Recumbent Newz Wheelz Newsletter September 2003Vol. 1 No. 3September 2003 Issue Copyright © 2003 Alan W. Jarrett Please feel free to pass this newsletter along to your friends. However, I do ask you keep it intact and forward it in it's entirety.
Not a lot going on for August, even on the International scene. One of the big European bike shows just finished up, so look for Bryan Balls report in BROL during the first week of September. Bryan does a good job with pictures and news on new models. He's been keeping a few things under his hat, like what's going on with the Windcheetah Hypersport trike. Check it out at: www.bentrideronline.com
The look and feel of the site has changed just a little. Feel free to share your comments. The changes were suggested by a pro, so feedback is good. So OK, here's a survey question for the many subscribers and readers. What are the 5 things as a recumbent owner you want to do? If that one stumps you, try what 5 things you want to avoid, or what 5 things you want to know. There were some interesting responses on one of the message boards to this question. Some just want to do a Century while others want to pay cash for a $12 million mansion in Hawaii. Others just want to find more time to ride. Oh yeah!
Maybe you want to share how you got someone to ride a 'bent. Got a funny story about 'bents? Write it up and send it. It just might get printed in one of the issues, with your name on the byline!
Some who have signed up are asking about plans for building. Check out http://www.recycledrecumbent.com.
There are some great photos of the TE Clone. Plans are also available at www.recumbent-bikes-truth-for-you.com/homebuilders.html Go to the bottom of the homebuilder page. At the bottom of the page click on the link to dirt-cheap-recumbent. Click on the **FREE** to download the PDF files. This is the section where you want to look for homebuilder forums or discussion lists that will be a huge help if you are building your own bike. Need parts or supplies? Post a question to mailto:Alan@recumbent-bikes-truth-for-you.com. Just in case I missed anyone of the Free eBook, go the "About This Site" page. At the very bottom you'll see a link that says FREE in red letters. Click on that to download your free ebook. If you've ever thought about doing an info product to sell on the Net, this could be the book to help you get there.
The work was well done. Welds were neat, the paint was good and it rode well, if the chain didn't slip. The design was sorta typical for a Tadpole Trike. But when you realized it was an all Aluminum frame that weighed around 32 pounds, now you really gave it some attention! Discovering it was being built in Orlando was the icing on the cake. That was my introduction to Paulo Camasmie of Big Cat or, Catrike. The Catrike Road design had been around for awhile in prototype for testing, and it seems like Paulo was selling about 6 per month in those days. He had some sophisticated equipment, a master welder for the frames, and a passion for his product. Now we come to the present and the Catrike Speed, which is Paulo's newest, and currently most affordable trike in the market! Be sure to read the ride report. RNW: Paulo, one of the greatest assets to your business is that you listen to what others say about your designs. If there is any merit to their comments, you make changes. Paulo: I am obsessed with making the best design possible. I learned so much from the Road design. Now all the lessons and experience have been incorporated into the design of the Speed.
RNW: I see you have added equipment since I was here last time. Paulo: Yes, a lot of capital has been invested in equipment that will allow me to make the frame in less time. There are fewer pieces to weld. The tube bender allows me to make compound bends that go in different directions like it does for the seat frame. That is a very unique design.
We use a brand new digital bender made in Italy. It has an indexing table which enables us to do the compound bends, and we have special ordered aluminum cast dies and polymer forming blocks designed for making a rounded and smooth bend on our aluminum tubing. We also have our drop outs CNC machined for us. We have many parts which are laser cut and water jet cut. So we use all the technology available to make the best product at the best possible price and ultimately benefiting the customer. And at the same time, this sets us apart from the competition by having a very strong, clear, strategic advantage.
