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First pics of new Windcheetah
The recumbent trike classic gets a revamp - we have first 'spy' images a week before its official launch...
As we wrote in this story in early July, the well-known Windcheetah recumbent trike has been undergoing a bit of a redesign, with original designer Mike Burrows working with manufacturers AVD to update what is a 'classic' design. Thanks to Bob Dixon at AVD for sending us these (exclusive, yeah!) images before the official launch next week at the Eurobike trade show in Germany. So without further ado:
and
In brief, changes include (mostly quoting from Bob at Windcheetah):
- all new castings, inc. new rear mech support allowing larger cassette sprockets.
- Carbon fibre leaf spring seat mountings instead of castings with rubber pads.
- Carbon front boom and much lighter centre casting
- New brakes: two piece hub, CNC machined cooling fins, bonded together, and using a ceramic coating to provide the friction surface instead of a steel liner. 'Significantly lighter' than a conventional drum or disc set up, the new hub features radial outer spokes to resist the high lateral loadings and tangential inner spokes to resist braking forces, all straight pull.
- New rear axle design, lighter and stiffer.
- New model to be called 'HyperSport' and will be sold at a higher price than the current 'ClubSport' and 'SuperSport'. The current models will not be discontinued. Numbers will be limited to 10 units this year (two have already been pre sold) and 30 units next year. Price will be in the region of £3k with conventional brakes. Ceramic brakes will be extra at a price 'comparable to some high end disc brakes'
- Weight is sub 30lb. Dura Ace equipment is standard.
- A matching lightweight carbon luggage trailer is in the pipeline. A boss on the rear casting is ready to be used as rack mount/trailer hitch.
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We have a fuller and more detailed report, with more, better-quality, higher-res pics, in Issue 11 of Velo Vision Magazine, out first week in September. And much more besides... If you don't already subscribe, why not? Just visit our Online Shop...
Posted on 22 August 2003
Your comments ...| From: jase ([email protected]) on 22 August 2003 |
| about the weight. it's an obvious fact of physics, never mentioned in discussions of recumbents uphill performance, that lighter cycles go up hill faster. the new trike should be a nippy climber. now someone produce a sub 22 lb bicycle recumbent.....please. |
| From: Ralf Grosser ([email protected]) on 22 August 2003 |
The matter of weight in recombents is allways an issue.
One thing you will never be able to save weight on a recumbent is its chain.
(Useing conventional chaindrive.)
Recumbents as a rule of thumb have twice as much chain or more as a conventional bike. Also often add to this sets of rollers for the often bent chainline.
The chain weight issue is something that came to me restocking boxes of chains in a bikeshop. Two chains are quit a handfull. |
| From: Rob ([email protected]) on 22 August 2003 |
Ah - that old chestnut! But looking at the overall weight of the system - trike and rider - a pound off the weight of the trike is soon compensated for by that lunchtime pint and you are back where you started...
Lighter is nice but don't get over-excited about gram saving.
Bill Volk did some excellent testing based on frame stiffness (and built a very heavy bike based on a girder) back in the late 90s and found that 'Heavy Metal' climbed the hills of San Francisco like a rocket! |
| From: Ralf Grosser ([email protected]) on 22 August 2003 |
Iam abit of a minimalist when it comes to bikes.
The the Spezi I camped beside two recumbent riders, who were amazed at the gear i had with me on my bike. it was more but lighter then what they had on their machines.
The bike I rode was am AM 14.
I like things done in a reduced way, for example the Batmobile may be fun to look at, but a Morris Mini was a more usefull car.
I also like unicycles, because you can do so much with very little. |
| From: Ralf Grosser ([email protected]) on 22 August 2003 |
BTW I forgot to mention, that Mike Burrows is a demigodlike bikedesigner.
Godlike goes to a guy named Alex! |
| From: Span Tally ([email protected]) on 26 August 2003 |
"someone produce a sub 22 lb bicycle recumbent"
Someone did. Chap by the name of Moens. Just add money... |
| From: Peter Clinch ([email protected]) on 26 August 2003 |
| The M5 Carbon isn't the only game in town at less than 20 lbs. The Lightning R84 is there too. And just add money for your own as well... |
| From: Alan Weiss ([email protected]) on 27 August 2003 |
The Rotator Titanium Pursuit
http://rotatorrecumbent.com/pursuit.html
is 21 lbs, and $4700. Not cheap, but readily available. I have seen one; it is a thing of beauty. |
| From: Seamus (whatever) on 27 August 2003 |
Ah but...
lose your head and it'll save several pounds or a well developed leg could be a couple of stone;-) |
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