HPV Reviews
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The Rhoades Car: Quadcycle
Okay, let's tackle this one first. Loads of fun, but pricey & heavy, the Rhoades Car is not for everyone. Weighing in at over 80 pounds (decked out), this baby is built like a tank! The good thing is, of course, it will haul a heck of a load & it's not easily damaged, by any means.
I popped for most of the factory options & then added a few more myself. For me, the 36 speed drivetrain was a no-brainer. In low gear, this thing could climb a tree, but even with this great range of gears, it would take a world class athelete to get any real speed out of this thing on level ground! It's really more about leisurely cruising & enjoying the ride. And of course, the exercise, and believe me, you'll get plenty!
The top is a very nice option, too. Especially in a hot climate area like the southeast, where I live. Expensive, yes, but another "must have" for me.
I chose the Mag wheels (so they're called), just 'cause I love the looks of them! On the functional side, I also sprang for the thorn-proof inner tubes & Kevlar liners. Once again, added weight, but worth it to me. I HATE FLATS! (Also got the spare, but I don't carry it unless I'm planning a really long ride.)
The water-proof cargo box is another nice option. It's huge & has a sliding tray inside, kind of like a truck tool box. Worth the extra money, in my opinion.
Surprisingly, the "Deluxe" seat doesn't come with arm rests! Arm rests are an option on top of the "Deluxe Seat" option. Go figure. It is FANTASTICALLY comfortable though, & HIGHLY recommended, making the Rhoades Car the most comfortable HPV that I personally have ever ridden!
I also opted for the heavy-duty bearings & the computer. After all, how can your ride without a computer?
Overall, the workmanship is first rate. The welds are beautiful, as is the powder coat paint. The components, for the most part are decent, but not great. In general, I'm fairly well satisfied with the Rhoades Car, however there were a few disappointments. Most notably was the one-piece steel crankset!!! For the life of me, I CAN'T BELIEVE they would use something like that on a machine in the 3 grand price range! COME ON! We're talking about junk from the stone-age here! Even cheapo department store bikes come with 3 piece aluminum crank sets these days! Doesn't leave a guy much room for an upgrade, either, unless you want to go hacking on the frame & then re-paint! NOT GOOD! This was a MAJOR DISAPPOINTMENT to me!
Another area that definitely has room for improvement, is the conspicuous absence of braze-ons. None for a water bottle cage, tire pump, cables, or anything else! NONE AT ALL! All of the brake & drivetrain cables are zip-tied to the frame! I even had to zip-tie my (NOT INCLUDED) water bottle cage to the frame! A few braze-ons would have eliminated all of these shabby-looking zip ties & cable housings, not to mention microscopically less weight & wind resistance.
Another disappointment was, to a much lesser degree, the bracket they use to hold the cargo box to the frame. Aluminum, yes, but a big funky-looking thing which protrudes beyond the back of the box, & looks like it was homemade or scrounged from a scrap pile.
The nut on top of the steering column is a big, ugly castle nut! This is VERY noticeable & should have been topped off with a nice looking acorn nut instead. (Mag wheel style.)
The basic model only comes with a ONE WHEEL BRAKE, believe it or not. To get two wheel brakes, you have to pay extra, like I did. Another "must". On the plus side, however, both brake levers are lockable, so you basically have a pair of park brakes! VERY handy!
Options I added myself after the Rhoades Car arrived, include front & rear reflectors, wheel reflectors, custom valve caps, horn, mirror, headlight, 2 tail lights, handlebar pack, flag, water bottle cage, & a "Jesus Loves Me" license plate!
At around $3,000 (with the options I chose), the Rhoades Car is definitely not for everyone, & has lots of room for improvement, especially at that price! This behemoth is still a lot of fun though, & will definitely turn some heads, especially if you have it loaded with goodies, like I do!
Bottom line - if you wanna go fast, look elsewhere. If you want extreme comfort & style in a well-built machine that still has room for improvement, & you don't mind the price tag, then the Rhoades Car is for you! I'm glad I bought it...
SirJoey
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The Schwinn Sting-Ray (Repro)
Okay, I admit it. Maybe it's crazy for an old guy like me to buy one of these things, but I just couldn't help it. I've wanted one for a long time. Maybe I'm just re-living (or trying to re-capture) my childhood, but WOW, was that first ride ever fun! This thing makes me feel like a kid again!
