Hour rule

"Just Jeepin'" (macintux)
10/15/2020 at 22:43 • Filed to: hour rule, bicycles, recumbent bicycle

I rode my first recumbent bicycle, an Infinity built by a friend of mine, Doc Pearson, before most of you were born. Yes, I’m old.

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DISCUSSION (14)

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Just Jeepin'
10/15/2020 at 23:03

How was it?

I'm thinking about building a tadpole trike, and strapping an e-bike kit to it.

Chariotoflove > Just Jeepin'
10/15/2020 at 23:08

That looks like one of the first gens. Cool.

Chariotoflove > BaconSandwich is tasty.
10/15/2020 at 23:08

Do eet.

Just Jeepin' > BaconSandwich is tasty.
10/15/2020 at 23:11

Recumbents are very comfortable. There were really only a few problems that I remember after all these years:

Your visibility is diminished , which given how dangerous cars are, is a pretty significant downside. (Conversely, drivers are more likely to be curious enough to pay more attention to you. If they see you.)

Climbing hills is rough, because you can’t stand up and pump.

Similarly, it’s hard to really push your speed without being able to stand up...but recumbents were banned from bicycle racing because they were such an advantage aerodynamically, so clearly that’s not such a big deal.

Steering tends to be a bit more unstable because of the distance between your handlebars and the front tire. A good bicyclist can “stand” in place for a long period of time, but that’s (to my recollection) effectively impossible on a recumbent.

My dream bicycle was a combination tandem with a recumbent seat up front. The poor sucker in back still has to ride normally, but the person up front could take photos and otherwise enjoy the great view. Don’t remember who made those.

Just Jeepin' > Chariotoflove
10/15/2020 at 23:15

It was pretty cool living in Indiana where we had two nationally prominent recumbent manufacturers: Doc with Infinity in Bloomington and Brian DeF elice in New Pal. I preferred the DeFelice models because they had round tubes and just looked cooler to my mind.

Chariotoflove > Just Jeepin'
10/15/2020 at 23:16

Wouldn’t it be cool to take one to the velodrome?

Just Jeepin' > Chariotoflove
10/15/2020 at 23:17

I volunteered there one summer, probably 1985 , running errands for the scoring booth guys up in the tower . It was hot that year, folding chairs in the infield were sinking into the asphalt.

Chariotoflove > Just Jeepin'
10/15/2020 at 23:25

Remember the Pan Am Games?

Just Jeepin' > Chariotoflove
10/15/2020 at 23:28

I was at the Velodrome for a few of the races, but I think that’s all I saw of them, except for probably some basketball on TV.

I was in a parking garage recently that was built under Pan Am Plaza (I assume for the games) and it was a disaster. Water leaking in everywhere, sections blocked off.

Chariotoflove > Just Jeepin'
10/15/2020 at 23:58

Well it has been a while. Too bad some things crumbled. Other things were a real asset to the city.

I saw a bunch of track races. I remember one South American guy had his strap break and he false started. They disqualified him and we all booed the officials for not giving him a restart. It was a fun atmosphere.

Just Jeepin' > Chariotoflove
10/16/2020 at 00:25

I’m impressed you can remember that. I have a couple of memories from the track when I volunteered there, but nothing at all from the games.

I wonder what ever happened to the Pan Am games, don’t think they’ve been held in decades.

Chariotoflove > Just Jeepin'
10/16/2020 at 01:20

Still going. Held in 2019. Next ones in 2023

ibRAD > Just Jeepin'
10/16/2020 at 08:56

They had the pan am games in toronto a few years back. Built a whole neighbourhood on the flood plain of the don valley!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_Pan_American_Games

ibRAD > Just Jeepin'
10/16/2020 at 08:58

I’ve never had the chance to ride a recumbent, but once upon a time one of the guys in a group broke his chain right in front of my place. I fixed him up and sent him off with an extra chain tool to make sure he got home.

He came back a few days later with the chain breaker and a gift card!