At 55 years old, I loved crusifying the 30-40 age group. They had to pedal hard but couldn't lose me. I dogged em at 55. I didn't want to pass until the end, because they would have turned off. Sometimes if they turned off after 5 miles or so, I yelled, " You just lost to a 55-year old man!"
Just know that to get the most out of understeering and have the same maneuverability like top steer, newer models come with a separate steering shaft - which allows the fork and the understeer have more turn ratio with less input.. Most people are not aware of the innovations the recumbents have made along the years they are finetuned into true perfection these days - recumbents are still heavy underrated unfortunately, but when you experience the true comfort and fun while understanding the philosophy behind this proof of concept it is very hard to go back.. They are the best bikes!
I started out riding a lwb sun EZ sport recumbent and loved it but it was impossible to start on a hill, difficult to turn at low speeds and very unstable in climbing. Very fast and comfy but it is awful compared to the two trikes I graduated to. I now ride a Catrike 700 and a Catrike 559 and they are much safer , more comfortable and much easier to ride. Can stop on any hill and restart easily and can climb very easily. Been trying to sell my sun ez sport for three years and don’t even get any lookers. Trikes are much better.
I've been riding recumbent since 1989. The surprise shouldn't be that you bought one. The surprise should be that it took you so long. That bring said I'm not a fan of under seat steering but still a step up on the standard bike design.
I bought my first Vision R-40 new around 2002 set up as SWB/USS like yours, and loved it. In a moment of stupidity about seven years later I sold it. I had at least a half dozen recumbents after that, but none quite measured up to my R-40. Well, late last year I finally found one locally (at an incredible price!) and look forward to get it out on the roads again when it warms up a bit. Right now it's on my indoor trainer!
Bought an old Sinner Record, lowsteer, dual drive. I didnt own a bike for years, but I‘m absolutely loving it. It’s fast, it’s steady, it’s relaxed and I like to believe that it is less ridiculous than I think.
A bumpy road and my feet were being bounced off the pedals. Immediately replaced flat pedals with clipless. Much better. That's with a Rocket. I use clips and straps on my Bike E.
Great vid. Thanks. ATP made fantastic bicycles. My first bent was a Vision R-40 purchased in 2017 for $350. The R-40 is very similar to the R-50 from the front to just under the seat. The rear end is different. Mine is rigid. I don't know about the R-50 but the R-40 can accept quite wide tires, up to 2.2". I have two wheel sets, one for road and one for trails/gravel. Because it is rigid, I like wide tires on both sets but the road set has tires that focus on speed/roll. Like you, I learned quickly. They aren't nearly as difficult to ride as they appear. I really wish I had discovered them earlier and wish ATP was still in business. They were so forward thinking that I'd love to see what they were building now. Alex
The R-50 will only take up to a 1.75. The suspension on the front and back is great, really smooths out the bumps. I love the damn thing, it changed my perspective on riding. Instead of always hammering the road or trails, I just sit back and take the world in. All the best. Merry Christmas.
I’ve got arthritis in both knees and riding any normal bike hurts my knees when pushed hard. Are these easier on the knees as I’ve always fancied one? Great video thanks👍
My left knee hurts now I'm getting older too many motorbike crashes in my 20s and 30s. It can be worse on your knees, so you have to be in the right gear well in advance or get a run up. The lower the bike (I have an optima Baron) the tougher hills are.
Knees are the weak part of recumbents as on a diamond frame any excess pressure lifts your bottom off the saddle and with a bent you are pushing your pedals and your back is pushing the seat. Knees in the middle of these forces tend to be vulnerable. So a cure that I have found is shorter crank arms even though I did not have to change my gearing . I went from 170 mm to 153 mm and that is the equivalent of doing a half squat vs a full squat . I have all the power and a higher spin so I can use a lower gear and get the same results as you would with normal arm length and a higher gear. BTW buy used as the first one will get you the information you need to buy another one that is better suited . Aside from steering and seat everything else is road or mtb parts .
