C y c l i s t Recumbent - Steve Briggs

Other Recumbent News
(non-Interbike attendees)
Actionbent: This is the internet discount recumbent
seller representing China-Mascot
recumbents. They sell several SWB recumbents
from $595, including the new Roadrunner
with over-seat steering ($895) and the “Hi-
Racer 1” ($1,095). If you’re considering one
of these, read our review in RCN 084, hang
out in the Actionbent group on Yahoo and
watch eBay and the website for sale prices.
Contact: www.actionbent.com.
Angletech will be introducing a Coloradobuilt
Titanium tadpole trike, the TiAngle, to
complement the current line which includes
the TriSpeeder (cromoly OSS) and the
Quadraped (hand + foot crank) tadpoles.
Angletech also offers the Altitude full suspension
SWB and MC2, a fillet-brazed Angletech/
Mark Colliton/Mark Nobilette custom SWB
OSS recumbent.
According to Angletech, the TiAngle is a
full titanium tadpole trike with three 20"
wheels. The seat is an aluminum frame full
mesh with adjustable recline angle. “The frame
design has triangulation in the front which
eliminates any pedal steer. The supple Ti ride
is evident on imperfect surfaces. Where steel
and aluminum transfer the road texture, the
TiAngle absorbs it.” Details include hollow
steering tie rods, internally-routed cables,
Ritchey WCS lifetime headsets, single-lever
operated dual Magura BIG front disc brakes,
parking/drag rear brake, anodized grey aluminum
fittings, cobalt satin anodized frame,
etched graphics and an S&S coupler option.
Two component packages will be GL81 with
SRAM Dual Drive hub, and SHO with either
Dual Drive or Shimano Capreo components.
Angletech’s other specialties are custom
paint jobs and custom high-end components,
such as Rotor cranks, SRAM Dual Drive 81-
speeds, Rohloff 14-speeds, custom and handbuilt
wheels. Custom work is available on
Bacchetta SWBs and highracers, RANS LWBs
and highracers, Haluzak, Easy Racers and custom
tandems. Angletech also sells recumbents
from Sun and Greenspeed, as well as special
needs modifications.
Contact: www.angletechcycles.com.
Barcroft: News from Bill Cook: “We have
the Virginia GT, the Dakota, and the Dakota S
in single bikes for 2005. All are available with
14 Recumbent Cyclist News
The Challenge Seiran
The new ICE “ Q” (for Quick) is £1,599
The new “T” is the touring model that
we’ll be reviewing very soon.
Crank-It’s full suspension tadpole
© John Riley
Above: The hand and foot powered
Angletech Quadraped
Below: The Angletech TiAngle
a sliding boom ($100 extra). The Oregon low
racer has a sliding boom and a variety of seat
possibilities. The Oregon is more customized
than the others, so the price is about $3,000.
The Columbia tandem has evolved into an
extremely well-equipped tandem that is, in my
view, the standard of the industry. It's supercomfortable
and fast. It is also one of the more
expensive, now that it has eight-inch disc
brakes and a White Brothers pneumatic fork.
Chris Burkhardt and I rode one on the Seagull
Century and were able to cruise all day on a
level surface at 19-20 mph. It has a sliding
boom standard (that is also used to tension the
timing chain). The Columbia lists at $4,250. A
version with four S&S couplers is $5,250. Another
road tandem is in design and may appear
sometime late next year. It will be substantially
lighter and, of course, more expensive.
It also may never see production. The first
prototype weighed 38.5 pounds with seats and
pedals but is too limber.”
We’re very excited to be receiving a 2005
Barcroft Dakota test bike very soon.
Contact: www.barcroftcycles.com.
Bigha: We haven’t heard from Bigha since
our RCN 080 article was published. We still
have a few of these back issues ($3 special
price through March 2005). Bigha has raised
the 2005 price on the deluxe model to a staggering
$4,100. An RCN reader sent us the new
pricing info.
Contact: www.bigha.com.
Bike Friday: The Bike Friday SatRDay
(dual 349 mm 16” wheels) recumbent is temporarily
unavailable while the company completes
design work on a new and improved
SatRDay with 20” wheels. The new model will
be lighter and easier to fold and pack. The seat
will be improved and lower to the ground for
easier starting and stopping. This new model
is slated for introduction in Spring 2005. The
DoubleDay Recumbent tandem has been discontinued.
Contact: www.bikefriday.com.
Challenge: The Dutch recumbent bike
manufacturer Challenge has a full line of
recumbents to suit a wide range of riding needs
from laid-back touring to commuting to racers.
The Serian sport touring highracer is new
for 2005. According to the company, “When
Challenge started out in the late eighties, we
only made Highracers, only because at the
time, there were no fast, small wheels available.
In those days, recumbents were only used
for racing. Over time our customers discovered
that these bikes were also perfect for traveling.
Our High-racers evolved into heavy duty
touring bikes.”
Challenge is also introducing an entirely
new “SL-series” (SuperLight) models with
weights as low as 22 pounds ($3,000).
Challengebikes are being imported and distributed
by Eurdis European Distribution LLC in
Michigan.