ranDanneuring

Tom: Thus far, I've not taken the Meta on any...

2012-04-25T17:13:58.020-04:00

Tom:

Thus far, I've not taken the Meta on any grades over ~15%. My seat-of-the-pants guesstimate is that the Meta climbs better at shallow stuff less than 5%, roughly equivalent at stuff in the 8-10% range, and slightly poorer in the steeper stuff.

The Meta, although quite stiff, is not as stiff as the P-38 when mashing (as I am wont to do...); I've noticed a bit of rear-end wibble-wobble when really pounding on the pedals. The Meta is much happier when I spin then when I mash.

To put all this in perspective, I find that the Meta is noticeably faster, in the .5 - .8 mph range, over familiar hilly rides in the Pittsburgh region. (That means lots of shallow ridge climbs, a few long grinders, and lots of short steep stuff interspersed with some fairly flat riverside roads.)

Good luck on the CTC. I have enjoyed reading of yo...

2012-04-25T16:24:35.600-04:00

Good luck on the CTC. I have enjoyed reading of your exploits on this in the past.

How does your new Metaphysic climb as compared to your old P38? I too have been looking at picking up a MP. Thanks

Tom

Good Luck with the CTC; I am curious as to how y...

2012-04-25T16:20:58.868-04:00

Good Luck with the CTC;

I am curious as to how your new Metaphysic climbs compared to your old P38.

Thanks (and stay warm)

Tom

Dan, Would you be interested in doing a "Wha...

2012-04-20T12:43:51.697-04:00

Dan,

Would you be interested in doing a "What We Ride" piece with American Randonneur once you've got a few brevets in on the new recumbent? We'd be interested in the piece.

Please contact me directly.

wmderosset at gmail dot com

Best Regards,

Will

William M. deRosset
Acting Editor, American Randonneur
Fort Collins, CO

Dave: Tire clearance was one of the big reasons. ...

2012-04-02T18:39:26.056-04:00

Dave:

Tire clearance was one of the big reasons. I have interest in gravel grinders like the Dirty Kanza, the Trans-Iowa, and D2R2, as well as local offroad silliness like the Hilly Billy Roubaix. The M5 wasn't going to take much over 25s, and I wanted to be able to run low-pressure fatties if desired.

For common-or-garden brevets, I'd say the CHR will work admirably...especially with the tailbox for cargo. The Meta gives me versatility, which, at this point, is more valuable to me than all-out speed.

Odd - I've been thinking that I might like an ...

2012-04-02T17:58:09.297-04:00

Odd - I've been thinking that I might like an M5 CHR *for brevets* (it was, after all, designed for randonnee by Bram Moens).

Personal preference and all, I'm sure - but what exactly has you choosing the Meta over the CHR? Call it more than academic interest!

naw, you should just drive down very very early to...

2012-03-03T08:52:28.815-05:00

naw, you should just drive down very very early to do it. consider it to be CTC/600K/1000K sleep deprivation training.

I was planning to head down to DC for a 200K that ...

2012-03-02T20:07:00.263-05:00

I was planning to head down to DC for a 200K that weekend, but I may save the gas and hotel money and just ride our 100K.

Are you doing the 100k on the 17th? When will this...

2012-03-02T19:21:43.823-05:00

Are you doing the 100k on the 17th? When will this bike make its debut?

Apis - the type of recumbent like this is generall...

2012-02-07T21:44:57.518-05:00

Apis - the type of recumbent like this is generally referred to as a highracer.

Here is my highracer.... http://i771.photobucket.com/albums/xx356/steamer_03/P1000872.jpg.....as equipped for last year's CTC. FWIW, I used to be a card carrying retrogrouch....brooks, simplex retrofriction shift levers, wool (still love wool), cotton tubulars.....ah the good old days are gone....

So, this is a 'bent that's virtually as ta...

2012-02-06T20:20:16.176-05:00

So, this is a 'bent that's virtually as tall as a conventional 2-wheeler? I think I like, some.

The curmudgeon inside me is screaming loudly though. I may go deaf from it.

I'm excited and its not even my bike.

2012-01-29T17:48:07.559-05:00

I'm excited and its not even my bike.

Nice profile! Great to see a new post on here, too...

2012-01-27T15:09:25.798-05:00

Nice profile! Great to see a new post on here, too! Not that I have much room to talk...

Out to pasture? Pshaw. I intend to return it to i...

2012-01-25T20:25:32.153-05:00

Out to pasture? Pshaw.

I intend to return it to its former lean, mean glory; shorn of fenders and rando-detritus, it shall convey me on many a club ride, fast century, and 'round-town coffee shop jaunt.

Indeed, I may well even have it refurbished, repainted, and augmented with S&S couplers, so that it may accompany me on journeys ever farther a"field", so to speak.

Don't make me call you Sally. And on this nig...

2012-01-25T19:45:39.581-05:00

Don't make me call you Sally.

And on this night of honor, you'll secretly thinking of putting ye olde P-38 out to pasture - in terms of it being your main rando bike that is.....it's bittersweet.

Of course, for people like Alan who weigh, uh, _si...

2011-08-14T13:53:48.599-04:00

Of course, for people like Alan who weigh, uh, _significantly_ less than I (or less than my jersey, for that matter), tire width may well matter a bit less.

Alan - keep in mind you can't unweight or hop ...

2011-08-14T12:17:02.420-04:00

Alan - keep in mind you can't unweight or hop on a bent. You have to plow through stuff. I ran with 20 to 23 mm tires on my DFs and was fine with them. On my 'bents, 25mm feels too narrow.

23mm is not ludicrously narrow.

2011-07-29T18:36:51.977-04:00

23mm is not ludicrously narrow.

No dynamo hub?

2011-05-25T21:39:15.976-04:00

No dynamo hub?

very nice. Never built a wheel. intimidating, like...

2011-05-25T21:02:53.012-04:00

very nice. Never built a wheel. intimidating, like a black art.

Whargarbbbl. Shoulda gone radial on the front. N...

2011-05-25T20:31:51.226-04:00

Whargarbbbl. Shoulda gone radial on the front. Not because it's faster, but because it makes lacing easier. :)

They look good, when I go for 700c wheels I will p...

2011-05-25T19:44:59.365-04:00

They look good, when I go for 700c wheels I will probably end up with the same setup though different tires.

Dan an excellent read. You make it sound almost li...

2011-05-11T19:07:55.530-04:00

Dan an excellent read. You make it sound almost like fun. Now spend some time with the Kids, they don't stay that way long enough.
See you on the road.
Denny

Excellent report!!! AND if you need any advice on ...

2011-05-11T13:14:58.865-04:00

Excellent report!!! AND if you need any advice on randopaparazzi systems, Felkerino and I are happy to help.

@rand: I went with simple Velocity wheels and skip...

2011-05-02T07:58:27.687-04:00

@rand: I went with simple Velocity wheels and skipped the tailbox for the nonce...handling in crosswinds with the HED3s and the M5 tailbox was absolutely dreadful.