Recumbent News

Calfee Stiletto: Best recumbent $$ can buy

THX to Fast Freddy Markham who with his speed successes helped establish the recumbent position as the undisputed bicycle design configuration needed to move two wheels the fastest, Calfee Design has entered the recumbent marketplace with a serious two wheeler worthy of your most strict attention. You see, with Freddy's help, Calfee has been able to build the cutting edge technology, ** Carbon Fiber **, that has made their upright bikes the choice of champions the world around into the recumbent bicycle. And by teaming up with Freddy, they have been able to use the insights he has gleaned over a racing career that has spanned three decades to produce a machine that knows no equal. That is if price is not a concern.

Starting at $4,995, the Calfee Stiletto absorbs road shock so well as an almost dizzying whirlwind of speed results from your pedalling efforts, that instead of searching your muscles for new ways to deliver power, you will find yourself figuring out what you can sell so you can have a Stiletto for yourself. The five mile test ride I took on one of their since even more refined prototypes last summer told me that this bike is going to create a huge stir. I can't wait until Recumbent Cyclist News , Recumbent & Tandem Rider Magazine , Bent Rider on Line and the pundits at Alt.rec.bicycles.recumbent get their chance to weigh in on this machine. Soon all the world will really know that one does not have to sacrifice comfort for tremendous speed. Too much wow!!

Unicyclist Bikes Round Trip Across US

Between April 22 and November 12, 2002, Lars Clausen rode 9,125 miles from Tilamook, OR to Washington DC and then to Los Angeles taking in 39 states on a unicycle. His 202 miles from Martin, SD to Highmore, SD also set a Guinness World Record. He rode a 36 inch Coker unicycle and will be on a west coast tour with the book about his journey in the summer of 2004. He plans to be in Santa Cruz on August 3rd.

Lars's efforts rival those of Steve Stevens, who set a world coast-to-coast speed record of 29 days while on his Hi-wheel ride to our Cycle America 2000 in Washington DC and those of Jim Muëllner. Last summer, on his Just2Bikes three wheeler, 67 year old Jim also had to have set some kind of record or two as he rode across the US for us.

GOMBER: Bike Mounted Hydration System

Chloe Linn holds the GOMB'er Spout on my Linear Compact

Saturday, 11/15/03, at the Velo Swap in San Francisco, I discovered a water hydration system that I am excited about! Brand new to the marketplace, this easy to install system, called the GOMB'er, delivers a virtual gusher of water with each squeeze of the handlebar mounted pump. And with a spout that I can get as close to my lips as I want, liquid is right there for me without my ever having to take my hands off the handlebars. This is important in traffic or when climbing long uphill ascents. And it means one less thing to strap on or concern myself with because it is always on the bike.

Two Bottle system on Linear w/ZZipper fairing

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For immediate Release                       Contact: Jack Martin
11/17/03                                               yooper@hotmail.com
                                                                   916-987-0302

GOMB'er Gets the Water off Your Back

So, you’re a cyclist who needs an effective hydration system. Sure, water bottles came with your bike, but what a pain to use. Remove, raise, drink, replace – not so easy while riding in a pack, fighting a cross-wind, or climbing a hill. Sure, the Camelbak solves that problem, but then you’re saddled with 4 to 9 pounds of weight ON YOUR BACK!!. What to do?

The GOMB’er (Get Off My Back, pronounced Go-mer) is here.

Use your bike’s existing single or double bottles to hold the fluid, and have the convenience and safety of the outlet just inches from your mouth. No weight on your back, no breaking your tuck, no taking your eyes off the road, no disturbances to your cadence.One less item to carry (if you run a Camelbak)..

Pictured: Mtn Bike with the Standard Two Bottle GOMB'er system

Developed by Jack Martin, the GOMB’er (patent pending USPTO # 60/462843) has been developed and refined over two years of racing Triathlons and other long-distance bike riding in the hot Sacramento Valley. Born of necessity and tested in competition, it will make a dramatic improvement not only to your racing times, but also to your overall enjoyment of casual bike rides in the country by enhancing your control, convenience, and safety.

The water is pumped up to your mouth by a small, lightweight pump with FDA-grade tubing and a special valve so that water is always available with one squeeze..The pump is mounted directly on the lower side of the handlebar (or on the drop-out, fairing or wherever the rider feels it works best on a recumbent) so as not to interfere with your grip. To drink, you squeeze once, you get a mouthful, you keep riding. The whole system weighs far less than a Camelbak.

No alterations to your bike are necessary. The kit contains the pump, the valves, fasteners, and enough FDA-grade tubing to allow hookup to any size/design of bike (be sure to specify if your bottles are behind the seat or if you’re using aero bars). You should be able to install it in a half-hour with no special tools. Also includes complete detailed instructions (with diagrams) to install and tips for sizing, customizing, and cleaning.

I recommended for longer rides that you purchase commonly available one-liter bottles, as pictured. With two of those, you have just as much liquid volume as the standard model Camelbak, so you're not giving up anything in regard to volume. In one of the pictures, the GOMB’er is filled with red Kool-Aid so you can better see its simplicity. Nothing is hanging out to snag your feet, knees, or hands, nor interfere in the control or operation of the bike.

MSRP: $25
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If you decide to get one for yourself, ask Jack for an additional three feet of vinyl tubing if you are going to mount it on your recumbent. And once you've done just one or two rides with it, I guarantee you your Camelbak will start collecting dust. The GOMB'er is that practical and fun to use!!

