"Jim Talks" about eHub Recumbent Trikes

Chief Engineer James Nunes of Sidewinder Cycle shares why customers choose adding an eHub motor to their recumbent trike.






About Sidewinder Cycle: Recumbent Trike Manufacturer Official channel providing behind the scenes, product updates, rides and fun from the "Ultimate in Comfort" recumbent trike that folds and offers Electric Recumbent Trike models.

"Jim Talks" eHub Motors

Chief Engineer, James Nunes again shares his recumbent expertise in what he likes to call, "Jim Talks" series. James has been building recumbent trikes for over 15 years and is an industry leader in the progression of recumbent trikes using eHub and electric assist motors.

Listen as Jim discusses the variety of batteries that are available and what he recommends.




Sidewinder Cycle, Inc. – Sidewinder Cycle is a leading maker of recumbent trikes. Based in Fillmore, Ca., Sidewinder makes two recumbent trike models – the best selling SportZ and the ProCruiser. Both models feature the company’s patented front wheel drive power source with rear wheel steering. Sidewinder’s mission is to perfect the recumbent exercise experience while providing the most comfortable ride. Its motto, “Bent for Health” plays on what recumbents are sometimes referred to (bent) and their long standing mission on being healthy. Sidewinder Cycle can be found on the Web at Sidewindercycle.com.

Recumbent Trike Stability

Dating back to the first discussions that I can remember, people always asked about the stability of recumbents which lead to many opinions and speculations. Bottom line, any bike, trike, tricycle, quad or wheeled vehicle will have stability issues. Many factors contribute to stability including design, tire pressure, speed and riders ability. Below, James Nunes, Chief Designer of Sidewinder Cycle discusses some of these factors for recumbent trike riders.




For more information about recumbent trike stability or further information about Sidewinder cycle please visit us at SidewinderCycle.com or email us at Sales@Sidewindercycle.com

Another reason: Why we build Recumbent Trikes

Inspiration comes in many forms, for us at Sidewinder Cycle that would include three wheeled designs and stories that entail the creative force behind the design. Many times we overlook the "why" we first started building recumbent trikes. A recent article and subsequent exploration of the inspiration behind the article provided us with the reminder to the "why".

In the Kent Patch was a story about Pete Zeidner: "He had already biked more than 200 miles on his three-wheeled recumbent bicycle, and he was excited to finish the last 100 miles on the fifth day of the six-day Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure in 1999. Pete has cerebral palsy, but his tailor-made recumbent bicycle gave him the freedom to move.

He didn’t know it then, but that was the last ride he would ever take on his own.

In 1991, eight years before his accident, Zeidner decided to bike 1,000 miles around Ohio to raise money for cerebral palsy research. He raised $10,000 and wanted to continue, so he started Pedal-with-Pete in 1993, a charity that raises money for cerebral palsy research. He hoped to raise money by cycling around the country himself. But his hopes were shattered on that day in 1999".

About the Organization: Pedal-with-Pete

Pedal-with-Pete is a philanthropic organization, dedicated to raising funds for research to improve the quality of life for persons with cerebral palsy. Fund raising is achieved mainly through charity bike rides occurring in Kent, Ohio, in Columbus, Ohio, and in Emmetsburg, Iowa.

If you have a moment, please read the story about Pete and his charity foundation.

Human Powered Vehicle Challenge Event

Great event this weekend brought to you by Oregon Human Powered Vehicles

The event will be held on Memorial Day Weekend, May 28 & 29, 2011 at Portland International Raceway (PIR) in Portland, Oregon. This unique event has a large variety of racing formats. Rider skills and strengths will be challenged as they compete in any or all of the following:

• Individual Time Trial
• 1/8 Mile Drag Race
• Auto Cross Speed & Agility Course
• 200 Meter All Out Speed Test
• Mass Start Road Race
• Short Track Curvy Road Race

More details concerning any of the exciting HPC events and general race information are available at the OHPV website http://ohpv.org/HPC/index.html then follow the links to the appropriate area of interest. Any persons or teams interested in participating in this exciting event can receive further information by sending an email to pirhumanpower[at]comcast[dot]net.

Recumbent Cyclist News is Back!

