Bike Setup: Round tube tig welded, light weight. 20" front tire 700c rear, 13-26 cassette with 155mm crank and 52,42,30 triple. Underseat steering. Mine has a coroplaset tailbox.
Summary: After the reynolds nomad I find the wishbone to be a bit more uncomfortable than the nomad but the nomad is exceptional when it comes to comfort. It is a pretty agressive bike so most people won't just hop on and go, it will take some time getting a feel for the bike. At first it may seem difficult to ride but with a little time it will become a very natural and comfortable place to be. It is a custom built bike and tuned to your individual body with take some trial and error. But to work well it really must be adjusted to your body parts. Part of the first ride on a recumbent is to position your power foot at the top of the power stroke while in the lowest or close to the lowest gear combo. At the same time you are putting the power to get it rolling focus on the other pedal rising and place your foot on that pedal. Once in motion everything starts to smooth out. My first recumbents were rode around the developments a lot till I got comfortable.
Strengths: Very fast with stiff frame and little or no flex. Light with art like construction.
Weaknesses: Georges seat is not to my liking and would much prefer an M5 carbon seat or similiar. I also much prefer a Calhoun seat pad to the astroturf stock seat cover.
Similar Products Used: linear, lightning, reynolds nomad
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Bike Setup: The bike as far as mechcanics seemed to be set up well. It braked well and shifted smoothly. Since my major concern was comfort in riding I did not pay as much attention to the gearing as someone else might. I found the steering, brake levers and shift levers to be in a very natural position for my hands. It is similar to the Ryan underseat steering and shifting. To be honest and fair to this recumbent I will say that different people look for different things. People come in all sizes and shapes and its very important to ride as many different styles and brands as you can. Once you find the one that you feel comfortable on and that fits you then buy it!
Summary: I test rode this bike at a local bike shop and found it very difficult to ride. It puts your body in an unatural position in my opinion. I know this is not going to make me popular but that is not my purpose. If you look at the foot height and position you will see that the rider may have problems with their feet going to sleep. If you have had any type of neck or lower back surgery avoid this bike completely. Although I believe the workmanship is very very good, its a struggle to get on and off this bike. Even the dealer had a difficult time. Like me he was barely able to balance and ride this bike. I like the way the handlebar and steering it set up but they could not get it properly adjusted for my height. They tried several times. I am 5'7". It might be the Dealer was not as familar with this recumbent as he should have been and maybe thats why I did not think more of this bike than I did. When I did get on it, I found it hard to balance and I constantly had to hold my neck forward to see where I was going.
Strengths: Great workmanship. Handlebars, Brake levers, and Shifters all in a natural position. Quality compenents. Pricing is avg for the Market in upper end recumbents.
Weaknesses: Seating position makes balance a real challenge. Not for avg recumbent buyer. Hard to see what is in front of you unless you hold your head way up or upper body. Adjusting the bike for a shorter person is difficult. Not for the avg user in my opinion. I have had four back surgeries with a fusion in my neck so this recumbent is not for me because I felt the position that I had to get in to ride it was very stressful on my body.
Similar Products Used: Ryan/Longbikes Slipstream, Rans Rocket, Burley Limbo, Trek RD 200, Vison R40, Rans Stratus,Easy Racer Gold Rush. I test road all these bikes so I think I did a fair comparision.
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Bike Setup: Ultegra triple, LX rear/Sora front derailleurs,LX front/105 rear hubs,Speedplay X/3,Sun 20"front/Cp21 700c rear rims
Summary: The bike is custom-made by George Reynolds. I chose the cro-moly frame to be nickel-plated instead of painted. The plating is tough and provides a nice silver finish. The USS is in an ideal position, being integral to the underside of the seat base. George is truthin' about the Astroturf seat material: it is comfortable, feels like I'm floating, and it breathes well. The seat contours very well with my back and the Astroturf holds me in place when I hammer. The laid-back position, high BB, and stiffness of the frame lends itself to hammering. Speed and stability is the norm for the RT. I've been riding my upright Sampson Kalispell 150-200 miles per week all year, so that's what I'm used to. After only 400 miles on the RT, my averages for 30-50 mile rides are already equal to or surpassing my upright performance. The RT is not suspended at either end. To me it's not necessary, as the steel frame really absorbs the vibrations. It might be too much for someone used to suspension. The bike came partially assembled, so having basic mechanic skills helps with set-up. George's instructions are minimal, accompanied by a few simple hand-drawings. Pay careful attention to cable routing because the instructions are vague, at least to me. The RT's build and welds are precise, and I think it's a work of art. Best of all, although it's a recumbent, it truly feels like a road bike. That's the quality I was seeking when I decided to purchase the RT. For a complete custom bike, the price of $2100 is a steal. The RT is for road riders seeking performance potential. The BB is high, the seat is low, a position that is probably friendlier to riders who are fit. Riders seeking to leisurely cruise probably want a bike with an upright seatback and a lower BB.
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