Search found 77 matches

by nobrakes
1 Feb 2024, 10:24am
Forum: Non-standard, Human Powered Vehicles
Topic: Unbending, or Not.
Replies: 31
Views: 1887

Re: Unbending, or Not.

I think the main thing is to be outside, away from screens, turning pedals and watching the scenery roll by. Everything else is in support of that most enjoyable goal. We do what we need to do to make that happen in the best way we can, whatever that platform may be. I think the human body is utterly reliable in the certainty that it is always in a state of change, and what works today might not work tomorrow or next week. It's good to keep open to all possibilities and recognise when something is no longer working. Also to remain open to the possibility that what doesn't work today might work again tomorrow, or next week :) I am still kicking myself that I didn't bid on the VTX that ICE put up for sale on Ebay last summer. Second hand VTXs are pretty rare. I still want one....
by nobrakes
31 Jan 2024, 3:52pm
Forum: Non-standard, Human Powered Vehicles
Topic: Unbending, or Not.
Replies: 31
Views: 1887

Re: Unbending, or Not.

I've been through a similar process. I have all but given up riding bents which is why I haven't posted here for quite a while, not for performance reasons but because they cause me so much foot pain. I did 6 months last year really trying to get a solution for this after a couple of years of mostly upright bike riding, and the thing I noticed most is that climbing hills on bents is a real grind compared to an upright. I didn't used to mind when I was more 'invested' in making bents work, but now it just seems to suck the fun out the ride. Going up long hills on an upright can be quite a pleasant experience but on the bents it's not really fun, and if it's really steep it needs a lot of concentration to keep the bike tracking straight.

I do miss riding bents and wish I could do more. I have kept my Fuego and go out for occasional blasts on it, but any serious riding now is on a road bike due to the foot pain. If I ever figure it out I will definitely get back into the dark side a bit more. I still really lust after a VTX. But for the really hilly terrain I ride in a road bike feels like a better choice overall.

BTW Upwrong if you need help with butt pain on the upright, I can really recommend SMP saddles. I switched to an SMP Dynamic on my road bike last year and it enabled me to get round a couple of 300 km audaxes in relative comfort. It looks really uncomfortable and feels weird at first, but it just kinda melts into the background once your brain gets used to the different signals your nerves are sending. If you can find a shop that does tests of these saddles you can try a few and get one that works. I just took a punt on the one that Steve Hogg recommends for most people and it worked out. Expensive but very effective.

Here's the logic behind the saddle design - it's one of the few saddles that I think is actually designed for humans to sit on. https://www.stevehoggbikefitting.com/bi ... bout-smps/
by nobrakes
14 Jun 2023, 4:27pm
Forum: Non-standard, Human Powered Vehicles
Topic: HPV SMGT - what's an equivalent in upright bike format?
Replies: 15
Views: 4869

Re: HPV SMGT - what's an equivalent in upright bike format?

My heavy DF workhorse do it all bike is a Specialized Crosstrail. It does most things well but no things amazingly, a bit like a heavy suspended 2 wheel bent. It's a good touring bike with a heavy duty topeak rack on the back. I take it away on holidays usually where I don't mind leaving it outside in salty sea air to be crapped on by the birds and if it gets nicked it didn't cost much.

I think suspension on a bent is a very good thing, perhaps even essential depending on the roads. I have more than once completely lost contact with the seat after hitting a pothole on the M5. Crashes are not far away if you do that kind of thing regularly.

The Fuego is I guess a bit like the SM. Rear suspension only but it floats over everything so well that you can almost forget the roads are bad. Especially with 42mm tyres. It's also heavy like the SM so not the fastest overall, but incredibly comfy.
by nobrakes
7 Jun 2023, 4:14pm
Forum: Non-standard, Human Powered Vehicles
Topic: Why does nobody believe me?
Replies: 124
Views: 13160

Re: Why does nobody believe me?

Bram liked to sell direct but David @ LaidBackBikes was sometimes able to circumvent that and source M5s for customers. He got me my CHR frameset and had the Bicycle Works build it up.
by nobrakes
23 Apr 2023, 9:13am
Forum: Non-standard, Human Powered Vehicles
Topic: Recumbent as a route back into cycling
Replies: 50
Views: 6250

Re: Recumbent as a route back into cycling

Don’t necessarily give up on road bikes. I went to recumbents for a few years for back issues too, but there came a point where I really just wanted to go out on my road bike again. I have completely rehabilitated myself using Alexander Technique. I tried everything else and AT it’s the only thing that worked. I’ve been doing it for a long time and it takes a lot of work but it has been worth it. 4 years ago I was in agony doing 20 minutes on the road bike. Next Sunday I’m doing a 300k audax. I nearly lost my career due to chronic neck, back and nerve pain about 20 years ago. All sorted using AT.

I still have a recumbent but hardly ride it these days.