We are excited to share that RCN Recumbent Cyclist News is back! This was the original news source for all things recumbent established back in 1990. Editor Bob Bryant is back not only writing for us recumbent enthusiast but has plans to open a recumbent Dealership.

RCN is currently publishing new stories but also has archived stories for your enjoyment. So, get over there and browser around and if you find a nugget, please share with us.

Happy reading at Recumbent Cyclist News

Why we Ride

There is nothing like cruising along outdoors riding along your favorite trail with your best mate or solo. We would like to hear from all "Why you Ride".

Amputee riding the SportZ

Take some time to ride along with a Sidewinder Cycle SportZ recumbent trike owner as he travels down the path. In a recent post (Recumbent Trike Modifications) we explored the endless modifications that can be made to Sidewinder recumbent trikes.

Enjoy

Recumbent Trike Modification

Comfortably recumbent riding into the New Year, we are fortunate to have worked with many trike owners who require special assistance and adaptations. We were reminded of this when one of our top recumbent dealers, Northwest Recumbents owned by Gary Dagastine, was featured in a recent article in CDAPress.com.

The article featured Gary's work on adapting a three wheeled recumbent trike for a special customer. The customer was a thirteen year old girl that was born with multiple orthopedic issues that limited the use of her legs. Between July 2009 and May 2010 she endured four spinal surgeries, and now walks with a small cane. Last summer, when her youth group was planning a bike trip, she couldn't ride along - a disappointment that prompted the Danners to contact Dagastine in the first place.

Dagastine said, "Every kid deserves a bike," he explained. "It's a rite of passage, she needed something unique, a bike that was built for her", and the inventive Dagastine was just the man for the job. The trike required hours of labor, but Dagastine told Suzie and Jason he'd build it free of charge. This wasn't Dagastine's first free bike, though. He's given away other adaptive trikes and recumbents, occasionally to children with special needs or disabilities.

This recent article reminded us at Sidewinder Cycle about the many adaptations that can be made to Sidewinder recumbents. Here is a list of some of the adaptations that have been made:

• adapted steering to operate controls with only one hand or functioning arm


• adapted duel disc brakes for single side operation


• made shorter crank arms for people with one leg shorter than the other


• adapted spacing & moved control handles outward for larger people (people needing more space between the wheel guards)


• made “pedal hangers” for people with weakened leg muscles.
  adapted the cycle to carry an oxygen tank.

***Note: Sidewinder recumbents come standard with steering handles that allow adjustment for shorter or longer arm lengths.

As you can see, Sidewinder Cycle recumbents trikes are extremely versatile recumbent trikes that can accommodate most of your cycle needs. Contact us today to talk about what accommodations we can provide for you.

Recumbent Trike in New Zealand

We are following the adventures and experiences of a New Recumbent Trike owner that is documenting his un-edited experiences. Below are a few pics from his post.

Sidewinder ProCruiser in New Zealand with the iconic landmark the Sky Tower in the background.

A beautiful view of Mission Bay with the Red Sidewinder Cycle ProCuiser sitting on the boardwalk.

The Experience of a New Recumbent Trike Owner

It's part of our corporate values, we believe in what we do and our products, so why not allow for all to follow the "real" adventures of a new Sidewinder recumbent trike owner. Our new trike owner is all the way across the world in Auckland, New Zealand. Let me introduce you to Cliff.

Cliff contacted Sidewinder Cycle wanting to explore if this recumbent trike would be right for him. After several calls via Skype and emails, he was sold on the features that fit his cycling needs. Cliff decided upon the ProCruiser model.

The trike is currently being shipped and should arrive shortly. Cliff has decided to share with everybody his experiences with the recumbent trike and promises to send pictures of the Sidewinder Cycle in front of an iconic New Zealand location.

We will share Cliff's post on our blog and facebook page but you can also follow him first hand at his blog.

We hope you enjoy the experience as much as we will.

Keep getting Bent!

Bicycling to Keep Off Extra Pounds

Hands down one of the best forms of exercise is bicycling - allows for both aerobic and anaerobic conditioning along with low-impact enjoyment and 99% of time is spent outside.

In a recent study by Harvard University they found that women who increased physical activities like brisk walking and bicycling by 30 minutes a day during the 16-year period maintained their weight and even lost a few pounds, but those whose exercise was slow walking did not lose any weight.

