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.

The Recumbent Experience

A video for the folks who haven’t ridden a recumbent. The feeling of peace and view of the world is right on.

Now you know why we love these bikes.

Recumbent Cycling Shorts – $19.95

Aero Tech Designs sells a plain but serviceable Recumbent Cycling Short for $19.95. These are 84% nylon and 16% Spandex compression shorts for men and women. They have no features except 7.6 oz. fabric that is light and comfortable. Don’t look for a tie string or a pocket. They also have no annoying padding and pack very small. You do have four colors to pick from but I always buy black.

Aero Tech also make a baggy recumbent cycling short and a unpadded bicycling short but the prices are not as a attractive.

These are not my favorites but they are a well made if plain short at a reasonable price. They do the job and save you some money.

Reference: Unfortunately I can no longer find my favorite short , Craft Trail Fitness Shorts (For Men), at a reasonable price.

Follow on – Knee Savers/Pedal Extenders

Crank clearance with pedal Extenders

Follow on to Knee Savers First Impressions

I have been riding a few months now with Knee Savers and Shorter Cranks and have to say that the results have so far been all positive.

The Knee Savers/Pedal Extenders keep my feet from rubbing the crank arms and give me more ways to position my feet while riding. They also allow a lot more toe out which I seem to need for my right foot.

Follow up – Short Cranks

This is a follow on from Short Cranks First Impressions.

Short cranks so far have turned out better than I expected. I wasn’t sure that there would be a noticeable effect. But I was wrong.

I expected the improved spin but also expected to lose some climbing Torque.  My climbing torque seems to have improved and my spin is definitely better. I seem to be spinning faster and climbing hills easier with more kick as I get towards the top.

The big surprise is that the shorter cranks seem to have improved the load balance on my legs. I have had three surgeries on my left knee and my right leg is much stronger than the left. The combination of shorter cranks and spinning faster seems to work my left leg more. Yes, my left leg is showing the signs of working harder, more muscle soreness and an occasional cramp. But I think that is a good thing and may explain why I am climbing better.

Special thanks to:

Mark Stonich
Bikesmith Design
5349 Elliot Ave S
Minneapolis MN 55417-1741

Mark helped me pick out the right cranks for me. He was very patient and helpful whenever I had a question plus he did some nice work on the cranks.

So far my feeling is that I should have gotten Short Cranks earlier and that short cranks are one of the best improvements you can make on a LWB recumbent.

First Flat of the Year

Yup, yesterday I had my first flat of the year. It happened only about a mile from my house.

Strangely, I enjoyed fixing the flat. This is the first time I found fixing a flat fun. I have become competent at fixing flats with lots of practice but for the last few years just haven’t had many.

Being prepared made a big difference. I had the equipment listed in my Tire Repair Tools Post and that made me feel confident and helped me relaxed. The other thing that helped a lot I had no time pressure. This was a legs loosening ride after a bad calf cramp a few days earlier and I had no need to get a long ride in.

National Bike Rally – July 11-13 Freyburg, Maine

I am excited that the 2008 National Bike Rally will be so close to my home this year. I am planning on riding there and camping for the three days of the rally. My beautiful wife will be driving up but bring her Ryan and camping.

For details and to sign up go to National Bike Rally. The registration fee is $85 if you aren’t a Bicycle Coalition of Maine Member but includes camping and a T-shirt.