Cycling UK Forum

Seriously thinking about buying a recumbent bike.

Have narrowed it down to HP Velotechnik Speedmachine Vs. Challenge Hurrican SL.

Any opinions on either ?

Thanks.

JAMES

Have you got a hyperlink to look at for those,
and I could express an opinion?

http://www.hpvelotechnik.com/produkte/spm/index_e.html

and

http://www.challengebikes.com/html/inde ... urricanesl

www.hpvelotechnik.com/produkte/spm/index_e.html
[url=http:///www.challengebikes.com/html/index.php?taal=en&selectie=hurricanesl]/www.challengebikes.com/html/index.php?taal=en&selectie=hurricanesl[/url]

The specs of that challenge bike are pretty good aren't they? The price seems good too at what? £1600?

Have you looked at Varnacycles Vancouver
and Greenspeed Oz not forgetting that you have to pay for postage.

Varna started off in business with the pod like
the Challenge speed pod

They say no pressure points on the body but does the neck feel the strain some; nothing that corrective exercise does not deal with.

On my hand crank my legs stick out in front for
reduction of wind resistance but I do not pedal,
I handall, so there is MORE upper body movement not less.

I wonder how much you can adjust your upper body posture on that machine. My saddle slides back and forward to accomodate different sizes of rider. Your pedal recumbent must do that too.

G

www.varnahandcycles.com/

these are cheaper bikes at $2000 (£1100)
+£80 delivery. I like the one I got from him
Duty not payable on once off I believe (not sure)
With all of them make sure they deliver the specs they say they will deliver. Make sure you know what you HAVE ordered!

Sorry Greenspeed seem to be doing only
trikes, but if you want home brew, there is the Cornish firm, who seem pretty good.
Can't remember their name.

I agree with you about the two you are looking at;
if you are looking for quality, then the German makers are probably the best value for top quality.

Varnas latest pod looks much better than the european equivalent!!!

I have an HPVelotechnik Spirit recumbent. Its a Compact long wheelbase design, quite user friendly. and extremely well made.
I don't use it as much as I should preferring the less comfortable but more accessible folding bicycle.
I find the recumbent needs regular use to keep fit those muscles that the recumbent position uses.
In fact I'm considering selling the bent to get another Folder.

Don't narrow it down too much by looking at specifications and reports, but rather do it by riding the bikes. Recumbents vary far more between models than upright bikes, and the most important difference between otherwise similar models is the seat and the only way to gauge what's right is by sitting on them. And if you've gone that far, might as well get pedalling!

Between your two options I would personally choose the HP Velotechnik, but then I know I suit an HPVel Medium seat (I have a Streetmachine GT) and I know I'm not nearly so comfortable on the Challenge seat I tried. But your back could well see (or rather feel) it differently...

My girlfriend bought a Nazca Fiero, which is not a million miles different from your bikes on paper. It's actually quite different to what she'd envisaged buying, but the things which were right on paper didn't have the Magic X Factor and the Fiero did, and you /only/ find that out by riding the bikes in question.

The Optima Stinger is another that fits the general sporty semi-low template so might be worth a try. Bikefix in London do the HP Vel and the Challenge so you can compare them directly there, Futurecycles in E. Sussex do the Optima, London Recumbents (London and Brighton) and Norman Fay (South Shields) do the Challenge range and Kinetics in Glasgow do the HP Vel. D-Tek at Ely are second hand dealers and may well have several in your overall type range to look at, but don't limit yourself to types in advance of trying any more than specific models. Someone I know who rides a Stinger went into Futurecycles specifically to buy a trike, but it all changed with time on the seat...

Another option (one my gf took) was a trip to the NL to try out more options, specifically at Ligfietswinkel in Amsterdam and Ligfietscentrum in Briel (near Roterdam).

If you possibly can, come to your conclusion with test riding. Another thing you notice about 'bents is some very expensive high tech machines get bought from paper specifications and reports and are sold on having been hardly ridden, because they just weren't what the buyer was really looking for. So get some seat time on as many different machines as you can.

Pete.

I did think about Pete's advice before I bought but since mine was a special and he had the reputation (Greg in Vancouver) I did not complain too much.

Velotechnik is near enough to go and have a look and a test ride, so how about it? But what about the Cornish firm which does good recumbents? That's even nearer for a test ride!

Gar, I'm assuming JH is in the UK (CTC is a UK organisation), but that still leaves a lot of travel possibilities...

ICE are the West Country trikemongers, at http://www.ice.hpv.co.uk/, but they have several dealers (D-Tek in the south and Kinetics in Scotland, for example) that are much closer more of the UK population than the factory! For that matter, a trip to NL is easier than the West Country for a lot of the UK population...

No need to go to Germany to test an HP Vel, London and Glasgow have HP Vel dealerships with test bikes to play on.

A solid reputation is of absolutely no help whatsoever if the product has a seat that is basically the wrong shape for the rider! Unless you come across an absolute steal of a buy which you have reasonable confidence you can sell on at no loss, or have very deep pockets and like to experiment and never mind the cost, it really isn't a Cunning Plan to buy a 'bent on paper specs if you can possibly avoid it.

Pete.

I have to put a bit of sorbo on my seat to get any where near supporting the back, so seat is important.

Good advice from Pete!

Pete's advice on the seat comfort is bang on!
Unlike the diamond frame bike where one can alter the riding position by changing the handhold position, on a recumbent bike there is really only one riding position- 'laid back'. lt is therefore absolutely vital to have a comfortable seat with good lumbar support.
One of the reasons l bought the 'Spirit' was that the seat angle could be adjusted by 15 degrees at the flip of a quick release.
You really need to try these bikes for a long day ride.

Seats on 'bents are becoming increasingly adjustable. HP Velotechnik's "Bodylink" seat will adjust for length as well as tilt, but even with these it's best to sit on them to be sure. For all its much vaunted adjustability, I prefer the older seat it's replacing through the HPVel range, and my partner prefers Nazca's seat, which is cut away from the shoulder blades and is more "3d" around the hips than the Optima/HPVel design.

Pete.