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Important! Help me raise $250,000 to increase access to recumbent bikes in New York Metro

Vote here. It’s fast and free.
https://www.missionmainstreetgrants.com/business/detail/60386

Voting ends Nov. 15 at midnight.

I need your help, guys.  And I need it now.  Please.  Voting ends Nov. 15 at midnight.  I still need more votes.

I realize recumbent bike riders in the NY Metro area wish we had a larger dealership here.  I feel the same way.  And I’d like you to know I keep hammering away at it.

Some of you know the business and you know how incredibly hard it is.  That’s especially true in a high-cost region like NY Metro where we pay 3x what others pay for real estate and 2x more for utilities.  Those of you who know me personally know how I knock myself out to grow the business, every day.

At last weekend’s Recumbent Cycle Convention, dealers and manufacturers from all over the country, pretty much to a man, expressed overwhelming support for what I’m doing, including offers to help if they can, etc.  The level of kindness was really touching.  And it appears I’m on pretty much a similar path to everyone else, doing similar things.  (It also turns out that a few manufacturers consider me their “best” dealer; that felt good.)

None of you will be shocked to hear the main obstacle to growing New York City Recumbent Supply is money.  So, I’ve applied for a huge competitive grant from Chase Bank.  If I get it — if we get it — it’ll be massive and will dramatically increase access to recumbent bikes in our region.

All I need is your vote.  It’s fast and free.
To be considered for the first round of this competitive grant process, I need your support: your vote, in fact.  And the votes of your friends.

The link is below.  When you go to the site, Chase is going to ask for Facebook stuff.  They say they don’t use or retain the info.  I assume it helps prevent voter fraud.  But I don’t know.  I don’t control it.  Unfortunately, some people have found this off-putting.  Please don’t be put off.

Vote here:
https://www.missionmainstreetgrants.com/business/detail/60386

Thanks to each of you for helping grow the bent-riding community in Greater NY.

All best,
Robert
————
Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2013 Robert Matson

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Recumbent Cycle Convention [Conventional? Not.]

I just returned to New York from the Recumbent Cycle Con (RCC) in Los Angeles. A superb experience and a fun trip. Loved the light, ocean, and mountains. Too bad about all the driving, highways, and traffic. I’ve heard people wonder how New Yorkers get by without cars. But how do Angelenos get by with them? I felt I couldn’t easily get anywhere!

Out with the Cruzbike family on our semi-daily daybreak Death March and chat, complete with great views and glorious sunshine. Robert on left. Tom in yellow. Abram with hat. Maria in green. Jeff in blue. Photo copyr. 2013 R Matson

But RCC was a blast. I continue to believe that the best things about bikes (and trikes) are the people you meet as a result of being a cyclist, and the experiences you have with those people, whether it’s shooting the breeze with a fellow cyclist at a traffic light, or going on a group trip, or racing, or advocating for cyclists’ rights, or helping a fellow cyclist you find sidelined along the road, or attending a bike show, or any of those other experiences that result from being an engaged member of the world’s cycling community.

Robert demonstrates a track stand on a Mirage Nomad, a shaft-drive ‘bent.
Glad to have had the chance to ride it. Photo copyr. 2013 R Matson

As for the machines themselves, bikes are cool, some more than others, but they’re just bikes; they’re a means to an end, not the end-all and be-all. They’re a lever, a tool for amplifying what your mind and body want to do and could perhaps do anyway. Without the machine, you could have similar life experiences, you simply wouldn’t go as fast, or as far, or, maybe, get into as much trouble. So, the potentially coolest thing about a bike show, for me, is the people; next, it’s the experience I might have with them; thirdly, it’s seeing what people are thinking about and the problems they’re trying to solve with human powered equipment — the bikes/trikes/drivetrains/chains/headsets, etc. Maybe it’s because I’m less a gear-head and more a traveler, but what excites me about a great machine is not the engineering; it’s the experiences a machine could open up for me and, then, whether that machine will get me safely to the other side. I feel similarly when it comes to dealing bikes. First and foremost it’s about people and the experiences a 2- or 3-wheeled human powered tool make available to them, whether during the sales process, or years after when they’re pedaling through Arthur’s Pass (South Island, New Zealand).