RNW: The seat is great! Even though the frame is stiff, the seat seems to really smooth out the rough spots. Paulo: The size of the tubes for the seat frame have something to do with that. Our seat is made out of 1” diameter tubing which is more comfortable to the riders body. The seat design wraps around the rider a little more than others. So the body doesn’t move as much as it does in a wider seat. RNW: You made the Road for what …almost two years? Paulo: Yes, just about two years. RNW: How many Roads did you sell in those two years? Paulo: Not quite 100. RNW: Didn’t you tell me earlier that you have already delivered 100 of the Speed? Paulo: Yes, and I have the second batch of 25 out being painted right now. We are making about 25 trikes per month and I am behind two months production. I am attempting to increase production to 50 per month with a two week lead time. There are two full time workers now, and I have a couple who come in part time. RNW: Do you think it’s due to price, the design, or what? Paulo: Well, it’s hard to say. There are so many good things about the Speed. It’s lighter, faster, more comfortable, a superior design, it’s so many things it’s hard to pick just one. The comment I do hear most is on the design. Besides the obvious advantages I would add that the Speed sells also because of the flair of its design, image and brand. If somebody else came to the market with another Aluminum trike weighing 29lb or even less, priced at $2,000 or less it would probably not sell nearly as well. There is something magic about the Catrike Speed. One of the things is the hidden complexity to it that looks simple and clean to the eyes. RNW: Since the Wiz Wheelz raised their prices back up over $2200, yours is the only trike under $2000. Don’t you think that has a lot to do with it? Paulo: Maybe, but take away the price, and what trike can compare with it? What other trike has an all Aluminum frame, weighs under 30 pounds, looks and handles like the Speed, and is made in the U.S.?
RNW: Why did you choose to go with the direct steering instead of a “Joystick?” Paulo: Well, first there are less moving parts with direct steering. Second, the “Joystick” requires many more moving parts, and it’s up in your chest. It’s really more for racing because of the more aerodynamic position of the arms and hands. But it’s more expensive to make. I’m trying to keep the cost of production down, while making a trike everyone can ride. Besides, I have something on the drawing board that will be better than a “Joystick!” RNW: Does that mean you are planning to make a racing trike? Paulo: I don’t know. It’s a very small market. We have in the drawing board the Catrike Competition model. It is not our priority today. That will be our top model but it will be an indulgence to develop and sell it.
I think I would rather focus on the Speed, as it seems to have found a good market acceptance. For me, it’s never been about the money as much as the design. Sure, I need money to take care of my family, and I was doing that with the Road design. The Speed design is a step to the next level. Right now it is priced below $2000, but I will be raising the prices soon. That will allow me to put more money towards R & D to improve my design, or start another project. Also I think it is worth mentioning the fact that we make a great effort for the trikes to be available through a network of dealers. And to compare our price with any direct sales company is like comparing apples to oranges. A dealer will assemble, fine tune, mount accessories and can always adjust a rear derailleur after sales. A direct sale, no matter how hard they try, it will not be the same thing. There is only so much you can do from a distance.
RNW: If I remember the first time we talked, didn’t you tell me that you didn’t even ride a bike when you started with the trike idea? Paulo: Yes, that’s true. I just wanted to make a vehicle that was human powered and I was fascinated with the trike idea. I remember when I was traveling all over to talk to people about my trike project, to get ideas and advice. I stopped in California, and one of the people I talked to was Gardner Martin. After he listened to all I had to say, he said he was going to talk me out of making trikes. He took me back and showed me one that he had, made by someone else. He apparently showed this to people who were thinking about buying one, instead of a two wheeler.
But Gardner was really great. He gave me lots of help, even though I would be a small competitor. I can’t say enough good about him. Others like Ricky Horowitz have sent me congratulations on my design for the Speed. Ricky is a pioneer in trikes, so I take that as a great compliment. I have had a lot of help from many people, and some of the best advice has come from customers. RNW: The neck rest on the seat is a great idea! Paulo: Yes! I was going to make that an option, but decided to make it a standard item. I have also thought about changing the bar end shifters for the Ultegra STI type brake/shifters, or the Shimano Dura-Ace STI shifters. RNW: Have you considered the possibility of offering the Speed without certain items to keep the price under $2000, and making those items optional at the higher price? Paulo: That’s a good idea. I’ll have to give that some thought. But I must say, even at $2300 the Speed would still be a bargain. There is no other trike to compare it with, even at that price. RNW: When we talked last time, you have about 10 dealers. How many do you have now? Paulo: We have over 50 dealers, including one in the U.K. who I think is going to be trikes only. He is calling his store Catrike U.K. I am really excited about that. It’s our third International dealer, along with Canada and Japan! RNW: Paulo, I am excited about what the Speed is adding to the recumbent trike line of products and designs. I read the posts on the message boards, and the Speed is a “hit!” Being a Mechanical Engineer has been a huge advantage for you as a designer. It’s safe to say many are waiting to see what you will come up with next in the way of a different design. Paulo: I have a passion for the trike and an obsession with design. I am always looking for ways to make it better. It is safe to say that we achieved so much by developing the current space frame design that there should not be any sudden changes in design in the near future. This one is almost impossible to beat in terms of weight, stiffness and efficiency. We will simply perfect and improve it with time and create new variations. Check out the Catrike at catrike.com.
