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Friday, September 20, 2024

71st Birthday Current Arrived – BionicOldGuy


I received a brand new recumbent bike for my 71st birthday which simply arrived a few days in the past. My recumbent was over 10 years previous as a result of I purchased it used, and among the parts like gears and brakes had been getting a bit out of date and arduous to tune. I may have simply changed it with the newest model of the identical mannequin (the Bacchetta Giro A20). However the Giro is a touring mannequin, and I spotted that for a similar value I may get a lighter weight efficiency mannequin, the Bacchetta Corsa. This was interesting as a result of I wish to go after Strava age group data. I used to be involved that the extra aggressive place on the Corsa may not be as comfy because the Giro, and luxury to me is extra necessary general than efficiency. Nonetheless, I spotted that if the bike has disk brakes, it’s straightforward to make wheel adjustments, and the Corsa could possibly be made as comfy because the Giro for each day driving. Then with a wheel and seat swap I may put it again in efficiency mode at any time when I wished. I’d been toying with the thought of doing this someday sooner or later, however Dana Lieberman, who owns Bacchetta bikes, placed on a killer “black friday” sale earlier than Christmas that I couldn’t resist. So I ordered the bike a couple of weeks in the past and it simply arrived.

My first rides confirmed it’s fairly a bit faster than the Giro, and I’m trying ahead to going after some Strava 70+ data with it. Sadly my current chilly intervened in order that received postponed until I recuperate. For longer rides the Giro does appear a bit extra comfy now, however that could be a matter of getting used to the brand new seat (additionally the brand new seat is extra comfy in a extra reclined place, which is nice for aerodynamics however could require a headrest). And I can over time look into swapping out wheels and seats for consolation vs. efficiency as mentioned beneath. Thankfully, by donating my non-electric upright bike I made room to retailer the brand new Corsa, so I can maintain each bikes a minimum of for now whereas I kind this out. This sort of experimenting is enjoyable for me as a retired engineer.

The brand new Corsa is saved on its new customized rack above, with the Giro beneath it. As a result of the Corsa is lighter it’s straightforward to carry it as much as retailer.
That is the simplest modification I’m contemplating. Simply substitute the Corsa’s entrance wheel with the small wheel from the Giro. This lowers the entrance about 8″. This reveals it with the Corsa seat however it will even be straightforward to placed on the extra upright seat from the Giro. I took this for a journey and it handles positive. This may be a bit extra aerodynamic than the Giro and excellent for on a regular basis use, then I may simply swap entrance seats and entrance wheel to place it again it “efficiency mode”.
One other of the concepts I’m contemplating: This “artist conception” reveals how the Corsa could possibly be made extra comfy by changing its 700c (28″) wheels with 406 (20″) wheels and utilizing the seat from the Giro for on a regular basis driving. It wouldn’t work to only put the Giro’s seat on the Corsa with the large wheels, as this is able to make the seat top too excessive and the bike awkward.



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