At RCC, I met many people who, till now, I knew only by name, e-ml, phone or photo. People turned out to be pretty much as I anticipated: people I thought would be super, turned out to be super. I had wonderful conversations with the people from Cruzbike and HP Velotechnik and I’m going to continue what I’m doing with them. In their own segments they are the leaders for good reasons. Had good conversations with several others, too many to name. I met Catherine and Hubert van Ham of Radical Design, the recumbent pannier manufacturers, who didn’t have a booth but attended the show as visitors; really nice people. Hase remains impressive. I was also pleased to meet the other dealers in my “neighborhood.”

Trisled Rotovelo, brought in by Nanda Holz of SpinCyclz. Photo copyr. 2013 R Matson

Several discoveries in terms of bikes and trikes. Yes, lots of trikes were shown as manufacturers try and respond to the demand for T’s. The average number of wheels per bike over the entire show was, I don’t know, 2.9 or so; less cleverly, more clearly said: trike showings dominated though maybe not in terms of speed. A few manf’s. had prototypes of clever trikes, folding and otherwise, and it’ll be interesting to see what they present as production models. A few new bikes, some of which I may bring in. I won’t be too specific right now so as not to disappoint people. Also, again, when it comes to recommending machines to customers, I’m highly concerned about reliability and quality and, with new machines that lack a track record, can we be sure to get that?

Cruzbike Morning Death March, group photo. Photo copyr. 2013 R Matson

Cruzbikes won the “slow-riding” as well as the “turning radius” contests.  No surprise.  But also the jockey Abram (photo of Abram) was, I heard, a gymnast in the past, so it might have been more than just “about the bike.”

I realize readers of this blog might like to hear my analysis of what I saw and liked or otherwise, but since I’ll be making business decisions based on my ideas, I’ll keep them to myself.  Meanwhile, event organizer extraordinaire Charles (Chuck) Coyne of Recumbent and Tandem Rider Magazine was there, along with Chris Malloy and Travis Prebble of Recumbent Journal, and Bryan Ball of BentRider On-line, and I’m sure we can depend on them to write round-ups.

Recumbent Journal has kindly posted photos on Flickr, here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/recumbentjournal/sets/72157637250627184/with/10640849036/

Here are a few notes that I’ll share:

– Nanda Holz of Spin Cyclz (CA) imported a couple dozen of the Trisled Rotovelo and had one at the show.  Good ride and nice idea for an inexpensive velomobile.  Good enough in every way with one aspect I thought was non-ideal: the pedals rotate rather close to the pavement so I personally needed to adjust foot position to avoid heel strike.  I don’t believe I personally, could ride it with clipless pedals or toe clips; someone with small feet might be fine.  I pedaled near my instep with platform pedals, which is okay, but not my normal pedaling position.  I’d recommend using heel straps with it.  Lots of storage capacity inside.  Call me if you want one.

– HP Velotechnik was, as expected, extremely polished and professional and was possibly the busiest booth.  They had their usual top of the line bikes/trikes and the new dirt trike.  They showed their new electric/pedelec system which is, in several important ways, an improvement over the Bionix solution.  Call me if you want more info., etc.  (Robert: T: 646-233-1219.)

– Cruzbike was possibly the darling of the show and Maria Parker gave one of the best speeches I’ve ever heard at the industry dinner.  Entitled “Doing something hard,” it was ostensibly about her experience during RAAM, but was equally a TED-type talk about how to…do something incredibly hard.  For the bikes themselves, only a very few people seemed to have trouble “getting” the Cruzbikes.  I think we (the dealers) have gotten better at teaching people how to ride them.  For a limited time, there is a slight discount on the 20″ folding model.  Call me if you want more info., etc.  (Robert: T: 646-233-1219.)

– Prototypes of several new folding trikes and bikes were shown in addition to the usual suspects who have production models.  There’s a long way between prototype and production model, but it was exciting to see people working away at this challenge.  I’ll keep folding machines on hand and will increase what I carry if and when the new ones pass the various quality tests and go into production.

– The Mirage Nomad shaft drive prototype was there.  Nice idea and the ride quality is as good as similar designs.

– TerraCycle has a full length fabric fairing/sock.  They are again making their tailsocks but now they are also offering a full length sock that attaches with velcro to their front fairings.  So, if your bent can accept TC’s LARGE/FULL front fairing, and has the mounting points for the TC tail sock, you can inexpensively make a fully faired ride.  Head opening at the top and totally open on the bottom.  I’m a Terracycle dealer if you want more info., etc.

