Hi Red: I think I am the person of whom you speak. I am an old retired guy so building is mainly a hobby that is suppose to pay for gas and supplies!!! At present I am mainly playing with wood-far below the levels of Jim and Paul unfortunately. When I purchase Clark foam, I obtain it from Fiberglass Supply in Bingin Washington-excellent people to deal with by the way. Since I use few blanks I often go in with another builder from Tofino. If you are interested give me a call and I will give you my friends number- my number is in the book under Parksville. I have only used eps a couple of times. You can probably obtain it from a building supply dealer. Before you do check out Greg’s post about what to ask for. Even better might be to check shipping costs re Greg’s foam. Perhaps Fiberglass Supply might bring it up the coast for you. Let me know if you go this route. Hpoe this helps some. Good to hear from a fellow northener. Take care. Patrick
A few here and there. I just received my first batch of Paulownia seedlings with hopes of planting the back 40 in “blanks”. Craig Chafin in Dickenson has been providing some excellent quality blanks to me as well as Greg Loehr’s Epoxy products. The additive “F” product has proven itself in my shop. Give him a shout and drop by and take a look at his setup.281.220.9113 Tom
Hello Tom, I was just wondering what sort of climate you need to grow those seedlings? And do you have any experience with Balsa seedlings? How long does it take to grow either to an acceptable size for slaughter? Anyways, just wondering, because growing my own never even crossed my mind before and I’m now wondering if it is a feasible thing here. Regards, Red
Red: Here is one of many links, I believe this one will have some info on ideal growing zones. (http://www.paulownia.com/) Tom S.
Noodel- radical! what are the advantages of this design over a 'standard" type bike?? thanks!
Welcome back Noodle… what a stoke!!! Love those recumbents!!!
I’ve known people who ride these. One of the comments from one of these is that all or most who ride them have some kind of back or prostrate or other kind of health problem… Aside from a recumbant bike being able to help those get excercise on a bike who normally wouldnt be able to they do have a severe disadvantage as these bikes are usually so low slung that the bike and rider are not visible above most peoples side view mirror on their cars… Alot of recumbant bikers get car doors swung wide open on them in traffic…very dangerous.
Thanks for the good words guys. Matt, As you can probably tell I’m pretty stoked on recumbent bikes. Advantages: 1. Lack of butt, neck and wrist pain 2. More aerodynamic. An amateur bent rider can outrun any wedgie rider downhill. 3. Lack of pain 4. Faster… The cycle and triathalon racing commissions all outlaw recumbents in competition. 5. Lack of pain 6. Overall comfort. You’re sitting in a lawn chair. You can ride all day. 7. Lack of pain 8. You face forward and up. You get to take in the traffic, scenery and people much better. 10. Grin factor. It’s a kick. 11. Did I mention lack of pain? According to a few studies wedgie seats cause impotence and sterility. Recumbents help guard your ability to have fun and reproduce. This should add to the grin factor. Drawbacks: 1. Bents have a lower profile in traffic. It’s like a sports car, you see other cars better, but they don’t see you as well. Mitigator: Your head isn’t facing the pavement. You’re looking car drivers in the eye. I think they’re less likely to do evil things while facing you. Bents are friendlier. 2. Bents are a little heavier than organ grinders. They start at about 21 lbs, but most are above 30 lbs. 3. Bents are expensive… as well they should be. Unlike wedgies, there isn’t one standard bent design for all people. They’re ergonomic by nature. 4. Some roadies get steamed when you pass them on “one o them funny bikes”.
Hey Paul, “And, they’re slower up hills…” That’s a myth perpitrated by first time bent riders. Here’s how it works. Any out-of-shape novice can ride a bent or a wedgie. An out-of-shape novice wedgie rider can outrun an out-of-shape novice benter up hills. Fast forward 500 miles for both riders. The average bent rider will beat the average wedgie rider up hills. You power wedgies with your weight and leg muscles. You power a recumbent with your upper-front-outside leg muscles, the ones that bulge on ice skate racers. People aren’t used to using those muscles regurly, but they are capable of phenominal performance with regular use. If you’re an avid cyclist you know about spinning. If you ride bents regurly, you get used to spinning, which builds blood flow and adds hamstrings into the power equation. On wedgies spinning uses your hamstrings to pull the pedals up. On bents, you use your hamstrings to pull the pedals down. Gravity comes in the hamstring power range. Spinning is more efficient on a bent. By now you should be figuring out that you can ride fast farther than on a wedgie. There are no speed drawbacks to a recumbent bike.
yup. going up hills recumbent riders have to keep those rpms WAY up. once the rpm`s drop, your speed does and you can’t change to a standing position to get some other leg muscles involved. guess what happens next! its SO embarrassing. another thing is handling in corners. an upright bike rider can get so much more body english involved, leaning one way while positioning the bike in another. almost impossible on a bent!