Search found 137 matches

by Lodge
2 Feb 2024, 9:45pm
Forum: Non-standard, Human Powered Vehicles
Topic: Unbending, or Not.
Replies: 31
Views: 1891

Re: Unbending, or Not.

pjclinch wrote: 2 Feb 2024, 8:42am
As for the poop, 'bents are no more prone to slides in it than upwrongs, and if you do go then there's not so far to fall and the seat takes some of the hit rather than it all being on your hip if you've managed to resist the reflex arm-out for a broken collarbone...

Pete.
Good point. My fall back in 2018 was a front wheel washout from the Bacchetta on a right hander at about 25 mph. “All” I suffered was 10x10 cm skin loss on my right thigh which took three months to heal over. No broken bones, no hand or collar damage, and actually very little damage to the bike save a graze to the handlebars and brake lever. But it was very unnerving to have the front wheel disappear in dry sunny conditions. And I’d been round that bend many hundreds of times as it was on my route to work. Hence I converted to three wheels and (after a while to get my confidence back) took that same bend at the same speed many times more. Bad luck I suppose.

Yes, indeed, the HP Velo, but also the Azub equivalent but with Shimano motor, look rather interesting. Food for thought…
by Lodge
1 Feb 2024, 6:19pm
Forum: Non-standard, Human Powered Vehicles
Topic: Unbending, or Not.
Replies: 31
Views: 1891

Re: Unbending, or Not.

I must admit to have given up on recumbents last year when I sold on my ICE Sprint. There ended several years of recumbent riding, starting with a Bacchetta Giro (3800 miles to 2018 when a bad fall put me off), through a Hase Kettwiesel (4400 miles, which was taken over by my wife for a while) then to the aforementioned Sprint (9200 miles). I think gave recumbent riding a fair go.

What ended the affair was retiring from the flat to moderate hilly environment of the Rhine valley around Basel and the French Alsace, to the White peak area of the Peak District. Even to get from our village to and from town involves 20%+ gradients. I tried electrifying the Sprint, which dealt with the gradients, but the potholes of the Staffordshire Moorlands were awful on the trike. And I couldn't see over the drystone walls anyway which took away much of the joy of lying back to watch a view.

I still hanker after a two-wheeler. But it would have to be suspended (for the potholes), electrified (for the hills) and reasonably high (for the views). But I would still worry about sliding off on the cow/horse muck everywhere.
by Lodge
12 Dec 2023, 11:54am
Forum: Non-standard, Human Powered Vehicles
Topic: Kettwiesel Cross/Evo
Replies: 11
Views: 1553

Re: Kettwiesel Cross/Evo

My wife and I had a Kettwiesel Kross with Shimano motor for five and half years and 4410 miles. Regarding the question
wondering if those 2 extra chains are going to require much maintenance or give problems down the road
the original KMC X9 suspension chains lasted 3118 miles. They were replaced by a more durable KMC X1. We had experienced that the original X9 short, and exposed, 38 link chain from the Rohloff to the differential lasted only 1402 miles even though it was cleaned and lubricated weekly when used for commuting during the winter. The replacement X1 lasted 2985 miles.

The Kett was really nice to ride and the two-wheel drive brilliant off-road and in the snow. When we lived on the French-Swiss Basel border and I had commuted to work for an entire year without using a motor vehicle, including snow, ice and -12°C temperatures (which is when the Kett came into its own, especially with the fairing to keep the foul weather off), we sold our second car and dropped to just the one between the two of us. The cost of the Kett was more than paid back.
by Lodge
6 Oct 2023, 6:54pm
Forum: Non-standard, Human Powered Vehicles
Topic: A recumbent bike for climbing
Replies: 32
Views: 7685

Re: A recumbent bike for climbing

My Bacchetta Giro 24" wasn't too bad at climbing, as per the screenshot of my Garmin data from back in 2016. 70 miles with 4666 feet of ascent at an average of 10.3 mph. I did a similar trip on my touring bike (Patria Terra) back in 2012 at a similar speed. Both bikes had Rohloff hubs geared for climbing and were similar weights. The Bacchetta, with its straight frame tube and no suspension, transmitted the power well with no discernable flex.
Screenshot 2023-10-06 at 18.46.56.png
by Lodge
7 Jun 2023, 7:33pm
Forum: Non-standard, Human Powered Vehicles
Topic: Recumbent safety
Replies: 34
Views: 5865

Re: Recumbent safety

The Google Streetview lane in Devon looks very similar to many lanes in my local Staffordshire Moorlands. I still ride my bicycles and rode my ICE Sprint down those lanes. No issues with the local farmers or other traffic.

