Trying to decide

[oldcyclist1950]

I have been reading virtually all evening on this forum and find some great comments. Here is my quandry, at 65 years old I have been an upright DF rider for 25 years and love to climb. I live outside of Denver so we have some great climbing and some great flats as well. About 10 years ago i tried a Lightning tadpole trike and rode in Bike our of Colorado, the first day riding from Ft Collins to Estes Park and it is the ONLY climb I hve had to walk up. I abandoned the ride and that weekend put the trike for sale. Back to DF. Fast forward to last January had back fusiion surgery and we told I should have neck surgery. It has taken until now to get to ride the DF and I do it with headaches and back stiffness. So, while it sounds I am a perfect candidate for the Silvio I simply cannot convince myself (after my experience with the trike) to go recumbent especially with the apparent adjustment in ride style and descent stability. So, help me out here. Riding keeps me sane and I want to try to ride for another 10 years. Should I make the investment in the Silvio? My doc says without a doubt, YES. What do you guys say?? Thanks TONS, Sandy

 

[John Tolhurst]

Oh, well the climbing

Oh, well the climbing comparison between a tadpole trike and Silvio is stark, to say the least. Weight, power transfer, full body engagement, all those a light years ahead with Silvio, particularly the current edition which rolls up all the knowledge we have uncovered over the last decade into how to make these bikes great.

 

[Charles.Plager]

Boy, are you asking the wrong

Boy, are you asking the wrong crowd for an unbiased answer.

Heck, yes. I've got more mikes on my Cruzbikes than I've put on anything else in years, so I'm biased (and I'm slow on everything), but I outclimb on my Cruzbikes compared to ask of my others.

And as far as comfort goes, it's hard to beat. This weekend, I rode two thirty mile ride, each one pulling a 40+ lbs kid on a 30 lbs trail a bike and my legs are sore, but that's it. At the rest stops on Sunday's ride, I just got my food and sat on my bike.

Recumbent bikes are usually significantly faster than recumbent trikes, and especially for climbing, Cruzbikes are at the head of the pack for speed.

How could you go wrong? (And if you don't like your new Silvio, you could give it to me... )

Cheers, Charles

 

[ReklinedRider]

Charles makes a good point:

Charles makes a good point: in addition to a plethora of folks who would be happyhappyhappy to receive your Silvio as a gift if you don't like it, there will be quite a good resale market. If you decide you don't like the 30 degrees from horizontal seat, even I could perhaps be persuaded to trade you my 1.5 Silvio at 45 degrees ;-). And I'm nuts about my 1.5.

John's point is very well taken too, of course.

I do wonder if you gave the trike adequate time to get your 'recumbent legs'?

Kline

 

[Charles.Plager]

I do wonder if you gave the

I do wonder if you gave the trike adequate time to get your 'recumbent legs'?

This is a good point. There will be a period of transition where you won't be as strong on the Silvio as you are on your roadbike. But you'll start seeing improvements rapidly and be back where you were in no time.

p.s. Trikes can climb anything if they're geared low enough. If you had to walk, then your trike wasn't.

p.p.s. Trikes can climb anything , but very often not nearly as quickly as a bike.

 

[oldcyclist1950]

You all are right, I didn't

You all are right, I didn't give the trike it's due and my excuse is that at that time the back and neck issues had not surfaced and the reason for the trial was the perineal area. Now that the health issues have arisen I simply have to get over the "change" to the different position and the "appearance" to other riders. BUT, from what I read that different appearance might be they are looking at my rear wheel. Let's hope so! You folks are certainly encouraging and I appreciate it. Sandy

 

[MrSteve]

Trikes Are Cool.



Some trikes are faster than others.

Modern trikes are probably better than the trike you rode ten years ago.

Cruzbikes are superior to all other recumbent bicycles except for, perhaps, Zockras' FWD MBB carbon framed wonderbikes.

Where I used to ride, I quickly caught up to a slow-moving bike:
It was a long steep hill, with a lot of switchbacks, so I saw it in fleeting glimpses.
It was a trike.
The trike was loaded down with stuffed panniers and was carrying a few
more bulky bags strapped onto the back.
He was pedaling very slowly uphill at less than strolling speed in a very, very low gear.

Ride safe,

-Steve

 

[Kenneth Jessett]

Bents v's standards

Sandy,

I have ridden about 6 Tours of Colorado and out of the 2 thousand plus riders on each tour, just about every bike was a standard. I saw very few recumbents and no trikes mostly because riders tend to want to climb out of the seat whilst climbing. I don't own a FWD - yet (but hopeful) - but from the comments on this board, I get the impression Cruzbikes climb well.

Apart from the price (which is considerable unless you buy the used one for sale) with your physical difficulties I would say you have everything to gain. Good luck.

Ken.

 

[castlerobber]

Silvio 1.5

Kline,

Now that I'm moderately competent on the Quest, I'm getting curious about the Silvio. The 45-degree seat angle on the 1.5 matches what I'm comfortable with on the Q. Don't suppose I could talk you into a test ride sometime?

Betsy

 

[ReklinedRider]

Silvio Test Ride

Betsy, welcome anytime to take a test ride! although it will have to wait until I get back from this upcoming medical mission trip. Off to El Salvador this Friday, will be back Saturday Nov 8. Will touch base with you the following week.

Kline

 

[ReklinedRider]

Hijack

oldcyclist we don't mean to hijack your thread..... Sorry!

kline

 

[Rod]

Cruzbike choice

Hi oldcyclist,
I can tell you my story. I spent about a year deciding about trying a Cruzbike. I am 67, have a neck fusion due to a broken kneck, and double knee replacement. I purchased a Silvio 1.5 in Dec. 2012. It took me about 100 miles to get used to the bike. Since that time I love the bike. I do not race, and live in Illinois, so I can not talk about the kind of climbing you experience in Colorado. However I am a better climber now than when I rode a DF. I have ridden about 1800 miles and have no regrets. Hope this is some help to you.

Rod

 

[joy]

Silvio

My husband bought a used Silvio this summer. Took him a while to get the hang of it, but he likes it a lot. Even though it has the same old engine, he feels it climbs better here in hilly CT. I just heard my new frame has arrived at Vite in FL and I can't wait for it to be built up and shipped here. As my husband said when I was looking at costs and the folly of this whole thing, we might as well go for it, as we are running out of time!

 

[oldcyclist1950]

You guys are fabulous with

You guys are fabulous with your advice. Thanks for the confirmation of what I should be doing. FYI, I decided to try the recumbent in the gym in preference to my usual upright cycle warm up. I rode for about 10 min on the upright during which time I started to feel the neck tighten up, so I switched to the recumbent and rode for 45 minutes, totally relaxed and giving the legs a good work out. Actually that decided it for me. All of your advice and the gym experience tells me that just turning my DF cycle in a more upright position still involves neck, hands, seat, etc. Seems like the Silvio answers that! Thanks for it all folks. And no worries about "hijacking" the thread.....if it is about cycling it is all good!! Sandy

 

[Andrew 1973]

That was easy!

It looks like you're convinced, Sandy.

The Silvio will definitely change the way you ride; meaning faster, way more comfortable, and simply more fun.