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First ride on the M5 CHR (Read 5050 times)
aikigreg
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First ride on the M5 CHR
Mar 29th, 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.
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Rat Rider




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Posts: 147
Re: First ride on the M5 CHR
Reply #1 - Mar 29th, 2013, 7:28pm
 
Without pictures....it did not happen.
 
 
 Smiley
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aikigreg
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Re: First ride on the M5 CHR
Reply #2 - Mar 30th, 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...
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Rat Rider




Recumbents Across
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Re: First ride on the M5 CHR
Reply #3 - Mar 31st, 2013, 12:56pm
 
Is your bag pink?  Smiley
 
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!
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« Last Edit: Mar 31st, 2013, 12:59pm by Rat Rider »  

Metabike Mystique
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aikigreg
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Re: First ride on the M5 CHR
Reply #4 - Apr 1st, 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.
 
Quote from Rat Rider on Mar 31st, 2013, 12:56pm:
Is your bag pink?  Smiley

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!

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I'm in it to Schwinn it.
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Rat Rider




Recumbents Across
Texas

Posts: 147
Re: First ride on the M5 CHR
Reply #5 - Apr 2nd, 2013, 8:34am
 
Can the M5 brakes be setup to pull from either side?
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aikigreg
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Re: First ride on the M5 CHR
Reply #6 - Apr 3rd, 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?
 
Quote from Rat Rider on Apr 2nd, 2013, 8:34am:
Can the M5 brakes be setup to pull from either side?

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Rat Rider




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Re: First ride on the M5 CHR
Reply #7 - Apr 3rd, 2013, 6:00pm
 
Quote from aikigreg on Apr 3rd, 2013, 9:02am:
 You coming to Muenster?

 
 
Dunno - Kind of a large day from Austin.
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MrOverdressed
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Re: First ride on the M5 CHR
Reply #8 - Apr 26th, 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.
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Happy Trails! Smiley
Terry Pickl
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aikigreg
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Re: First ride on the M5 CHR
Reply #9 - Apr 26th, 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.
 
Quote from MrOverdressed on Apr 26th, 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.

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