Women who decreased their bicycling time from more than 15 minutes a day to less than 15 minutes gained about four-and-a-half pounds on average.

“This is not suggesting that if you bicycle for five minutes you will immediately go back to the weight you were when you were 18,” said Anne C. Lusk, a research fellow at the Harvard School of Public Health who was an author of the paper. “If that were true, bicycle sales would go through the roof."

"But it’s highly suggestive that bicycling is highly beneficial in women.”

The findings are based on the second Harvard Nurses’ Health Study, which is tracking 116,608 female nurses who periodically fill out questionnaires about their health, weight, diet and behavior. The new analysis, published in the June 28 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, looked at weight change and behavior from 1989 (when the nurses were 25 to 42 years old) to 2005; to isolate the effects of exercise, the researchers controlled for other obesity risk factors.

So don't wait, get out there and RIDE >>>

Sidewinder Cycle & Ventura County recumbent riders participate in Citrus Parade

The theme for this years annual Citrus parade and festival was “The World is a Rainbow of Citrus.” Kiwanis members developed the theme when members were sitting around trying to plan the festival “There was a rainbow outside, and we thought it would be perfect to have the theme be a rainbow of citrus,” stated one of the members.

The theme came to play in the many colors and styles of recumbent trikes during the parade. A group of 20 plus took to the streets in Santa Paula, California to ride in the 43rd annual Citrus parade which marks the official start of the festival.

Go to Sidewinder Cycle facebook page for more photos.

A 1,000 Miles Completed on the Sidewinder Trike

Well, as quickly as we announced the journey, the LetsGoHarry adventure has ended. Harry logged just over 1,000 miles from Ventura County down to Mexico, back to Ventura then North to San Luis Obispo and back to Ventura. What an experience this has been for Sidewinder Cycle and for adventure rider Harry Muller. We congratulate Harry on the successfully completing this journey.


The experience was a first for Sidewinder Cycle and proved valuable in many ways:

• Developed Custom Fully Enclosed Velo shell



• Carried load of over 150lbs



• Developed special dual tubed fork



• Special Gearing



• Developed Custom designed Trailer hitch
  

We will be refining the Velo design and have interested parties that have inquired if we can make one for them. Will update as refining and test continue.

The Velo and trike will be available for local mid distance adventures. Please email us to discuss:


sales@sidewindercycle.com

Lets Go Harry! Swiss Adventure Cyclist will ride a Sidewinder Cycle

We are proud to announce the official launch and sponsorship of Harry Mueller, adventure cyclist who is planning on riding around the Americas (North & South). To follow Harry's adventure we will make post on our Sidewinder Cycle blog and Facebook Page.

Harry is setting out on an amazing adventure and one that we did not believe at first. Harry called us at the end of the year with this crazy story about wanting to ride to the tip of Alaska, then across Canada, head down back into the States then cross back over then down into South America. The kicker was that he wanted to do this on a trike.

Well, we finally talked enough that he convinced us that he was going to do this adventure and that the Sidewinder trike would be perfect. So now, he has just completed a test ride for us (600 miles) and is set to go forth on his adventure that honestly, is not that crazy to us after all.

There is so much to share on this story and the great thing is that it will be growing and continuing as Harry makes his way up through the states to Alaska. The next post will talk about the custom build we had to do (yes, we will share pictures) and our first ever Sidewinder Cycle Velo. We will also share the story behind Harry's motivation for doing this adventure and it will be a post you will not want to miss.

Mexico City parks bikes in key spots for Commuters

Officials in Mexico's capital have parked bikes in key areas and, for a fee, made them available to commuters in hopes of making a dent in the city's aggressive car culture and improving the air. Take a vast, teeming megalopolis where the car is king, bicycle paths are few and motorists often seem determined to mow down anyone not tucked behind a steering wheel.

Now try talking residents into pedaling to work every day to help the environment.

The new project, called Ecobici, is modeled on bike-lending programs in such cities as Barcelona, Spain; Paris; and Copenhagen. Planners hope that by saturating certain Mexico City neighborhoods with the three-speed bikes, they can persuade residents to consider making cycling at least part of their daily commute.

Ecobici users pay a $24 yearly registration fee and get a membership card, which they can swipe across an electronic reader at any station to release a bicycle. Riders have free use for up to 30 minutes and are charged up to $3 an hour for longer intervals.

