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General Category >> rbent Lobby >> First ride on the M5 CHR
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Message started by aikigreg on Mar 29^th, 2013, 6:38pm

Title: First ride on the M5 CHR
Post by aikigreg on Mar 29^th, 2013, 6:38pm

First ride since I finally got the boom, chain, and shifters (mostly) dialed in. For those who care, here are my impressions after 17 miles:

It feels like the VK2 and the Carbent had a baby, and it takes more after the VK2 side. It's as comfy as the VK2 was, which is the most comfy bike I've ever ridden. It feels like it's a lowracer with a big front wheel. Accelerates downhill like a lowracer, and lets you maintain that speed like a lowracer does.

But it's more upright than a lowracer, and is open cockpit, and higher up too. So I don't have that staring between my feet feeling or the extreme recline feeling. That makes it very much like a highracer. It seems to climb well.

It's got a bit more pedal steer which is characteristic of lowracers, but that may go away with saddle time.

How it compares speed wise to the carbent, and how well it will climb steeper grades I can't yet say. It must weigh a bit more than the carbent, but not by much. There was no noticeable noise from the chain tubes, and no perceived drag, though I'm sure there is some. The tubes stay on until after Bessie's creek, and by then I'll have a better idea.

Tomorrow is a 75-85 miler with around 4800 feet of climbing.

Title: Re: First ride on the M5 CHR
Post by Rat Rider on Mar 29^th, 2013, 7:28pm

Without pictures....it did not happen.

[smiley=lolk.gif]

Title: Re: First ride on the M5 CHR
Post by aikigreg on Mar 30^th, 2013, 11:00pm

Ended up with only around 65 maybe. Turns out I still don't have the shifting right so I wasn't going to be able to tackle the steep hills south of Aledo. Definitely a few changed to make to dial t in, but I was very happy with the ride. Still feels like the perfect blend of high and low racers.

Happy easter!

Oh, and Roy...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v652/aikigreg/20130330_152338.jpg

Title: Re: First ride on the M5 CHR
Post by Rat Rider on Mar 31^st, 2013, 12:56pm

Is your bag pink? [smiley=vrolijk_26.gif]

No doubt it MUST be fast...
_________________________________
How is it setup? Weight? I have never seen one
painted. I much prefer it to the carbon/black/clear.
I envy the low stand-over height. I had a zbone dual
700 that I could flat-foot at stops. I miss that with the
hiracers I have now.

Your CHR is very nice!

Title: Re: First ride on the M5 CHR
Post by aikigreg on Apr 1^st, 2013, 9:34am

Yeah the bag is one of a very few in existence. Actually they were the first bags Dana created when he designed the bentupcycles aero bag. All the members of Team Carbent were given one. You can blame the color on Sandy and Chris.

Setup is Open Cockput, obviously, with s.0/s.9 components and bram's brakes. The paint job is neat but it's obviously not professional since it's just painted directly over the old clear coat I think. Still, it's a lot neate than black. The standover heigh makes it NICE.

Rat Rider wrote:

Title: Re: First ride on the M5 CHR
Post by Rat Rider on Apr 2^nd, 2013, 8:34am

Can the M5 brakes be setup to pull from either side?

Title: Re: First ride on the M5 CHR
Post by aikigreg on Apr 3^rd, 2013, 9:02am

I couldn't say for sure, but it looks like it can. Feel free to give mine a ride next time we're near each other, and you can always get a frameset with different brakes. You coming to Muenster?

Rat Rider wrote:

Can the M5 brakes be setup to pull from either side?

Title: Re: First ride on the M5 CHR
Post by Rat Rider on Apr 3^rd, 2013, 6:00pm

aikigreg wrote:

You coming to Muenster?

Dunno - Kind of a large day from Austin.

Title: Re: First ride on the M5 CHR
Post by MrOverdressed on Apr 26^th, 2013, 12:46am

You Bike Hoe! Another high performance recumbent!

I need to stop in and visit you and take a close look at your M5 Carbon High Racer. The CHR has been my dream bike. Remember you where the person who inspired me to purchase a Baron after I carefully sat on your old Baron on coasted down the (slight) hill in front of your house.

Title: Re: First ride on the M5 CHR
Post by aikigreg on Apr 26^th, 2013, 8:58am

I do indeed remember. The M5 is very close to what you were trying to do with that giant front wheeled baron, but since it's designed for the big wheel it handles amazingly well. Slight hard interference but I've never encountered it while actually riding the bike - just while stopped.

MrOverdressed wrote: