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!"
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!
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.
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'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.
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 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.
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 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’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 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!
