Our Choice of Accessories

 

Not all the items listed below were purchased right away.  Some we started out with, and others we added as time went by.  The more we rode our bike, we discovered what we liked and what we didn't.  In addition, as we talked with other riders (in person and on the web) and learned from them, we started to experiment, and customized our bike to make it truly ours.  The following are the things we have chosen to add to our bike.
   
Pedals

We had never tried them before, but when we got the bike we had them install clipless pedals.  Then of course we got the special shoes to go with them.  We absolutely love them!  From a couple sources,  I had heard the recommendation that they were especially good for the "stoker" (back seat rider on a tandem).  The reason was that if the "captain" (front rider) needed to stop suddenly, or hit a bump without warning the stoker, their feet could slip off the pedals.  The other reason for getting them is that it allows us to pull as well as push and thus get much more power as we ride (especially nice on hills).  The pedals we chose have a clip for the shoe on one side, and a regular flat platform on the other side (Shimano PD-M324, see the picture below).  When I ride in a stop and go situations, like a downtown area, I stay on the platform side.  Once I get out on a longer stretch I clip in.  The stoker stays clipped in the whole time just as the passenger on a motorcycle keeps their feet up the entire ride.  We did have the same pedals installed on the back anyway, so when we give other people rides they could use the platform side of the pedal.  We definitely recommend them!  The shoes we chose look like walking shoes (made by Specialized).  The clip on the bottom (once installed) is recessed so when we take a break on one of our rides for lunch or shopping we can walk around without a problem.

   
Helmets  
We found a particular bike helmet we really like.  It is the Bell Metropolis.  It has a place on the back to attach a flashing light and is designed for a rain cover that just snaps on.  The cover is great, not just for rain but it really helps keep your head warm in the cooler weather!

   
Cargo Space  
One challenge we have always faced is just how to carry all the things with us that we want to take on our rides (check our "Riding Tips & Info" page for some of the things we recommend taking along).  When we first got the bike we included the yellow "tailpack" from the maker of the bike (left).  We soon found that we needed even more space.  We found this black case on the web made by a company called Otivia.   It is a lockable hard shell case that only weighs two pounds.  It was originally designed for use on recumbents so the width is the same as our seat.  It has a surprising amount of room inside.  On the days we ride to work, I can even take my laptop computer back and forth in safety!  We are very happy with it.  I had to do a little bit of modification to get it bolted on to my particular rack, but not too bad.  It also makes a good place for our web address!
   
Tires  
We we not very happy with the standard tires that came on the bike.  The original stock tires were 1-1/2 inch wide and ran at 100psi, basically rock hard and the ride felt that way.  It was especially apparent with the 20" front tire.  We considered putting a suspension front fork on the bike to improve the ride, but I could only find one on the market that was rated by the manufacturer for a tandem (others are used on tandems, but not with the blessings of their makers).  The initial cost and maintenance requirements of that fork were both high.  I was told before jumping in that direction to try the 2 inch "Big Apple" tire by Schwalbe (top right).  It has a maximum rating of 70psi, so it is still quit hard with good rolling resistance, but when you do hit a bump they flex much more than the stock tires.  We noticed a substantial improvement on the very first ride!  They also have Kevlar belts to resist punctures.  Ah yes, the other reason for changing our tire choices... flats.  I got so tired of flats, especially on the back tire, that I went looking for other options.  I found the "Marathon Plus" tire also by  Schwalbe (bottom right).  It has a foam layer between the tread and the tube, just in case anything gets through the Kevlar belts.  An object would have to be quite long to reach the tube.  We chose this tire in a 1-3/4 inch width for the back tire.  It also runs at 70psi, so it has good rolling resistance.  So far, so good... no flats!   In fact, we were so pleased with its performance on the back, we eventually put one on the front as well.  We lost a little bit of our soft ride going from the 2 inch Big Apple to the 1-3/4 inch Marathon Plus, but no flats was worth it.  We still have a much better ride than we did with the original 1-1/2 inch tire. 
Chainrings  
We rode with the original factory supplied chainrings for two years.  In most of our riding there was no problem.  However up steep hills we never felt like we had a low enough gear.  There were times where we really needed a good "granny gear."  We would be  straining hard and yet unable to keep the RPM at a decent rate.  The standard set of chainrings (front set of three gears) that comes on the Screamer are: 55, 44, and 32 teeth.  (I wonder if the fact that the Rans factory is located on the plains of Kansas has anything to do with it.)  After a particular ride one day with a lot of climbing, I started looking into changing the gearing.  I discovered that when the Hostel Shoppe builds there own version of the Screamer, they had already figured this out.  For their "Ultimate Screamer" they get the frame from Rans then install their own list of components.  On that bike they use chainrings of 53/38/26 teeth.  I copied that on my bike, and it is fantastic!  I now have the equivalent of about a gear and a half lower than my old lowest gear.  It makes all the difference on the steep hills.  I wish I would have made this change a long time ago!
   
