Tag: touring

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Packing list, short trip

This is a note-to-self more than anything.  I tend to get stressed before trips and I feel it takes me too long to get ready.  The fact I have similar packing lists for biking and hiking trips, but with crucial differences, makes packing harder because I can’t go on autopilot; I don’t take windbreakers or arm warmers (or a pump) when I hike, but I do when I bike.  I’ll probably update and refine this entry over time, but I wanted to write it down while stuff from a recent trip was laying on my floor.  Figured I may as well share it with others.  If any readers want to post their own lists in the comments section, that’d be cool. – RM

Packing List for One- to Five-day Rides
Some items may be unnecessary, depending on distance, duration, destination and weather.

Food: 2,500 cal/day (for up to 5 days)
Bk
L
D
Snacks
Water bottles/reservoir filled

Clothes
Feet:

Socks/knee socks, one pair

Bike shoes
Walking/camp shoes

Bottom:
Underwear/compression shorts

Riding shorts, outer

Long pants, nylon, wind proof

Top:
Short-sleeve shirt, wool or synth
Arm warmers
Insulating layer, windstopper fleece or wool
Wind shirt or wind vest

Cold and Wet Layers:

Hat/Balaklava
Rain coat

Rain pants
Gloves, insulating
Gloves, vapor barrier
Vapor barrier socks/plastic bags – inner
Plastic bags for feet – outer

Glasses:
Sunglasses
Reading glasses

Night/”Dry or Die”
Base layer, bottom / tights

Base layer, top
Wool socks, dry
Hat, dry
Jacket: down or synth
Sleeping bag
Sleeping pad
Shelter
Toiletries:
Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, soap, sun screen, bleach, hand sanitizer, lip balm
Eating:
Stove, fuel, lighter
Cook pot and lid
Cup, bowl and spoon
Water treatment
Water bottles or reservoir
Scrubby sponge
Extras:

Towel
Swim suit and goggles
Sketch pad and pen

Emergency:
First Aid kit (check contents)
Fingerless gloves
Beacon

Repair kit and tools, pump, spare inner tubes
Maps and compass
GPS way-finding device
Lights: front, rear, check operation
Head lamp
Extra batteries (if no generator)
Camp rope

ID
Money
Credit card
Insurance card, blood donor card
Permits
Business cards

# # #

Have fun and stay healthy,
Robert
————
Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2012 Robert Matson

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What I’m riding in town these days.

This is a Cruzbike Sofrider loaded with groceries, including kale and swiss chard.

For the past few months I’ve been riding a Cruzbike Sofrider around town as my city “beater.”  The Sofrider is a capable commuter and touring bike, but it’s not immediately obvious how properly to attach luggage.

 

Rack.
I’m using an Old Man Mountain Sherpa rack, here shown with standard Axiom rear panniers packed with groceries.  The Sherpa is a well-made, versatile and strong rack that you can install in the manner intended by the manufacturer, which is what we want to do for best results.  I’ve attached the rack’s vertical struts to threaded bolt holes just forward of the rear dropouts.  The forward “horizontal” supports attach to the rear caliper brake bolts.  This is a secure fitting and allows for a decent real world payload.  It is easier to install a seatpost-mounted rack, like the Topeak models, but their typical payload ratings of 20 lbs. isn’t enough for (my) grocery shopping.  For those concerned about weight, be aware that the 32-ounce Sherpa is not lightweight.  Also, note that the rack is rated for a payload of 40 lbs.  My belief is that the rack will support a heavier payload for a short time, but for a longer trip I’d stay below the 40 lbs. payload rating. (Errata: I had  originally written in this post that the luggage is fully suspended when using the Sherpa rack, but the luggage is not suspended since the rack is attached directly to the rear wheel.  If one were to use a seatpost-mounted rack, then the luggage would be suspended.)

Seatback bag.
I’m using a Radical Designs Solo Aero on the back of my seat.  You can buy it from New York City Recumbent Supply.  This is an excellent, well-made, capacious bag of 12 liters volume.  That’s about half a good-sized daypack.  It quickly slides down over the seatback and comes off just as fast.  With the carrying strap it’s easy to manage.  Reflective tape on the back.  Comes in five pretty colors.  I love it.

