West Falls Church Metro pass-through from commuter bus: What recumbents are legit?

[WillStewart]

Kinda makes your cough insignificant to me and I’m sorry that I don’t care more.

My hacking cough is significant to me, however, and your dismissive tone is again condescending. If you feel you are superior to me, that’s your privilege, though bragging about yourself will not accomplish anything constructive. You obviously are happy with your commute – I want to put together a commute that I will also be happy with. Too many have jumped in to bike commuting without forethought and dropped it when it didn’t seem to work out. Having bike commuted in the past, I realize that planning is an important step towards a successful commute, especially when a large number of constraints present themselves. If spending 2 hours each way works for you, I have no problem with that, your priorities are your own. It won’t work for me (given that I have a bus commute leg in addition) if I want to spend sufficient time with my family and take care of other matters.

In case you haven’t read the thread on Folders on Metro, a Metro representative responded with the current policy, which you simply say I should ignore, though there is no risk to you. If I were to base a $1500 – $2500 cycle investment on your advice, I might find myself high and dry if the policy were enforced.

Again, if you don’t have something constructive to say, please politely consider foregoing a response.

[CCrew]

Actually, the latter part was designed and written so that it was condescending and prefaced as such. Obviously that was missed.

“”Will, I don’t think it’s been changed, but I’ve never seen it enforced. Most folders when broken down it’s difficult to tell what they are, and you’re looking at a Metro operators judgement call to determine if it’s a bike (which that guideline applies) or say an assisted mobility device (which it doesn’t). You’re also assuming that the average Metro employee is actually going to be motivated to care, much less check. Sad but true.””

And that was my response to the canvas bags. You must have missed that also. So I obviously read that thread, as that response was there. Thanks for the clarification. Have a nice day.

[triker]

Interesting thread….

I’ve been doing some research on electric bikes, which are actually “electric assist” not electric mopeds. An “electric assist” bicycle seems to be specifically addressed as approved for use any place a standard pedal bike is, which would include the trails. Here’s a summary: http://ez-flyerbikes.com/page2.html

I own 3 trikes, down from 5, and two mountain bikes. I will be probably be adding a road bike this spring. The trikes are tadpole designs – two wheels in front one in back. One of them is the Greenspeed GT3 folder. It has been folded twice in two years. The Trice trike actually folds smaller than the Greenspeed and would probably be easier for the type of use you are describing. Also, I believe the Greenspeed requires a wrench to dsiconnect/fold where the Trice does not. You are correct that trikes, even folded, will not fit on the bike racks of the buses. So folding & using the storage bin might be the only option with a trike.

If you have not visited Bikes @ Vienna I suggest a visit. They specialize in folding bikes, 2 wheel recumbents and trikes. I have read recently where people are getting a folding bike, adding an e-assist option and being very happy with the combination. Tim is the new owner at BAV and I’m sure would be happy to speak with you about options. If you would like to test the folding size of the Greenspeed I’d be happy to demonstrate for you.

Two weekends back I visited an electric bike shop in MD and the last weekend of this month I will be visiting NYCewheels in NYC to see their e-assist solutions. These intrigue me because my wife is not a strong rider, doesn’t want to be a strong rider and needs some assistance. Adding e-assist for her might make her experience better.

[WillStewart]

Thanks, Triker, I’ll have to pay BAV a visit. I believe I may have run into you shortly before Christmas on the W&OD at Clarkes Gap when you were triking with your wife. If so, I’m the one who waved you two down shortly after you passed under the tunnel at Rt 9 and old Rt 7, asking about your folding trike experiences.

[invisiblehand]

Tim Fricker — new owner — is a great guy at Bikes at Vienna.

I commute with a recumbent; although I have no worries about carrying the bike nor getting it onto a bus rack. You originally eliminated trikes … which I have little experience so I can’t tell you much. There is a steeper learning curve with a SWB relative to a LWB recumbent, but like anything else you will get the hang of it with a bit of practice. For manueverability purposes, I prefer the SWB setup. Note that despite the label, a SWB recumbent is still pretty long. My experience is that this length can be problematic when spaces get tight.

FWIW, I think that it is a good idea to talk to your doctor before beginning an exercise regiment particularly if you have some concerns. While getting an electric bike might make traveling faster and done with less exertion, note that the bike will be considerably heavier. So you might be trading off one risk for another. And, as you probably already figured out, electric assist is pretty expensive. Presummably repairing it is expensive too. Perhaps an alternative strategy could be to drive to a mid-point and bike the remainder to Ballston and vice-versa. I knew a few people in Albuquerque that did that regularly. You could use a human powered (only) vehicle and still make your trip in a reasonable time. As your fitness improves then the different options with the bus and longer riding distances would become more resonable.

There are a few alternative folding recumbents.

HP Velo Grasshopper
http://www.hpvelotechnik.com/produkte/ghp/index_e.html

ICE B1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQMXVM52BwM

Tim had a B1 at the shop over the summer. I don’t care for the hamster bars. But there are alternatives.

I read about a Baron Optima folding low-racer. But I have never seen one in person.
http://www.recumbentblog.com/2010/04/29/optima-baron-folding-bike/

Anyway, you have a lot of options. Although if you have not ridden recumbents before there is a learning curve. My advice is to head to a good shop, your choices are Bikes at Vienna (Tim Fricker) or Mt Airy/College Park Bikes (Larry Black), and test ride for a long time. Really … spend several hours getting used to the bikes and perhaps make a few trips out of it. Nothing compares to real experience for a big purchase like this.

[WillStewart]

Update: I’m currently taking a short wheelbase recumbent bike through the WFC mezzanine (NOT going into the Metro system proper) and the Rans Rocket fits easily into the elevator adjoining the bus facility on the west side. I also fits easily onto the bus bike rack, so commuting is going smoothly now. In the morning I simply walk the bike carefully through the mezzanine area until I’m back out in the open, then ride off towards the W&OD via Grove St. Discussions aforehand with Metro station managers smoothed the way to this current daily routine.

[WillStewart]

Update: I’m currently taking a short wheelbase recumbent bike through the WFC mezzanine (NOT going into the Metro system proper) and the Rans Rocket fits easily into the elevator adjoining the bus facility on the west side. I also fits easily onto the bus bike rack, so commuting is going smoothly now. In the morning I simply walk the bike carefully through the mezzanine area until I’m back out in the open, then ride off towards the W&OD via Grove St. Discussions aforehand with Metro station managers smoothed the way to this current daily routine.

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