The wait is over....first roadie wasted.

[BlackPanther]

I cannot believe that it's taken well over a month to come across a road bike on my commute. Well, I've seen a few but they've been going in the wrong direction, or they've turned off before I reached them. Anyway, tonight after joining Bawtry road going into Doncaster I saw him. He was 100 yards away, and he was doing around 15mph......the same speed I'd do on this road if I was on the road bike. As I got closer, I'm sure I recognised the rider/bike (well 90% certain). I had a few fast rides with him last year. I 'lost' the first when I was on the town bike. I 'won' the 2nd on the road bike, and the third time we kept changing positions, which was fun. I'd guess that we are both around the same level of fitness, so this was going to be the first true test of the 'bent.

I had around 6 or 7 miles before he'd turn off for Bentley....I was confident I'd leave him on the open road, but there were loads of lights to come, and the town centre where the Baccetta would lose time.

We were coming to a slight uphill and there was a strongish head wind I sailed past him touching 20mph.....he was slowing, but I expected a bit of effort on his part to catch up, and maybe a fun battle.

T'was not to be though. He quickly got smaller and smaller in my mirror and I'd lost him altogether within a mile. I really had been looking forward to this and I feel a bit 'robbed'. I think the headwind was just too strong, so he didn't even try. Awwwww.

 

[riggsbie]

The power of the Bent rider/rider......

Good work !!

 

[GrasB]

We were coming to a slight uphill and there was a strongish head wind I sailed past him touching 20mph.....he was slowing, but I expected a bit of effort on his part to catch up, and maybe a fun battle.

When does this NOT happen... it's not like I 'cruise' on the flat at 27-28mph or anything

 

[byegad]

The main thing here is the headwind. I can smoke Roadies into a full gale on my Streamer equipped QNT. AND I'm slow!!! The advantage of the more aero -dynamic position is the key.

 

[ianrauk]

I still remember my first roadie wasted. He was trying hard in a headwind. I sailed past him and gave a little wave.

 

[GrasB]

The main thing here is the headwind. I can smoke Roadies into a full gale on my Streamer equipped QNT. AND I'm slow!!! The advantage of the more aero -dynamic position is the key.

No so much aerodynamics more the speed of the air that you're riding through. You see I'm effected equally on my DFs & 'bents even though the 'bents are more aerodynamic. However on 2 borrowed low racers I've been disproportionally faster into the wind, the wind simply hasn't felt nearly as strong when stationary either. Low racers are much closer to the height of a tadpole like your QNT than that of a DF.

 

[Hacienda71]

What about a chuffing big hill though?

 

[Dayvo]

What about a chuffing big hill though?

*trying to find a pedestrian-pushing a-recumbent-uphill smiley*

I rode with a couple of 'bent riders a few years ago for 2-3 days. They pissed me on the descent and, almost, on the flat, but struggled up the hills.

You win some, you lose some, I s'pose.

 

[ianrauk]

I like to think I am a fair string rider on df's, but when it comes to hills on the bent.. chuffing hell it's hard work.

 

[GrasB]

I find that climbing on a 'bent is a mind-set change. Instead of piling on the torque, you pile on the rpm.

 

[Linford]

I like the idea of a streamliner, but Mr Clarksons comment on them the other weeks TG made me squirm a bit. Still like a go in one though.

 

[GrasB]

Linford, care to elaborate on why you put any stock in his words?

 

[Linford]

Linford, care to elaborate on why you put any stock in his words?

They flagged a pic up and intimated that the riders were in the 'coffin' position as that particular one was so low to the ground. It looked almost like a Luge.

They have flags on them for good reason don't they.

Perhaps showing my ignorance on this as I've never ridden one. I wonder how safe they feel when in town traffic during rush hour ?

 

[GrasB]

Real stream liners are designed for one thing - going damn fast in controlled conditions. Most stream liners I've seen can't stop without the aid of a 3rd party to hold it up! No I wouldn't be doing a rush hour run in one of those!

Now if we're talking about velomobiles like the Quest, Go-One & Milan I'd then ask about an Aerial Atom!

 

[BlackPanther]

I find that climbing on a 'bent is a mind-set change. Instead of piling on the torque, you pile on the rpm.

I don't have any massive hills to climb on my commute, but I'm finding fairly steep hills are a lot easier than on the road bike. Oddly, I find that I'm doing the opposite and using more brute strength to grind my way up which seems easier than upping the revs, whereas on the road bike I do spin a lot faster. On the road bike I'd be in 2nd or 3rd (middle ring), but on the 'bent I'm holding 5th or 6th (middle ring). The Strada just seems to pull really well with the support from the seat making it a comfortable way to climb.

I did fail quite spectacularly on one of my first rides up a steep hill though, nearly losing balance altogether as I came to a rather pathetic stop.