Fitness

71st Birthday Current Arrived – BionicOldGuy

12 January 2024
Bourahima


I obtained a brand new recumbent bike for my 71st birthday which simply arrived a few days in the past. My recumbent was over 10 years outdated as a result of I purchased it used, and among the parts like gears and brakes had been getting a bit of out of date and arduous to tune. I may have simply changed it with the most recent model of the identical mannequin (the Bacchetta Giro A20). However the Giro is a touring mannequin, and I spotted that for a similar worth I may get a lighter weight efficiency mannequin, the Bacchetta Corsa. This was interesting as a result of I prefer to go after Strava age group information. I used to be involved that the extra aggressive place on the Corsa may not be as snug because the Giro, and luxury to me is extra necessary general than efficiency. Nonetheless, I spotted that if the bike has disk brakes, it’s straightforward to make wheel modifications, and the Corsa might be made as snug because the Giro for day after day driving. Then with a wheel and seat swap I may put it again in efficiency mode each time I needed. I’d been toying with the thought of doing this someday sooner or later, however Dana Lieberman, who owns Bacchetta bikes, placed on a killer “black friday” sale earlier than Christmas that I couldn’t resist. So I ordered the bike just a few weeks in the past and it simply arrived.

My first rides confirmed it’s fairly a bit faster than the Giro, and I’m trying ahead to going after some Strava 70+ information with it. Sadly my current chilly intervened in order that obtained postponed until I get better. For longer rides the Giro does appear a bit extra snug now, however which may be a matter of getting used to the brand new seat (additionally the brand new seat is extra snug in a extra reclined place, which is sweet for aerodynamics however might require a headrest). And I can over time look into swapping out wheels and seats for consolation vs. efficiency as mentioned under. Happily, by donating my non-electric upright bike I made room to retailer the brand new Corsa, so I can preserve each bikes at the least for now whereas I kind this out. This type of experimenting is enjoyable for me as a retired engineer.

The brand new Corsa is saved on its new customized rack above, with the Giro under it. As a result of the Corsa is lighter it’s straightforward to carry it as much as retailer.
That is the best modification I’m contemplating. Simply change the Corsa’s entrance wheel with the small wheel from the Giro. This lowers the entrance about 8″. This reveals it with the Corsa seat however it will even be straightforward to placed on the extra upright seat from the Giro. I took this for a journey and it handles nice. This could be a bit extra aerodynamic than the Giro and ideal for on a regular basis use, then I may simply swap entrance seats and entrance wheel to place it again it “efficiency mode”.
One other of the concepts I’m contemplating: This “artist conception” reveals how the Corsa might be made extra snug by changing its 700c (28″) wheels with 406 (20″) wheels and utilizing the seat from the Giro for on a regular basis driving. It wouldn’t work to simply put the Giro’s seat on the Corsa with the large wheels, as this might make the seat top too excessive and the bike awkward.

Revealed by BionicOldGuy

I’m a Mechanical Engineer born in 1953, Ph. D, Stanford, 1980. I’ve been energetic within the mechanical CAE area for many years. I even have a lifelong curiosity in out of doors actions and health. I’ve had each hips changed and a coronary heart valve substitute resulting from a genetic situation. This weblog chronicles my adventures in staying energetic regardless of these bumps within the street.

Revealed