Maybe I'm carrying over my concern about bike tires from trying to find tires for Kip's bike, which has much narrower wheels--20 X 1.35 and 26 X 1.25. We had to special order the former in Knoxville and it took a week to come in.
My bike is a BikeE AT. Unfortunately BikeE went out of business a number of years ago. In general the company's recumbent bikes were very popular, perhaps because they were considered cheap among recumbents, though heavier than usual and not as fast as some.
The AT was the second model up, about $1,000. (It has a shock absorber for the back wheel; the entry level model, without shock absorber, was $650 at the time.) The windshield was a separate extra, made by a different company.* If I recall correctly it was about $300, but it was a Christmas present, and I don't remember exactly. The big back on the back was an optional accessory from Bike E, and has enough space to carry two bags of groceries, or a load of laundry (if you pack it tight, but you can also just take the bag off and bungee a laundry basket to the back). IIRC, it was about 70$. The wire net is a pac-safe, designed to make it difficult for someone to steal a backpack or open the pack and steal stuff out of it (mostly used by people staying in youth hostels or other places where their luggage is not locked away from other people). IIRC it was about $40. I originally added it because I wanted a secure way to leave the bag on the bike and leave stuff in the bag (like a trunk). Nowadays I often don't bother to lock it; living in a small town does that to you. The folding baskets below the seat (one is unfolded and has a blue plastic bag in it in this picture) were about $20, and the under-seat rack they're attached to was about $70. They're sturdier than they may look; I have carried 3 full 2 liter bottles of pop in each. Because of the shape of the seat above them, it's a little tricky to put large things in them, but I'm generally quite happy with them.
All in all it is a pretty expensive rig. But I can't ride a regular bicycle much; the neck injury means I just can't crane my neck around that way anymore. And it can carry a *lot* which makes it practical for errands that would normally call for a car. When I made the original investment (back in 1999 or so) I rode it to work every day, and frequently to the store or to the library. I have ridden it thousands of miles, and it looks like it will be good for thousands more.
I'm actually thinking about adding an electric motor. Alas, the one I want is really expensive; I have good taste. :-)
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*Mueller Human Power, which is a great company. When my fairing was damaged by a would-be bike thief they sent me the replacement parts in the next day's mail for free, even though none of it was their fault.
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My bike is a BikeE AT. Unfortunately BikeE went out of business a number of years ago. In general the company's recumbent bikes were very popular, perhaps because they were considered cheap among recumbents, though heavier than usual and not as fast as some.
The AT was the second model up, about $1,000. (It has a shock absorber for the back wheel; the entry level model, without shock absorber, was $650 at the time.) The windshield was a separate extra, made by a different company.* If I recall correctly it was about $300, but it was a Christmas present, and I don't remember exactly. The big back on the back was an optional accessory from Bike E, and has enough space to carry two bags of groceries, or a load of laundry (if you pack it tight, but you can also just take the bag off and bungee a laundry basket to the back). IIRC, it was about 70$. The wire net is a pac-safe, designed to make it difficult for someone to steal a backpack or open the pack and steal stuff out of it (mostly used by people staying in youth hostels or other places where their luggage is not locked away from other people). IIRC it was about $40. I originally added it because I wanted a secure way to leave the bag on the bike and leave stuff in the bag (like a trunk). Nowadays I often don't bother to lock it; living in a small town does that to you. The folding baskets below the seat (one is unfolded and has a blue plastic bag in it in this picture) were about $20, and the under-seat rack they're attached to was about $70. They're sturdier than they may look; I have carried 3 full 2 liter bottles of pop in each. Because of the shape of the seat above them, it's a little tricky to put large things in them, but I'm generally quite happy with them.
All in all it is a pretty expensive rig. But I can't ride a regular bicycle much; the neck injury means I just can't crane my neck around that way anymore. And it can carry a *lot* which makes it practical for errands that would normally call for a car. When I made the original investment (back in 1999 or so) I rode it to work every day, and frequently to the store or to the library. I have ridden it thousands of miles, and it looks like it will be good for thousands more.
I'm actually thinking about adding an electric motor. Alas, the one I want is really expensive; I have good taste. :-)
--------------
*Mueller Human Power, which is a great company. When my fairing was damaged by a would-be bike thief they sent me the replacement parts in the next day's mail for free, even though none of it was their fault.