I got the EZ-1 recumbent bike because of a bad back & my butt hurt after riding any distance on a regular street / mountain bike. When I sat down on this bike it was like sitting in a lawn chair. Compared to a standard bike seat this was luxury. When I first took this out for a ride I was living in Pinellas County, Florida, which is fairly flat & has the pinellas trail. I started out of my driveway & immediately had a steering problem & about fell over. It's basically like having a longer wheelbase on a car & because of the way the handlebars are, & the smaller tires, it doesn't take much turning of the handle bars to get a stear out of it. It does have a wider turning radius. This is hard to explain, but once you try it you will know exactly what I am talking about. After a few days you will get used to it & its not bad at all. The bike is heavier than your standard bikes, but considering this is a entry level recumbent you just can't complain. The comfort level alone sells the bike. Upon taking the bike out on the long trail stretch the shifting is pretty easy & it takes little effort to get some considerable speed up. On a flat surface you can ask for nothing more. Going up a hill though this gets considerably harder. The extra weight of the bike really kicks in at this point & you can feel it in your legs & knees. I would not trade this bike for anything other than another recumbent of lighter weight. You will get looks when riding this as people think you are riding the cadillac of bikes when on the road. On flat ground you cannot beat it - it will fly & you can keep up with the best of other riders. It is perfect for bad backs & sore butts.
Another Review
If you're not familiar with the EZ brand, don't worry. These recumbents were designed by Gardner Martin, whose Gold Rush recumbent was the first bike to break 65 mph (on flat ground). The Gold Rush is on display in the Smithsonian Institution, and the EZ-1, which you can have in your garage, traces its design to the Gold Rush (with adaptations, of course). This gives the owner bragging rights, but the EZ-1 is not about speed. It's about comfortable, casual riding. On any recumbent, the rider position happens to be much more aerodynamic than on an upright bike, but what you'll mostly notice is the rider position. It's like sitting in your favorite living room armchair. And the EZ-1's seat is padded in all the right places, with a tall, supportive backrest. Another plus for the EZ-1 is its handling and steering geometry. Again, they are derived from the Gold Rush, with proven and pleasant qualities. You'll find it stable and easy to control. The simple, straightforward welded steel frame and workmanlike component selection get the job done. A recumbent sits lower than an upright bike. Some people wonder, 'Will I be seen?' The answer: You will be seen, no problem. People notice recumbents. Pros: As comfortable as it gets; proven handling qualities; good for people who can't get comfortable on an upright bike. Cons: Inexpensive recumbents weigh more than most upright bikes, and this one is 39 pounds--a weight penalty of 10 pounds or more, depending on what you compare it with. For more information: J&B Importers 11925 SW 128th St. Miami, FL 33186 305/238-1866 www.sunbicycles.com Overall value: 9 Performance: 6 Ease of use: 10 Bar Ends none Brakes Tektro Alloy Linear Pull Fork steel Frame Composition High Tensile Tig Welded Steel Frame Size one size Kickstand no Number Of Speeds 24 speeds Quick-Release Front And Rear Hubs Shimano FH-RM40-8 rear hub; alloy front hub Quick-Release Seat Clamp Contoured saddle with cool backrest and Lycra-type cover on steel sliding rails. Headset one-inch steel Tires BW Kenda Kwest; 16 x 1.5 front, 20 x 1.5 rear Type Of Shifters Shimano C202 front; Sram 3.0 rear Type Of Spokes/Rims 16x1.75 28h Alloy front; 20x1.75 36h Alloy rear Water Bottle Mount optional clamp-on
