last sat r day recumbent bicycle
My main cycle was a Bike Friday Sat R Day folding recumbent with under-seat steering. I used it for my normal cycling in Hong Kong and also took it to Thailand, Guernsey, and England. I think that it was a great cycle and enjoyed using it. Bike Friday seem to have an enlightened view of customer relations as illustrated by their web site; lots of information, customer feedback and tips, easy contact methods, responses to email by real people. In 'Clue train' terms they have a conversation with their customers.
I traded it in for another Sat R Day with a different specification in July 2001.
Good points and whatever - no particular order
Good Points
- Folds as advertised and fits in a Carlton suitcase for travel; under an hour to pack or unpack including some cleaning..
- Quick folds for putting in taxi boots (trunks).
- Sensible arrangement of shifters mean pushing down always changes down a gear for both the hub and the deraileur; human factors meets cycle design.
- People smile and wave, as I go by. Those not used to recumbents seem very interested in the cycle.... or I just look odd!
- Feels stable and responds quickly in turns.
- Rolls easily and can be quick on the flat and downhill.
- I find the seat more comfortable than a normal cycle and I don't get stiff arms or wrists. Much better for the bits that matter most :)
- Accurate shifting with minimal or no set-up - I can even get the hub shifting correctly after re-assembly first time mostly.
Whatever
- The small diameter high pressure tyres mean that this is a cycle for firmer surfaces. Soft dirt or sand is not possible but harder packed dirt is fine.
- Heel strike in tight turns; seems to be an issue for a number of recumbents and I just got used to swinging my heel to the outside a little when turning. I also have large feet and this may be a factor.
- I can get numb feet when pushing harder; this can be controlled by working at spinning the feet in circles. Again this seems to be a recumbent thing.
- More difficult to manoeuver on foot in confined spaces (Hotels, Hong Kong lifts, hallways, and apartments) than a normal cycle. Function of length. If partially folded then can only be wheeled forwards or the chain will foul. Can be quick-folded but then the weight still restricts mobility.
- With some spares and tools it weighs about 25Kg in the suitcase so weight may be a problem by air. I have never had to pay extra yet (Emirates, Thai, Jersey European). With the trailer kit for the suitcase the weight is closer to 30 Kg. So it does travel but not as light as it may at first appear because the cycle itself is not that heavy.
- The 16 inch (349 mm) tyres are not widely available. Wheel size constrained by suitcase packing requirements.
- The exposed chain means that I normally get some marks on the inside of my right leg. I use White Lightning so it comes off easier than oil would.
- The rear rack fittings don't leave much room for getting the bolts in and out. I switched to using shorter bolts on the front two points but it's still a pain. For short rides a better solution is to hang a bag off the seat frame.
Things that worked for me
Quick fix for a Cateye Enduro 2 computer
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The computer is mounted sideways on the upper tube. I used the existing mounting kit with a tie wrap to tighten it on the tube. This was meant to be a temporary solution but seems to have lasted. Quick folds are fine but the computer must be removed from the mount before folding the boom flat to the tube after removing the seat.
I filed down the clip slightly to make it easier to remove the computer from the mount, otherwise it was difficult to remove.
Mirror
Most mirrors will not mount on the under-seat bars but this one did. I wanted it to fit in the front of the tube but there wasn't room because of the shifter/brake mount. I have it mounted on the right but it will also work on the left. It is 'Mountain Mirrycle' made by the Mirrycle Corporation, Boulder, Colorado, USA.
Seat frame as rack
I have used rear rack on the Sat R Day but find that hanging bags off the seat frame to be adequate for day rides and saves taking a rack with me. Make sure that any straps are tucked away so that they don't get caught in the chain or wheel. The seat rear is also a handy place to carry a spare tyre, secured by re-usable tie wraps.
Keeping the cables tidy
I found that brake and gear cables got in my way and used some spiral cable tidy to keep them organised. Improved folding and packing because the cables did not get caught or tangled.
Updated 2004/03/22 10:15:43