Climbing with my 2018 HPV Speedmachine
A bit of a long video of me riding my 2018 HPVelotechnik Speedmachine up some steep grades in Sonoma County, CA, USA.
I have been riding the bike for 5 months now, and am getting much better with the climbing. This bike is a bit heavy since it is fully suspended, but it climbs just fine with my low gearing. I am slow with the steep climbs, but not a whole bunch slower than with my road bike. It is nice to know that I can now reach the places I used to ride with my carbon road bike. I am no longer riding a standard road bike because of a neck issue. The neck is fine now, but I believe it will be much safer in the long run for me to stay with the recumbent style bike. The positioning is so ergonomic and safe.
The bike was built by Zach Kaplan at zachkaplancycles.com in Alameda, CA. He did a wonderful job with my needs and requirements.
I have numerous custom choices for the bike.
Kojak 35 mm slick tires
Rockshox rear shock
Carbent carbon seat
Ventisit pad
Sugino 152 mm front cranks with 44-32-22 chainrings
SRAM 11-36 rear cassette
Bacchetta handlebars
SRAM bar end shifters
Shimano PD-M8020 pedals
Carbon boom
Terracycle front accessory mount on boom
Terracycle Fastback 70 LS hydration pack
Radical Design solo racer rear bag
Light in Motion head and tail light
Пікірлер: 16
Thanks for sharing. Great climb. You are a strong rider.
What an awesome ride! That is one heck of a climb. Thanks for sharing this with us.
@dndrich
5 жыл бұрын
You bet!
Your transition to 'bents is great. Thanks for taking us through it, with you.
@dndrich
6 жыл бұрын
It has been a wonderful journey to freedom for me. Thanks!
... hard on the way up, try and think of the descent :)
I'm curious. Do you ever find the chain-tube noise annoying? The tubes on my Street Machine drove me crazy (Short trip, I know. Yuk Yuk). Besides the age of my 2000 SM, the noise was a big reason why I finally sold it.
@dndrich
3 жыл бұрын
Not really. Perhaps I am used to it. I don't hear it at all on the flats. Very smooth, especially since I change to the Terra-cycle idler over the stock idler. Now, when climbing I can here the sound on each power stroke, but if I smooth out the stroke it is better. Doesn't bother me though. Perhaps the newer tubes are quieter.
Hi. What is your time comparison vs your road bike on similar routes. I have the street machine, overall I enjoy the relaxed seating and the head not being strained, but miss the power burst you get from a diamond frame . I bought mine used this spring, and have about a thousand km on it. Very nice bike you have there.
@dndrich
5 жыл бұрын
On the flats, I am similar, perhaps just a hair slower on the SpeedMachine. Uphill definitely slower by perhaps 10-20%. Worth it though. Downhill, faster. My roadie is an Ibis Silk SL, weighs about 16 lbs, so not a fair comparison. I don't ride the roadie anymore though, just the recumbent.
Nice video (as are your others). I never ride my Trek roadie any more because it is uncomfortable. I hate climbing on any bike, but I'm hoping the Speedmachine is geared low enough to spin up at a slow pace. I am most interested in rides of 20-50 miles 2-3 times per week, and I would like to do a century next summer after logging about 1,000 miles over a few months. Is a Speedmachine a good bent for my needs? 6'3" 240 pounds. 55 years old.
@dndrich
4 жыл бұрын
Yes, absolutely. That is me. 59 ex roadie for neck issues. My area is really hilly, and I spin up everything here including 15% grades. I go slowly, say 3-4 mph spinning at 80-90, but in comfort. I always summit. The bike is a bit heavy with the full suspension, but I highly recommend it. I have mine geared very low, with a 44-32-22 front and 155 mm cranks, and a rear 11-34. So 15 gear-inches at the low end, which allows climbing as you describe. I can ride a century on this bike for sure.
@brauljo
3 жыл бұрын
@@dndrich Did you switch from a 36t cassette to 34t?
@dndrich
3 жыл бұрын
@@brauljo no. I just said the wrong thing. Still have the 11-36!
Chainring that you have. Do you like the ratio? Minds bit high I'm thinking of lowering the gears
@dndrich
6 жыл бұрын
Yes. I have 44-34-22 in front, and 11-36 in the back. Great for my area. Allows steep climbing, and reasonable pace. I spin out around 25 mph, but I'm usually not pedaling faster than that.