Ever wonder if you should spend the extra money and buy a Gold Rush? Ever read testimonials from riders who have one? Are they for real? Are they only saying nice things about the bike because they just spent a few extra bucks? Here's my totally true, honest input regarding the illustrious Gold Rush. My wife and I bought two Tour Easy's from the factory about four years ago and rode the heck out of them. We fell in love with recumbents and knew these bikes in particular were top quality but somehow, as we age, we look for the finer things in life. My dream was to own a Gold Rush. I'm 65 years old now and decided it was time, so I bought one!

It was going to be a hard sell to convince me that it was a better ride than the Tour Easy. However, as soon as I sat on it, I knew it was different. I took it for a short two-mile spin. The ride was smooth and fast; there was a noticeable increase in acceleration. The effort it took to get up to and maintain speed was far less than on my Tour Easy. My wife and I cruise at about 15 mph on the Tour Easy’s. With the same amount of effort, I was cruising at about 18 mph on the Gold Rush. I kept the fairing from my TE and put it on the new GR. The next day we rode about 30 miles, half of which was into a moderate breeze and I can honestly say that the Gold Rush was a pleasure to push into the wind. I ordered an EX model with a Carbon Fiber Fork. The bike came with some pretty nice components like SRAM X-0 rear derailleurs and Avid Single Digit 7 brakes, to name a few.

The best way I can describe the difference between the two bikes is to say: the TE really rides nice and is a super bike but, the Gold Rush really glides nicely and is well worth every penny of the extra cash you spend. So if you’re asking yourself: "Is it worth the extra money?" Remember this: It's the WORTH in your LIFE that counts!

Kenneth Zuchlewski [Bentrider29 on the Forum]

I've been cycling pretty seriously for about five years, and during that time have owned a number of recumbents, but they never really 'took'. I never got good enough at doing hills on them to make riding them less than a chore in my hilly town (Seattle). Then this winter, I decided to really get serious about riding recumbents, and signed up for RAMROD (Ride Around Mt. Rainier in One Day), a 154 mile ride with 10000 ft. of climbing that takes place on the last Thursday of July every year. I signed up in February, with the idea that even if I failed to be able to get fit enough to do the ride, the process of training for it would finally get me over the hump of recumbent specific fitness that I was lacking, such that I wouldn't feel like I was putting on leg weights every time I go for a ride on my recumbent.

I ended up buying 2 new bikes that spring, one a 24 pound titanium SWB speedster (which is a wonderful bike), and a Fold-Rush. It turns out, I climb my local benchmark hill nearly as fast on the Fold Rush as I do on the titanium bike. More importantly, there's a sense of security and safety to me on the Fold Rush that I've never felt on any bicycle, upright or bent. My first decently long ride on the Fold Rush, a 35 mile loop around the south end of Lake Washington, was a revelation. I was passing upright bikes on flats and down hills, and climbing rolling hills with little effort. And most importantly, I felt in total control of the bike. I've never been a great bike handler or descender. The Fold Rush changes all that - everything just becomes effortless. It is hands-down the safest bike for vehicular riding in traffic that I've ever ridden.

I loved it so much that I bought a second bike, a GRR off of eBay, with the idea of lightening it up as much as possible for RAMROD. I went ahead and trained for RAMROD, and did the Seattle-To-Portland double century on the Fold Rush as training. My time for the STP was about an hour longer than the year before on an upright bike, in spite of a headwind in the second century that kept the finish line open for three hours longer than they normally do. Last year I had a killer tailwind at the end of STP; I think if it'd been that way this year, I'd have easily beat my last year's performance.

When RAMROD came around, there were three other bents out there. One was a polished aluminum Gold Rush, and the other 2 were Ti-Rushes. As far as I can tell, there were no non-Easy Racer bents at all. Yes, the mountain passes were rough (I was passed by a lot of upright bikes, but not all!), and the down hills were amazing! I'm a pretty lame descender on an upright bike, but on a Gold Rush, I'm a better descender than the "roadie-paceline-aero-tucking" hardcore guys. I just blew by everybody! I never experienced any nervousness or sense of insecure handling at all, even at 45+ mph. The only comments I received were very positive. People seemed to be impressed that I was doing this ride on a bent - there was no tribal roadie weirdness at all. I ended up taking about a half hour longer on the bent as I did last year on my upright bike. While I definitely was a couple of miles per hour slower on the uphill mountain passes, I was so much faster on the down hills and flats that it almost came to a wash. And moreover, I felt much safer and had a lot more fun doing it. Last year, it took 2 weeks to recover from the neck pain after RAMROD. Today, 4 days after the event, I am pain free, and am using my Fold Rush to run all my daily errands.

I have had and continue to own some other bents, but I would not do this ride again on any other kind of bike. The Gold Rush/TE/Ti-Rush bikes are just the best overall design, for me. If I had to own only one bike, it's be the GRR, without question. It makes me fast, but more importantly, it makes me happy when I ride it.

