Pictures of your recumbent

[pjclinch]

It would be interesting to hear of the experiences of another relatively short recumbent rider with various bikes. I've learned from the Grasshopper that the X seam is not the only criterion for easy rideability. According to the manufacturer the Grasshopper is suitable for riders from 5'2" to over 6 feet but at 5'5" I struggle to get over that boom, having to lift a foot over the dipped portion ahead of the seat to get on and off. I see that the Azub has a very similar design. I suppose it's liveable with.

Yes, getting off is more difficult than stepping over. I have to lean the bike at pretty radical angles to step over in either direction. I have resorted to swapping a suspension fork to a fixed fork and putting narrower tyres on to lower my Nazca Paseo. I don't remember my Grasshopper being tricky but my Giro 20 could be. The RANS Stratus XP is bliss, so easy.

To get off the Streetmachine I tend to swing my off-side leg over before I stop, so I'm stepping off as the bike comes to a halt. This wouldn't really work with over-seat steering, of course, and getting on at a scoot isn't something that would work too well either...

Pete.

[a.twiddler]

There's something to be said for the LWB design. I'd never really thought about getting on and off with the Linear. A little forethought needed maybe, but not a big issue. Maybe as my first recumbent, I was more willing to accept some of its peculiarities as part of its character. The side stand is convenient to use, the seat is actually quite high but the frame in front is a fair bit lower with no protruding obstacles to catch your foot as it goes over. When loaded it could be quite tail heavy but then it's easy to lean the panniers against something. I'm fortunate that the seat was instantly comfortable for me. It was only when comparing it with other bikes as I experienced them that I could appreciate their shortcomings, and the soundness of the LWB concept.

The Spirit is even easier to get on and off, almost Brompton -like in its convenience.

I particularly like the suspension on the Grasshopper so I'd be reluctant to swop the front fork for a non suspension one. You'd gain a little clearance, lose your front suspension (and a bit of weight) but increase the likelihood of heel strike. As I've said, I can live with the awkwardness of the boom as part of the package. It just needs a bit more forward planning than, say, the Linear.

My main gripe is the seat recline, and whether I could economically replace the existing one with a used Grasshopper mesh one, whether that would be capable of accepting reduced recline, whether that would have the effect I wanted it to and whether such a thing would be an economic proposition. A lot of maybes. I also can't help wondering if the intolerance of a more reclined seat is a general short rider thing or if it's just me! Perhaps if I'd discovered recumbent riding 20 years ago I'd be able to answer those queries myself.

Certainly the difference in ease of riding even on the Spirit is very noticeable between the most upright position and a few degrees more recline. Unless you manage to clamp the quick releases for the seat back very tight, it does tend to change position over several hundred miles. It needs checking occasionally, and that slight change does make a lot of difference.

[a.twiddler]

It would be interesting to hear of the experiences of another relatively short recumbent rider with various bikes. I've learned from the Grasshopper that the X seam is not the only criterion for easy rideability. According to the manufacturer the Grasshopper is suitable for riders from 5'2" to over 6 feet but at 5'5" I struggle to get over that boom, having to lift a foot over the dipped portion ahead of the seat to get on and off. I see that the Azub has a very similar design. I suppose it's liveable with.

Yes, getting off is more difficult than stepping over. I have to lean the bike at pretty radical angles to step over in either direction. I have resorted to swapping a suspension fork to a fixed fork and putting narrower tyres on to lower my Nazca Paseo. I don't remember my Grasshopper being tricky but my Giro 20 could be. The RANS Stratus XP is bliss, so easy.

To get off the Streetmachine I tend to swing my off-side leg over before I stop, so I'm stepping off as the bike comes to a halt. This wouldn't really work with over-seat steering, of course, and getting on at a scoot isn't something that would work too well either...

Pete.

There is absolutely no chance that I could swing my leg over the boom while in motion! The frame on the Grasshopper is low directly ahead of the seat then rises sharply to the pivot point of the steering. It then levels off, rising slightly to meet the bottom bracket. I did try it at a standstill while leaning my right hand against a wall after this was suggested previously. If I could get my leg over the protruding steering pivot cap (maybe by using both hands?) then it might be feasible. Even standing up I can just manage to get my foot through the lowest part of the frame just in front of the seat when getting on and off. It helps to have something to lean on while doing that. There's no chance of swinging it over the forward part of the boom. One just has to make the best of things. Once aboard and rolling things are fine.

[UpWrong]

This might be my last build. I've come to the end of the road I think in my search for the best bike. I bought this frameset a couple of years back thinking this was an LWB I could get in the back of the car. The seat, the wheels and the mudguards are quick-release and the handlebars fold. Also being aluminium it won't rust. But I am short of space so something else may have to go ...

[Stradageek]

There is absolutely no chance that I could swing my leg over the boom while in motion! The frame on the Grasshopper is low directly ahead of the seat then rises sharply to the pivot point of the steering. It then levels off, rising slightly to meet the bottom bracket. I did try it at a standstill while leaning my right hand against a wall after this was suggested previously. If I could get my leg over the protruding steering pivot cap (maybe by using both hands?) then it might be feasible. Even standing up I can just manage to get my foot through the lowest part of the frame just in front of the seat when getting on and off. It helps to have something to lean on while doing that. There's no chance of swinging it over the forward part of the boom. One just has to make the best of things. Once aboard and rolling things are fine.

I find USS bikes are a problem with mount and dismount. On my Kett trike, the boom is low enough that mounting is no issue and for the dismount, where possible, I brake hard as I stop which throws me up into a standing postion . I have a Speedmachine with 'tiller bars' where I use the same 'hard braking' technique when stopping. For both my machines the lower boom is a boon.

I'm guessing that for you, standing up is not the issue, as the machine is quite high

[jrs665]

ICE VTX

[belgiangoth]

Hubah hubah!

[kingrollo]

[Cowsham]

ICE VTX

IMG_0404 (cropped).jpg

Had a test ride on one of these -- loved it -- but how would I justify the money to the wife?

[belgiangoth]

What ... You've always had that trike!