Handlebar / Steering  
I discovered an awesome resource.  It's a company in Portland who makes top quality replacement parts for recumbent bikes.  Builders of "high-end" bikes around the globe have chosen to use their products.
I replaced the flex stem on my bike (circled in blue to the right) with one made by TerraCycle.  I hadn't been happy with the amount of slop in the steering column on my bike.  After talking to several people, someone recommended checking with TerraCycle.  Their product is amazing.  The quality is so far superior to the stock equipment that comes on most all recumbents.  The first ride after I installed it made me a believer!   I can definitely endorse it.
I also had TerraCycle do some custom work for me on a new handlebar configuration.  I never felt like I had enough space  for all the accessories I need to mount.   In the picture to the left, you can see the mast coming up from the flex stem.  On that mast there is a stem coming toward the rider which holds the handlebars.  Notice that the only things on those handlebars are the brakes, shifters and a bell.  Above that stem is a second one which extends to the front which holds an 18 inch straight section of handlebar tubing.  This second bar is for all the other accessories.  Since taking this picture I have added a water bottle cage, cell phone holder, and a new mount for our camera.  For details of that device check our Camera Equipment page.  I am walking a tightrope here, keeping things high enough to not interfere with me knees, and low enough to not block my view of traffic.
   
Beverage Holders  
One thing we talk about on our "Riding Tips & Info" page is making sure you have plenty of water with you on long rides.  Most bikes are not equipped with a sufficient number of places to install water bottle cages.  I have seen riders come up with some very creative solutions on where to mount additional cages.  On our bike we have places for 7 bottles (three on each side and one in front).  Even at that, on our longer rides we have to stop and refill them!  In the picture to the right, two of the cages use factory mounts on the back of the seats.  The one toward the back of the bike is mounted on the rear seat support with hose clamps.
Okay, I admit this must be a real Northwest thing, combining bicycle riding and drinking good coffee!  We have always enjoyed heading to our favorite local coffee shop for a latte'.  Once we started riding the bike on a regular basis, it meant riding to the coffee shop and sitting there while we shared a cup.  When we progressed to riding the bike to work, we wanted to find a way to pick up our coffee and take it with us!  I found these at The Bike Gallery in Portland (made by Trek).  The really cool thing about these cups are that they actually fit into a standard water bottle cage!  That's the reason for the unique shape.
   
Lights  
We're all looking for better ways to make us more visible and safer while riding, especially in times of poor visibility, at dusk, or at night.  I found this bike light that is really really bright!  One evening I parked the bike in our driveway next to our car with the light flashing on the bike and the car's flashers on.  I then walked down the street a ways.  I am not kidding, the bike light was as bright as one of the car's tail lights!  You can get it online from Real Lite.
   
Horn  
As well as being seen, we like to be heard also.  There are times when you need to make your presence known.  We actually have three different "noise makers."  We start out with a nice friendly bell.  A nice little "ding-ding" is usually all it takes to get someone's attention as you approach them from the rear on the bike trail.  If that doesn't work, we have a bulb type "ah-ooooga" horn.  If that fails, we use our "Airzound" air horn.  It's as loud as a car horn!  You pump it up with your bike pump, and get an ear piercing blast.  We don't need it often, but it has come in handy.  I once blasted it at a driver who cut us off, and it was loud enough that they turned around and looked back to see what it was!  It's available lots of places, I ordered mine online from the Hostel Shoppe.
   
Rack  
One problem we had was just how to transport a bike this large.  Because of this, in the first year we had the bike all of our rides had to start from home.  Our motivation to get some kind of rack was a desire to join in some organized rides.  Naturally we had to be able to get the bike to the starting point of those rides!  There are some bike racks on the market designed for tandems, but none that I was happy with when used with a tandem recumbent.  So I did the only thing I could do, I built my own! 
I designed it so it could be used in a number of different types of vehicles, so no matter what I may own over the years, I can use the same rack.  It will work on top of a car, or in the back of a pickup or van.  For construction I used all aluminum and stainless steel so I wouldn't have to worry about corrosion.  The frame is square tubing with a channel for the tires to sit in.  The bike is held on with flat bars bent in a "V" with turnbuckles on each end hooked to u-bolts.  To keep from scratching it, I put pieces of rubber tubing over the bike frame .  The white PVC pipe thing on top is to hold the seat supports steady while the seats are off during transport.  I also tilt the handlebars forward to lower the overall height.  You can click on the picture to see a larger one if you wish.
 

 
 
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