WOLVER-BENTS RECUMBENT CYCLISTS UPDATE
July 2010
www.wolverbents.org
 
1. Monthly Ride Schedule - Southeast Michigan
2. Fireworks At Willow Metropark... By Bike
3. Black Bear Tour
4. Used Recumbents For Sale
5. Wolver-Bents E-Mail Discussion Group
5. Reminders

 
 

1. Monthly Ride Schedule
The Spring/Summer/Autumn Wolver-Bents ride schedule is a follows, with rides at both Willow and Metro Beach Metroparks.

 

1st Saturday Of The Month - Metro Beach Metropark (northeast Detroit suburbs)

July 3rd - Meet by the big flagpole near the Metro Beach Metropark main beach building at 9am. There is a $5 entrance fee to the park on weekends with a $25 ($15 for seniors) annual pass available.  This is usually a relaxed pace ride to a late breakfast and back. Special Note - Quite often, people show up every Saturday, 9am, at Metro Beach Metropark for a breakfast ride as long as the weather is good.

 

Willow Metropark (southwest metro Detroit area) - 4th Saturday of the month (May Only)
Rides will take place on July 10th and July 24th starting from the Willow Metropark Washago Pond north parking lot (area "J" on the map link and near the Willow to Lower Huron park connector path) at 9am. 
 
Riders have two options...   a) join members of the Downriver Cycling Club for their semi-casual ride of 20-40 miles (they start their ride at the same time/location as the Wolver-Bents ride, or b) do the "traditional" Wolver-Bents ride on the the interconnected Willow, Oakwoods and Lower Huron Metropark bike path system where distances up to 27 miles can be ridden (or set your own lower mileage). Willow Metropark is located in the southwest Metro Detroit area, just south of I-94 and Detroit Metro Airport. Take I-275 south to exit 11, South Huron Road (look for the Willow park signs), and go east to the park's north entrance. There is a $5 entrance fee to the park on weekends with a $25 ($15 for seniors) annual pass available. 
 
2. Fireworks At Willow Metropark... By Bike
On Sunday, July 4th, fireworks will be held at Willow Metropark starting at approximately 10pm. Needless to say, you can just imagine that driving to Willow Metropark will be a nightmare. One suggestion, however, for cyclists, is to park at either Lower Huron, or Oakwoods Metroparks (the two parks adjacent to Willow), hop on your bike, and pedal to Willow Metropark by the interconnected Lower Huron/Willow/Oakwoods bike path system. When the fireworks are over, you might actually be able to arrive back home before the last car leaves Willow. For a map of the Willow/Oakwoods bike path system, click here. For a map of the Lower Huron to Willow Metropark bike path system, click here (note: there is a 3 mile connector trail between the south end of Lower Huron park and the north end of Willow park). If you do bike to the fireworks, it is highly advised that you have working head, and tail, lights, as the trails can be very dark at night.
 
3. Black Bear Tour
One Michigan bike ride that is gathering more and more recumbent riders is the Black Bear Bike Tour out of Grayling, Michigan on the last Sunday of July. The ride roughly follows the Au Sable River from Grayling to Oscoda, on Lake Huron, and is 100 miles long. The ride is sponsored by the Grayling Rotary Club and helps fund their projects, which include bike path construction.
 
An added attraction of the Black Bear Bike Tour is that the night before (Saturday evening), at 9pm, a marathon canoe race leaves Grayling, with the finnish line being in Oscoda right where the bike tour ends. The canoes themselves are a sight to see, having a racing profile and made mainly of kevlar. Those canoeing paddle all night and are resupplied by their crews at various bridge crossing along the way. Also, when the canoe race starts in Grayling, it is a "Le Mans" type start where the canoeists grab their canoes sitting on a city street and run with them to the river.
 
From a cycling standpoint, the Black Bear can be a tour if you want, or a race. Each rider is given a transponder chip to put on their bike that records your start time at Grayling and end time at Oscoda. Also, the ride organizers have a shuttle bus set up so that when you get to Oscoda, they will take you and your bike back to Grayling for an additional charge. It also should be noted that while Grayling sits higher in elevation (1050 feet above sea level) compared to (633 feet above sea level), the ride it not all downhill. In particular there are two horrendous (but not impossible - just gear down and pedal) hills that add "charm" to the ride.
 
On ride times, most people complete the ride within 6 hours but the all-time record for any type of bike belongs to faired recumbent rider Dave Johnson at 3:52. For more information on the Black Bear Bike Tour, including a route map, visit http://www.grayling-area.com/blackbear2010/.
 
