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#1
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Entry level recumbent purchase very soon
I posted a message here "Short wheel base for beginner" a little over a
week ago, and I got some good advise. However from some recent net research most seem to recommend a different type of bike. So now I am more leaning towards a lwb or a clwb model. There are three that I have found so far that seem to be in my "entry level" price range. The SUN EZ-1SC and the CYCLE GENIUS STARLING and the CYCLE GENIUS SPARROW. I am really leaning towards the EZ-1. My reasoning on this one is the reputation of SUN. And the fact that most (all?) the EZ models were designed by the folks at EASY RACERS. Does any one own a EZ-1SC? If so how do you like it? I am test riding one on Tuesday. How about the two CYCLE GENIUS bikes? The dealer I am going to test ride the SUN is also a CYCLE GENIUS dealer. Ken -- [T]he bicycle is the most efficient machine ever created: Converting calories into gas, a bicycle gets the equivalent of three thousand miles per gallon. ~Bill Strickland, The Quotable Cyclist Homepage: http://kcm-home.tripod.com/ |
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#2
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Entry level recumbent purchase very soon
"Ken M" wrote in message ... I posted a message here "Short wheel base for beginner" a little over a week ago, and I got some good advise. However from some recent net research most seem to recommend a different type of bike. So now I am more leaning towards a lwb or a clwb model. There are three that I have found so far that seem to be in my "entry level" price range. The SUN EZ-1SC and the CYCLE GENIUS STARLING and the CYCLE GENIUS SPARROW. I am really leaning towards the EZ-1. My reasoning on this one is the reputation of SUN. And the fact that most (all?) the EZ models were designed by the folks at EASY RACERS. Does any one own a EZ-1SC? If so how do you like it? I am test riding one on Tuesday. How about the two CYCLE GENIUS bikes? The dealer I am going to test ride the SUN is also a CYCLE GENIUS dealer. The SUN EZ-1 is a great recumbent. The only criticisms I have ever heard about it are that it is a little on the heavy side and it sits you fairly upright because of the low crank. This could possibly effect comfort. But the seat seems to be quite good. Also, some do not like the 16" front wheel, preferring a 20" front wheel. I rode it briefly once and it handled like a dream. Why spend more when you can get a very good recumbent for less? I even like the looks of it. By the way, I am very much in favor of a company like SUN. They make recumbents that are not going to cost you an arm and a leg. Unless you are into racing you do not need a light super fast recumbent. Let's face it, most of us just ride our bikes around town for some fun and some exercise. You need a $2000. recumbent to do this? Regards, Ed Dolan - Minnesota |
#3
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Entry level recumbent purchase very soon
I do own an EZ-1 SC. Yes you do sit upright. I'm 5'8" and it sits
about like riding in a truck with a bench seat. Only the slightest of recline. This is my first recumbent and the only issues I've come up against so far are that you have to hunt a bit to find a cycle computer that will work with the bike. I ended up mounting mine using the front wheel for speed and making a stand-off to mount the cadence sensor. The other issue I have found is the rear derailer height. This is definitely a road bike and you don't want to approach a bump at a narrow angle on the right side. The rear derailer will hit. So also be careful of soft ground. The rear wheel is a 20 inch wheel and the derailer hangs down close to 8 inches. The ride on chip sealed (tar and gravel) roads can be a bit rough (to me) but I put that down to the fact I'm sitting with no suspension. I will agree though that the EZ series of recumbents are good starter bikes that won't break your wallet. (I know I'm quoting that from someplace) I like the bike, On Sun, 01 Jan 2006 10:55:06 -0500, Ken M wrote: I posted a message here "Short wheel base for beginner" a little over a week ago, and I got some good advise. However from some recent net research most seem to recommend a different type of bike. So now I am more leaning towards a lwb or a clwb model. There are three that I have found so far that seem to be in my "entry level" price range. The SUN EZ-1SC and the CYCLE GENIUS STARLING and the CYCLE GENIUS SPARROW. I am really leaning towards the EZ-1. My reasoning on this one is the reputation of SUN. And the fact that most (all?) the EZ models were designed by the folks at EASY RACERS. Does any one own a EZ-1SC? If so how do you like it? I am test riding one on Tuesday. How about the two CYCLE GENIUS bikes? The dealer I am going to test ride the SUN is also a CYCLE GENIUS dealer. Ken |
#4
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Entry level recumbent purchase very soon
Edward Dolan wrote:
The SUN EZ-1 is a great recumbent. The only criticisms I have ever heard about it are that it is a little on the heavy side and it sits you fairly upright because of the low crank. This could possibly effect comfort. But the seat seems to be quite good. Also, some do not like the 16" front wheel, preferring a 20" front wheel. I rode it briefly once and it handled like a dream. Why spend more when you can get a very good recumbent for less? I even like the looks of it. It looks better than the CYCLE GENIUS models I was looking at, although I haven't seen either of them up close yet. I had the pleasure of riding one of SUNs other (more $$$) models and it was like limo ride. Well the way I figure it, you start out at an entry level type bike, and then if you continue to enjoy it you step up at the next bike purchase. By the way, I am very much in favor of a company like SUN. They make recumbents that are not going to cost you an arm and a leg. Unless you are into racing you do not need a light super fast recumbent. Let's face it, most of us just ride our bikes around town for some fun and some exercise. You need a $2000. recumbent to do this? The model I test rode at the bike shop where I bought my latest diamond frame bike, I think it was a EZ-SPORT price tag was marked $1599.00 I thought that was a bit pricey for a first bike. My current price range is $500-$750 which, to me seems more reasonable for a first 'bent'. Ken -- [T]he bicycle is the most efficient machine ever created: Converting calories into gas, a bicycle gets the equivalent of three thousand miles per gallon. ~Bill Strickland, The Quotable Cyclist Homepage: http://kcm-home.tripod.com/ |
#5
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Entry level recumbent purchase very soon
Stonegrift wrote:
I do own an EZ-1 SC. Yes you do sit upright. I'm 5'8" and it sits about like riding in a truck with a bench seat. Only the slightest of recline. This is my first recumbent and the only issues I've come up against so far are that you have to hunt a bit to find a cycle computer that will work with the bike. I ended up mounting mine using the front wheel for speed and making a stand-off to mount the cadence sensor. The other issue I have found is the rear derailer height. This is definitely a road bike and you don't want to approach a bump at a narrow angle on the right side. The rear derailer will hit. So also be careful of soft ground. The rear wheel is a 20 inch wheel and the derailer hangs down close to 8 inches. The ride on chip sealed (tar and gravel) roads can be a bit rough (to me) but I put that down to the fact I'm sitting with no suspension. Well I have a diamond frame that I will continue to use for short hops around town and on my commute (3 miles one way). I want to use a recumbent for longer rides. I have back issues that give me discomfort on longer rides on upright road bikes. My diamond frame is a hybrid / comfort type bike and the upright position is comfortable, but the aerodynamic drag is high, so from what I have been reading a recumbent may be a better bike for me for longer rides. I will agree though that the EZ series of recumbents are good starter bikes that won't break your wallet. (I know I'm quoting that from someplace) I like the bike, I think that is a quote from the SUN website. Thanks I appreciate the feedback. Ken -- [T]he bicycle is the most efficient machine ever created: Converting calories into gas, a bicycle gets the equivalent of three thousand miles per gallon. ~Bill Strickland, The Quotable Cyclist Homepage: http://kcm-home.tripod.com/ |
#6
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Entry level recumbent purchase very soon
"Ken M" wrote in message ... Edward Dolan wrote: [...] By the way, I am very much in favor of a company like SUN. They make recumbents that are not going to cost you an arm and a leg. Unless you are into racing you do not need a light super fast recumbent. Let's face it, most of us just ride our bikes around town for some fun and some exercise. You need a $2000. recumbent to do this? The model I test rode at the bike shop where I bought my latest diamond frame bike, I think it was a EZ-SPORT price tag was marked $1599.00 I thought that was a bit pricey for a first bike. My current price range is $500-$750 which, to me seems more reasonable for a first 'bent'. Ken, I can't believe the way prices of bikes have gone sky high in the past 30 years or so. I got my first upright for a little over $100. (a very nice French one). Now you have to pay at least several hundred in order to get a fairly good upright bike. But recumbents exist in another universe than uprights. They are all just so damn expensive. $500. - $750. is an excellent price point for recumbents. Many on this group are into super expensive recumbents. Even I worked my way up to a couple of $2000. recumbents, but I have a very bad conscience about it. I have little respect for manufacturers who only know how to bring our very expensive recumbents. I will save my respect and admiration for those manufacturers who have the smarts to figure out how to bring out a recumbent for a few hundred instead of a few thousand. I am of the opinion that any dumbbell can bring out a recumbent if price is no object. The trick is to be able to do it cheaply. That is why I rather like SUN. They have more smarts. Regards, Ed Dolan - Minnesota |
#7
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Entry level recumbent purchase very soon
Edward Dolan wrote:
Ken, I can't believe the way prices of bikes have gone sky high in the past 30 years or so. I got my first upright for a little over $100. (a very nice French one). Now you have to pay at least several hundred in order to get a fairly good upright bike. Yes, and for the several hundred dollars you only get an entry level bike these days. But recumbents exist in another universe than uprights. They are all just so damn expensive. $500. - $750. is an excellent price point for recumbents. Many on this group are into super expensive recumbents. Even I worked my way up to a couple of $2000. recumbents, but I have a very bad conscience about it. I suppose recumbents are in their own universe because they are not produced in numbers that diamond frames are. Super expensive bikes are nice, but may or may not be suitable for a beginner. I have been searching websites left and right looking for entry level type bikes, and have found several in my price range. RANS makes a couple I could stretch the price range to, SUN looks good, ACTIONBENT makes a couple of models but they have no local dealers. CYCLE GENIUS makes a couple in the my beginners bracket. I have little respect for manufacturers who only know how to bring our very expensive recumbents. I will save my respect and admiration for those manufacturers who have the smarts to figure out how to bring out a recumbent for a few hundred instead of a few thousand. I am of the opinion that any dumbbell can bring out a recumbent if price is no object. The trick is to be able to do it cheaply. That is why I rather like SUN. They have more smarts. I agree with you on that point. If more companies would make and market lower price range bikes more people would buy them and expand the overall market of recumbents. Ken -- [T]he bicycle is the most efficient machine ever created: Converting calories into gas, a bicycle gets the equivalent of three thousand miles per gallon. ~Bill Strickland, The Quotable Cyclist Homepage: http://kcm-home.tripod.com/ |
#8
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Entry level recumbent purchase very soon
Ken M wrote: I posted a message here "Short wheel base for beginner" a little over a week ago, and I got some good advise. However from some recent net research most seem to recommend a different type of bike. So now I am more leaning towards a lwb or a clwb model. There are three that I have found so far that seem to be in my "entry level" price range. The SUN EZ-1SC and the CYCLE GENIUS STARLING and the CYCLE GENIUS SPARROW. I am really leaning towards the EZ-1. My reasoning on this one is the reputation of SUN. And the fact that most (all?) the EZ models were designed by the folks at EASY RACERS. Does any one own a EZ-1SC? If so how do you like it? I am test riding one on Tuesday. How about the two CYCLE GENIUS bikes? The dealer I am going to test ride the SUN is also a CYCLE GENIUS dealer. There is nothing wrong with the bikes mentioned, as long as one accepts that their lower price comes at the expense of weight and component quality. In addition, unlike a bike such as the RANS Rocket which will be faster than an upright road bike in flat to rolling and windy conditions, the bicycles mentioned above will be slower than a normal drop-bar upright in most conditions. If the limitations of the entry level CLWB's bikes do not interfere with the intended use of the potential owner, they are excellent values for the money. If riding fast and/or long distances is expected, there are much better choices (that cost considerably more). -- Tom Sherman - Fox River Valley |
#9
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Entry level recumbent purchase very soon
Mike Rice wrote:
It doesn't hurt that Gardner Martin had worked out the basic geometry with the Easy Racer line for many years before creating the Sun line. Sun bikes are an import ine, aren't they? I imagine the price would be considerably higher if the bikes were built in the US. From what I have read they are made in Asia somewhere. And yeah I would think they would be considerable higher if they were made in the U.S. I liked the ride of the Sun Sport model, but didn't feel that I was getting much of a noticable improvement over my old Shcwinn Varsity (in terms of travel for effort expended in only one test ride, comfort was certainly better on the Sun). The Tour Easy, though at least twice as costly as the Sun, did feel like less effort than the Shcwinn and I have no regrets about parting with the cash to get the bike I chose. Well that SPORT model did ride nice, but this being my first recumbent purchase I think I would like to stick to something a little less pricey, just in case I can't stand the bike. Not that I think that will happen, but sometimes it's hard to tell on a relatively short "test ride". Bike shops shop take a deposit, and then let you take the bike home and ride it for a couple of days of something. I don't know of any around here that do that though. Ken -- [T]he bicycle is the most efficient machine ever created: Converting calories into gas, a bicycle gets the equivalent of three thousand miles per gallon. ~Bill Strickland, The Quotable Cyclist Homepage: http://kcm-home.tripod.com/ |
#10
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Entry level recumbent purchase very soon
Mike Rice wrote:
I will agree though that the EZ series of recumbents are good starter bikes that won't break your wallet. (I know I'm quoting that from someplace) I like the bike, I think that is a quote from the SUN website. Thanks I appreciate the feedback. Ken My old Schwinn beat me up pretty good after 30 miles or so. My tour Easy is comfortable on rides of 50-70 miles. Yeah my Raleigh hybrid (32pounds, upright bars, sus fork) is comfortable up to about 40 miles or so. But the position I am forced to ride in make me and the bike like a sail in the wind. Most any given day riding in south Florida my average speed is limited to about 13mph. Ken -- [T]he bicycle is the most efficient machine ever created: Converting calories into gas, a bicycle gets the equivalent of three thousand miles per gallon. ~Bill Strickland, The Quotable Cyclist Homepage: http://kcm-home.tripod.com/ |
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