UK recumbents??

So ... after years of riding 'normal' bikes I now feel a need for a
'bent. Have no idea what I'll do with it but I reckon general mooching
about on roads, obviously, but also for off-road tracks, nothing too
serious, or gnarly I expect, probably tracks like Tissington Trail or
decent farm tracks. Bit of a mini-tourer ..

But, the only things I know about 'bents are what I've read here and
from the one a mate of mine has, and 'tis he who's has made me look at
them 'properly' now. His is an American, I believe, Barchetta (sp??)
Strada which I quite like the look of, but I would, as with most
things, prefer to buy UK based.

Would anyone recommend any decent UK manufacturers/suppliers? I would
definitely travel (Doncaster's not a known hot-bed of innovative cycle
engineering) and would definitely need a test-ride on probably a couple
of models before committing myself. I'm expecting to pay up to £1200
but would prefer to pay less (much less!!).
Would anyone recommend buying a 'bent second-hand? Seems to me they're
a niche market for enthusiasts and as such would probably benefit from
being looked after reasonably well .. or is that a poor assumption?

Cheers.
--
Paul - xxx

'96/'97 Landrover Discovery 300 Tdi
Dyna Tech Cro-Mo comp

Paul - xxx twisted the electrons to say:
Would anyone recommend buying a 'bent second-hand? Seems to me they're
a niche market for enthusiasts and as such would probably benefit from
being looked after reasonably well .. or is that a poor assumption?

Get thee to D.Tek! http://www.ice.hpv.co.uk/contact/dealers.htm#europe
has the contact details. He sells ICE, Bacchettas and all manner of
other stuff (last time I was there he had an Alleweder!) both new and
secondhand, and he's very good (IMHO) at working out it is you *need* as
opposed to what you *want!* (Which in my case meant diverting me away
from the very good and fast Corsa24 and towards the Giro20 which was
arguably a better choice for me.)
--
These opinions might not even be mine ...
Let alone connected with my employer ...

On 4 Apr 2009 07:44:12 GMT, "Paul - xxx"
said in
:

Would anyone recommend any decent UK manufacturers/suppliers? I would
definitely travel (Doncaster's not a known hot-bed of innovative cycle
engineering) and would definitely need a test-ride on probably a couple
of models before committing myself. I'm expecting to pay up to £1200
but would prefer to pay less (much less!!).

There are usually bentmongers at the York cycle show, and of course
there's Carol and Rob at Westcountry Recumbents, D-Tek, Bikefix,
Futurecycles and others. I would get a few copies of Velovision to
start you thinking. And don't buy a bent until you have tried
several, bikes and trikes, high and low. I get on much better with
low-down bikes than with the higher ones, and I still wish I'd
bought a Trice Monster.

It's a big investment so let the anticipation be half the fun. You
really must not be tempted to buy the first one you ride.

Would anyone recommend buying a 'bent second-hand? Seems to me they're
a niche market for enthusiasts and as such would probably benefit from
being looked after reasonably well .. or is that a poor assumption?

Sure, once you're happy with what you want. They are not very
frequent on eBay but places like D-Tek sell second-hand. Components
are mainly standard so wear and tear is remediable.

Guy
--
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk/urc

"To every complex problem there is a solution which is
simple, neat and wrong" - HL Mencken

Contents packed by intellectual weight and may settle
after posting. May contain traces of irony.

Alistair Gunn wrote:

Paul - xxx twisted the electrons to say:
Would anyone recommend buying a 'bent second-hand? Seems to me
they're a niche market for enthusiasts and as such would probably
benefit from being looked after reasonably well .. or is that a
poor assumption?

Get thee to D.Tek!
http://www.ice.hpv.co.uk/contact/dealers.htm#europe has the contact
details. He sells ICE, Bacchettas and all manner of other stuff
(last time I was there he had an Alleweder!) both new and secondhand,
and he's very good (IMHO) at working out it is you need as opposed to
what you *want!*

Good point, thanks. Had an mtb for so long now, the bent I tried
(mates Strada) just felt so comfy straight away that I'd have been
tempted to buy one straight off, but realise that might be wrong ..

--
Paul - xxx

'96/'97 Landrover Discovery 300 Tdi
Dyna Tech Cro-Mo comp

Just zis Guy, you know? wrote:

On 4 Apr 2009 07:44:12 GMT, "Paul - xxx"
said in
:

Would anyone recommend any decent UK manufacturers/suppliers? I
would definitely travel (Doncaster's not a known hot-bed of
innovative cycle engineering) and would definitely need a test-ride
on probably a couple of models before committing myself. I'm
expecting to pay up to £1200 but would prefer to pay less (much
less!!).

There are usually bentmongers at the York cycle show,

Cool, York's a stones throw from me, well 30 miles, so looks like
that'll be on the cards then.

