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I'm not that happy to have them along side me.
And I admit the aesthetics of them upset me as well.
Are they cycles?
Should I shut up or suggest a running club?
Drop bars and clippy pedals are required for our club. I don't think they have either do they?
No...no they don't.
How do they even keep up?
I always think the solution to these things is to go for a ride by yourself....
Some guys did PBP on them.
I own this, so am keeping out of the conversation 😀
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Went on a club run one night, the club president/snob/general cockwad appeared on a recumbent (he's a proper needy centre of attention type) without a helmet.
He was a total danger descending in the group, all over the place. If someone else had turned up on it, no doubt he'd have commented on the no helmet no ride rule.
I realise this has bugger all to do with the OP, just felt like a moan!.
I seem to remember you posting something like this a few years ago, someone new or the same person as before?
^^ Ian, that looks interesting. There's no info on their website, how much was it if you don't mind me asking?
if they're not dangerous then why not? I'm not sure any cyclist is allowed to make judgement on the aesthetic aspect given we wear some pretty shocking outfits, be it road or mtb.
Let them come along but spend the whole ride badgering them over why they don't just ride a bike?
There's a fella who posts about he and his pals' rides in the local roadie FB group. I don't usually judge peoples' bikes but my god they look lame.
Oldgit's four-year crusade against the scourge of the Eliptigo!
He really should've got Saxonrider to post it up!
^^ Ian, that looks interesting. There's no info on their website, how much was it if you don't mind me asking?
I bought it second hand. They are just about to start shipping the next batch, so I think prices have only been sent to people on their waiting list.
I think the prices are currently 1690 euros (inclusive of all taxes). Or 1925 US dollars (exclusive of duty, tax etc) if you want to important from the US.
I had to google what an eliptigo was.
Looks fine if you are on your own, riding alone, in the dark, no lights, dressed in black, whilst wearing a balaclava, no GPS or Tracking device on, whilst not letting any offspring/family/parents/dog/cat/great aunt flo know where or what you are intending to do, the yes go ahead ride the darn thing.
In daylight where other normal human beings can see you?
Absolutely Not.
😮
Oh, and yeah and it is more dangerous than a normal bike, well when I'm riding it.
One of the things that isn't immediately obvious until you think about it, is taking a hand off the bars on the thing, is much like taking a hand of the bars on a bike whilst riding out the saddle - something that requires a bit of practice.
Good fun though, I can piss off runners and cyclists in equal measure on it 🙂
he's a proper needy centre of attention type
Recumbent target customers.
Elliptigo aside, out of interest why are drop bars and clips required on a club run?
Much like wearing a helmet, it lets recreational cyclists know that you are a "serious" cyclist.
The drop bar thing is a safety issue, flat bars are more likely to hook drops when your riding in a group. Or at least that's the belief. Not sure about the clipless pedal rule, not come accross that.
..and its safer for all.
How do they even keep up?
+1
OP your problem is the club run is clearly to slow and short. Drop the ****ers 😀
IanMunro - Member
I own this, so am keeping out of the conversation
I'd love a go on one of those to compare it to my Alenax (now gone).
I suspect the standing position may be a better way to treadle than seated.
I've never been on a club run so I'll take you at your word, but intuitively I'd think the easiest way to get hooked up is to have a large hook shape on the end of the bar.
taxi25 - MemberThe drop bar thing is a safety issue, flat bars are more likely to hook drops when your riding in a group. Or at least that's the belief. Not sure about the clipless pedal rule, not come accross that.
clipless only is probably more "no clips and straps" than "no flats pedals". That's the only way it makes sense to me anyway
intuitively I'd think the easiest way to get hooked up is to have a large hook shape on the end of the bar.
You've not really given it a lot of thought then! Flat bars in a group of riders with drop bars are lethal...
We have someone turn up to the local club 10s on one. It was a bit of a novelty at first, shouting how he'd save 10 watts with a disc etc as you overtake him. But now I do wonder what the point is.
As for on a club run, I can't see anyone keeping up with an average run on an Eliptigo. If one turned up when I'm guiding our "No Drop B Group", I'd tell him we wouldn't be waiting for him!
sweepy - MemberElliptigo aside, out of interest why are drop bars and clips required on a club run?
Nothing spoils a road ride like having some dude turn up on a ridgeback hybrid in baggies and keep up.
clipless only is probably more "no clips and straps" than "no flats pedals". That's the only way it makes sense to me anyway
Why no clips and straps? I vaguely get needing drops. Vaguely. I've done group road rides on my MTB with no issues. But WGAS what pedals are being used? Do you also specify tyres to be 25c with no siping?! Saddle angles to be +\- 5 degrees?