I've got a 1995 Vision R40 (the base model) in my shed. One of this years projects is to get that poor old thing road ready and maybe slap a Bafang ebike motor on it as the hills in my area kill my legs.
@@my_dear_friend_ Well, the mid-drive motor did not work out. It puts too much weight out on the boom, making the bike hard to control. I'm ripping that out and trying a Grin hub motor.
I wear a mirror on my glasses. The natural view is to the horizon rather than the road ten feet in front of the bike. With a mirror on the helmet or glasses, one has an excellent view behind. The riding position is phenomenal.
@@CyclingOnAShoestring I picked up a 2005 Rans rocket fully functional for 250 Can. or atm 190 US bucks. Whole reason to get it is ,I have had one before and this one is now getting fully modified . It now has disc brakes and a new powder coat. shorter crank arms @ 155 mm. As to hills there are 22-27% grades where I live and I never walk any of them , however I also avoid them if possible!
i bought one in 2013, now i have 7 of them and want more.
At 55 years old, I loved crusifying the 30-40 age group. They had to pedal hard but couldn't lose me. I dogged em at 55. I didn't want to pass until the end, because they would have turned off. Sometimes if they turned off after 5 miles or so, I yelled, " You just lost to a 55-year old man!"
Just know that to get the most out of understeering and have the same maneuverability like top steer, newer models come with a separate steering shaft - which allows the fork and the understeer have more turn ratio with less input.. Most people are not aware of the innovations the recumbents have made along the years they are finetuned into true perfection these days - recumbents are still heavy underrated unfortunately, but when you experience the true comfort and fun while understanding the philosophy behind this proof of concept it is very hard to go back.. They are the best bikes!
Thanks for the info. I love the UBS, so relaxing. Looking forward to getting out on it when the ice and snow melts.
@@CyclingOnAShoestring ¿What's UBS?
@@brauljoI think he meant USS , Under Seat Steering
Trikers. Someday you will become one of us.
I started out riding a lwb sun EZ sport recumbent and loved it but it was impossible to start on a hill, difficult to turn at low speeds and very unstable in climbing. Very fast and comfy but it is awful compared to the two trikes I graduated to. I now ride a Catrike 700 and a Catrike 559 and they are much safer , more comfortable and much easier to ride. Can stop on any hill and restart easily and can climb very easily. Been trying to sell my sun ez sport for three years and don’t even get any lookers. Trikes are much better.
I've been riding recumbent since 1989. The surprise shouldn't be that you bought one. The surprise should be that it took you so long. That bring said I'm not a fan of under seat steering but still a step up on the standard bike design.
I bought my first Vision R-40 new around 2002 set up as SWB/USS like yours, and loved it. In a moment of stupidity about seven years later I sold it. I had at least a half dozen recumbents after that, but none quite measured up to my R-40. Well, late last year I finally found one locally (at an incredible price!) and look forward to get it out on the roads again when it warms up a bit. Right now it's on my indoor trainer!
Bought an old Sinner Record, lowsteer, dual drive. I didnt own a bike for years, but I‘m absolutely loving it. It’s fast, it’s steady, it’s relaxed and I like to believe that it is less ridiculous than I think.
I would get some clip on pedals asap- you don’t want to have a “leg suck” incident!
Any cadence over 60 rpm and my feet fly off towards space . I spin at 85-90 rpm and I have to be clipped in.
A bumpy road and my feet were being bounced off the pedals. Immediately replaced flat pedals with clipless. Much better. That's with a Rocket. I use clips and straps on my Bike E.
Mine cruised at 22 mph with a DNE speed of 39.9 mph. You'll find out why.
Great vid. Thanks. ATP made fantastic bicycles. My first bent was a Vision R-40 purchased in 2017 for $350. The R-40 is very similar to the R-50 from the front to just under the seat. The rear end is different. Mine is rigid. I don't know about the R-50 but the R-40 can accept quite wide tires, up to 2.2". I have two wheel sets, one for road and one for trails/gravel. Because it is rigid, I like wide tires on both sets but the road set has tires that focus on speed/roll.
