Hi Folks,
Just a note to let you know how pleased I am with the Volae Century
you just sent me.
As a 25 year year team mechanic and high end bicycle shop owner, I
had high standards when it came to choosing my first recumbent for myself.
With so many brands on the market, research was lengthy and extensive, but
I knew enough to focus in on the few truly well designed and well equipped
bikes out there. I am so lucky to have found your website and the Volae
information. It was clear to me, that your company means business when it
comes to recumbents, and your years of experience with multiple brands has
allowed you to take the best features, design and components, and distill
them into a line of bikes that are as good as you can get.
As a novice recumbent customer, my expertise with bicycles could only
take me so far. Sure, I could see the high quality workmanship of the
frame, and the excellent choice of components on the Volae, but I was
unaware of how crucial sizing of the bike is. I am so lucky to have found
your website which made it clear that the key to having a great experience
with a recumbent is ultimately the fit of the bike to your body. I am sure
there are thousands of people every year who make the mistake of buying a
recumbent on the internet or on Ebay, that end up with a bike that does
not fit them, and thus it makes their cycling experience virtual torture.
With the variety of frame and seat sizes you offer, and with the specific
measurements you require from the customer, the perfect fit is assured.
The fact that your set up each bike specifically to the customer's
personal measurements, means that right out of the box, the bike is
perfect for that individual. My Century fit me like a glove, and my first
ride ever on a recumbent was one of the greatest cycling experiences of my
life.
I did not know what to expect from my first time on a recumbent, and
with your generous offer of a trial period with each bike, I sure as heck
was not going to throw out the packing materials and box until I knew what
I was getting into. I think I had gone about 100 yards before I made the
decision to fold up the bike box and put it in the recycling container. In
a lifetime of cycling, I had never had a bike fit me so well. I had also
never had a bike that was totally free from any discomfort. The carbon
seat is so well designed, that there is absolutely no stress or pressure
on any part of your back or tail. The position of the bars is such that
just the lightest touch on the grips is needed, so there is no palm or
wrist pain. The pedal stroke and position is totally natural, and if you
closed your eyes, and did not know you were in a horizontal position, you
would swear you were pedaling vertically. On my first ride, I was able to
go further with much less effort than on my traditional bike. I noticed
that headwinds are much less of a concern since the recumbent position
does not cause nearly as much drag. I have suffered with asthma my entire
life, and for the first time, I have a bike that allows me to keep up with
other riders, and does not trigger my asthma by over exertion. Maybe it
has something to do with the position I am riding in, but I think it must
just take a lot less effort to ride at speed. Whatever it is, it in my
opinion is the best benefit of the recumbent for me. Of course the 100%
pain free ride is a close second!
I admit that at the age of 43, my motivation for researching recumbents was
brought on by a need to find a bicycle that was comfortable. Your company
has opened my eyes to a whole new world of cycling that I only wish I had
discovered years ago. The two pieces of advice I have to pass on to
riders, are that you should get a quality recumbent now, and not wait
until your body asks for it, and that you make sure that it is one that
fits you perfectly. The experience will be so great, that you will find
your enthusiasm for cycling boosted 1000%. I can't wait to hit the road
again today... I never used to say that!
