November 11th, 2008
Give me something new and different
By Perry Bessas
I’d like to upgrade my kitchen, my body, and maybe my spouse. Yeah, I like my bike, but I’d like something different in that department too. New and different is automatically better, right? Not sure, but give me something new and different anyway and I’ll figure it all out later. At least that’s the word I hear on the street.
I ride a Tour Easy recumbent. I love the timeless design. Everything that should have been improved has been. When someone gets a hankering to change it, I figure it’s not for the better. I mean, sure, just out of practicality a bike manufacturer upgrades components as they become available. There is really no point in sticking with 7 speed cassettes when 9 or 10 speed are the order the day. Regardless of which is better, newer parts are easier to come by and people expect you to keep up with the times. So it makes sense.
A fancy new frame material such as carbon fiber? It does not float my boat but I can see it for some folks, so go ahead. I still have my choice: Utilitarian steel. But the basic design of the bike is perfect. Why would I want to change it? Others disagree.
Same old, same old. Easy Racers bikes have remained mostly unchanged for years and years. A ’56 Thunderbird is a classic but you don’t see them still being made. There is a reason for it.
This fellow’s hankering for something new and different has him comparing apples and oranges. I don’t know how an Easy Racers bike is anything like a ’56 Thunderbird. It’s not like Easy Racers has eschewed new technology and rendered the bike an anachronism. But I think he echoes the sentiments of many people: “Give me something new.”
The brings me to the infamous hose clamps. You see, the Tour Easy’s seat back is attached to the base via hose clamps. They have been causing a stir for decades. They work great and you can get replacements at any hardware or auto parts store. Brilliant! Just one problem. Many people wouldn’t be caught dead with hose clamps on their bike, especially if that bike cost $2500. But why not? Why would you feel gypped by a part that does the job as good or better than anything designed from scratch? Wouldn’t you rather see the manufacturer focus on what can be improved instead of changing things that already work perfectly?
Under a Perry administration, I will reach across the aisle for a bipartisan solution to this problem. I propose, the titanium hose clamp!!! (Insert applause sound effect here.) ER can offer it as an “upgrade.” I can stick with the much inferior, Plain Jane, steel hose clamps. Meanwhile, Mr. “Don’t try to pass off a ’56 Thunderbird on me” can have the light weight power of titanium. Problem solved! The Perry administration shows much promise. :)
14 Responses to “Give me something new and different”
well,
i discovered that my tour easy IS a great climber, IF bike is completely unloaded down, (i even wear a flyfishing chest pack to keep my pockets unloaded).
and i discovered that if i put my hands on the MIDDLE of the apehanger bars, it not only keeps me
warmer by stretching out my back, but makes helps me CLIMB because having my arms like that pulls on my hips, which gives me greater range of motion when i’m climbing.
as for hose clamps, and bipartisanship, i suggest a clamping down generally on all you hosers that whine that your tour easy can’t climb hills (that means moi lol)
@Andy: as for hose clamps, and bipartisanship, i suggest a clamping down generally on all you hosers that whine that your tour easy can’t climb hills (that means moi lol)
LOL. Good one! There may be a cabinet post for you in the Perry administration.
Perry ‘08!!! YES HE ALREADY DID!!!
I am a strong admirer of Tour Easys I don’t have one myself but I have considered getting one for my wife many times. I find the Ti-Rush and C-Rush also very interesting. One day I will get one of these beautiful bikes.
@ Croupier: LOL. Thank you for your support.
@ Duncan: Of all the bikes I’ve owned over the years, the Tour Easy has been my favorite. I love riding this bike!
I like all bikes. I enjoy my Longbikes Slipstream and my Cervelo road bike. I alternate taking them on tours. Obviously the Slipstream is better for long trips. After 150 miles I can walk normally while most of my fellow riders are lying on the ground trying to stretch out. I picked the Slipstream because it is the highest quality long wheel base available. Not the lightest or fastest but the highest quality of build and finishing. Greg Peek who builds these beautiful machines has very high standards and it shows. Mr. Ferrari does not attach his seats with hose clamps and neither does Greg. Compare the seat construction, dropouts, steering link and seat clamp, just to name a few components, and you will see why Longbikes are in a different league than other builders. There is no right or wrong in the choice of bicycles. Pick what you like and enjoy the ride!
Titanium hose clamps!? Balderdash! That’s so twentieth century - anyone with an ounce of tech savvy or true class knows that carbon/kevlar hose clamps are the wave of the future!
While I prefer utilitarian ‘bents like my own Hurricane, nothing beats the extremely sleek looks of a M5 carbon lowracer or a Velokraft NoCom.
I’m not aware of anyone ever making such elegant and fluid looking bikes in metal, although Challenge is a good second with their big diameter single tube frames. The split-tube rear fork of the Fujin, Seiran and Taifun in particular.
Most other bikes look like an accident in a tube factory in comparison.
(IMNSHO, of course ;-)
Roland, I agree with you. Lowracers look so darn … cool. I want one but I just bought a Corsa so no lowracer for me for a few years.
When I first considered a recumbent bike purchase, my eye went toward the sleek short-wheelbase mono-tube design offerings from Europe. I ended up with an Optima Baron lowracer that I was able to buy second-hand here stateside (saved money for sure). Though it is still a unique sleek-looking racing machine, the Baron is becoming somewhat of a ‘56 T-bird compared to the NoCom, M5 and other more state-of-the-art models. But you know why I still love it? It’s still fast and exciting - all without the use of a single hose clamp!
I used to ride a Speed Ross recumbent ( http://www.hembrow.eu/personal/speedross.html ). Very quick, and lots of fun. The seat was attached by hose clamps. The designer, Peter Ross, once pointed out to me that Rolls Royce also use hose clamps. Not titanium ones, but perfectly normal ones. You’re in good company.
I’m with Roland on the M5 bikes. Really wonderful, and incredibly fast. I test rode one earlier this year (Assen ligfietsopstapdag).
@David: The designer, Peter Ross, once pointed out to me that Rolls Royce also use hose clamps.
:)
I have to remember that one next time this hose clamp thing comes up…and it always does resurface. For people who hate the dreaded hose clamp, that’s cool. It’s your money so spend it as you like. I am a form follows function guy. If something works perfectly, there is great beauty in it to my eye. And those hose clamps look purrrty.
My Easy Racer is the best bike i have ever owned. i ride my wife’s beach cruiser upright occasionally just to see how great it is. it is still the fastest and most comfortable bike i have ever owned. there are always ways to enhance any bike though. and, i agree, no need to replace it, just add to the fleet! i would probably try a trike next. don’t really know right now. the money sack is empty!
ok, i’d say the rans CITI w/o front derailleur post is my second fav. i like the completely laid back seats on the low racers and tadpole trikes. i like the windcheetah, and the scorpion by hase? and i love the fact that american companies are turning out my favorite bikes, other than the completely enclosed velomobiles of europe
the tour easy/gold rush is my sentimental and practical favorite, the c rush with the super laid back seat-i’d been wondering for years and years when easy racers would come out with a carbon rush. i really like the super laid back seat.
and speaking of velomobiles, easy racers fully streamlined dupont prize winning, 2 wheel velo gold rush? they came out with a “touring” version of this that fred markham rode
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