I sold my Sprint last year. That lane in Devon shows why - it was impossible to get a smooth ride on a three track vehicle, and very uncomfortable with no suspension. So now I only have two-wheelers. The sale was nothing to do with feeling unsafe.
by Lodge
1 Jun 2023, 7:45pm
Forum: Non-standard, Human Powered Vehicles
Topic: Why does nobody believe me?
Replies: 124
Views: 13161

Re: Why does nobody believe me?

I must admit to missing riding recumbent. The two of us sold our trikes last year as it was getting so bone-jarring to be riding unsuspended. With the poor roads and many potholes in the Staffordshire Moorlands it was difficult to pick a smooth path. Plus the high walls and hedges meant I couldn't see much.

My other half still rides recumbent - we have a Hase Pino. But I'm giving serious thought to returning to a two wheeled 'bent, preferably one with suspension. And a motor (it's hilly round here).

And yes, I regularly get close-passed on my upright bike, something which was rare on the ICE Sprint. A tactic I find is useful is to be more assertive and ride towards the centre of the lane, 3/4-1 m from the nearside edge. Close passes often correlate with when I've drifted closer to the nearside edge thereby providing an opportunity for a following vehicle to squeeze past. Playing the old age card (white hair and beard) and wobbling a bit often helps as well. As does a mirror.
by Lodge
1 May 2023, 4:48pm
Forum: Non-standard, Human Powered Vehicles
Topic: Go Tubeless, or not?
Replies: 14
Views: 4845

Re: Go Tubeless, or not?

Unfortunately I'm not sure the rims on the Kettwiesel would be suitable for tubeless tyres. And, although I'm happy to be proved incorrect, feel it is unlikely that one will be able to find them in the required 20 inch (406 mm rim) size.

From my own experience of many thousands of miles on our Kettwiesel Cross (now gone) the most puncture resistant tyres were the Schwalbe Marathon Plus. We never had a flat with those, although I did have quite a spate with the originally supplied Little Joe knobblies.

For our trikes I've not found the Marathon Plus tyres to be too bad, They have strong sidewalls (better for resisting sideways forces) and, with the weight spread three ways, I ran at minimal pressures (especially the very lightly loaded front of a delta trike) to keep some degree of flexibility/deformability and therefore shock absorption.
by Lodge
26 Apr 2023, 7:50pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: FTP over 60 years old?
Replies: 49
Views: 24940

Re: FTP over 60 years old?

For comparison I’m 66 and my most recent FTP was 3.11 W/kg (weight 142 lb, height 5’7”). I’m sure it would have been higher in the past but I’m slowly reducing my annual cycling mileage as I get older and spending more time walking (better for my aching back). And please note that for the past 4 years I’ve been riding electric. The ebikes (and, until recently, recumbent e-trikes) enable me to stay out longer without getting bored going uphill for 95% or more of the time. I still get a good workout.
by Lodge
24 Mar 2023, 9:27pm
Forum: Electrically assisted pedal cycles
Topic: Geared Hub for 16" Wheels
Replies: 12
Views: 911

Re: Geared Hub for 16" Wheels

Hi Triker,
Thanks for the compliment on the Brompton. It no longer has the Rohloff, that’s now in a Tern Vektron ebike and I’ve just put the Alfine 11 back in the Brompton. The Rohloff was running with 44:16 gearing, by the way, with a non-Brompton crankset with shorter 155 mm cranks to suit my short 29” legs. The lump on the crossbar is a folding lock. The scrape on the frame is from the crank when folding the bike. Being a non-standard Brompton (from Kinetics in Glasgow) it has wider front and rear hubs with specially made forks and rear triangle wider than standard. The cranks can’t rotate fully in the folded position and it’s easy to scratch the frame. The chain tensioner is standard Brompton and is needed to keep the chain in position when folding the bike. The Brooks saddle is very comfortable for me - in several thousand miles the leather has molded to match my derrière perfectly.

