CLIMBING: High vs. Low Racer vs...

Well, I haven't owned a high racer, but my honeybee was a SWB and it could climb really well. Now that I have my little "BikeE", and the seat is a little lower, it climbs ok, but I would have to say probably not as good as the swb.

 

It all goes by weight as to how well (fast) a bike climbs. As to low speed twitchiness I don't think you can catigorize that by COG height. There's too many other parameters, fork trail for example.

My lowracer is lighter than my LWB and climbs faster. IMHO that's about it.

 

I’ve had CLWB, LWB, and SWB mixed in with OSS and USS, and because of the various bikes, what I’ve found is that like Fran, I believe it’s more a matter of weight of the bike. I have continuously gotten lighter and able to climb better because of it.

Curtis

 

Hello A.D.,

I think the author there is referring to balance issues at slower speeds when climbing on a steep incline. In my view, COG has less to do with slow speed balance than wheelbase length. A shorter wheelbase allows quicker response to recover balance than a long wheelbase, which requires more movement of the front end before beginning to recover balance. Also, I disagree with the author's statement that a higher COG can use more "body english" to help in balance issues; a recumbent rider's body is essentially locked in place on the seatback and can use very little body english.

I ride both a Corsa SWB and a V3 LWB. The Corsa is much more comfortable at low speed climbs than the V3, just because it's more easily balanced. The Corsa's wheelbase makes it a natural; with the V3, you better be paying attention when you get down below 5 mph. Although the Corsa does indeed have a higher COG than the V3, I'd maintain that the difference in low speed handling is in the wheelbase length.

Don
Original RocketRiders Member #6, August 25, 2004

 

Well hey there Don! Where have you been these days? I miss you chiming in on conversations. By the way when you going to stop by my shop? I've seen you and Terry pass by a few times and waved, but as fast as you guys were going you may or may not have seen me.

 

No one has mentioned the closed vs open body position. It is believed by many that a more closed body position like that of the Lightning to be a better climbing platform. I share that opinion.

When climbing, many times I will hook my fingers up over the brakes and climb with my upper body off of the seat. I have stayed in that position for many minutes on some climbs. I feel that I can generate more power in that position. I will sometimes initiate sprints that way as well.

Of course, it doesn't suck to have a 20 LBS bike.

 

COG high or low?

I find I use more steering input on my high racer at slow climbing) speeds than on the P-38. There's no 'body english' when you're lying down at 25 degrees and the higher COG means more of a pendulum effect. It's quite noticeable when riding on the flats that a high racer will have a slight oscillation where a low racer doesn't (I've owned both.)

 

Paul, welcome and thanks for posting here. You are way out of my class,
but may not be far from my age range. I'm riding a Goldrush most of the
time and find it a good all-around ride. I enjoyed watching you and
reading about your bike. I hope you visit here often.

http://www.****-bikes.com/experiences.html

Use http://tinyurl.com/cgvoyj9 instead





What's going on here AD?



****-bikes.com

that is **** m e t a

 

I've got both high and low, and I think it's inaccurate to state that one handles better or worse than the other at low speeds. It depends on the geometry and body position more than anything.

 

Bit of a problem for "Metabikes" then?

So the second best climbing recumbent (OK, arguably and I'm sure we can) can't be mentioned on the board because it's HTML but it can on another board?

As my favourite ride is a M<tabikes M<taphysic then it limits my posts more than little and denies poor old Elias any publicity.

I worked in IT and understand security pretty well but isn't there a work around. Presumably "Metaphysic" can't be HTML because of the quotes.
I'll soon know if the post is altered by Sysadmin.

 

That Metaphrastic looks good. If I lived in Tennessee, I'd want dual discs on all of my bikes.When they're adjusted perfectly, rim brakes are... just adequate.