Wearing a lock.
Another detail that makes the Sofrider good for a city bike is that there is a hole in the frame where you can string a lock.  While riding, I loop a chain-style lock two-times through the frame and under the seat.  The lock hangs a bit loose and sometimes makes noise, but it hangs out of the way of the wheels and contributes its weight in a useful place — right under the seat.

Where are the fenders…
I haven’t gotten around to adding fenders and I’ve suffered for it.  I need to add them soon.  The last rain was cold and wet and dirty.

Sherpa installation.
On the Sofrider, I want to keep the weight forward of the rear wheel as much as possible so the front wheel doesn’t lose traction on the hills.  So, I’ve mounted the rack backwards, with the rear of the rack turned to the front, to bring the carrying rails as far forward as possible.  Then, I mounted the vertical supports such that the curve of the vertical adapter moves the rack forward of the rear axle.  I have also used the fender mounting holes in front of the axle.  This is not so much to move the rack forward as it is to allow me to use my front wheel Pitlocks on the non-drive (rear) wheel.  The installation would be stronger if I attached the vertical supports to an extra long quick release through the axle, but I much prefer to keep the wheel locked.  So, I guess I’m living on the edge a bit.  If I had done this for a customer, as opposed to for myself, I’d have used extra long Pitlock skewers through the axle and mounted the rack’s vertical supports on those extra long skewers, because that is really the right way to do it.  Notice that the mounting rails on the Sherpa come well forward of the rear axle.  It’s easy to load the panniers so the weight is forward of the rear axle.  When the rack is installed like this, the front drive wheel maintains a good grip on the street even with heavily loaded panniers.

Have fun and stay healthy,

Robert
————
Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2012 Robert Matson

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New Jersey Transit, recumbents on board

A customer wrote me:”Any knowledge about if New Jersey Transit will allow it [an HP Velotechnik Grasshopper fx] on the train?”

To summarize, as of now, standard frame bikes are permitted on NJT.  “Collapsible” bikes are permitted.  It appears that non-collapsible non-standard frame (recumbent?) bikes are not permitted.  It appears that a folded Grasshopper fx is permitted as would be a collapsed Cruzbike Quest, however individual conductors have discretion.  It appears that a Cruzbike is a thingamajig and not a bicycle.

NOTE: The rules may change over time. If you have expert knowledge or personal experience with NJ Transit that is at variance with what I’ve written here, please send me a comment with specifics, if possible, to help me keep this blog entry current.

Here are the current NJ Transit rules.  Also copied below.  Verify the current rules at the NJT website.  This blog page does not track the current rules in real time and may be out of date when you travel.

Before all else, what is a bike?

Here is NJ Transit’s definition of a bicycle, in case you weren’t sure if you were riding one:

39:4-14.5 Definition

“Bicycle” means any two wheeled vehicle having a rear drive which is solely human powered and having a seat height of 25 inches or greater when the seat is in the lowest adjustable position.

Source: http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/commuter/bike/regulations.shtm

 

Bicycles on Trains (as of May 22, 2013)

– Collapsible bicycles are permitted on all NJ TRANSIT trains at all times.

– Standard-frame bicycles are permitted on many NJ TRANSIT trains as described below:
. On weekdays – Bicycles are permitted on all weekday trains on all lines except inbound trains that end in Hoboken, Newark or New York between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. and outbound trains that originate in Hoboken, Newark or New York between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. These trains will be designated by a bicycle symbol in public timetables. Trains on which bicycles are permitted may accommodate up to 2 bicycles on each single-level rail car and up to 8 bicycles on each multilevel rail car subject to crowding or the accessibility needs of other customers.

. On weekends – Bicycles are permitted on all weekend Raritan Valley, Gladstone, Montclair-Boonton, Main, Bergen County, Pascack Valley, Port Jervis, and Atlantic City Line trains. These trains will be designated bike trains and will accommodate up to 12 bicycles per train. Larger groups may be accommodated with advance reservations by calling our Group Sales Department at 973-491-7220. Bicycles are also permitted on all Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast Line and Morristown Line trains with the exception of trains ending in New York between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. and trains originating in New York between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Trains on which bicycles are permitted may accommodate up to 2 bicycles on each single-level rail car and up to 8 bicycles on each multilevel rail car subject to crowding or the accessibility needs of other customers.