– Lightfoot showed several of their HUGE fat wheel bikes and their ATV-like Quad.  They use Surly Large Marge rims/tires.  Fun to ride.

Next Recumbent Cycle Con. slated for Sept. 27-28, 2014, in Chicago!

I arrived in Los Angeles and went straight to Manhattan Beach for a swim. While there, I took a photo of this guy who looks a lot like me. Photo copyr. 2013 R Matson

Have fun and stay healthy,
Robert
————
Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2013 Robert Matso
n

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Recumbent Cycle-Con Trade Show & Convention, November 1 – 3, 2013

Going.

http://recumbentcyclecon.blogspot.com/

Gone:
http://blog.nycrecumbentsupply.com/2013/11/recumbent-cycle-conventional-not.html

Have fun and stay healthy,
Robert
————
Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2013 Robert Matson

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Escape New York!, First Flight for Ornithopter!, Fall Foliage!

Robert with HP Velotechnik Street Machine Gte.

Escape New York and photos of the fun.

We had a great time at Escape New York, one of the jewels in the crown of the New York Cycle Club.  We had a small recumbent display with an HP Velotechnik Street Machine, a Volae Tour, and Rick Horan brought a Flevobike Green Machine. Dan (blue Volae Century) helped too!
I thought you might enjoy some photos showing the “action” from our bent stand at Escape New York.  Thanks to the organizers and all the riders!
We had a great time, met a lot of nice people, and saw some old friends too.
(These are from two riders’ Flickr and Smug Mug streams, so links may get broken over time.  If they do, and you notice it, I’d appreciate it if you’d let me know.)
This guy looked like he’d be fast regardless of what he rode. (Am I grabbing a screwdriver out of the air with my back turned? I don’t think so….)
Robert, eating Siggi’s skyr (yogurt). Don’t try this while you’re riding….on a diamond frame…. (or anything else, really). (I actually got to meet Siggi Hilmarsson himself and fitted him on a Street Machine Gte!! Man, that guy is TALL (like 6’6″ or so)!
The Flevobike Green Machine.
Hee hee: could this be a future proud owner of an HP Velotechnik Street Machine Gte? (Obviously, this photo may not be published and/or republished without explicit permission.)

More, and more!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nick10025/5033405506/in/set-72157624928006923/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nick10025/5032801901/in/set-72157624928006923/

http://javierfraga.smugmug.com/Sports/NYCC-ENY-2010/13933188_EK7Te#1023210937_qyJfS

There’s Peter!

Check out this helmet.

Here’s the whole bunch of ’em.  And the other bunch.


First Successful Flight of the Snowbird Human-Powered Ornithopter

Interestingly, but not shockingly, the Snowbird ornithopeter uses Derk Thijs’ Rowingbike mechanism instead of a bicycle mechanism.

Lazily, I shall simply point you to the organization’s website:

———————-

Successful Flight of the Snowbird!!!!

Wed, 09/22/2010 – 11:22

On July 31st and August 2nd, 2010 the Snowbird succeeded in completing several sustained flights!! On the longest flight the altitude and airspeed were maintained for 19.3 seconds, setting a world first, and achieving the age-old aeronautical dream of self-powered flapping wing flight! The accomplishment of our goal is a success shared by all, and I must thank everyone who was involved for their help, sponsorship, advice, or simply for their interest in our project, which has motivated us when times where hard.

Please check out the media section of our website for pictures and video.

http://hpo.ornithopter.net/



Fall Foliage Map

It’s soon to be here, folks.
Best,

Robert

————

Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply (TM)
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2010 Robert Matson

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Human Powered Velomobile on Land and Sea.

This just in.

Here’s a nice and fun-looking velomobile that also doubles as a boat. You’ve got to love the ambition, but it seems to work better on land than on sea. Being a swimmer, I’d rather park my HPV and swim to my next destination. Still, one can dream.
Things go smoothly until the rider drives it uphill — always tough on a ‘bent anyway — and out of the water. Presumably the tires skid or get stuck. I’m not sure how I would ever use this?
Human Powered Velomobile Bikes over Land or Seahttp://www.inhabitat.com/2009/10/13/human-powered-velomobile-bikes-over-land-or-sea/

Enjoy,
Robert
————
Robert Matson
NYC Recumbent Supply (TM)
The Innovation Works, Inc.
www.NYCRecumbentSupply.com
copyright 2009 Robert Matson