I bought one of the 2006 Repros, & although a lot of people knock 'em, I love it! Yeah, it's an imported knock-off of an American classic, but still...
The bike arrived in an opened, damaged box, but miraculously, it was in perfect condition with no missing parts. Although it required assembly, it was a snap on a simple bike like this! In less than an hour, I was on the road & grinning like the proverbial Cheshire cat!
Actually, the quality seems pretty decent to me. The welds look good, the metallic purple paint looks FANTASTIC & it rides just like the old originals. A very accurate reproduction, the only noticeable difference being the shape of the rear of the seat & the sissy bar.
The bike is actually a little too small for me, as you might guess, but it's so much fun to ride, I don't mind being a little cramped on it!
Like a lot of people, I owned several of the original Sting Rays when I was a kid, but they were all used. It's nice after all these years, to FINALLY get that BRAND NEW ONE that I always wanted! Sure, it may never be worth as much as a "real" one, but I'm having fun with it, & in the end, isn't that what matters?
SirJoey
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NEXUS 6: SWB Recumbent
15 Speed
20 / 24 Configuration
Wheelbase: 42"
Seat Height: 23"
Bottom Bracket Height: 29"
Ah, nothing like the sportiness of a SWB, when it comes to bents. It does have certain drawbacks, of course. Overall ride quality & handling come to mind...
Handling on the Nexus is a little quirky, especially if you haven't ridden a SWB in awhile. A bit too much trail, methinks, but could be improved with a curved fork, instead of the straight one, or possibly by dropping on down to a 16" front wheel & fork, which would also lower the BB a couple more inches, as well as the overall C-O-G. Bonus!
With an adjustment range of 8" on the boom, & 4" on the seat, the Nexus has a total adjustment range of 12", & will accomodate most riders from 5' 2", to 6' 2".
The Blackburn Mountain Rack is just more junk, scavenged from an old donor. Luckily, it was in great shape, with only a few minor chips, which I was able to touch-up with a black Sharpie! The "flying wing" bars are from a Schwinn OCC, grips are old-school, fingered grips from an antique upwrong, gooseneck is kids BMX style. Both wheels are 36-spoke & at least similar in style, but are steel monstrosities. Crankset's a boat-anchor!
Although the BB height is down to a fairly respectable 29", the seat is still 6" lower, at 23", which still leaves the BB a little higher than I personally would like, due to poor circulation in my feet. Otherwise, the seat position & angle are quite comfortable. If I were a "normal" rider, with "normal" foot circulation, I believe I could do some pretty serious distance on this little jewel!
Speaking of seats, I was never sure if I would like a mesh seat, having never owned or even sat on one before. That being said, I figured my first one should be purchased, rather than go to all of the trouble of (trying) to build one myself, & maybe hate it. So, I bought one from a friend, Mike Meagher, who did a great job on it, & made me a bargain as well, making this choice a no-brainer, as they say. Turns out, I love it! Very comfortable, & a perfect fit for me personally, although this was purely by chance, as the seat had already been built.
The golden eagle mounted atop the "seat-post bottle cage holder", appears to be a whimsical touch, but is actually intended to be a serious tribute to the late bicycle guru, SHELDON BROWN. Those of you who've seen the pic of him wearing his helmet, will understand. RIP, Sheldon!
The maiden voyage of the Nexus revealed no serious problems, although it was admittedly a short ride of only 2 miles. The second time out however, was a disaster! Due to my SERIOUS lack of proper derailleur adjustment, the chain came off of the idler sprocket, unbeknownst to me, as it was only making noise in high gear. I thought possibly one of the seat stay clamp bolts was a tad too long, & that the chain was clicking against it. Sadly, I didn't find the real culprit until I had ridden nearly a mile with the chain riding across the top of the chain stay! Not only was the paint job destroyed, but the chain had seriously scarred the steel itself, so it was going to require body-work! GRRRRR!!! http://joeywallace.spaces.live.com/p...r=1&_c02_vws=1
Despite it's obvious shortcomings & limitations, I still think the Nexus 6 is gonna be a lot of fun, but alas, in the end, regardless the level of sophistication, SWB or LWB, nothing compares to a TRIKE! (IMHO)
SirJoey (geezer & bent enthusiast at large)
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