give you more room when overtaking 
- really, they will ! 
...