. On holidays and business days before holidays – Bicycles are not permitted on trains (with the exception of the Atlantic City Line) on New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, day after Thanksgiving, Sunday after Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Bicycles are not permitted on the day before Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, but are permitted on the holidays themselves.

. Other times – Bicycles are not permitted on substitute bus service during rail service outages.

When I first wrote this entry, the published rules were unclear as it relates to recumbent bikes.  At that time, one conductor told me that recumbents are fine and another told me they were not.  Another told me that all bikes were prohibited on rush hour trains (I hadn’t realized I was on one) and that particular conductor said he’d have to “let me off” at the next station, about 70 miles from where I had intended to start my weekend bike camping trip.  (What?  Please say you don’t mean it!)  Fortunately, I had a Grasshopper fx folding recumbent and he let me proceed as long as I folded it and stowed it out of the way.

Neile Weissman, a NY Cycle Club ride leader and bent rider, has worked hard to make it possible for cyclists to take bikes on NJ Transit.  Still, individual conductors have a great deal of discretion.

The current rules clearly give conductors the right to bar ‘bent riders from taking their bikes on NJT.  You can not — and should not — argue with the conductors.  If you want to change the rules, then you need to actively advocate for better ‘bent access.

Go to Port Authority board meetings and speak during the public comment period for increased bicycle access. You can contact New Jersey Bike and Walk Coalition if you would like assistance in preparing a statement or would like other advice on presenting at a Port Authority board meeting. Personal stories make very compelling testimony. (By the way, the people who attend these meetings can be quite interesting. It is time well spent.)
The schedule for the Port Authority’s board meetings is here:
http://www.panynj.gov/corporate-information/schedule-upcoming-board-meetings.html

General guidelines for taking your recumbent bike on any train in the region.

Make sure you have a bungie cord or rope to secure your bike.  Cover the chain ring.  If you must take transit, take a short wheelbase ‘bent.  Even better if it folds.  Do what the “nice” conductor says and always be cooperative and polite, even if he or she tells you to take your bike off the train.  It’s understandable if you don’t like it, but on-board is not the time or place to try and make a stand, and your issue isn’t with the conductor anyway.  Take it up with the people in the NJT office…politely.  Give them every reason to say “yes.”

Please try and remember that when you’re riding a ‘bent, you’re representing all bent riders.  If you’re polite and cooperative, you make us all look good and that may be one of the best pathways for us to gain better access on transit.  If you’re something other than polite, you’re ruining things for yourself and everyone else.

If you have a recent story about taking your ‘bent on NJT which may help others negotiate the system, please send it to me as a “comment” on this entry.

Have fun, stay healthy, and maybe get a folding bent,
Robert
————
Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2012 Robert Matson

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Esbit or Bleuet? Weighing the lightweight solid fuel choices.

I just returned from a 12-day backpack trip (not a bike trip, sorry) hiking the 120-mile Northville-Placid Trail end-to-end through the Adirondacks.  Over the decades, I’ve used a variety of camping stoves and fuels.  This was the first long trip on which I used Esbit/Bleuet solid fuel tablets the whole time.  The reasons were many: difficulty in procuring denatured alcohol and propane/butane canister fuel, the fact I could ship Esbit/Bleuet in my food drop, the ability to burn wood along with Esbit/Bleuet to save fuel, the lighter weight of the solid fuel tablets, and the fact you can “recapture” any bits of unburnt fuel and use it for the next meal.  (By the way, instead of denatured alcohol, Heet was available at “Casey’s Corner,” the deli in Piseco near the NPT.)

Esbit-brand or Bleuet-brand?
I use a Caldera Cone from Trail Designs and, up till now, I’ve only used Esbit-brand tablets.  I found the only drawbacks of Esbit to be the price and the seemingly long time it took to boil a liter of water, compared to alcohol and canister stoves.  As the trip’s departure dated neared, I discovered I could acquire only half the number of Esbit tablets I wanted, so I bought Bleuet tablets for the mail drop — the second half of the trip — thinking they probably wouldn’t be as good.

