Thinking about a BikeE AT

[jeffisme]

I just test drove a BikeE AT and enjoyed it, but I have a question. I'm not looking to ride this for speed, mostly for exercise, but I had sent a message to a bent riding friend and got back a quick one from him that he just bought a bike with larger wheels (he had traded in a Tour Easy) and thought he could go faster and easier with it. Of course, his is a $3,000 bike.

My question is this, would I be better off with a bike with larger wheels. Do the smaller wheels of the BikeE make that much of a difference for an exercise ride. Also, I have some real hills where I live. I know recumbents aren't that easy on hills. What have been peoples' experiences with their BikeE's on hills?

thanks for any info,

jeff

[Robin Parkes]

Jeff,

The BikeE is slow on the hills but you can always walk when it gets too steep. It will take time for your muscles to adapt to the new riding position if you haven't been riding 'bents. The 20" back wheel makes the BikeE accelerate quite quickly. I assume you are buying the BikeE because it is cheap. I have a CT and live in very hilly country. There are a few hills that I just get off and walk. There's nothing wrong with that. Go for it. You won't regret it.

Regards, Robin.

[jeffisme]

Thanks, I bought it yesterday (and yes, it was cheap). looking forward to riding it.

jeff

[rreidnauer]

I don't believe wheel size plays a significant part in ease or speed. Pedal revolutions to distance traveled will be the same, except a 26" wheel may give a (slightly) smoother ride. Keep the tire pressures up and all is good.

As for hills, as Robin says, it takes a bit to adjust. The first time out with my newly acquired BikeE, I wondered what I got myself into. Going up hills meant slowly chugging along in 1st gear and stopping regularly to let the lactic acid subside before continuing. It wasn't what I was expecting, and was initially disappointed. But, two weeks now, and about 60 miles later, I'm going up those same hills either in higher gears and/or stopping less or not at all. It's amazing how quickly the body can adapt to changes like this. Hills look a lot less daunting now, than they did on that first day out. I tackled a very long and steep hill this morning that I know I couldn't have gotten up on day one. I expected at least two stops on the way up, and I got it done in only one. I am quite please with myself and the bike.

Hills (and the way the body deals with them) are a funny thing. I don't push bikes up hills. So, when I get to the point where I just can't turn the crank even one more time, I stop. When I do, I don't just sit there. I keep moving my legs around like someone who's loaded up on too much coffee and chocolate bars. Seems to help dissipate the lactic acids. After a minute or two, that hill which seemed too much to handle, all of a sudden is easy to climb again. (at least until the acids build back up) I've even simply done small loops or zigzags going up hills, just to take the load off the muscles for a brief moment, and gone up hills without stopping using that technique, that I would have otherwise had to stop on.

Anyhow, don't get discouraged if it seems too difficult or disappointing at first. I can say with the utmost certainty that it gets better.