Looks trick. Major conversation piece!!

GOMBER web page

Breakthrough for locking a Bent!!

Is locking your recumbent to a stationary object or to other recumbents just more trouble than its is worth? The result of which is that you don't get off your bike and leave it outside of certain places? Or do you just have to many wheels to lock (a trike for example), or they are too far apart (a tandem) or is the pole around which you can lock just too big around for the only lock that can do the job, such as a Kryptonite?

Enter Angle Tech Cycles . Kelvin Clark used to have this problem as well. That is until he figured out the right combination for the task at hand. First he found a 7-foot braided cable called Flex Weave. Light weight and strong, it is not the easier to cut "aircraft" cable some people may use for this application.

Then he had to find a lock that would be virtually impregnable to bolt cutters. For this, he found the round MiniGard lock.

Sold separately, each unit is $16 retail. So for $32 you will have a locking mechanism that will keep your bike and as a many as 4 or 5 bikes secure from all but the most professional of thieves!! I love mine!!

N. California's Biggest Bent Shop Emerges!!

Rick Steele lost his day job as a system engineer (after 30 years in the industry) up in Sacramento. And this is great news for recumbent riders because his shop, Gold Country Cyclery , is now open five days a week, Tuesday thru Saturday. Having recently doubled his store size to 2000 square feet and with a over half of it devoted to recumbents, Gold Country has now become the Recumbent Giant of Northern California. And that includes the entire San Francisco Bay Area!

So if you've been itching to try a Greenspeed, a Rans, Haase, Burley, Bachetta, Optima or a Haluzak, with over 30 bents on the floor, there's a good chance Gold Country has what you are looking for!!

Houston Bent Riders Star at TGiving Parade

Houston Area Recumbent Riders Participate in 49th Annual Thanksgiving Day Parade

Houston’s biggest recumbent club, “Team Bent”, made its second consecutive appearance in the Washington Mutual Thanksgiving Day parade through downtown Houston. Threatening weather did not prevent ~30 of the clubs members from making the annual ride through the heart of the city. With an estimated 500,000 spectators lining the streets Team Bent had plenty of opportunity to show off their proud machines. This year the club was positioned in slot 17 and actually got some national TV exposure on CBS (all be it brief). In the spirit of the holiday season several riders were dressed as Pilgrims, Santa Claus, Tom the Turkey and even Sponge Bob. Riders of all ages got into the act. From adults on their Gold Rushes, Screamers and prototype LWBs from Cycle Genius, to pre-teens on their BikeEs, EZs and CGs many age groups were represented There were even a few toddlers on trail-a-bikes and sidecars.

When all was said and done everyone had a great time and got plenty of practice riding slow…really slow. The team is already looking forward to next year’s parade

ProLink Lube: Stop Wearing your Recumbent

After 8 months of regular use of the product I an about to explain, I am here to say that THX to Kelvin Clark of Angle Tech Cycles , my guru for all things bike tech related, I no longer wear my recumbent. And this is a very big deal to me. After years of ruining winter time pants and rain wear, I now can ride my bike and not find my legs covered in grease. Since I ride the rain, in the past I used to have to apply generous amounts of oil to my chain so that it would not rust. Which added to my greasy leg misery. And the last thing I wanted to have to do was stay out in the weather to wipe my chain down every time I encountered any measure of precipitation.

So when Kelvin said that with ProLink Chain Lube, I would not have that problem., I did not believe him. But black stains on my legs and pants really are a thing of the past. And I am excited.

What a breakthrough! Especially for us recumbent riders. Since we have more chain than most, the dirt and grunge that collects on a chain can make for a most troubling matter indeed. Nor can I tell you how much of my life I have spent cleaning my drive train....

So when the ProLink web site sounds like it tells a tale that is too good to be true, as per the following, I am here to say U can believe every word :

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ProLink Chain Lube will not let dirt and grit stick to your chain – in wet or dry conditions. It greatly reduces friction and wear, allowing smoother operation of your chain and cables, and it will keep your chain and drive train area clean and seemingly drag free. ProLink is a thin-bodied lubricant that uses MFR technology, a molecule which bonds to the metal surface. It does not build up or become tacky because it contains no solids like Teflon, wax, moly, graphite or plastic.

* Sheds dirt, mud and abrasives
* Repels moisture and reduces oxidation/corrosion
* Disperses water and resists wash-off
* Will not build up or get tacky
* Cleans and lubricates as you ride
* Works well in all climates
* Smoother shifting, quieter drive train
* Longer chain and sprocket life
* Less time spent cleaning drive train
* Lasts two to three times longer than other lubes – more ride time for your dollar!
* Can be used as a dry lubricant
* Environmentally friendly

Trike for a Small Planet, Bike Shop or Apt

Interested in a trike but don't have the space in your shop to display it, if you're a dealer, or no where to store it, if your place of residence lacks a garage and/or is just too small? Penninger Recumbent has solved your problem.

As per this review that I did in 2001, the Penninger not only gives you great performance as it holds up to a pretty good beating, but it fits easily thru a standard doorway before it then stands on its rear haunches!! As an instant workstand, it makes it easy for you to adjust gears and change tires and tubes, etc.

And since two of them can be connected , I used to store what amounted to a twelve foot long tandem in my one bedroom **upstairs** apartment. With all my other bikes. And I still had lots of room to move around!!

More info: Penninger Recumbents