I was pleasantly surprised to find the Bleuet-brand tablets boiled water more quickly than the Esbit tablets.  Though they smelled a lot worse when they burned, left behind ash after they were spent, and weighed a tiny bit more, I appreciated the faster boil times, which meant more hot tea in more scenic places along the trail.  The price difference between Esbit and Bleuet was negligible.  Going forward, I’ll probably buy Bleuet when I have the choice, though I’d recommend Esbit for those concerned about the very nasty smell of the Bleuet flame.

Have fun and stay healthy on the trail,
Robert
————
Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2012 Robert Matson

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New York State Interactive Bike Maps

Here’s a cool new interactive bike map for New York state.
https://www.dot.ny.gov/display/programs/bicycle/maps

Now, if we can just get more bike lanes established, it’ll be even cooler.

Have fun and stay healthy,
Robert
————
Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2012 Robert Matson

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Packing the Cruzbike Quest 20″ in a suitcase

In mid-July, 2012, I had a Skype text exchange with an international customer.  I’m calling him “D” to maintain his privacy.  D had bought from me a Cruzbike Quest with 20″ wheels and the heavy duty touring rack.  We were doing something fairly common when working with international customers: figuring out a testing, purchase and delivery plan for someone who was constantly on the move.

D visited me (and New York City) en route from New Zealand to Washington, DC, to NYC, to Toronto, Canada and then to Vancouver.  He planned to ride from British Columbia down to Washington state and maybe Oregon and thought a Quest 20″ may be the vehicle of choice.  Not having rode or even seen a Cruzbike before, D dropped by my place to try it, to make sure he liked it, was comfortable with the seat, and to ask whatever questions he had.  Then, if everything was copacetic, we were placing the order and having it drop-shipped to him in Toronto.

The other week, I followed up to see how everything went.  I was also curious to hear a “first timer’s” experience with packing the Quest 20″ into a suitcase and traveling with it.  It’s one thing for a manufacturer to say that a given bike packs into a suitcase.  It can be quite another matter for the rider/traveler to make it fit.  In this case, with the Quest 20″, everything went smoothly.

– – –

RM: D- How is the Quest? Did everything go smoothly?

D: Yep, it got to Toronto before I did, assembled it and rode about 150 km to get it adjusted right, packed it up and brought it to Vancouver in a suitcase.

D: Will be unpacking and  assembling it tomorrow morning, so I can hit the harbour bike trail with the family.  😉

RM: Cool. Glad to hear it. From 1(hard)-10 (easy), how easily did it pack up? What exactly is the brand/model of the suitcase you used?

D: Samsonite F’Lite 31″ suitcase. I bought the 2-wheel version, there’s also a “Spinner” 4-wheel version, not sure if the latter is also OK (probably).  (US $171 at the time of writing).

D: Packing up was fairly easy in terms of steps, following the YouTube videos on the CB site, so maybe rate that a 7/10. Most of the steps are easy, and the Quest 2.0 has quick releases to make things a bit easier still.

D: The only hard part is fitting the folded bike into the suitcase – a bit of a tight fit, had to coax a few cables and parts into the right configuration.

D: Took me 2 hours the first time, probably 1 hour next time.  🙂

D: Packed weight is 46-48 pounds, so close to the weight limit on most airlines.

– – –

A related discussion in the Cruzbike forum is here.

Sounds to me like a good start to his trip.

Have fun and stay healthy,
Robert
————
Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2012 Robert Matson

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Radical Design recumbent bags. Now available here.

I’m very pleased that the first Radical Design bags arrived.  I had high hopes because they also make HP Velotechnik’s excellent panniers, but they’ve more than exceeded expectations.  Wow.  Designed very practically for recumbent riders, the bags are light, attractive, aerodynamic, well-made, and highly adjustable to fit nearly any bent.  Made in the Netherlands, for real.

Radical Design’s Banana small side panniers with 40(!) liters capacity.
Depending on your seat, a rear rack may not be required
for carrying groceries or minimal touring gear.



Radical Design’s bags are unique in that many do not require racks (but some do).  Some slip onto seat backs (no tools required), some simply hang from the seat, and others, especially the larger sizes, while they do require a rear rack, do not require an underseat rack, reducing weight as well as overall cost.  In addition, several of the designs are easily mounted on bikes that do not easily accept racks, like Cruzbikes (CB Quests come with a rack).

