White Socks and Sandals

I ride my bike and take pictures. Have a look.

Wednesday, May 07, 2008

Recumbent bicycle for sale - Vision R 32

I bought this new from Richardson Bike Mart (shout out to Jim Hoyt!) several years back. I believe it's a 2001 model year but am not sure.

It's a Vision R32 model. Vision recumbents was a brand, Advanced Transportation Products was the company. They've sinced closed, but this was one of the more practical and innovative designs on the market at the time (not just my opinion).

Both wheels are 20", the same 406 standard size as BMX bikes and many folding bikes. So there are plenty of tires / tubes on the market, everything from racer-ish to knobbies.

It has a medium-length wheelbase for a recumbent, which means you have a good tight turning radius, and good weight distribution.

In terms of weight / performance / quality, it's not a road racing bike. I'd put it in the same class as a quality "hybrid" traditional bike - not the lightest but light enough, and not really intended for racing / centuries but you could do it with the right tires and training.

If you're un familiar with recumbents, the #1 benefit is comfort. Look at that seat; it's like a very comfy lawn chair. Quite comfy. And you have the "seated" position, eyes forward, no neck pain, no back pain. This bike also has a suspension system - see the pic of the shock absorber. The ride quality can only be described as "plush."

Other cool features:
- the handlebars / steering column are very adjustable;
- the seat-to-pedal distance is also very adjustable via 2 quick release clamps under the seat (see pictures) where it slides along a rail I'm 5'11" and this will fit a rider of 6'2" or more and down to 5'3" or so.
- the gearing is very wide range from a super low low gear to super high. Sorry I don't have the details available but it's equivalent to a traditional "road triple"
- all shifting is from twist grip shifters so your hands stay on the bars. It's a "3x7" rear hub for a total of 21 usable gears.
- the bike frame folds in half and can dis-assemble in a few minutes
- take the seat off, take the handlebars/steering column off, fold the bike and it's a surprisingly small package to fit in your car. The bike has been well used but it's mechanically sound and in fine condition. A few scrathes on the paint.

Owner's manual here:
http://www.hostelshoppe.com/atp_archives/r32_owners_manual.pdf


(click the photo's to enlarge)











The back end, showing a heavy-duty Maxxis tire, the Cane Creek shock absorber, and the 3x7 gearing.









Close up of the seat mounted on the mounting rail, plus the shock absorber. The Quick Release at the top of the shock is removable, and the whole back end swings under to fold up the bike. Very smart design.






The seat slides on this rail, and it's easy to adjust for different size riders using these 2 quick releases.