4. Used Recumbents For Sale
Listing are free but limited to bikes for sale in the Michigan/Ohio/Indiana/Ontario region. Please send information to Bob Krzewinski at wolverbob@gmail.com by the end of the month for listing in the next months Wolver-Bent E-News. Also, for a summary of recumbents for sale on Craigslist, vist  http://bike.jaxed.com/cgi-bin/bike.cgi?cat=bik&itm=recumbent&fil=&state=MI&ps=&pe=&submit=+GO+.

For Sale: Trek R-200 short wheelbase recumbent for sale. I am the third owner of this bike it has a Rans seat, a planet bike computer and info for computer, 2 water bottle cages, 2 mirrors, a rack and a bag. I am not sure the mileage or the age , it has tilt forward handle bars and a shock on the back ,the bike has about 40 gears on it and was tuned up not that long ago.$450 firm.  Call Cody at 586-469-8150 or email at crazzybiker13@yahoo.com

 

For Sale: Actionbent Jetstream underseat steering short wheelbase recumbent, black, with a rack and an A’bent seat bag. Less than 1000mi with newer upgraded tires and rear derailleur (Sram x-7). Good cosmetic condition and perfect mechanical condition. A pleasant bike to ride and speedy. $375 for a quick sale. I need to carry two bikes most times and can’t with an uss style recumbent on my bike rack. Email questions to cathyknight2@aol.com. Pics on request.

 

For Sale: 2001 Rans V-Rex: Shimano 105, SRAM9, Avid Arch Rival, Alex/Shimano wheels, plus dual cages, lights, mirror, stand, and brand new seat foam, cover, and mesh.  This bike has received superb care and maintenance and would not look out of place on the showroom floor. Asking $1050. Grand Rapids area. Call Jon 616 281-9368 or jjkrieger@gmail.com
 
For Sale: 2006 Burley Django in excellent condition.  Black/Amber color from the Illusion Series.  Medium/Large frame.  Includes 670 cubic seat storage bag and extra front tire tubes.  Original cost $1,600 asking $900.  Email to jimcameron07@aol.com or call/text 248-320-8505.  Novi.

2007 Ran V Formula LE recumbent, long wheelbase.  Planet Bike computer, 9 speed cassette, Triple chainring, Truativ isis drive 170mm cranks, SRAM X-7 derailuers, Continental tires, spare tires and tubes, Rans behind the seat bag, Wellgo combo spd pedals.  Only 91 fair weather miles on bike. Like new. Over $2100 invested, asking $1450 or best.  Will deliver within 300 miles for asking price.  517-512-4151.

For Sale: Tour Easy clone long wheelbase recumbent bike.  Small frame for a rider between 4’10” and about 5’3”. Seat adjusts about 5” for a pedal to seat back distance of between 32” and 37”. Unit is functional but could benefit from some maintenance and cleanup. This is a home built bike and has been ridden often.  $150.00   email dan@dcdetec.com or phone 269-781-7973 (screening calls, please leave a message).

For Sale: RANS V-Rex-XL  2002 pearl white, front derailleur Shimano 105, rear derailleur Grip Shift 9.0, Shifters are Grip Shift ESP 9.0.9, brakes are Avid, front wheel is a Pantour Roclite (original wheel also included), fenders front and rear, RANS Tail Pak seat bag, kick stand, Cateye computer and Polar CS200. This bike has been well cared for and has been ridden less than 1000 miles.  $900. Gerry9a@sbcglobal.net or 586-416-0175.

For Sale: 2003 RANS V-Rex. Under 600 miles.This model has Ultegra front and SRAM 9 rear. I have a aero seat bag on it from RANS. Not much wear and tear. Stored inside winters. My legs won't get me up the hills anymore. Going to play golf. This will make someone a nice ride. $800.00 or best. Contact queeny_grey@yahoo.com, 269-781-8248  (over by Battle Creek) and close to I-94 and I-69.

For Sale: Vision R82 Tandem recumbent. Like new condition with approximately 300 miles.  Underseat steering, adjustable rear seat, independent pedaling system, wireless Cateye bike computer and kickstand.  Vision seat bag and Draftmaster bike carrier tandem extension (not entire Draftmaster rig, just the tandem extension to mate to the rig) included.  Extremely comfortable ride for both captain and stoker.  $2500 OBO.  I ride a RANS Enduro now, wife prefers her Schwinn road bike.  Live in South Central Michigan.  Please contact me at email b359@comcast.net for more info/pictures.
 
