Yesterday was the day for seeing strange bikes during my commute. I'm not talking about people riding fixies or different paint jobs. We're talking some whacked out shit here!
First was nice trike guy.... not to be confused with Napoleon on a Trike (a guy who rides a recumbant trike and yells at everyone to get out of his way. I figure he's got a Napoleon complex about being so close to the ground and he thinks he can boss everyone around.) Nice Trike Guy (also rides a recumbant three wheeler) is different. He's actually nice (as his name implies). Seeing him isn't so odd. I just hadn't seen him pulling a trailer before. Every few weeks he needs to bring his dirty laundry home, so he hauls it in a trailer. Again... not such an odd thing. Escept that the way the trailer attaches to the trike, it sits off to the side. It looks more like a side car than a trailer. It was weird and cool. I slowed a little and chatted with him.
The second weird bike had a set of PowerCranks on it. I'd read about these, but had never seen them before. They are FREAKISH. Basically the idea is that you develop a lot more leg strength and learn to pedal circles if your left and right crank arm are not connected. Each turn independently of each other, yet they both have the ability to drive the chainring. It looks pretty normal when riding, but coasting is a strange thing to see. When you coast, both crank arms go to the bottom.
When I first saw this from a distance, it looked like every time the guy coasted, he clicked out of his right pedal and dragged his foot on the ground. That isn't the case. He just had both pedals at the 6 o'clock position. Bizarre.
He said he loves the cranks and they really help with leg strength. He uses them through the winter and has for the last two years. He said when he gets on normal cranks that he just flies.
That might be something to look into. I may have to give them a try.
Later!
Pete
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
Hey Pete,
Saw PowerCranks for the first time on a brutal group ride in NJ this Thanksgiving - the shop owner uses them pretty much all winter. It was pretty bizarre to see the way he coasted into corners. The website says that they automatically cure all sorts of injuries, including gonorrhea. I'd love to try them out, but I won't be spending $900 on them anytime soon.
Strangest bike I've seen commuting was also in November - it was a taller recumbent that was fully encapsulated in what appeared to be a green nylon fabric shell with a frame. Basically, it looked like a moving backpacking tent, with a motorcycle helmet sticking out the top. I tried to catch the guy on the W&OD in East Falls church, so I shifted to the big ring and put the hammer down. No dice. He was every bit as freaking fast as he was freakish looking.
I keep hoping to see you on the trail, but I think my hours are way too lazy for that.
- Walsh
I'm tempted by the PowerCranks... though I don't see myself having the budget for them any time soon. Other stuff comes first.
There are three guys that have recumbents like you describe. A yellow one, green one and stars and stripes. I see them quite regularly. I think Stars and STripes guy even has a bubble that goes over his head. That would be fun in a crosswind.
The weird thing today was that I saw NO cyclists at all. It was cold, as you know.
Later!
Pete
The powercracks thing is weird... I don´t see myself on this kind of bike!
Strangest bikes for me are those in the winter, covered in snow, ice and slush, with the rider proudly trying to make his way through.
Post a Comment