Like you, I learned quickly. They aren't nearly as difficult to ride as they appear.
I really wish I had discovered them earlier and wish ATP was still in business. They were so forward thinking that I'd love to see what they were building now. Alex
The R-50 will only take up to a 1.75. The suspension on the front and back is great, really smooths out the bumps. I love the damn thing, it changed my perspective on riding. Instead of always hammering the road or trails, I just sit back and take the world in. All the best. Merry Christmas.
Wow, somebody doesn't want to get their pants dirty. Hehe! Great video, thanks for sharing it on BROL. You have a really nice channel.
Thanks John. It canme with that nice guard, which does keep me clean. All the best.
My R-40 doesn't have the guard and I'm short. I can't get on and off without my right thigh rubbing the chain. :) Alex
I’ve got arthritis in both knees and riding any normal bike hurts my knees when pushed hard.
Are these easier on the knees as I’ve always fancied one?
Great video thanks👍
My left knee hurts now I'm getting older too many motorbike crashes in my 20s and 30s.
It can be worse on your knees, so you have to be in the right gear well in advance or get a run up. The lower the bike (I have an optima Baron) the tougher hills are.
Knees are the weak part of recumbents as on a diamond frame any excess pressure lifts your bottom off the saddle and with a bent you are pushing your pedals and your back is pushing the seat. Knees in the middle of these forces tend to be vulnerable. So a cure that I have found is shorter crank arms even though I did not have to change my gearing . I went from 170 mm to 153 mm and that is the equivalent of doing a half squat vs a full squat . I have all the power and a higher spin so I can use a lower gear and get the same results as you would with normal arm length and a higher gear. BTW buy used as the first one will get you the information you need to buy another one that is better suited . Aside from steering and seat everything else is road or mtb parts .
I've got a 1995 Vision R40 (the base model) in my shed. One of this years projects is to get that poor old thing road ready and maybe slap a Bafang ebike motor on it as the hills in my area kill my legs.
I love mine. Best $300 I ever spent. Have a great season.
I have the same R-40 (bought used a few weeks ago) and would be very interested in hearing how your electric assist conversion goes.
@@my_dear_friend_ Well, the mid-drive motor did not work out. It puts too much weight out on the boom, making the bike hard to control. I'm ripping that out and trying a Grin hub motor.
@@Deinonuchus - Good to know!
For someone new to recumbent, you seem to be very used to it
It only took a couple rides to get used to it. So much fun. All the best.
Lots of fun! Do you have a rear view mirror, or is it easy to shoulder check?
Because there is no handlebar a helmet mirror (one that sticks out the side) is needed, but a shoulder check is possible. Thanks for watching.
I wear a mirror on my glasses. The natural view is to the horizon rather than the road ten feet in front of the bike. With a mirror on the helmet or glasses, one has an excellent view behind. The riding position is phenomenal.
😀👍
What does "bent" mean exactly? Is that a type of recumbent?
slang term or abbreviated use for recumbent.
You may love your road bikes, but that thing will pass them, especially over a 30-mile course. But you have to push them up hills.
22-27% grades on some of the hills where I live and I never walk a hill . I certainly do not go up them fast but never walk them.
Try a P38!
The first bent will not be his last! I am on number 10 now and looking for a Rans Tailwind to modify .
@@brucewmclaughlin9072 Love the thing... so much fun!!!
@@CyclingOnAShoestring I picked up a 2005 Rans rocket fully functional for 250 Can. or atm 190 US bucks. Whole reason to get it is ,I have had one before and this one is now getting fully modified . It now has disc brakes and a new powder coat. shorter crank arms @ 155 mm. As to hills there are 22-27% grades where I live and I never walk any of them , however I also avoid them if possible!
¿Where is that?
We don't get any of these luxuries in India...
Want your
money back???⁰
Why do you talk thru your nose like a professional announcer?