If you haven’t got anything structurally wrong with your back or neck, I would highly recommend AT. It has the added benefit of being applicable to everything you do with your life and enables you to take control and adapt to changing physical conditions as your body changes.
by nobrakes
11 Mar 2023, 1:20pm
Forum: Non-standard, Human Powered Vehicles
Topic: Recumbent as a route back into cycling
Replies: 50
Views: 6250

Re: Recumbent as a route back into cycling

ICE neck rests are expensive but in my opinion are the gold standard. They can be used on any bike with a hardshell seat regardless of recline angle or seat size. They are rock solid and easy to adjust. Personally I wouldn’t use anything else. But yes, expensive :)
by nobrakes
19 Feb 2023, 7:32pm
Forum: Non-standard, Human Powered Vehicles
Topic: Recumbent as a route back into cycling
Replies: 50
Views: 6250

Re: Recumbent as a route back into cycling

I can’t ride any recumbent without a neck rest. The ICE VTX one is really good assuming you have a hardshell seat.
by nobrakes
15 Feb 2023, 5:42pm
Forum: Non-standard, Human Powered Vehicles
Topic: Recumbent as a route back into cycling
Replies: 50
Views: 6250

Re: Recumbent as a route back into cycling

Advice for any recumbent that is useful is to relax the death grip. It’s very easy to tense up at first when learning which makes steering harder. Most recumbents can be ridden with a very light touch or even no handed with practice, and it makes steering much simpler and easy to control. The time to watch especially is climbing steep hills at slow speed - keep the grip light and the torso loose to stop unintended steering inputs from the body.
by nobrakes
30 Jan 2023, 8:34pm
Forum: Non-standard, Human Powered Vehicles
Topic: Drooling over a Monster
Replies: 8
Views: 1008

Re: Drooling over a Monster

I saw it too.

A great piece of history, but not that practical for Scottish roads :)

I’m sure it will be a beautiful piece of engineering like everything that comes out of Falmouth.

Somebody with a big garage will no doubt snap it up!
by nobrakes
8 Jan 2023, 12:07pm
Forum: Non-standard, Human Powered Vehicles
Topic: Thinning the herd
Replies: 13
Views: 2009

Re: Thinning the herd

UpWrong - yes I have a set of catalyst XLs to order to try this already. I am currently running Rockbros large platforms which are a copy of the OneUp ones. They’re not bad but I want something that will support both ends of the foot arch. Hopefully the Catalyst pedals will be the solution. I too find minimal slip issues on the large platforms. The m5 BB was too high but the Fuego isn’t so bad.
by nobrakes
6 Jan 2023, 10:02pm
Forum: Non-standard, Human Powered Vehicles
Topic: Thinning the herd
Replies: 13
Views: 2009

Re: Thinning the herd

Yes I still would fancy one but the m5 sale VTX fund was spent on the SLR instead. I’ve
drifted somewhat away from the dark side at the moment. I may yet come back :)
by nobrakes
5 Jan 2023, 9:54pm
Forum: Non-standard, Human Powered Vehicles
Topic: Thinning the herd
Replies: 13
Views: 2009

Re: Thinning the herd

Thought I would revisit this thread for the sake of completeness. The m5 is gone, I kept the Fuego. Not much Fuego riding going on due to ongoing foot pain problems but it’s just too nice a bike to sell. In a way I regret my deviation into performance bents via the Cruzbike and m5, and I wish I’d bought a Gaucho 28 high racer when they were still available. It feels like it would be the perfect bent for me now. The performance bents are just eyeball rattling grimace inducing experiences on uk roads. The Fuego feels good to ride so I’m hopeful to get that sorted eventually and get back on it properly.

Despite what I said upthread I am starting to get into audaxing. Did a few 200s last year and hoping to go longer this year.

I replaced the m5 with a Mason SLR steel road bike. New model, very nice and smooth. Takes nice wide tyres and fits mudguards. It’s getting most of my love at the moment.

I’ve ordered a set of catalyst xl pedals from the states which was really expensive but I have a theory that my feet problems on the bent will improve if i use pedals that are long enough to allow my feet arches to function the way nature intended - we’ll see how that goes!

I use minimalist shoes for walking and running so it seems like the right thing to do to try the same on bikes. Hard to get pedals big enough to support both ends of my muckle flippers but the catalysts are really long. Here’s hoping…
by nobrakes
24 Dec 2022, 11:02pm
Forum: Non-standard, Human Powered Vehicles
Topic: Bella Build
Replies: 20
Views: 2558

Re: Bella Build

I did that to mine with a Terracycle idler, although I kept the return idler above the front wheel too.

https://scottishborderscyclist.wordpres ... this-time/

I have since put the power side tube back on to stop contact with the tyre but it worked fine without too.
by nobrakes
22 Dec 2022, 1:37pm
Forum: Non-standard, Human Powered Vehicles
Topic: Bella Build
Replies: 20
Views: 2558

Re: Bella Build

I’m now down to just the Fuego (other than the tandem). I don’t think I could ever part with a Nazca bike, they are just so nicely made and well thought out. Not riding it much at the moment due to ongoing foot pain issues but i still love it to bits :)
by nobrakes
22 Dec 2022, 1:33pm
Forum: Non-standard, Human Powered Vehicles
Topic: Bella Build
Replies: 20
Views: 2558

Re: Bella Build

Haven’t been on here for a while - you’re building another bike? Very cool. Are you still riding the p-38?