The Bike

I’m going to attempt to write this in order of increasing detail, so if you’re just after a quick piccy you don’t have to look far.  If you’re intrigued about whether the I’m rocking cup-and-cones or cartridges in the bottom bracket you’ll find it near the bottom (cartridge as it happens, but don’t let that stop you)

So.  The bike is a Nazca Fuego rear wheel drive semi-low racer recumbent, and it looks like this (picture kindly borrowed from the Nazca website until the Scottish weather picks up)



Semi-low because there’s things like the NoCom demonstrating what low really is, but you can still put a hand of the ground from the normal seating position (a neat trick at traffic lights, incidentally).  The seat height and angle is adjustable using a pair of quick-release bolts.  The main body is steel (25 CrMo4) and the boom (silver bit at the front) is aluminium.  Steering is above seat via a tiller.  Gearing is a front triple and a nine-speed rear cassette, with twist grip shifting.  Chain is loooong, and runs through chain tubes on both the drive and return, with an idler (spinny cog…) to help with the change of direction on the drive side.  Brakes are cable-actuated disc, and the whole thing speaks to the tarmac via a pair of Schwalbe Durano slick tyres.  Scaffolding off the back of the seat rack top bags, and a rack under the seat for the panniers.  Mudguards (Scotland, innit) and one mirror on the overtaking cars side.

Still with me?  Geeky stuff starts here.

Drive

Crankset is a 52/42/30 with 175mm cranks and the aforementioned cartridge BB.  Rear cassette is 32-11 driving a 26” rear wheel.  This gives a gain ratio range of 1.8 to 8.9, or a gear inch range of 24.4 to 122.9 (thanks to Sheldon’s gear calculator).  The bike takes just under three standard chains and coupled with the tubes and idlers resistance to pedaling is slightly more than on an upright.  The twist/grip shifters work well, and keep everything nicely to hand

Brakes and wheels

Avid BB7 cable disc brakes working on 160mm rotors.  Not much else to say, except having your weight well back (and low) means you can really haul on the front brake without risking going over the bars.  I’d assumed this would make the front more likely to skid, but so far this hasn’t been noticable.  I have managed to slide the back end out when not really paying attention, so DAS requests from the Glasgow fixed community can be accommodated…  Rear wheel is 26” and the front is 20”.  A rear disc may be on the horizon.

Frame, Seat, Racks etc

The main body of the frame is steel, although the boom at the front (supporting cranks and derailleur) is aluminium.  I’ve always preferred steel to other materials, reasoning that the extra weight is well worth increased comfort and predictable fatigue and failure.  The seat includes a ventisit cushion for the avoidance of sweaty back syndrome, and is available in carbon, should one so wish.  The rear forks are attached to the back of the seat support via and air shock, taking some of the edge of exciting road surfaces.  As mentioned above, the seat position can be altered using some nifty quick release bolts.  The rear rack has a fairly low weight tolerance as it’s only attached to the seat rather than the frame, but manages my normally work load fine.  The underslung racks carry medium sized panniers brilliantly - the weight is in just the right spot.  You might struggle with bigger panniers though.  My Carradice ‘rear’ set would start to interfere with leaning through corners, but the front ones are spot on