It's a big investment so let the anticipation be half the fun. You
really must not be tempted to buy the first one you ride.

Heheh, see my reply to AG, came close ..

Thanks.

--
Paul - xxx

'96/'97 Landrover Discovery 300 Tdi
Dyna Tech Cro-Mo comp

Paul - xxx twisted the electrons to say:
Alistair Gunn wrote:
Get thee to D.Tek!
http://www.ice.hpv.co.uk/contact/dealers.htm#europe has the contact
details. He sells ICE, Bacchettas and all manner of other stuff
(last time I was there he had an Alleweder!) both new and secondhand,
and he's very good (IMHO) at working out it is you need as opposed to
what you *want!*
Good point, thanks. Had an mtb for so long now, the bent I tried
(mates Strada) just felt so comfy straight away that I'd have been
tempted to buy one straight off, but realise that might be wrong ..

Well the Strada's a nice bike, it may even be "the one" for you! I could
easily have wandered off with a Corsa24 from D.Tek, as it felt like a
complete road-rocket without needing much effort from me. However to be
honest, it wouldn't really have been the ideal bike to commute across
York on with a side trip to Sainsbury's to pick up some shopping!
--
These opinions might not even be mine ...
Let alone connected with my employer ...

Would anyone recommend buying a 'bent second-hand? Seems to me they're
a niche market for enthusiasts and as such would probably benefit from
being looked after reasonably well .. or is that a poor assumption?

Cheers.
--
Paul - xxx

'96/'97 Landrover Discovery 300 Tdi
Dyna Tech Cro-Mo comp

D-Tek, near Ely have just about every imaginable recumbent second hand, and
you can try them all, so even if you want to buy new it's worth a visit. You
need an appointment though. The owner (Kevin Dunseath), has pretty much
cornered the UK second hand market in recumbents, and will almost certainly
know the details of any recumbent available second hand in the UK. I got my
Vision recumbent from him, second hand, and will be going back if I ever
have enough money for a Trice!

Alistair Gunn wrote:

Paul - xxx twisted the electrons to say:
Alistair Gunn wrote:
Get thee to D.Tek!
http://www.ice.hpv.co.uk/contact/dealers.htm#europe has the
contact details. He sells ICE, Bacchettas and all manner of
other stuff (last time I was there he had an Alleweder!) both new
and secondhand, and he's very good (IMHO) at working out it is
you need as opposed to what you *want!*
Good point, thanks. Had an mtb for so long now, the bent I tried
(mates Strada) just felt so comfy straight away that I'd have been
tempted to buy one straight off, but realise that might be wrong ..


Well the Strada's a nice bike, it may even be "the one" for you! I
could easily have wandered off with a Corsa24 from D.Tek, as it felt
like a complete road-rocket without needing much effort from me.
However to be honest, it wouldn't really have been the ideal bike to
commute across York on with a side trip to Sainsbury's to pick up
some shopping!

Heheheh, I'm not in a rush ..

I like Guys suggestion of York Show, where I might try a decent range
first, even if it's a couple of months away!

--
Paul - xxx

'96/'97 Landrover Discovery 300 Tdi
Dyna Tech Cro-Mo comp

Jo wrote:



Would anyone recommend buying a 'bent second-hand? Seems to me
they're a niche market for enthusiasts and as such would probably
benefit from being looked after reasonably well .. or is that a
poor assumption?

Cheers.
-- Paul - xxx

'96/'97 Landrover Discovery 300 Tdi
Dyna Tech Cro-Mo comp

D-Tek, near Ely have just about every imaginable recumbent second
hand, and you can try them all, so even if you want to buy new it's
worth a visit. You need an appointment though. The owner (Kevin
Dunseath), has pretty much cornered the UK second hand market in
recumbents, and will almost certainly know the details of any
recumbent available second hand in the UK. I got my Vision recumbent
from him, second hand, and will be going back if I ever have enough
money for a Trice!

Thanks.

Seems everyone suggests D-Tek, so it looks like a trip to Ely then.
Think it'll have to be combined with a couple of days in the area as
it's mostly somewhere we've only passed through before, on the way to
elsewhere.

Big place, Elsewhere.

--
Paul - xxx

'96/'97 Landrover Discovery 300 Tdi
Dyna Tech Cro-Mo comp

Paul - xxx twisted the electrons to say:
I like Guys suggestion of York Show, where I might try a decent range
first, even if it's a couple of months away!

nods Definitely a good suggestion. Bikefix are generally there with a
reasonable selection, the BHPC will be there I'd imagine and there's the
VeloVisionaries pub ride on the Saturday evening which generally brings
out a good selection.
--
These opinions might not even be mine ...
Let alone connected with my employer ...