Archive for the ‘Ryan Vanguard’ Category
A Ride on a Ryan Vanguard
My first recumbent was a Ryan and I still love USS LWB Recumbents. This video shows them off and explains some of the reasons we love them.
This video gives you a feel of what it is like to ride a recumbent in an urban environment and on bike paths.
Touring Equipment List
This is the equipment list I made up a few years ago for for Touring with my Ryan Vanguard. It inclued some special tools needed to make common adjustments on the Vanguard.
Here's my new list updated for riding in the Northwest on a Longbikes Slipstream in 2006,
The biggest changes are updating technology, eliminating SAE Allen wrenches, and self sealing tubes for riding in thorn country.
Longbikes Slipstream / Ryan Vanguard Comparison Part 2
Contunued from Longbikes Slipstream First Impressions.
After, almost a year of riding the Longbikes Slipstream I am still very impressed by the Slipstream. This is a great long distance, self contained touring bike. As I get ready for my first long ride (>1000 miles) on the Slipstream, I find myself discovering nice touches that I’ve missed before.
In Part 2 of the Slipstream/Vanguard Comparison I will be discussing how the Slipstream addresses the Vanguard weaknesses. The Ryan Vanguard is a great touring bike and the Longbikes folks seem to recognize that. They have maintained what was great about the Vanguard, comfort, reliability, and stability. But they have also recognized the Vanguards weaknesses and improved the bike significantly.
The Tire That Saved My Newfoundland & Labrador Tour
My Ryan Vanguard is hard on rear tires (26 X 1.5 typically) especially when loaded for self contained touring. The worst situation I’ve encountered was while touring in Newfoundland and Labrador.
I started the 1000 mile ride with more gear than usual because of the weather (July is typically low 60′s during the day and high 40′s at night with a wind you can’t believe unless you have been there). I had been riding on Avocet Slicks and knew they wouldn’t last too long loaded so I brought 4 spares (2 Avocets and 2 Hutchinson Top Slicks) with me and 8 tubes.
My gear was heavier than normal about 60 pounds (I still had a 7 pound tent and a Holofil Sleeping Bag). Of course, we hit rain the first day and what started out as 60 pounds of gear probably weighted around 90 pounds. I am not light about 220 at that time. Combine a ton of wet gear with a heavy rider, a heavy bikes (about 40 pounds with faring), and the Vanguard’s poor weight distribution, you have a plan for rear wheel disasters.
The Crane
If you have two long wheelbase recumbents, you know that moving them around isn't easy. The familiy call my solution "The Crane".
Mounting the Unbottle
Update 9/4/08 – For some reason the pictures disappeared. I have reposted this article at Mounting the Best Water Bottle with new pictures.
Easy on and off is the key to making the Camelback Unbottle a really useful tool. Here’s how I do it on a Ryan Vanguard or a Longbikes Slipstream. This approach should work on any bike with accessible seat stays.
I just add three sturdy but short bungee cords to provide shock mounting. Be sure the hooks have plastic covers so they don’t scratch your bike. Close one hook on each bungee cord with a pair of pliers so that it is permanently attached to the 2 top rings and one of the bottom rings on the Unbottle.
Then just slip the Unbottle behind the seat as shown in picture by attaching the 2 top bungees over the top stay on the seat back. The lower bungee is snaked though a lower seat stay or rea stays on the bike and hooked to the other ring on the Unbottle. You may have to wind it around the stay a few times to get the proper tension, firm but not tight.
The Best Water Bottle
The best water bottle for a recumbent may be the 100 Oz. Camelback Unbottle.
I like the way it easily mounts on the back of the seat with no extra straps or pockets that really aren’t usable and just get in the way.
It holds a 100 Oz., plenty until your next stop. Plus it is nicely insulated and has a gigantic mouth. The big mouth makes it easy to clean and fill with ice.
The 100 Oz. Unbottle is available at Amazon and Nashbar for about $30.
There is something special about just having a sip of cold water anytime you want it. No reaching around for the water bottle and fumbling it with it while you drink. The tube of the Unbottle just rests there on your helmet strap and without taking your eyes off the road you sip and ride. No need to wait to guzzle water until you can’t wait any longer. Just take a sip of cold water from the insulated Unbottle every few minutes to stay hydrated.
See Mounting the UnBottle for more information.
