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Frequently Answered Questions
- Does the high crank position cause numb feet?
- Numbness at the ball of the foot is usually caused by pressure of the
pedal on the ball of the foot. This is independent of the relative height
of the crankset to the seat. Riders that experience this problem should
try the following:
- Use clipless pedals and biking shoes with stiff soles.
- Make sure your shoes are not too tight in the ball of the foot.
Try lacing them a little looser.
- Shift down to a lower gear and work on spinning. During the
spinning stroke you should actually be pulling down and backwards for a
short time. This helps to reduce the constant pressure on the ball of the
foot that causes the burning sensation.
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- How do I carry water bottles?
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First, we're big fans of seat bags and hydration bladders and would
recommend them to every recumbent rider. It's easier to drink from, which
means you'll stay more hydrated; you don't have to take your eyes off the
road or tip your head back to drink, which means you'll stay in control;
and you'll never see your bladder go skidding down the road after you hit
a big pothole.
For those of you still not convinced, we've found several
mounting options for water bottle users:
- FastBack Bottle System on the seat.
- Minoura Bottle Cage Mounts on the chainstays.
- M5 Cage Mounting Kit on the seat.
Any of these will work great for just carrying extra water, but we
recommend the Minoura chainstay mounting option for primary use since it's
much easier to grab and replace a bottle than seat-mounted options, it's
inexpensive, there are no cumbersome straps, it's quite secure, and it
requires no drilling to your hardshell seat. Click Here to see bottles mounted in
this fashion.
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- Is the Volae Monotube frame efficient?
- In the diamond frame bike world, efficiency in transferring energy
from the rider to the rear wheel is commonly referred to as frame
efficiency. Movement at the bottom bracket is the telltale sign of an
inefficient frame. However, this diamond frame logic does not transfer perfectly to
the recumbent frame situation. In the recumbent world frame efficiency
(determined by movement of the bottom bracket) is only part of the
equation. In fact, the definition of "frame" itself is somewhat blurred
compared to upright bikes. On a recumbent (unlike an upright) the seat,
seat attachment hardware and seat stays all provide a platform for the
rider to push against when pedaling. Does this make them part of the
frame? Also, chain management is a recumbent specific issue not found on
uprights that affects the efficient transfer of energy but is clearly not
part of the frame.
At Volae we think of the Energy Transmission System (ETS) as a more
comprehensive means for analyzing energy transmission from the rider to
the rear wheel. The ETS includes the frame design, frame material, tubing
specifications, seat stay design & material, seat attachment hardware, the
seat itself and the chain management. All of the above effect energy
transmission from the rider to the rear wheel. Everyone is aware that
efficiency is compromised if the boom allows the bottom bracket to move
excessively from side to side. However, efficiency is also compromised if
the rear triangle design allows the seat to move from side to side when
pedaling or if there is friction in the chain management system. Focusing
on one of the ETS components at the exclusion of the others may lead to
inaccurate conclusions. The Volae design evolved from an awareness of the
role that all of the ETS components play in making an efficient bike.
Volae frames are designed to allow enough vertical flex to absorb road
shock and provide a smooth ride while minimizing side to side flex at the
boom and rear triangle. The result is a perfect combination of comfort and
efficiency. The only people that think our recumbents aren't efficient
haven't ever ridden one.
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- Where did the "Volae" name come from?
- Developing our company name was a difficult task, which took many
hours of brainstorming over a three-month period. We had planned to
develop a "manufactured name" that was not a foreign name, since our bikes
will be made in USA. During a brain storming session with my son Ben and a
consultant (Kevin), I suggested Rolet. It came to mind while driving
behind a Chevrolet pickup truck. However, we felt it might be
mispronounced. Ben suggested replacing the "et" with "ae" resulting in
Rolae. Then, since we were also considering some names beginning with "V",
Ben suggested changing the "R" to a "V". The result was Volae. We all
liked the sound of it immediately.
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- Will a fairing make me even faster on my Volae?
- The real question with fairings is, "Does the wind close behind the
fairing before it reaches the rider?" At the bicycling speeds found on a
dual 650 recumbent with a laid-back body position and high bottom bracket,
the rider is too far behind the fairing to get much of a "drafting" effect
from it. This is especially true when riding in cross winds or quartering
into the wind. A fairing will improve your aerodynamics on a 26/20 model
with an upright seating position and a mesh seat. However, a fairing
alone will probably not provide much of a speed advantage on a dual 650 or
dual 26" model with a molded seat and a laid back seating position.
But, will fairings help keep your feet warm and extend your riding
season? Yes!!!
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- What about chain line noise?
- The vast majority of Volae riders don't have any concerns about chain
line noise. However, on occasion, a rider does complain about "idler
noise." We researched this issue and found that while some noise comes
from the idlers, the bulk of the chain line noise comes from the chain
passing through the jockey wheels on the rear derailleur, the
chain/cassette interface, and the rest of the drivetrain.
Our seat stay design may be the culprit and also the hero. Force is
applied to the pedals by pressing your back against the seat. Seat stays
that allow the seat to move from side to side absorb energy and,
incidentally don't transmit sound very efficiently. Volae seat stays
provide an extremely solid platform to push from (the hero part) but also
do an excellent job of transmitting sound (the culprit part) to the hollow
channels of the molded seat and the rider's ears. Tap the rear derailleur
of a Volae with the handle of a screwdriver. The resulting sound seems to
come from the vicinity of the seat and the rear idler.
Is a Volae drivetrain louder than some others? ...Sure.
Is it more efficient, smoother and more durable? ...Definitely!
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- How does the speed of a Volae compare to speed of an upright?
- Volae positions the rider in a naturally aerodynamic tuck position.
Most riders cannot stay in the aerodynamic tuck position on conventional
bike for more than a mile or two without discomfort, while a "recumbent
tuck" is completely comfortable and is the position you always ride in.
All the human powered speed records including the DuPont Prize for
breaking 65mph are held by recumbents. (Francis Faure set speed records
for the mile and kilometer in 1933 on a recumbent. The Union Cycliste
Internationale (U.C.I.) promptly banned recumbents from racing because
they felt recumbents provided an unfair aerodynamic advantage. As a
result, recumbents have not been used since in racing and have not been
mass-produced until recently.)
Speed is largely dependent on the engine (you), but our own experiences have
shown a significant advantage over upright bikes in flat and rolling terrain, and no real
advantage to either in moderate hills. In very steep hills, an upright rider can have
an advantage due to their ability to stand on the pedals and muscle up steep inclines.
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- Is there a Volae newsgroup I can subscribe to?
- Yes! It's a gathering place for owners and potential owners of the
Volae line of recumbent bicycles. A forum for exchange of information on
equipment, rides, and anything relating to the Volae line in general.
Visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Volae_Recumbents/ to
browse or subscribe.
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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! |
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