The panniers are streamline-shaped and are either tucked under or behind the seat, or partly in the slipstream.  I’ve done day-rides with the large panniers and prefer them over standard frame touring panniers which tend to feel like you’re dragging bricks through the wind.  While I continue to be a fan of waterproof Ortlieb panniers, Radical Design offers a larger suite of products designed specifically for recumbents, greatly increasing the options for bent riders who need to carry stuff.

Radical Design’s Solo Aero 12 liter seatback bag.
That’s a fabric bottle holder on the side.

There is an enormous variety of bag sizes, styles, and carrying capacity, from small, medium, large, and extra-large.  There are small bags for day riders, medium bags for commuters, and their large panniers for touring have as much capacity (70 liters) as an expedition backpack.  Seat back bags come in several different designs to fit nearly every recumbent seat, whether narrow or wide, mesh or hardshell.

Radical Design’s 30 liter Rackbag Extended weighs only 720 grams.
Serves as a soft-shell tail box for improved aerodynamics.

They also make attractive and roomy rack-top bags.  Unlike the rack bags designed for standard frame bikes, which are generally of small capacity, Rad D’s rack bags take advantage of the fact that they sit in the slipstream, where large doesn’t matter (if they’re light).  In fact, large can be better: these rackbags serve as a  soft-shell tail box, improving the bike’s aerodynamics and speed while providing ample low-weight storage.

Here’s an interesting comparison.  Radical Design’s Rackbag Extended, versus the excellent and rightly popular waterproof Ortlieb Recumbent Backpack-Rackbag, versus Topeak’s MTX TrunkBag DX:

Bag / Capacity / Bag Weight
Radical Design’s Rackbag Extended / 30 liter capacity / 720 grams
Ortlieb Recumbent Backpack-Rackbag / 18 liter / 980 gms
Topeak MTX TrunkBag DX / 12.3 liter / 1020 gms

There are people who pay huge bucks to save that much weight on their bike and get this kind of aerodynamic improvement.

For those who prioritize color and style, the bags come in five attractive colors: “dusty” yellow, tomato red, blue (royal blue?), “dusty” Dutch orange and then flat New York black.  (New Yorkers, listen, you no longer  have to choose between black and black!)  All bags have good reflective strips.  Water-resistant, but not water proof, making them lighter in weight, but if you’re riding through a lake, put your laptop and sleeping bag in a dry bag.

Contact me for more info. and to get some.

Have fun and stay healthy,
Robert
————
Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2012 Robert Matson

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Of course recumbents do hills.

Standard frame (or “diamond frame”) riders often ask me how recumbents are on hills.  (Answer: “You pedal up them.”)  Yes, there is the disadvantage that you can’t stand on the pedals, but I don’t need to since I have mountain bike gearing.  And on those steepest hills, where I’d stand up and power through on a standard frame bike, on a bent I just sit and power through.  Same thing.  When I started riding a bent, I admit I’d sometimes have to walk up a hill.  I didn’t yet have a fine sense of balance or strong “recumbent muscles.”  But I haven’t had to walk up a hill in years.  I just ride up.

I was thinking about this the other day after riding through Harriman State Park, from Garrison to Camp Nawakwa on Lake Sebago and back again to Garrison.  We had taken the train up to Garrison and started riding from there.  It’s a 46-mile round trip that begins with about 15 miles of steady climbing, without much more than a few yards of level road, then gives you a steep down, a long uphill false flat, more hills than I can bother remembering, and then you hit Lake Sebago.  The camp’s road is then a series of very steep un-graded hills, more up than down.  On the way back, reverse it.  Lots of down, some up, a long and steep uphill climb, and one very, very long downhill coast on a windy road with frequent blind turns where your brakes are very much your best friend.

The next day, no soreness.  Wow.  That’s a recumbent for you.

What were we riding?  There was an HP Velotechnik Grasshopper fx and a Street Machine Gte, with racks, fenders, and lighting systems.  They’re simply the easiest for throwing on a couple panniers for a day-ride and it’s always welcome to have the folding Grasshopper when taking the train.

Have fun and stay healthy,
Robert
————
Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2012 Robert Matson

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Ticks. Thick with Ticks.