Alan's note: This is a good recipe for you to substitute honey for sugar, whole wheat and organic white flour, even the butter can be organic. The Grape Nuts are fine as is.
Nutritional info per bar:
The "Great Coffee Debate!" Is it or isn't it? Is it a diuretic or not? It sure seemed to me, as an avid coffee drinker, that drinking coffee in the mornings before my rides, was destined to have me stop at least once, and sometimes as many as three times during a 20 mile ride. After 40 years of drinking coffee, I decided I didn't like the aches that caffeine withdrawal caused. On three separate occasions, I had stopped drinking coffee. The detox from the caffeine was an eye opener. I was determined not to change to decaf coffee, and determined I would quit coffee all the way first. So I did. While I managed to stay off of coffee, I still had a desire for something warm in the mornings. Hot chocolate didn't appeal, and tea had as much caffeine, or enough that it wasn't a choice. I was coffee free for about three weeks, and my rides didn't seem to be bothered by the stops I used to have to make.
Then one fine day it happened. No coffee, and after 15 miles I was looking for a Convenience store. So I really began to question if it was the coffee, or just a small bladder!
I caved in and started drinking decaf coffee, and about the same time found a medical study that claimed caffeine is a diuretic and a purgative, and it really can have the effect many claim it does. Since drinking decaf coffee, I have not noticed the need to make those extra stops! That would seem to be some pretty strong proof. What do you think?
No need to reinvent the wheel, or in this case a list of FAQ's! Check out Any question you have that is not answered there, send it to me at: mail to:Alan@recumbent-bikes-truth-for-you.com
This is going to be the kind of report any of you could make if you rode this trike. The ride reports I usually read are full of all sorts of "techie" kinds of words and stuff. While most of it is understandable, how the bike or trike feels, and does it go fast are what I usually want to see. I do not consider myself an expert. So let me just tell you what my experience was like riding this trike. This will be in simple, easy to understand words. Someone reading this should have no problem knowing what to expect if they took this trike out for a test ride. The design is really cool! As soon as you see how the seat is part of the frame, and the way the seat stays are curved and angled back to the rear triangle, you just know this trike is going to be fun to ride. I went to the West Orange Trail in Orlando during the heat of the day. But the excitement of just getting to ride this trike made me forget about the heat. There was also a fair amount of shade along the trail as far as I rode, which was good. I started off in the big ring and never had any reason to shift to a smaller one. Even for hills, it would be hard to imagine you would need to use a smaller ring. I don't remember using bar end shifters before on a trike, but they shifted just fine. The seat is really comfortable, and I can imagine a longer ride than the 10 miles I did would still feel good. The neck rest was nice to have, but the seat angle was good enough so that maybe it wasn't necessary. Some taller riders might they don't need it. But it adds to the "cool" factor on this trike. Before I had gone a mile it was plain to me this trike is fast! There was no trouble cruising at 17 or 18 mph. The first crossing I came to gave me the chance to see just how the disc brakes work. Maybe with experience you can pull one brake to stop or slow down. Using both seemed to be a much better idea to avoid the wheels pulling to the left or right. It is sorta like driving a sports car. The shifting was quick, acceleration was quick and steering was precise. I was a little curious how the trike would ride with the 16" front wheels and the narrow tires. I did not have any problem. As I came to one crossing the speed was about 19 mph and I was starting to slow down for an oncoming car. The driver started shouting, "Go go go!" He was apparently more interested in seeing how fast I could move! I did my very best to show him and was up to 23 mph before I knew it. Did I say this thing is fast? As the Trail enters Winter Garden there is a lot of construction going on. The light weight of the trike and the sling type seat made bumps and brick surfaces almost seem smooth. Every time there was a rough surface I was bracing myself for some shaking. It was a surprise each time it didn't happen! The Trail has to make a detour once you get to Winter Garden. Unfortunately it isn't marked in such a way as to easily find it. So I ended up taking a few side streets before the threat of rain made me decide to head back. On one side street that was long I wound it out to 26.6 mph before the next intersection forced me to slow down. This beauty can move! On the way back to the starting point there were some good stretches where the speed was up to 27 mph. There was no problem with steering. I remembered from my trike how to keep from getting the "wobble" so the ride was very smooth. My only regret with this trike was not having enough time to do a longer ride. I sure wanted more, but the trip plus the time Paulo and I spent talking plus the Summer rains cut into that. I got back to the shop just as it started raining. If you want looks on a trike this one has it. The design does it without flashy paint or any fancy gizmos. Just looking at the frame the way you would the body of a car, it's