h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hello Recumbentman. I am Caiman Raptor Elk. You may have seen me around.

We appear to be of the same subspecies. I ride a recumbent bike as well (HP Velotechnik Streetmachine GT, a 20/26 under-seat steering short wheelbase full suspension touring bike) since 2000.
My son rides a Challenge Hurricane 20/20 mid-racer to school. (I am still faster, but that is more likely caused by state of mind than by the actual bike).

The fastest recumbent bike I have tried was a Challenge Jester 20/26 racer, where I managed to drive just over 50 km in one hour. At the time it was said to be the fastest bike without fairing. Great speed, completely useless when riding in a city due to the massive turning circle and practically lying on the ground with no suspension whatsoever. It is fun for a day or two, but not a daily driver for me.

Greeting Caiman raptor elk, indeed I have seen you about!

Wow the Challenge Jester looks serious all right! The Streetmachine looks quite like my Pashley PDQ which I bought second-hand in 2000. They don't make them any more, but mine shows no sign of fading away. It has the most basic suspension I've come across anywhere: the seat back leans on a three-inch tube of about half-inch rubber, that's it. I desire no other bike, and I've done six long tours of Europe on it. We dawdled along, doing fifty miles (80km) a day.

You can see a photo of me in my Recumbent entry, A901036

Greeting Caiman raptor elk, indeed I have seen you about!

Wow the Challenge Jester looks serious all right! The Streetmachine looks quite like my Pashley PDQ which I bought second-hand in 2000. They don't make them any more, but mine shows no sign of fading away. It has the most basic suspension I've come across anywhere: the seat back leans on a three-inch tube of about half-inch rubber, that's it. I desire no other bike, and I've done six long tours of Europe on it. My brother and I dawdled along, doing fifty miles (80km) a day.

You can see a photo of me in my Recumbent Bikes Entry, A901036

Greetings Caiman raptor elk, indeed I have seen you about!

Wow the Challenge Jester looks serious all right! The Streetmachine looks quite like my Pashley PDQ which I bought second-hand in 2000. They don't make them any more, but mine shows no sign of fading away. It has the most basic suspension I've come across anywhere: the seat back leans on a three-inch tube of about half-inch rubber, that's it. I desire no other bike, and I've done six long tours of Europe on it. My brother and I dawdled along, doing fifty miles (80km) a day.

You can see a photo of me in my Recumbent Bikes Entry, A901036

Sorry for the multipost. They were telling me it hadn't gone through.

I know, that happens sometimes.

My recumbent is the only bike I have. (wouldn't want to go back)
The Streetmachine model is still for sale today. The price is also still the same if you forget about the change in currency we had. I paid 4000 Dutch guilders, back in 2000, now a similar specification does about the same number in Euros. (for reference, 1 Euro = 2.207 guilders). On tours I am usually the packhorse, with a large trailer containing the bulky/heavy camping stuff. This is fine, because then my speed matches that of the rest of the family (about 15km/h average) We typically do 50-90 km a day. To enable hill climbing, I have fitted a 28 as smallest gear in front. (52/42/28 front, 11-32 nine-speed at the back)

Our summer holidays are typically spent hiking, biking or mountaineering.

Happy cycling!

Where did your tours of Europe go? Everywhere?

My most recent trips were the Vennbahn (Germany/Belgium/Luxembourg over a disused railway line) and the Rheinradweg (from our home in the Netherlands to the Black Forest , Germany, following the river Rhine)