For Sale: 2007 Sun Tandem AX - fusion blue, Independent Pedaling System, fenders, rear rack... never ridden.  Paid over $3100 in fall 2007.  Asking $2300.  Please call Mark at 248 310-0094, or email at icejoss@aol.com.

 

For Sale: 2002 Lightning P38 – extra large frame, metallic green, suspended fork, tilt steering, hardly ridden the past 3 years. Paid over $3,000, asking $2,200 for this legendary ride!  Please call Mark at 248 310-0094, or email at icejoss@aol.com.
 
For Sale: RANS Stratus loaded with options including a Honda 4 stroke friction drive motor. Original owner. $1450.00. Call Bill (810) 964-1061.
 
For Sale: EZ-Sport AX all aluminum, low mileage, very good condition. Blue and silver, 27 speed  Can be seen and riden at "The Bike Route" 5201 Monroe St.Toledo Ohio. $800. Questions, call 419-868-1194. No shipping, must pick up.
 
Wanted - EZ-1 or EZ-1 Lite (aluminum).  For buyer's purpose, it is necessary that the frame be made of square tubing. Willing to pay any reasonable price for a used recumbent as described above. The bike does not need to be in excellent condition. Buyer lives near Dayton, Ohio, and would like to find a seller south of Flint if possible. Contact Rocky at thirdrockresident@hotmail.com or 937-629-0479.
 
For Sale:  RANS V-Rex recumbent.  Features include: extra set of lightweight wheels, Ultegra front and rear derailleurs, new chain, RANS seat bag and rack, and two seat pads.  Excellent condition and well maintained.  Asking $800.  Call Dave at 517-449-5406, or email at outhouseman1@comcast.net.  Lansing area.
 
For Sale: SportsWork recumbent bike rack (bike carrier) for two bikes. One carrier accommodates a bike with 16" front wheel and 20" back wheel. The other carrier can be used with any size wheels. The wheel trays are adjustable. The rack folds up, when you are not transporting bikes, and folds down so you can open the rear of you vehicle. The rack can be locked onto your vehicle. Requires a 2" receiver. Asking $350. Contact Vern at ldhoag@sbcglobal.net.
 
For Sale: RANS Tailwind recumbent. $650. Purchased used last year and have enjoyed riding it on the White Pine Trail. It is a stock bike about 7 years old with a 62" wheelbase and is in good condition. Bike includes RANS seat attached bike bag, mirror, rear red flasher light and water bottle cage. Would consider delivering as far as Cadillac, Grand Rapids or Mt. Pleasant. Contact Perry Lewis, Big Rapids, MI at: rxmanperry@hotmail.com for more info/pictures.
 
For Sale: KMX ST Trike, $720 OBO. Purchased in September, 2007. Total mileage:100-200 miles. It looks brand-new. Test ride is welcome at Kensington Metro Park. Moving back to Japan and cannot take the trike back with me. Ryuta Kawaguchi, Farmington Hills, MI. E-mail: kryuta@hotmail.com  Cell: 480-208-4115. 
 
For Sale: 2003 Burley Hepcat. Less than 200 miles and in almost new condition. Orange color. Original cost $1800, asking $850. Email to lclark@actuwell.com or call at 616-443-3793
 
For Sale: Infinity recumbent bicycle. This is a long-wheelbase roadster with under-seat steering and a comfortable seat, and is in good working condition. Unfortunately, the seat has some wear, so it was reinforced with some foam padding, and some duct tape. Asking price is $700, although the price is negotiable. Bike located in the Ann Arbor area. Contact Willie through the online ad for this bike at http://willienorthway.com/forsale/.
 
5. Wolver-Bents E-Mail Discussion Group
To subscribe to the Wolver-Bents e-mail discussion group, send an e-mail to wolverbents-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wolverbents. At this discussion group, Wolver-Bent ride reminders are given, and it is a great forum to have general recumbent questions answered.

6. Reminders
Have a new bike, some riding tips, a new riding location? Consider writing a story for the monthly Wolver-Bent Updates. Submissions are always welcome and appreciated. Please send items to Bob at either wolverbob@gmail.com or wolverbob@yahoo.com.

Help support bicycling in Michigan by joining/supporting the League of Michigan Bicyclists www.lmb.org and the rail-trail development group, the Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance, at www.michigantrails.org. Also, check out our "sister" recumbent group (and consider a membership), the Michigan Human Powered Vehicle Association at www.mhpva.org. And of course ALWAYS support your local bike shop!
 
Happy 'Benting!
Bob Krzewinski
Wolver-Bent Recumbent Cyclists
www.wolverbents.org
wolverbob@yahoo.com or wolverbob@gmail.com
734/487-9058