easy to see the quality and craftsmanship. The lines flow, the welds are well done, and you just want to get on and ride. Trikes are great in the first place because there really isn't a learning curve they way there is with a two-wheeler. Balance is never a problem, and the greatest challenge for most will be learning how to pedal a nice smooth circle to avoid the "wobbles." So it comes down to comfort and handling. The Speed is easy and fun to ride. Did I mention it's fast! Hopefully this does justice to the Speed. Whether you have a lot of experience on a trike or it's your first time, I'll bet you'll want to take this one on a long ride! Going fast may not be what you're looking for, so the Speed will let you go slow in comfort and style. If you added a rack for panniers I imagine this would make a great trike for tours. That's all I can do to get you excited about a really neat trike! Now it's up to you to find one of those 50 dealers, or someone you can beg, borrow or commandeer a ride from. If I owned one of these, as much as I would want to let someone know how great they are, it would be hard to get me to let someone take it for a ride of any length until I had logged lots of miles first! The “grin” factor on this trike is at least 8. Don't take my word for it. Ride for yourself! I made every attempt to not go overboard with the adjectives and action words. Keep in mind this is just one persons opinion, and we all have a different one. But I still say the Speed is AWESOME, COOL, SLEEK, SMOOTH, FAST, and it just plain ROCKS! There. Now it's out of my system.
---------------------- Tell you what, that's a dream most of you have, and me too! There are people out there making more than just a buck or two, and all they do is tell others about things they know a lot about. They use the power of this thing called the Internet, combined with one of the best programs I've ever seen or used, to introduce this know how to literally thousands of people every day. You take the time to write out what you know, by following a step by step outline that has been tested and proven to work. Sure it takes time to do it, and you have to put some thought in it too. If putting words on a screen was all there was to it, anyone could do it and this wouldn't be such a big deal. Well, that's just the point. Nearly anybody CAN do it, they just won't for a variety of reasons. They're too lazy. It's too hard to think of enough to say. Being organized enough to do it isn't their bag. Having the discipline to stick with it till it's done doesn't sound exciting. Maybe they just haven't got around to it. It's easy to do it. It's just easier not to! If the chance to be your own boss, working from home, making a livable income, doesn't get your heart pumping a little faster, then skip on down to the next section. But if you would rather make a 45 second commute into work everyday, in your pajamas, working the hours you want for a boss you can live with, then SBI! might be for you. Here's what I can tell you. There are over 1700 visitors a month coming to my site in just three months. THREE months! That just isn't by accident. It sure isn't because I knew anything about building a website, or how to get the Search Engines to send traffic to my pages. After tons of reading and research, it was easy to see that building a website was a huge job, and it wasn't going to be cheap! Then I discovered SBI! So why am I telling you all this? Well, you may be like me and want to make that 45 second commute. Truth is, after three months I'm still making that 45 minute commute one way! So don't get the idea this is some get rich quick scheme. It takes work, but it won't seem like it when you're doing something that you're passionate about. If you follow the plan SBI! gives to you, and use the tools provided, there are plenty of successful sites out there to prove it works. But hey...you can't buy SBI! from me, because I don't sell it! Besides that, they do a whole lot better than I do when it comes to telling you about all the benefits they offer. If you know even a little about the Internet and what it takes to build a website, you'll be blown away by what SBI! can do for you and help you do. Like Ken Envoy says, they do the work, and let you go about taking care of business.
See for yourself. They even give you a bunch of sample websites you can see of people just like you, who have followed their program. Copy and paste this link in your browser, http://buildit.sitesell.com/Alan1-html10.html, to go there.
Maybe it will be back next year. There is much more to this than the prize money, but this is all RNW will report on. So George and Carole Leone have stepped up at the last minute to take over the organization for this year. This is no small undertaking, especially when there was less than three weeks to go. These folks are heroes in my book. No matter what happens all who appreciate the Battle Mountain event owe them a terrific debt of thanks! Jeff Bales is hard at work to complete his fairing. The canopy is done, NACCA vents have been cut into the bottom of the shell for ventilation, and the seat is ready. Jeff says he is super tired but determined to make it. Remember, you can check out what's going on with the WHPSC at http://www.recumbent-bikes-truth-for-you.com/WHPSC
OK. That's it for this one. Let's get some feedback for the survey questions for the October issue. We'll also have some news from Battle Mountain, and more than likely some interviews from Jeff and some of the others.
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