Brian Lewis
Member
Rick, this is my FIRST RECUMBENT! I have a Giant OCR-C2 composite Upright road bike with Triple Ultegra that I've been riding for the past 2.5 years
Handling is great with the WTB Mountain Road Bar
Its much more comfortable than the upright road bike. Rear suspension could use a little give (John is looking at maybe a softer bushing for the rear). Seat position requires some additional foam between the bottom and rear pads for my body but thats personal preference and you can adjust as needed. I bought a huge slice of MiniCell Foam for $22 shipped and cut out a piece to go inbetween (See attachment below) the bottom and rear pads because this is where my lower back is when my sacral curve is sitting on the front part of the bottom pad.
Speed hasn't been an issue yet, I can cruise pretty darn quick on this bike, I set it up with 700x28 tires for more comfort but still feel its as efficient as my upright with 700x25 tires. I might be 1mph average slower but I think thats just because of the switch from upright to recumbent and will diminish over time.
I would only go triple. Yes I live in North Texas, yes its pretty much flat, but there is a small hill here or there and I want to have the gearing to get over it. Plus I enjoy going on Adventure Cycling bike tours around the US and many of them you'll encounter hills/mountains like the Sierra Sampler I did last year or the Texas Hill Country I'm doing next month. Triple doesn't cost any more than a double, plus the middle chainring you pretty much can cruise in all day long, allowing less gear changing then a double would require. I wouldn't go with anything else.
It took me about 50 miles to get use to the bike on the road bars, once I switched to the WTB Mountain Road bar it was night and day and I feel in control and an expert now! So if you stick with road bars you're curve will probably take longer, the WTB bars give you better control, better leverage, more room, I literally must say they are a match made in heaven for this Silvio.
Handling is great with the WTB Mountain Road Bar
Its much more comfortable than the upright road bike. Rear suspension could use a little give (John is looking at maybe a softer bushing for the rear). Seat position requires some additional foam between the bottom and rear pads for my body but thats personal preference and you can adjust as needed. I bought a huge slice of MiniCell Foam for $22 shipped and cut out a piece to go inbetween (See attachment below) the bottom and rear pads because this is where my lower back is when my sacral curve is sitting on the front part of the bottom pad.
Speed hasn't been an issue yet, I can cruise pretty darn quick on this bike, I set it up with 700x28 tires for more comfort but still feel its as efficient as my upright with 700x25 tires. I might be 1mph average slower but I think thats just because of the switch from upright to recumbent and will diminish over time.
I would only go triple. Yes I live in North Texas, yes its pretty much flat, but there is a small hill here or there and I want to have the gearing to get over it. Plus I enjoy going on Adventure Cycling bike tours around the US and many of them you'll encounter hills/mountains like the Sierra Sampler I did last year or the Texas Hill Country I'm doing next month. Triple doesn't cost any more than a double, plus the middle chainring you pretty much can cruise in all day long, allowing less gear changing then a double would require. I wouldn't go with anything else.
It took me about 50 miles to get use to the bike on the road bars, once I switched to the WTB Mountain Road bar it was night and day and I feel in control and an expert now! So if you stick with road bars you're curve will probably take longer, the WTB bars give you better control, better leverage, more room, I literally must say they are a match made in heaven for this Silvio.