Some people think clips and straps are dangerous.
Much like some people think clipless are dangerous.
Some people need to get a grip.
Surely it isn't against clip and straps as until ~1990 everyone would have run them, but it is against flats with the under tone being we want to discourage leisure cyclists turning up.
Flat bars on a club run isn't ideal, and they'd be told to stay at the back and not come through, but I wouldn't ban them, just encourage the person to get a more suitable bike.
I've done lots of fast sportives on a flat barred 'road' bike (rigid steel 29er) without issues or comments received; why should a club run be any different? I'll be doing the Tour of the Highlands on a flat barred Croix de Fer next month and I'm sure I'll survive.
As for the Eliptigo, did anyone see Tim Downie on one at the 3Pistes
last year, shown by the Beeb's Adventure Show? Wow, that man knows how to suffer... We passed him on the tandem and I must say I respect his capacity for pain.
why should a club run be any different?
Because historically and still to a large extent clubs were setup up by and for 'racing' cyclists and club runs were training sessions, so you train using equipment similar to that which you race on. If you're in a football team and turn up to a practice on a grass pitch in trainers, then they'll tell you to go home and get your boots, no different with cycling.
highlandman - Member
I've done lots of fast sportives on a flat barred 'road' bike (rigid steel 29er) without issues or comments received; why should a club run be any different?
clubs runs tend to be a group of cyclists in tight formation moving at speed whereas sportives tend to be dribs and drabs of free-spirited pedallers meandering all over the road?
Flat bars in a group of riders with drop bars are lethal...
Haha, what a pile of shit!
Maybe if the person using flat bars and everyone around them cant ride a bike!
I have been using my mtb & now a fat bike (with TT bars) in chaingangs for over 10 years, and never once has there been any danger from me, plenty from others who cant ride properly though.
My bars are 620 wide max.
I think Northwind summed it up nicely -
NorthwindNothing spoils a road ride like having some dude turn up on a ridgeback hybrid in baggies and keep up.
Several reasons on this thread relate to why I wouldn't join a cycling (Or pretty much any) club.
It was a bit of a novelty at first, shouting how he'd save 10 watts with a disc etc
Well that sucks out all the fun of riding a bicycle
I saw someone last summer on one of those elliptigo a few times, he wasn't exactly hanging around on it. He seemed to be enjoying himself on it but it's not for me.
They don't hang about those Eliptigo's.
I just hate them in cycle rides to be honest.
This is a new guy, another injured runner who's spaffed nearly 3k on one of these and rocks up to a cycling club.
It's not a bicycle, he's a runner so join a running club. Except the running club won't allow their member to use one on club runs.
The guys about 6'4" it's like riding next to something from Avatar! and it's/he is a liability on it when riding through and off.
Am I just a bad person? I told some other new member not to ride on his tri bars when in the group.
A fat bike with tri bars in a road chaingang, hahahaha what a plum but oh so macho 😉
spaffed nearly 3k on one of these
But... you could buy a bike for that!
Thanks, wilburt 🙂
[url= http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/tt-bars-for-a-sportive-is-it-ok#post-7607137 ]I do TT's on it too, 36th out of 61.[/url]
oldgit, if I was leading a group and someone showed up one of those, I'd maybe let them come along, but they would be staying at the back out of the road the whole time.
You can not teach people how ride in a chaingang and follow wheels if you have one of those things joining in.
Tri bars are fine in groups, as long as they don't get used, just like tt bikes.
I never knew going for a bike ride was so complicated.
@lightman,
I think you can expect a barage of marketing material from recumbant manufacturers.
I do TT's on it too, 36th out of 61.
Fat bike and aero helmet. Awesome. Bet the tyres must make quite a racket on the road when up to speed! Never ridden a fattie before, but would love a go.
As for the club ride issue, I'm pretty sure my club lets people ride whatever they like, so long as the bike is in decent mechanical order and they're wearing a helmet. If they can keep up and ride safely and sensibly in a group, I don't see what the problem is?
Not in my group, or club. I'm not so bothered about flat bars or flat pedals in slower groups. I'm more interested in tight bike handling skills and an ability not to coast at every opportunity. Fixed riders are allowed in our groups provided they are smooth enough not to be noticed as such. 8)
When I take out the recumbent trike with the club (not often), I ride behind the group.
Looking at the Eliptigo website, they're deffo aimed at runners.
I read a few accounts in the Audax magazine last year written by Eliptigo riders (runners?) taking part in ultra distance events. It honestly sounded a like an unnecessarily painful and difficult way of doing a cycle ride.