# I got a new handcycle **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 24, 2020, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-a-new-handcycle/916224 "2020-07-24T15:26:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2020, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-a-new-handcycle/916224/1 "2020-07-24T15:26:59Z")
I got a new handcycle. It’s a [Greenspeed hand Magnum.](https://greenspeed-trikes.com/hand-magnum.html) Long story short, my old handcycle broke, no new parts available. Due to the pandemic, that took several weeks to resolve. Ordering the new bike and waiting for accessories took a few more weeks and I’m still waiting for the luggage rack. (I asked to have the trike shipped without the rack, it’ll be sent when it comes in.) [![](https://i.imgur.com/ZbDmmQYm.jpg) ](https://i.imgur.com/ZbDmmQYm.jpg) [![](https://i.imgur.com/7baL5hbm.jpg) ](https://i.imgur.com/7baL5hbm.jpg) Good points: Foldable. Quick release front wheels. Mesh seat allows far better ventilation (it gets hot here). Seat height and angle are adjustable. Crank height, reach and width are adjustable. Trailer hitch mounts where it belongs under the rear axle rather than the kludged together setup I had on the old bike. Luggage rack allows use of saddlebags and rack bags. No more hooking up the trailer and making a special trip for even small items. I have fenders over all three wheels. No more road spray in the rain. The Mountain Drive and rear hub can be shifted while sitting still. Bad points: Steering is _very_ sensitive, “muscling” the cranks like on the old bike results in unwanted input. Lower gear/higher rpm should reduce it but I don’t know yet if it will be eliminated. Despite being the same weight as the old bike, it has a heavy, cumbersome feel overall. I suspect that like with the steering, I need to spin higher rpms. It’s more awkward to get in/out. Folding the crank tower helps. The internal hub means a more complicated removal of the rear wheel. The hand pedals are very small in diameter. I’ll need to get something along the lines of pipe insulation to thicken the grip. The front fenders(optional, the rear fender came with the trike) are flimsy. Disappointing considering the cost. Techie stuff: 42t on crank 9 speed cassette 11-32 Sturmey-Archer 3 speed internal gear hub low is 25% lower, middle is direct drive, high is 33% higher (non-techie note, this takes the place of the 3 chainrings on a regular bike) 2 speed Schlumpf Mountain Drive on crank high is direct drive, 2.5:1 reduction in low. [http://www.schlumpfdrive.com/index.php/mountain-drive.html](http://www.schlumpfdrive.com/index.php/mountain-drive.html) “54 gears”, actually two separate 27 gear ranges [Gear inches](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gear_inches) 17-95 7-38(low) Front wheels have 90mm drum brakes with parking button on lever. Sturmey Archer twist grip for rear hub Bar end shifter for cassette. Single brake lever links to both front brakes ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2020, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-a-new-handcycle/916224/2 "2020-07-24T17:16:57Z")
Cool. 7 gear inches? I suppose that is goo if you ever need to pull some tree stumps out of the ground 😉 Brian ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2020, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-a-new-handcycle/916224/3 "2020-07-24T17:17:52Z")
I’ve always wanted to scale walls. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2020, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-a-new-handcycle/916224/4 "2020-07-24T17:17:54Z")
Nice! Congratulations. How many months out of the year can you use it? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2020, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-a-new-handcycle/916224/5 "2020-07-24T17:20:05Z")
Year round. I’ve been without a car for 9 years. The previous bike had no way to mount fenders so I would get soaked from road spray off the back tires. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2020, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-a-new-handcycle/916224/6 "2020-07-24T17:34:57Z")
Cool! ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2020, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-a-new-handcycle/916224/7 "2020-07-26T00:41:03Z")
Congrats. I’ve looked at their recumbents for quite a while but I can’t quite justify it yet. I hope you have many happy miles of riding! ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2020, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-a-new-handcycle/916224/8 "2020-07-26T00:47:26Z")
Thanks! Any particular model you’re eyeing? ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2020, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-a-new-handcycle/916224/9 "2020-07-26T00:55:54Z")
We will expect an updated avatar from you! ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2020, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-a-new-handcycle/916224/10 "2020-07-26T00:57:29Z")
Way ahead of you. I changed it right after posting the thread topic. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2020, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-a-new-handcycle/916224/11 "2020-07-26T01:43:02Z")
I _thought_ it looked shinier! ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2020, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-a-new-handcycle/916224/12 "2020-07-26T01:45:50Z")
I tried washing my old avatar a couple of times and shorted out the monitor each time. ---
**Author:** ![K2500](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f6c823/32.png) [@K2500](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K2500)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2020, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-a-new-handcycle/916224/13 "2020-07-26T05:23:43Z")
How fast is it? ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2020, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-a-new-handcycle/916224/14 "2020-07-26T05:34:33Z")
I’m curious how hilly is the terrain where you ride out there. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2020, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-a-new-handcycle/916224/15 "2020-07-26T11:20:50Z")
> [@K2500](#): > > How fast is it? Top speed is 28mph @100 rpm. Ain’t happening in real life except on a downhill. > [@needscoffee](#): > > I’m curious how hilly is the terrain where you ride out there. The nearest hills are 15-20 miles away. All flat around here. The hills themselves are moderate to a bit of a challenge (for experienced cyclists). Not severe like riding over the Rockies. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2020, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-a-new-handcycle/916224/16 "2020-07-26T18:29:14Z")
I was looking at the Magnum BW or the GT26 but I’ve also drawn up plans for a really funky two wheeled dual suspension high racer 26 inch tired recumbent. It would be a hand built carbon fiber frame, Under seat steering, and use a mid drive that the owners of [Maxarya Cycles](https://www.maxarya.com/) sent out to me from one of their prototype bikes. My plan originally was to use a MTB 27 spd setup but now I’m reconsidering and using something like a SRAM XX1 so I don’t need a front derailleur. ---
**Author:** ![K2500](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f6c823/32.png) [@K2500](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K2500)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2020, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-a-new-handcycle/916224/17 "2020-07-26T18:34:59Z")
I could imagine even twenty mph to feel fast as hell. My motorctcles have never felt particularly safe in traffic and they’re a bit faster than that. How does being in traffic feel from a personal safety aspect? Are there a lot of bike lanes where you are? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2020, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-a-new-handcycle/916224/18 "2020-07-26T19:14:24Z")
That sound like quite the project. And scoring free stuff. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2020, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-a-new-handcycle/916224/19 "2020-07-26T19:16:49Z")
The only bike lanes are on roads wide enough to not need 'em. Go figure. I actually have less trouble with drivers than when I rode a regular bike. Plus I go the hi-viz route-bright shirt/helmet and gloves and daylight visible lights-front and back. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2020, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-a-new-handcycle/916224/20 "2020-08-30T23:17:34Z")
Hey @running_coach, how’s the new handcycle working out? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-a-new-handcycle/916224.md?page=2)