"A lot of people said, 'You are crazy; bikes in Mexico City?' But we have visited a lot of cities around the world that did it with success," said Martha Delgado, environmental secretary for Mexico City's government. "We have beautiful weather here. We need to recover space. We need to improve air quality."

So far, city officials have placed 1,100 bikes at 85 stations in several busy neighborhoods near downtown. The areas were chosen as promising proving grounds because they boast a mix of residences and businesses.

Win A Cool T-Shirt from Sidewinder Cycle

If you already ride a Sidewinder Cycle, you know how comfortable a ride the recumbent trike provides. Now, here’s your chance to look even cooler as you ride your trike. If you are not already a Sidewinder Rider, check our website at SidewinderCycle.com and enter to win the t-shirt. Who knows, that entry could be the start of a three-wheeled adventure.

Starting March 17th - St. Patrick’s Day – Sidewinder is running a contest to win a red Sidewinder t-shirt. How do you win?

Well first, become a Sidewinder fan on Facebook at this link. It’s pretty simple. Just to go the page and click on the Become a Fan widget. If you’d like, you can list the Sidewinder page as one of your Facebook page’s favorites.

Then answer this question: “What would I do to win a Sidewinder Cycle recumbent trike.” Keep it under 150 words please. Once you’ve done that, please send an email to contest@SidewinderCycle.com to let us know you’ve entered. Also, send your contact information and shirt size in that email. We will not be sharing that information with anyone.

Here the other rules:
• The contest will run from March 17 through 12:01 am (PDT) March 29th.
• You must be 18-years-old to enter. Please provide your birthday in the entry.
• You must have a U.S. shipping address.
• The winner will be announced on the Sidewinder Cycle Facebook Fan Page and via email.
• The winner will have 48 hours to respond to the notification that he or she has won.

It’s that simple. Invite your friends. Give them a chance to win too.

Organization donates over 800 bikes to youth

A generous donation from the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews has allowed for 800 Bedouin children living in the desert in the south of Israel to take part in a regular cycling activity. The donation enables the opening of 25 new cycling clubs in the Abu Basma region of the Negev desert, following two years of pilot work with seventh and eighth graders in the Abu Basma region, and the training of ten Bedouin cycling instructors and support from university student volunteers.

Beyond Sport is a global organization that promotes, develops and funds the use of sport to create positive social change across the world. The goal is to encourage children and youth at the periphery of society to pedal their way forward. The cycling program also includes several national events, when the children are bussed in from the periphery to enjoy games, trips, and lots of fun together. Thus the project also aims at increasing social inclusion of minority groups that are literally at the periphery of mainstream society.

This story is not only a reminder of what we can do to help promote the many benefits of cycling but also as a reminder that one the many activities that we participated as a kid is still an activity that we can participate in as we get older. I encourage everyone to find an a group or organization that is giving back to the community like this and lend a hand.

Baby Boomers stay active longer when Cycling

Baby Boomers might be one of the most physically fit generations ever. This was the generation that started the running boom in the ‘70s and the biking boom in the ‘80s. Unlike their parents’ generation, Boomers usually keep exercising well after retirement. And why not? While exercise might necessarily not make one live longer, it does most definitely improve one’s quality of life.

However, while Boomers try to prolong their youth as long as possible through exercise, there are running into some hard truths. One of the most important one is that the human body cannot always stand up to the pounding of running and biking.

Veteran runners wake up one morning with sore knees and hips. Bike riders trying to get into the saddle feel their back screaming at them.

A trip to the doctor is often greeted with the advice to start acting one’s age. The doctor will cut to the truth about the damage being done. The learned physician will counsel taking up something more sedentary, such as golf. But, who ever broke a real sweat swinging a seven iron? And as for aerobic exercise, golf just doesn’t cut it.

There is an answer –a recumbent bike or trike. According to Wikipedia: “A recumbent bicycle is a bicycle that places the rider in a laid-back reclining position. Most recumbent riders choose this type of design for ergonomic reasons; the rider’s weight is distributed comfortably over several square feet of the back and buttocks. On a traditional upright bicycle, the body weight rests on a few square inches of the sit bones, the feet, and the hands.

