Recently I have made a lot of changes to my Tadpole.  Stainless wheels, spokes and nipples.  Hydraulic brakes.  New pedals.  I even went so far as to change the tires and go with a set from Sweetskinz.  Just got them mounted and they look pretty good.  Supposed to be reflective for night time riding.  Sure hope that they perform as advertised.  Has anyone else tried these???  Here are a few photos.  I am also looking into a fairing for it.  Well, maube that will come in the near future.  Figured that I have spent enough money on it for a while.....

TRIKE ONE

TRIKE TWO

TRIKE THREE

I received a set of SweetSkinz tires.  I was only able to mount one though as I am awaiting the third tire.  One of these was not reflective and I had to reorder.  In the mean time I am posting a shot of the rear tire.  This one is called the Rattleback.  It seems to handle pretty good although I have only had it on there for one day.  I'll post more when thet others are mounted.

TIRE PHOTO ONE 

 TIRE PHOTO TWO

I repainted the BoB trailer.  Check it out and let me know what you
think!!!!!!

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh160/1957trike/BoB%
20Trailer/SMALL_BoBRedux_04-08-2008_07.jpg

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh160/1957trike/BoB%
20Trailer/SMALL_BoBRedux_04-08-2008_05.jpg

Any plans for April 20th????   It's a Sunday so lets get a ride
together so that even Denny can go!!!!!   COuld meet around 1pm if that
will work.

I am now running Avid Juicy 7 hydraulic ((That's right HYDRAULIC)) disc
brakes.   Thanks to Denny at the Bike shop I got these installed and
have been running them for a few days now.  FANTASTIC stopping power
even though I am still getting them "dialed in".

Say....anyone up for a ride/get-together on a Sunday afternoon in
April????

--- In starcityrecumbents@yahoogroups.com, "Jeff" <yo.mail_me@...>
wrote:
>
> Hi, everyone!
>
> I'm doing research on the 'net and am planning on purchasing two
> recumbents - one for me, one for my wife.  I've narrowed the field
> down to CLWB models due to storage and transport considerations.
The
> smaller the frame, the better. SWB models are a little advanced for
> us newbies to start with.
>
> I am looking at models from the following makers:
> * Rans (Wave, Tailwind, Stratus)
> * Bacchetta (Agio, Cafe, Bellandare)
> * Cycle Genius (CGX)
> * Maxarya (Ray-1)
> * Sun (EZ-1, EZ-Sport)
> * HP Velotechnik (Spirit)
> * Cruzbike
>
> I'm heavily leaning towards the Maxarya or Cycle Genius for my
wife,
> and the HP Velo for me.
>
> Re: budget - obviously the less expensive, the better.  But I
> understand that a difference of a few hundred dollars can make a
big
> difference in quality and performance, so I'm willing to spring for
> a slightly more expensive model, if the extra money can be
justified.
>
> I'm six foot and 220 lbs. My wife is five foot three and about 115
> lbs.  I have a couple of pre-teen kids that would probably get a
> kick outta riding my wife's bike, so something that would easily
> adjust to smaller riders would be great.  Nobody but me would be
> riding my bike, so adjustability isn't a major consideration.
>
> I plan on riding a *lot* for recreation and exercise, so I'll need
a
> bike that meets those needs.  I'm not a racer, don't plan on
> impressing anybody but myself, and want something that will provide
> years of reliable, comfortable riding.  My wife and kids will be
> occasional, recreational riders.
>
> I live in central California, and I have found only one LBS that
> sells recumbents - Sun models (I've not been overly impressed), but
> a number of shops that are willing to build/service my bikes, for a
> fee of course.  If I could find a bike shop within a few hundred
> miles of me, I'd consider making the trip to test-ride as many
bikes
> as I could.... I'm not sure how to locate shops in CA with a
variety
> of 'bents to sample, however.
>
> Any advice, recommendations, hints, tips, warnings, or *anything*
> that would help me make a decision would be greatly appreciated!
>
> Hope to year from y'all soon!  =)


Personally, I would stay away from both Cycle Genius and HP.  I have
a fealing you would be happier with either a Sun EZ Sport or a
Bacchetta Bellendara.  I have one customer who started on an EZ-1 for
commuting to work.  He put 4000 mi. on it in one year.  He gave that
to his wife and purchased an EZ Sport.  He now has 15000 mi. on the
EZ Sport.  I have replaced a rear wheel and a chain for him and
that's about all the trouble he's had with it.  Or if you are handy I
can set you up with plans, kit or a bare frame to build your own
LaBent by LaDue  www.labentbyladue.com
Denny LaDue
Denny

