Hear What Linear Customers Are
Saying About Linear Recumbent Bikes
Linear Recumbents - Consumer
Reviews
I have been riding a Linear long wheelbase since 1994 and have put close
to 85,000 miles on the two Linear bikes I have owned. I have loaded them
with panniers every where you can put a bag including hanging one under
the seat. I have ridden the Linears in every state west of the
Mississippi on every type of terrain and roads you can think of. I have
also ridden many different brands and types of recumbents but the Linear
is still my favorite ride.
Over the years I have allowed
probably close to 150 people to test ride my bike and quite a few have
become recumbent enthusiasts since then. Living in Utah there are not many
places to ride without climbing. I have ridden century days that included 3
mountain passes with over 9,000 ft vertical climb for the day. Although
going up hills is a challenge it can be done, just not very quickly. You
just have to sit back and enjoy the scenery and prepare yourself for the
incredible ride down the other side. Linears can handle almost any speed
that you are brave enough to get up to. Starting can be a challenge at first
but like all recumbents once you get the feel for it, it becomes second
nature. Narrow winding roads are not a problem either. The only times I have
ever thought the long wheel base to be problematic has been in crowded
streets at events. [eg: centuries, RAGBRAI etc.]
Peter at Bicycle Man llc has made some great improvements to the bike over
the last few years. The newer ones have great handling characteristics.
Don't get me wrong here, I didn't think my old one handled badly. I loved
the bike and thought it handled great until I got my new Linear 2.0 frame
and noticed a huge difference in the first mile of riding it. If you happen
to travel to the Salt Lake City area I would be more than happy to let you
give mine a spin.
Carpe Momentum,
Grant Aagard
Tour Coordinator/Owner
Tailwinds Bicycle Tours
www.tailwinds-tours.com
In 2003 I rode my Iowa built LWB folding Linear from Ocean City,
Washington to Kitty Hawk, NC. I rode it up over numerous mountain ranges
(Cascades, Bitterroot, Rockies, Big Belt, Appalachians, etc.) I was no
speed demon on the hills, in fact my daughter, who was with me on a
regular bike beat me up every mountain and hill. However, I soon came to
realize that while she was pumping away, staring at the pavement for
mile after mile, I could just spin my way at my own pace and truly enjoy
the view. Plus, my hands were pain free, my butt reasonably comfortable,
and my neck was not sore from craning to see the road ahead.
A bent is the only way to go
uphill (unless you're racing). Going down hill, I beat her to the bottom
every time (50 + mph for miles and miles.) But she pointed out I had a lot
more experience going down hill fast (I was 55 at the time). I was in decent
shape, but not what I would call athletic. By the time I got to Kitty Hawk,
however, I was in GREAT shape. ENJOY!!!
Joe S.
I have owned several recumbents, including LWB, CLWB and SWB. My first
recumbent was an Iowa Linear folder (96 vintage). I own a version 2.0
Bicycle Man Linear as well.
I really like the ride on a
Linear. My folder is my winter bike (I live in Michigan). The riding
position is very user friendly and it is a stable ride. I can ride no hands
on both bikes (not recommended, though).
The Linear is fine going up hills. I have never had to walk a hill. I have
successfully climbed the legendary "Wall" in northern Michigan (22 percent
grade) on my Bicycle Man Linear. One of the knocks on recumbents that "bents
can't climb." Not true, but you do have to have a few seasons on the bike to
build strength and technique.
I would recommend the Linear LWB to first time bent buyers. Peter has made a
lot of improvements to the design--more rigid, less noisy, better braking,
and safer.
Enjoy the big grin.
Brad E.
A friend and I rode long wheelbase Linears from Bangor, ME to southern
GA in 2005. We were both over 200 lb and found them to be excellent for
touring and all around riding. I rode a NY built Linear 2.0; my friend
rode the first prototype Linear 3.0. He towed a Burley trailer for part
of the tour and then switched to panniers along the way. The Linear
towed great and handled the weight of the panniers also.
The Linear performs similar to
any recumbent- down shift to climb a hill, and enjoy the scenery; fly down
the other side with great stability; maintain a steady cadence on the flats.
I loved the underseat steering. The long wheelbase gave a very comfortable
ride on rough roads, even with 100 psi high pressure tires to reduce rolling
resistance. We had a great time. Peter at The Bicycle Man in NY loaned us
the bikes for the tour and I would have bought mine at the end if my budget
would have allowed it, but I own a Bike E and couldn't swing another one.
Peter has done a great job improving the Linear.
George
After a 3 day, 300-mile ride.
I was 50 years old and over 230 pounds when I made a trip to The Bicycle Man
to try recumbents. I found I liked the under seat steering (USS) much
better. I took the Linear on a twenty-mile test ride, liked it and bought
it.
The first day of our 3 day 300 mile ride I moved comfortably at a 17 – 18
mph pace on flat roads and rolling hills. On some hills I went as low a 6
mph. The Linear 3.0 shifted very smoothly and I was able to handle all of
the hills of the trip.
I like the adjustability of the seat and handlebars. The thumb shifters are
great and in just the right place for comfort and easy shifting. The rear
disk brake is exceptional, stopping in the rain was as confident as the dry
days. The ride of the 3.0 is very smooth and I took some big hits from some
unexpected potholes.
I will probably switch to faster tires next year, other than that, the
Linear 3.0 doesn’t need much refinement from my point of view. I found the
Linear 3.0 to be quiet, strong and fast. It’s a bike you’ll be seeing me
ride for a long, comfortable time.
read more >
Chris Kelley
Pittsford, NY
First Test Ride
Simply put it’s the most fun I’ve had on two wheels since the gurney races
in the early 1980’s
Following my 12 mile maiden ride, the only thing that hurt were my thighs.
And that’s what I expected. No neck pain. No wrist and hand pain. No lower
back pain. Sweeeeeeeeeeeeet! There is great potential to make this a long
distance buggy par excellence. This is not a bike for racing. It’s designed
and built for comfort, not for speed. It’s built to carry the rider great
distances in relative comfort. And so it does.
read more >
Dear Keith and Peter,
I have had a folding Linear Recumbent for about 8 years. In that time I have
been quite pleased with it and it has served me well and it is the one toy
that I have truly used extensively since I purchased, besides of course, my
trusty golf clubs.
Fortunately, last summer my wife of 32 years has converted to a recumbent
bike as well and this of course opens new horizons and possibilities for our
springs, summers and falls since we are both educators. We both are turning
59 in April and so exercise and life style changes for health are becoming
more important to us.
Over the years I have progressed from riding just a few miles to doing
extended trips and this last summer with my wife we are doing over night and
extended bicycle trips with friends. The state of Wisconsin and Minnesota
have excellent Rail to Trail systems as well as rural and rustic roads that
are ideal for touring.
The past few years I have been seriously looking for a new bike but I yet to
find one that fits me and gives me the ride and enjoyment of my Linear long
wheel base. It seems that your one-piece model has improved all the
shortcomings that I have learned to live with and I feel that I am ready to
make the decision and purchase your new improved one-piece model.
Yours truly,
Keith M.
> top of page
Dear Peter,
Saturday I took it out for
it's maiden 100 mile voyage on our local Tour de Cure diabetes
fundraiser ride. Other than a few shifter adjustment/cable stretching
type problems it worked great.
|
 |
I
have always been a Linear Recumbent fan...
since my very first test ride
-
but now I am an even bigger fan! |
 |
I really like how much
stiffer it is. I didn't really believe you that it would be that much
different.
It corners sharper and is
able to handle counter steering much more responsively. I also liked the
fact that it is a much quieter ride than before. No squeak, squeak going
down the road, except for my old knees.
The tour didn't really have
any hills to speak of so I wasn't able to see if it felt any different
climbing but I did do some hard fast accelerations and it felt great.
All in all I am very pleased with the outcome.
I have always been a Linear
fan since my first test ride but now I am an even bigger fan. What a
great bike!!!
Grant A.
Tour Coordinator/Owner
Tailwinds Bicycle Tours
www.tailwinds-tours.com
> top of page
Hi Peter,
The linear arrived on Friday.
I spent all weekend on it and
then this morning took it to school (12 miles) and beat my best wedgie time
by about 5 minutes without really pushing it.
The best thing about it is I
still have some energy left for my students.
Thanks,
Bob D
ps - The rear brake
works great
> top of page
Peter,
The new Linear certainly is a big improvement over the old model. Very quiet
and the frame seems much stiffer. I have had no particular problems with the
new Linear with about 400 miles on it at this point; it has been a rough
winter to ride! The systems on the bike work well, the brakes are a big
improvement certainly.
> top of page
Dear Linear,
The Linear (LWB) was my first 'bent, bought after trying everything I could
get on for what turned out to be about a year, including elsewhere in the US
as business trips allowed. I thought it was a good decision and great bent
then, and I still do now. It's a great all around bent, for local & long
distance and one of the easiest, most comfortable of 'bents I have tried.
Over & out, & still smiling!
Fred
> top of page
Peter,
The wheel you made for my Linear has crossed the US (southern Cycle America
route) two times without a flat or truing.
Chuck
> top of page
Peter,
I am so glad that I switched to this (recumbent) style of bike and am
finding it a new joy to ride again. Thanks for all of your help.
Sincerely,
John, Linear LWB folder
> top of page
Peter,
I love this bike I rode it on Sunday farther
that I have gone in recent years. I let almost 20 people try it. Everyone
likes it.
Mike
> top of page
Hi Peter,
I bought my Linear Limo recumbent from you back about the beginning of June.
Just thought I would drop you an email to tell you how much I have enjoyed
this bike. Back in the summer I was off on 15-25 mile rides almost
daily—pretty good for a 52 year old guy on his second artificial heart
valve!
I used to ride my old diamond-frame bike for exercise; the Linear I ride
just for fun!
Great machine! Thanks so much!
Brooks
> top of page
"Main Event" Criterium in Poughkeepsie NY
The program said 10-12 year-olds could race on "any type of bike." The folks
at the registration table decided a 'bent was "any type" so we signed her up
for a one-day USCF pass for her first race.
Karen had been commuting and weekend rides with us at ~12 mph and rode the
400-mile Erie Canal Ride in 2002. She had good riding legs, if not much in
the way of speed. There was one USCF racer in the group who took off like a
shot, lapped the rest of the kids. Karen noodled around the course at her
usual speed, winning by outlasting everybody other than the USCF guy. She
didn't set the street on fire, but did get the medal which she -really-
likes and has hanging in a prominent place in her room.
And, she tells us she's never going back to an upright bike!
> top of page
Read Bryan Ball's
Bent Rider Online 2005 review of the Linear LWB 2.0.
|
