We have completed a very challenging shakedown ride on the new tandem, Golanth, the bronze dragon. Here are the details: First we are now at L. L. Stub Stewart State Park near Vernonia, Oregon. This park is in the middle of the Banks Vernonia State Trail. It is in the coast range of mountains and has some severe hills to negotiate.

The Banks-Vernonia trail itself is very nice because it is a rails to trails conversion. It has a very steady 2.3 percent grade that is easy to ride. We can ride that all day long, (with suitable rest stops of course.) The roads inside the Stub Stewart parks are more challenging. The main road into the park is a stiff 8 to 9 percent. On our upright tandem, the Co-Motion, we are able to ride the half mile hill to our access road in one stage. With Golanth, the new recumbent, we would need to stop half way up and catch our breath. Today we rode Golanth straight up the hill without stopping. Oh, yes; there was a minor hitch at the start due to a loose wire, but after that we rode the length of the hill without stopping. That is Judy, myself and “Lance” our electric boost rider. “Lance” and his batteries hide under Judy’s seat and only wake up when I tickle the throttle lever.
Judy did mention one concern that she has. “It is heavy.” I keep reminding her of the awesome technology does increase the weight slightly. For example, the continuous gearing using the Nuvinci hubs weighs 8.7 pounds each, and built into the wheels the total weight for two wheels is 24.8 pounds. Some tandem bicycles only weigh that much total weight. But wait, there is more. Those wonderful comfortable seats are five pounds each. Now we are looking at 35 pounds and I still need to add all of the rest of the bicycle. The frame weighs just 13 pounds including the fork. Yes that is 48 pounds but there is more. We need cranks and shifters and brakes and that gives us 59 pounds. Last of all is the electric boost weigh? That stuff weighs in at about 23 pounds including the two lead-acid batteries. We could save five pounds here with Lithium batteries but the cost is $500 instead of $50.
So what if the bicycle tips the scales at 80 pounds instead of 40. It is actually easier to get up the hills here in Stub Stewart with “Lance” riding shotgun than it is with the lighter bicycle. That is what all the technology is for.
We will be here at Stub Stewart until the end of October, so come on out and see us. Be sure and check with us, however, so we will actually be here when you arrive.