--- In starcityrecumbents@yahoogroups.com, "Bill Withers"
<bwithers@...> wrote:
>
> I ride the mostly in the hills of Avondale, Georgia. My recumbent
> buddy (Dave) put me on to a used Tailwind through Craigslist a few
> months ago. They were selling a RANS Rocket and a Tailwind for $700
> for the pair. Dave got the Rocket and I have the Tailwind.
>
> Usually we do a 15 mile ride in the late afternoons around Avondale
> and on the weekends we ride out to Stone Mountain, curcle the
> mountain, and head home. That's closer to 30 miles and 2.5 to 3
hours,
> depending on traffic and trains.
>
> I'm 52 and steadily losing this gut it took me years to acquire. I'm
> excited to have found a way to get some exercise that doesn't feel
> boring, although I have taken to wearing funny clothes. <g>
>
> I think my biggest complaint about my long wheel base RANS is the
> difficulty in transporting it. I drive a 1993 Saturn wagon which
> barely accomodates the bike inside the car. I'm not very
mechanically
> minded and a cheapskate, besides. Any recommendations for a rack for
> the long wheel base bent would be appreciated.
>
> Bill Withers
> Decatur, GA
>
Bill
    I own a bike shop in Lincoln, Ne.  The one pictured here.  J&B
Importers offer a pretty nice hitch mount rack for recumbents that
should retail for around $400 to $450.  Most hitch mount racks will
fit a recumbent as long as they are the type rack with two arms.  I
have a used Rhodes Gear rack and can haul my LaBent by LaDue and a
long wheel base Bacchetta with no trouble.  Even though the LaBent is
longer than most recumbents
Denny LaDue

Hi, everyone!

I'm doing research on the 'net and am planning on purchasing two
recumbents - one for me, one for my wife.  I've narrowed the field
down to CLWB models due to storage and transport considerations. The
smaller the frame, the better. SWB models are a little advanced for
us newbies to start with.

I am looking at models from the following makers:
* Rans (Wave, Tailwind, Stratus)
* Bacchetta (Agio, Cafe, Bellandare)
* Cycle Genius (CGX)
* Maxarya (Ray-1)
* Sun (EZ-1, EZ-Sport)
* HP Velotechnik (Spirit)
* Cruzbike

I'm heavily leaning towards the Maxarya or Cycle Genius for my wife,
and the HP Velo for me.

Re: budget - obviously the less expensive, the better.  But I
understand that a difference of a few hundred dollars can make a big
difference in quality and performance, so I'm willing to spring for
a slightly more expensive model, if the extra money can be justified.

I'm six foot and 220 lbs. My wife is five foot three and about 115
lbs.  I have a couple of pre-teen kids that would probably get a
kick outta riding my wife's bike, so something that would easily
adjust to smaller riders would be great.  Nobody but me would be
riding my bike, so adjustability isn't a major consideration.

I plan on riding a *lot* for recreation and exercise, so I'll need a
bike that meets those needs.  I'm not a racer, don't plan on
impressing anybody but myself, and want something that will provide
years of reliable, comfortable riding.  My wife and kids will be
occasional, recreational riders.

I live in central California, and I have found only one LBS that
sells recumbents - Sun models (I've not been overly impressed), but
a number of shops that are willing to build/service my bikes, for a
fee of course.  If I could find a bike shop within a few hundred
miles of me, I'd consider making the trip to test-ride as many bikes
as I could.... I'm not sure how to locate shops in CA with a variety
of 'bents to sample, however.

Any advice, recommendations, hints, tips, warnings, or *anything*
that would help me make a decision would be greatly appreciated!

Hope to year from y'all soon!  =)

I ride the mostly in the hills of Avondale, Georgia. My recumbent
buddy (Dave) put me on to a used Tailwind through Craigslist a few
months ago. They were selling a RANS Rocket and a Tailwind for $700
for the pair. Dave got the Rocket and I have the Tailwind.

Usually we do a 15 mile ride in the late afternoons around Avondale
and on the weekends we ride out to Stone Mountain, curcle the
mountain, and head home. That's closer to 30 miles and 2.5 to 3 hours,
depending on traffic and trains.

I'm 52 and steadily losing this gut it took me years to acquire. I'm
excited to have found a way to get some exercise that doesn't feel
boring, although I have taken to wearing funny clothes. <g>

I think my biggest complaint about my long wheel base RANS is the
difficulty in transporting it. I drive a 1993 Saturn wagon which
barely accomodates the bike inside the car. I'm not very mechanically
minded and a cheapskate, besides. Any recommendations for a rack for
the long wheel base bent would be appreciated.

Bill Withers
Decatur, GA

How about starting with a message.....ANY MESSAGE!!!!!!