I just got back from a little two-day, one-night jaunt up to…let’s call it a “major wild area within a good day’s ride.”  My friend and I peddled, pushed and carried our bikes up an overgrown and flooded (therefore highly entertaining) woods road to a spot where we shouldn’t be, stashed our bikes and camping gear, and then spent a day hiking some beautiful unblazed terrain.

What a blast.  We had great weather, by which I mean sun, rain and fog.  And we had…great balls of tickage.  I’ve never seen so many ticks.  We picked maybe 30 off our clothes (that we saw) and three or four out of our bodies (those that we found, as of now) and discerned three different varieties including the infamous “crawling spec of dirt,” also known as the deer tick.

For Pete’s sake.  Talk about a dampener on your fun.  Give me rain or wind or mud, any day.  Hoping I don’t catch something from the little cesspools of disease.

Now I have to clean and sterilize all my clothes, camping gear and shoes and boots and panniers.  I’m wondering if I don’t have to pick over the bikes as well.  What a mess.  (But what good clean fun we otherwise had.)

I Recommend to others who plan to go out this year:
– Permethrin for treating your clothes.
– Deet

Learn more about ticks.  There may be ads on this page for tick resources and there are also some pages here, at the University of Rhode Island TickEncounter Resource Center.

Insect and tick-repelling clothing.

Stay healthy,
Robert
————
Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2012 Robert Matson

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Smoothing out those #%&! rough roads.

Between my place and Prospect Park, there is currently 400 meters of construction that will eventually result in a beautiful separated bike lane. This project was unfunded for some 20 years, till now, and has included laying new pipes, and piloting around a construction robot doing I don’t know what, and generally digging up a road that used to be fairly smooth by New York City standards.  As it is now, with the temporary patch jobs they do each time they finish a parcel of work, it’s the roughest #%&! road you can imagine.  Take a washboard road, add 50 speed bumps of all sizes and shapes, intersperse each speed bump with a pothole or two, throw on some gravel and rocks, and put it on an incline, and you’ve very nearly got this road (at this time).

Needless to say, I avoid it when I can, but it’s the shortest route to The Park.  A bad road is unpleasant on a standard frame bike, but with an SF, you can post (raise yourself off the seat).  On a bent, you can’t.  So, every few days, I’m reminded of what I like about fully-suspended recumbents or — if I’m riding an unsuspended bent — what I might have done to make this stretch more comfy.

Here are a few tips for smoothing out your own local worst road.

1. Full-suspension.  If you’re shopping anew, consider full-suspension recumbent bikes or trikes.  If you know you’ll be on bad roads, there’s no replacing the safety and comfort of keeping all wheels — whether two or three — in contact with the road at all times.
2. Steel is real.  Favor steel recumbents over (non-suspended) aluminum bents. While a steel frame can’t absorb potholes, it does have a marvelous capacity to absorb road vibration and this goes a long way towards improving control on bad roads.
3. Fat tires, baby.  Speaking personally, 1.5″-wide tires are my minimum for city tires and I like them at low pressure.  My favorite?  Schwalbe Big Apples. These are “balloon” tires.  They’re relatively light, flat resistant, grippy, have low rolling resistance, can run as low as 35 psi, and provide “built in” shock absorption.
4. Big tires, baby. 26″ wheels roll over the rough stuff better than 20″ wheels.  I realize that means we’re talking about high-racers and there are reasons why high racers are sub-optimal in the city, but there’s no getting around the benefit of big wheels.  If you decide to look at this solution, check out a Cruzbike Sofrider or Cruzbike Quest: big wheels without the typical high-racer’s seat slope.
5. Sling mesh seats.  While I love hard-shell seats for climbing hills, a sling mesh seat is comfort factorial on bad roads.

Would I put it all together?  Say, a fully-suspended HP Velotechnik Street Machine Gte or Scorpion fs, with Big Apple tires and an Ergo Mesh seat?  Or a dual-suspension Cruzbike Sofrider with 26×2.15″ Big Apples?  Yeah, I’d consider it.  At some point it may become overkill, but I’m not sure we’ve yet reached that point.

Stay healthy,
Robert
————
Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2012 Robert Matson