“Most recumbent models also have an aerodynamic advantage; the reclined, legs-forward position of the rider’s body presents a smaller frontal profile. A recumbent holds the world speed record for a bicycle. Recumbents are available in a wide range of configurations, including: long to short wheelbase; large, small, or a mix of wheel sizes; overseat, underseat, or no-hands steering; and rear wheel or front wheel drive. A variant with three wheels is a recumbent tricycle.”

Recumbent tricycles but have three wheels instead of two. Trikes come in two varieties, the delta, with two rear wheels, and the tadpole, with two front wheels.

The recumbent trike has four attributes that make it attractive to riders:
• The rider does not need to disengage from the pedals when stopped.
• The trike can be geared very low to enable hill and mountain climbing while heavily loaded and at a slow speed, without losing stability.
• Trikes are capable of turning sharply without leaning, producing lateral "g forces" similar to sports cars. Recumbent trikes are often more suitable for people with balance problems or disabilities.
• The trike can also be converted into a hand-powered vehicle for people who cannot use their legs.

Enthusiasts list a number of other advantages, including comfort and safety. Since the rider is essentially sitting a chair, there is less strain on the back. Recumbents are safer than upright bikes, riders say, because of their low center of gravity. Trikes are very stable and rarely tip, therefore reducing the chance of injury. Also, because they look so different, drivers tend to see recumbents.

Many cyclists have ridden around the United States and Canada. Few have done both at the same time. The ride of choice is usually a mountain bike or heavy-duty touring bike. After all, not every bike can handle the different kinds of terrain a rider will encounter on the trek. The bike that’s needed is one that can traverse glaciers, mountains, deserts, jungles and just about every kind of imaginable conditions.

Swiss rider Harry Mueller, 62, feels he has found the perfect ride – a custom-built Sidewinder recumbent trike. A survivor of two heart attacks, a stroke, and a spine injury that almost left him permanently debilitated, Mueller said he’s planning to start his epic journey later this spring.

“Traveling and living outdoors is the driving force of my life,” Mueller said. “I work only to make enough money to finance my next trip or expedition. When money gets short, I go work again. I take whatever job I get as long it is interesting, or I can make the money I need in a short time.”

It has been Mueller’s dream to explore the world from a bicycle saddle. The trip he has always wanted to make is on what he calls "The Dream Road of the World." The route will take the Swiss explorer from the southernmost point in South America- Ushuaia in Terra del Fuego - to the northernmost of North America -Prudhoe Bay, Alaska.

To make the trip, Mueller decided he needed to ride a recumbent trike. He came to California to find one. There he discovered Sidewinder Cycle in Fillmore, Calif. He made an appointment with Sidewinder owners Jim and Linda Nunes to check the trikes they build. The couple met Mueller at the Santa Clarita train station with three trikes. Mueller test rode one and fell in love. He particularly liked the back wheel steering and the front wheel differential.

Mueller told the Nunes about his plan to ride the length and breadth of North and South America. The couple discussed sponsoring Mueller by providing a Sidewinder. A few days later they decided to help the Mueller out and agreed to donate a trike to his effort.

Mueller has not yet settled on a starting date for the trip. He is looking for other sponsors to provide such things as a GPS, a satellite phone, emergency supplies and the other necessities when one plans to ride over 25,000 miles.

Mueller’s planned route is:
• Starting in Fillmore, Calif., and riding up the US West Coast to the most northernmost point of North America – Prudhoe Bay in Alaska.
• The second leg of the trip will take Mueller back to Canada. He will ride across the country and enter in the United States on the East Coast and ride south to Florida.
• At this point in the journey, Mueller has a decision to make:
o Either he rides back to Fillmore across the southern United States.
o Or he will island hops across the Caribbean and goes to South America.
o Or, he rides to Texas, through Mexico and Central America and then into South America.
• If Mueller goes to South America, he will ride along the east side of the continent to the southernmost point in South America, Ushuaia in Terra del Fuego.
• Going north, Mueller will ride up the west side of South America, going to either Columbia or Venezuela.
• Once on the northern part of the continent, Mueller has another decision to make:
o If he went south through Texas, Mueller will then back to North America through the Caribbean and ride back to Fillmore.
o Or, if he went south through the Caribbean, he will ride north through Texas and then back to Fillmore.