Regarding attaching an image, look for the “attachments” tab below where you type text. There is the facility to upload files and insert images in line with the text.
by Lodge
23 Mar 2023, 3:46pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Spokes ?
Replies: 12
Views: 931

Re: Spokes ?

I use these two websites to calculate spoke lengths
http://www.kstoerz.com/freespoke/
https://leonard.io/edd/
They tend to agree (plus or minus a millimetre) and so far, with many wheels built over the last 6-7 years, all is good.
There is also this one from SON which I did checkout for one particular build
https://nabendynamo.de/en/service/spoke-length/
by Lodge
23 Mar 2023, 12:20pm
Forum: Electrically assisted pedal cycles
Topic: Geared Hub for 16" Wheels
Replies: 12
Views: 911

Re: Geared Hub for 16" Wheels

Hi Triker,

Even with a 16” wheel you can fit wide range hubs such as the Alfine 11 and Rohloff. I have used both on my Brompton (see below for Rohloff example). Given you are in BC you have available to you many rather interesting mountains, so having a wide range of gears, even with a motor, would be advisable. It all comes down to budget.

My wife and I had Rohloffs on the two e-trikes we used to run. Even in the hills of the English Peak District we used the full range of gears. We regularly climbed gradients of more than 20%. The UK may not have mountains like the Rockies but many roads and tracks are steep, albeit short.
5ACE3513-3610-4449-9677-58021D8C2B47.jpeg
by Lodge
22 Mar 2023, 9:39pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Rohloff hub
Replies: 21
Views: 1537

Re: Rohloff hub

if anyone should like an Excel spreadsheet to calculate gear ratios for the Rohloff (and Alfine 11) I have one. An example screenshot is in this post from last year viewtopic.php?p=1718647#p1718647. Please feel free to send me a personal message if you should like a copy.
by Lodge
22 Mar 2023, 9:22pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Rohloff hub
Replies: 21
Views: 1537

Re: Rohloff hub

Indeed, both of our Terns, with their 20” wheels, are laced 1x, as was the black Rohloff when in the Brompton.
by Lodge
22 Mar 2023, 3:22pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Rohloff hub
Replies: 21
Views: 1537

Re: Rohloff hub

As with some of the other comments I would give it a go.

I currently have three Rohloff hubs, all of which have been transferred between machines.

The oldest has now done over 30,000 miles and is in its third machine. The first 20k were in a 26” wheel Patria tourer. Then the next 10k in an ICE trike, also 26” (but different rim). It’s just been put in a 20” wheel in my Tern Vektron ebike to replace a Shimano Alfine 11.

Another Rohloff (nice red one) started in a 24” wheel Bacchetta Giro for 7000 miles, then went to the 26” Patria tourer for a couple of thousand and then to our 26” Hase Pino for last 1500 miles or so.

The third started in a Brompton (replacing the Simano Alfine 11 which went to the Tern) and last year was transferred to my wife’s Tern Vektron. The Alfine is now back in the Brompton from which it came.

With all changes I maintained, as best I could, the same spoke angles rather than create new dinks in the flanges, even if that meant not having the valve hole in the classical position. For the more recent rebuilds flange support rings have been used although they weren’t at first. So far so good, touch wood and fingers crossed.

As may be obvious I don’t like losing Rohloff hubs but keep to replace the derailleurs that came with new bikes. The only derailleur I have (from my wife’s Tern) is now on my old Patria which is only used on a turbo trainer.
by Lodge
13 Mar 2023, 10:30am
Forum: Non-standard, Human Powered Vehicles
Topic: Electric recumbent bikes with boom motor
Replies: 13
Views: 1498

Re: Electric recumbent bikes with boom motor

Thanks to all of you for great advice. I'll scan the adverts for a little while for a second hand bike. But failing that a trip to Scotland - Glasgow and Edinburgh - to test the two options could be on late spring or early summer when the weather improves.