tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8261828531287706924.post2273499067499215333..comments2023-11-28T00:18:32.675-08:00Comments on the curious randonneur: Recumbent Bicycles for Randonneuring, Interviewing John Vincent, Part 1: Eliminating PainCurioRandohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18354443718492103119noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8261828531287706924.post-39135319830737698852015-06-10T16:21:46.411-07:002015-06-10T16:21:46.411-07:00I am 62, and haven't been able to do a brevet ...I am 62, and haven't been able to do a brevet since 2012 due to back surgery. I also have shoulder issues. I just got a Metaphysics high racer in the hopes of being able to do long rides again despite these health issues. I am in the process of replacing the 53/39 standard crank with an Ultegra triple. It does have a 12-36 in the back. Here where I live, in the Poconos, 10% hills are everywhere, and 18-20 % are common. Near my house is a 2 mile long 12% average hill. Like you,John, I never worried about these on my uprights. Do you think an average rider can do these kinds of hills on a recumbent without falling over or weaving all over the road? Way to preserve!rick Collinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02125865405134427217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8261828531287706924.post-78374013189475834572009-09-18T14:17:13.224-07:002009-09-18T14:17:13.224-07:00Thanks John. Your experience of intimidation by u...Thanks John. Your experience of intimidation by upslopes is quite legitimate and something I also deal with on my highracer. I was just interested in calibrating your comments with your experience level at that time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8261828531287706924.post-61060349682361713822009-09-18T11:41:20.489-07:002009-09-18T11:41:20.489-07:00Actually as of today I am pretty cool with hills. ...Actually as of today I am pretty cool with hills. I have 2000 since mid May with a few weeks out for repairs. I might be a bit nervous on a 10+ percent grade but handle virtually everything else. The first part was done at the start of summer..late June? I probably had less than 600 miles or so and was still getting used to the ride. This was my first bent experience.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08114066954468630886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8261828531287706924.post-62676386024777495962009-09-18T09:53:01.087-07:002009-09-18T09:53:01.087-07:00How many miles had John already ridden the recumbe...How many miles had John already ridden the recumbent at the time of the interview? It would help gauge his comments about uphill intimidation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8261828531287706924.post-27865058526035602732009-09-18T09:23:06.675-07:002009-09-18T09:23:06.675-07:00Yo John.. I'll be spending Nov to May in FLa ...Yo John.. I'll be spending Nov to May in FLa and doing a series there. Hey someone has to soak up the sunshine, eh?<br /><br />For sure from June to whenever next year I plan on doing Oregon and SIR brevets. Don Boothby owes me a tour!!<br /><br />Ride Long and Prosper.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8261828531287706924.post-50234878281619363032009-09-17T22:00:38.891-07:002009-09-17T22:00:38.891-07:00great comments Joe, about being seen. Wait for pa...great comments Joe, about being seen. Wait for part II where we discuss ..ah shall we say... bents and cars.<br />see you at an oregon or SIR ride this next year?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08114066954468630886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8261828531287706924.post-26764416613027528392009-09-17T19:38:01.550-07:002009-09-17T19:38:01.550-07:00Bon route with your recumbent. Having been bent f...Bon route with your recumbent. Having been bent for over ten years, I hope some of this helps. Thoroughly enjoyable interview. Thanks!!<br /><br />Hills: You may never be as fast going uphill and most of us aren't, but it doesn't really matter. Unless it's a very hilly ride, you'll finish in about the same time....or maybe better. <br /><br />Efficiency: If you're like most of us when you do a tough ride that you did on your upright, you might say: "I feel so much better." at the end of it on a bent. You're more efficient. There is 20% to 40% less of you making you more aerodynamic. You can go longer distances with less energy expended.<br /><br />Head winds: You'll really appreciate your bent into headwinds, if you haven't felt that already. <br /><br />The "You're lower and can't be seen myth". Gonna take up some space with this one (grin). When folks say that I ask them this:<br /><br />(WIthout fail the answers invaribly are Yes"<br />When driving, every see a horse on the road?<br />Ever see a cow?<br />A deer?<br />A dog?<br />A cat?<br />How about a squirrel?<br />A chipmunk?<br />Bet you've seen a chunk of glass and steered around it, right?<br /><br />So if you can see all of those, why do you think you can't see a 4' high by 3' wide object?<br /><br />The truth is because we are so "different" we get drivers attention, and I've found car give me more room.<br /><br />Oh...and last but not least: You may find yourself calling your bent "The it makes 'em smile and wave" bike.<br /><br />Enjoy the ride.....whichever bike your on.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8261828531287706924.post-39010824208154205252009-09-17T17:59:04.205-07:002009-09-17T17:59:04.205-07:00Excellent choice for a rando 'bent, Sir! Enjo...Excellent choice for a rando 'bent, Sir! Enjoy your rides!FlyingLaZBoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08109846613005948116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8261828531287706924.post-82106595111787547012009-09-17T15:19:18.366-07:002009-09-17T15:19:18.366-07:00Russell
That was a tough day for this newbie. Hop...Russell<br />That was a tough day for this newbie. Hopefully other "populaires" will be a bit easier. Good to meet you and BTW, I've grown a lot since then.<br />It is taking me some time to get "used to" my bent.<br />JUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08114066954468630886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8261828531287706924.post-31870213069523941462009-09-17T15:15:45.250-07:002009-09-17T15:15:45.250-07:00I have actually raised, and raised and raised and ...I have actually raised, and raised and raised and raised again. My last set of bars were townie style bars with reverse brakes and thumbies. They were Nitto Left Bank Bars. Essentially I was riding bolt upright. That eliminated some pain. My Merckx Ti and I had over 50,000 miles riding together. Many many changes over the years. I really disliked doing longer rides with these bars. My bent is soooo much better. I wouldn't go back unless I at the least, had a new shoulder. I think i am getting faster. Why change? Think about it..why would I sit on a seat of leather and the palms of my hands having my "stuff" go numb for hundreds of miles in an event if i could do it in comfort.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08114066954468630886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8261828531287706924.post-79904544872018257102009-09-17T13:37:09.677-07:002009-09-17T13:37:09.677-07:00Interesting. I wonder about the handle bar set-up...Interesting. I wonder about the handle bar set-up on John's upright bikes. If he's riding a Merckx -- which I'm assuming is a typical racing bike -- are the handle bars much lower than the saddle? Has John experimented with higher/different bars? I don't have anything against recumbents, but it doesn't seem as if he explored upright-based solutions much before switching?jim ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02161517903295268167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8261828531287706924.post-18333877629095747342009-09-16T15:59:05.669-07:002009-09-16T15:59:05.669-07:00John,
Nice interview, I look forward to part two....John,<br /><br />Nice interview, I look forward to part two. I was the other rider on a bent at the Urban Populaire, so sorry to hear about your accident. I finished with about 8 minutes to spare, but comforably! My bike weighs about 40 lbs though, so something new would help tremendously.<br /><br />Thanks CR for posting this.<br /><br />Regards,<br />RussRussellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02292873423927609760noreply@blogger.com