Cycling UK Forum

I see, my idea was wrong to measure from the axle. Thank you.
I'll try and resize a couple of pics later. Handling has been described as twitchy with 700c wheels by some. Rock solid by others. Very fast bike and a good climber by some but not in my limited experience so far with 26" wheels.

How does less offset give more trail? Thanks.

I know nothing about it. I'm guessing if I drew a line through the centre of my top and bottom headset and measured the distance to the centre of the front axle this would give me the trail or offset of the front fork?
Altering the trail would extend or reduce the wheelbase of the bike. The longer the wheelbase the slower the steering?

I'm asking this because I rode another sixty miles this morning on my Metaphrastic Recumbent. I 've had this for about three weeks now but find I'm constantly fighting with the machine it's so unstable. I 'm wondering if a fork with more trail would dampen the effect?

My Metabike has tiller steering and was unbelievably twitchy to start with, it would give the feeling of a speed wobble although it was tracking straight and the bars weren't slapping about. Shifting my seat as far forward as I can has calmed it down considerably. I can now do hand signals (just). Makes me wonder if the designers got it slightly wrong with weight distribution or fork geometry.

Ha ha, my recumbent has three chains joined together - one is round the wrong way! It will have to stay like that now.

You're right! I just checked on the Shimano site. Learned something new, better check my bike.

I'm sure Shimano say you should fit them with the writing facing out? Maybe to advertise the brand?

Not really sure of the crank length issue, I have picked up that some people use shorter cranks - is this because of knee pain or heel strike or something else? I was advised to simply use the same crank length as normal.

I agree with that article too (http://crookedlettercycling.com/2015/04 ... winner-is/ and the replies.) I really like the recumbent for lack of nasal congestion, dripping nose and also the lack of rasping lungs- you just don't get into that depleted oxygen state at the top of a hill, in fact I reckon I can hold a conversation up most hills. I love the cornering in the dry when you crank the bike over and power through the bends rather than freewheeling, you also seem to get a boost in power through your back. I don't like T junctions much or heavy traffic, uphill starts are very difficult and I don't like not being able to glance over my shoulder. Servicing a bent is difficult without a proper stand and changing a tube might prove awkward on the roadside. Costs are also high (£60 for a chain anyone?). Speed downhill is brilliant, such a laugh. If it were as fast uphill as my carbon racing bike then I think I'd be totally converted.
Knee pain is another issue that I didn't have before but neck pain,shoulder pain and sit bone pain are non-existent. Every trip gets better as I learn more and my legs become more accustomed.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Parker

No fairing

Impressive! 2013 Race Across America: 1st female finisher. Over-50 Recumbent Women's Course Record,exceeding women's standard bike record by approximately 16 hours. 3002 miles in 11 days, 20 hours, and 54 minutes.[7]


My own findings so far though are that they generally weigh more and so are slower uphill particularly steep ones! However, I am a newbie. Definitely more efficient into wind and downhill though even with mountain bike wheels.

Yes, a highracer they call them. I've had no previous experience with any recumbent before, never seen one in my neck of the woods apart from the trike I spotted today. Great learning experience. I'm getting close to sixty now so figured it's now or never!

Forty miles this morning and the handling has settled down with the seat as far forward as it will go, few comedy moments at junctions where the new angle has lifted my thighs a little. Downhill speeds have increased and I flew past my group today for a personal best time on one downhill with plenty in reserve. A taller person with bigger wheels and higher gearing would fly I reckon.

BlackPanther wrote:It took me around 3-4 weeks to really feel the 'bent advantage. Mind you that's 25 miles a day commuting and I learned on a Bacchetta Strada with open cockpit, probably one of the easiest to learn on. After a month I was trouncing road bikes, and even took a group of club riders on the flat which was when I realised just how much quicker I was than on my road bike.

I too now ride a Metabike, mines fitted with 700 wheels though my regular ride (particularly in the Winter) is the Borealis. Haven't ridden a df for years now (apart from the odd slow weekend ride with the kids) but when I did go to work on the Scott Sub, my legs didn't ache as much as I thought they would. Have you tried comparing 'bent vs df on a specific route? Maybe you just feel slower when you're actually faster? My work commute is around 5-10 mins quicker on the Meta/Borealis than it was on the road bike, but doesn't actually feel that much faster.

Out of curiosity, what seat position are you at on your Metabike and roughly how tall are you?
I had another good run on mine this morning but it does feel a bit twitchy. I've now pushed the seat forward as far as it will go which is probably two more inches than I was running at last week. Speeds are coming up.

BlackPanther wrote:It took me around 3-4 weeks to really feel the 'bent advantage. Mind you that's 25 miles a day commuting and I learned on a Bacchetta Strada with open cockpit, probably one of the easiest to learn on. After a month I was trouncing road bikes, and even took a group of club riders on the flat which was when I realised just how much quicker I was than on my road bike.

I too now ride a Metabike, mines fitted with 700 wheels though my regular ride (particularly in the Winter) is the Borealis. Haven't ridden a df for years now (apart from the odd slow weekend ride with the kids) but when I did go to work on the Scott Sub, my legs didn't ache as much as I thought they would. Have you tried comparing 'bent vs df on a specific route? Maybe you just feel slower when you're actually faster? My work commute is around 5-10 mins quicker on the Meta/Borealis than it was on the road bike, but doesn't actually feel that much faster.

I use Strava so I know my times on all the routes I use and I often cycle with others regularly so I know their strengths and weaknesses. On a short ride of eighteen miles on Sunday I was left for dead on the hills but pulled out quite a lead into a headwind home on the flat much to their annoyance. I think a better rider than me could get lower and more aero in the seat. The obvious advantage they (df) have uphill is the lack of weight and ability to stand. I have changed tyres to 1.3 Kojaks which has helped. I could change to 700c wheels too but that means new forks as well. At the moment I've spent far more than intended and will concentrate on improving my muscles and handling skills for a few months before deciding my next move.
I've watched several clips of recumbents thrashing diamond frames on the internet then found an article by Dave Mccraw an experienced rider who couldnt get his lightweight Metabike anywhere near the times of his tourer up a steep hill.
Early days, I've only been riding a couple of weeks, loads to learn.

Topeak one looks rather handy.