From: briscoe@cco.caltech.edu (Duke P. Briscoe)
Subject: Re: Recumbant bikes
Organization: California Institute of Technology, Pasadena
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1992 03:54:00 GMT

In rec.bicycles.soc jamesg@rucs2.sunlab.cs.runet.edu writes:
>Along the same line, there is a bike shop around here that is selling a 
>recumbant bike.  It is used (many chips and scratches in the paint, mechanics
>look okay) and they are asking $500 for it.  Is this a good deal?  I couldn't
>find a name on it, could it have been a custom built?  Where would be a good
>site for replacement parts, as some of them are pretty specialized.  Also,
>does anyone know of any place in the Northern Virginia area that can/will
>repaint a bicycle frame?  Any estimations on costs, problems or pitfalls?

It is a good deal if you like riding the bike, and if you feel
confident about the mechanical integrity of the bike.  All recumbent
bikes are essentially custom built, there are just some custom
builders who are busier than others.  I would guess that this is a
long wheel base design, rather than a short wheel base.  Most bike
parts are standard, unless they have become obsolete.  A good mail
order source for recumbent related parts (and bikes) is 
Cyclo-Pedia Inc.
PO Box 884
Adrian, MI 49221.
Send them $1 dollar and ask for their HPV catalog.  It has things such
as small 20" high pressure tires and wheels if that was the kind of
parts you were concerned about.  It has lots of interesting stuff for
building or repairing unusual human powered vehicles.

Another good source of info, plus ads for used and new recumbent
bikes, is The Recumbent Cyclist, 17650-B6-140th Ave. SE, Suite 341,
Renton WA 98058, USA.  For $4, you can get a back issue, RC#8, which
had the 92 Buyer's Guide.  A year's subscription (6 issues I think) is
$25 US.

The best advice is to spend at least 15 minutes riding the bike, and
decide if it is worth $500 to you, and if you feel comfortable and
safe riding it.  For $500, you could get a new 12 speed Infinity by
mail, but your used bike may be nicer than an Infinity.  I've put a
few thousand miles on my Infinity, and it is a reasonably nice bike,
but I had one near catastrophe when one of the steering cables came
loose (the cotter pin must have gotten straightened out or broken, but
I have no idea how; I couldn't find the pin after going back over the
road).  Also, I think I would like to try one of the new SWB (short
wheel base) recumbents.  Usually turning radius doesn't matter on
roads, but it would be nice to be able to make a U-turn in less than a
10 or 15 foot radius.  Unfortunately, the new SWBs that I am
interested in cost about $1500.  Maybe some day.

>Recumbant riders, please E-mail me with your experiences riding an
>unconventional looking bike.  I seriously considering this bike, but I'm
>not sure what kind of reception it would get on campus as there are no 
>recumbant riders here.

You will undoubtedly get funny looks, but some people will be
interested in it.  Some people will get a kick out of your "funny"
bike. Generally a positive reaction.  You might want to be careful
about securing your bike, since it might attract unwelcome attention.

My own query: I used to be on some recumbent mailing list on the net.
Is that still running?  I would like to get back on it if it has any
activity.

Duke Briscoe
briscoe@alumni.caltech.edu