Sincerely,

Don Clore

2002 has come to a close and I wanted to write you a thank you note. I had my own personal best year of cycling in 2002, riding 4,310 miles exclusively on Easy Racer bicycles. I really appreciate the amazing reliability of your bikes, I don't even think I had so much as a flat tire last year! And something one rarely hears discussed, in hot and dry west Texas I appreciate how much water I can conveniently carry on my bike. I attach a Camelbak MULE to the handlebars and put two large water bottles in the cages and I have 150 ounces of water on board.

The Ti-Rush is looking like it is going to be quite fun to ride this year. Although it is a shade taller and the pedaling angle perhaps slightly more "open", the Ti-Rush is distinctly faster than the Gold Rush. As much as 1 mph faster for me at speeds of 17-19 mph. That is pretty amazing.

So, I am looking forward to having an even better year of bicycling in 2003. More rides, more miles, and thanks in large part to the Ti-Rush, faster miles.

Thanks Again,

Nick

I just finished the BRAG ride. 1600 riders for 6 days riding across the northern part of Georgia in the Blue Ridge.
I had a great time. A fair showing of recumbents and ten or so Easy Racers. My Tour Easy went f-a-s-t. Even up the mountains. I put on the 36 mid ring and it was a good choice. I had a 26, 36, 53 and a Mega 34 to 11 in back. Shifting from the 36 to 52 was no problem. The 36 kept me off granny most hills and still let me run 24 mph on the flats. I almost always got on the 52 on any down hills and hammered down as well as up. Could have used a 54 or 56 on some of those long ones.

My goal was to ride so that at the end of each day I was going to be flat out of legs. I got to ride part of the time with pace lines even if I had to brake going down. Some of the better younger riders could out climb me but I really tried to spin up and attack the climbs even if they were long. I would get passed on some of the long hills but 95%, I was doing the passing.
I stopped at each rest stop but when I hit the road I tried to find a hammerhead with aero bars to ride with and had some 10 mile stretches where we would "let the dogs run." I rode to hang on up the hills and hit the big ring just before the crests. I think there are some people that will never call LWB recumbents slow again. Some of those boys got over the hill ahead of me but they knew I was coming and hard. Nothing could catch me on the long hills down. I needed an air horn to make them get out of the way. A number of times I rode in the other lane just to get around the crowds of tucked riders who were thinking that nothing could catch them.

I have a big tractor type reflector on the back of my seat so cars can see me. On the reflector I have written Psalms 119:40a. Lots of people asked me, "What is that, the one about eagles," or something grandly spiritual? Nope I reply, from the revised standard translation: "I will make haste and not delay." Or in my translation "I will get on this bike and haul it."
Here is some of what I heard: " When you make the tops the afterburners come on and I don't even see you until the next long climb." "You did not read that part about not climbing well on a recumbent." "Man, you're riding a dart." "Sorry, I didn't know you were on my left [pace line leader]. I have never seen a recumbent get it on."

Your bikes are comfortable and us old farts buy them because we can ride them without structural pain. But if you are strong and if you have good cardio system and if you have the will to put out these things will go fast. On the flats, the down hills and in to the wind the regular bike is at a disadvantage and it would take one hell of a rider on a regular bike to keep up if there is any down hill at all. ER recumbents are slower up hills than good road bikes but not nearly as slow as I expected. No recumbent passed my Tour Easy on the ride. I wish I was 25 years old again and had one of these to really find the edge of possibility. But 55 is not all that bad. I rode well against some fine riders this last week and they knew I was there on my fast Tour Easy.

In the next several months I will order a Gold Rush.

What a great week.! Thanks for the best toy I have ever had.

Out of Leg in Georgia and Proud of It,

Gary Pichon

Gardner with his beautiful hand carved "Cobra" chair that Gary gave him.

Forever lay to rest the oft repeated statement that recumbents can’t climb. For eight days, I rode my Tour Easy on the Bike Ride Across Georgia (BRAG), [that year] billed as the most difficult BRAG yet. It got its reputation because of its grueling path from Rockmart 37 miles West of Atlanta, North to Rome, then to Dalton and Northwest Georgia. From there we headed East over three high mountains to Ellijay. Then upward again via Blue Ridge and Young Harris to Hiawassee, up over Neels Gap and the Appalachian Trail that crosses there, and down to Toccoa, finally ending at the Lake Hartwell Dam on the South Carolina border. We covered over 400 miles and climbed a more than 22,000 cumulative feet. All the while witnessing the beauty of the North Georgia mountains from the comfort of an Easy Racers seat.

Was it a challenge? Yes indeed. I had prepared for this trip by riding at least three days per week for two months prior to the trip, and sometimes spinning for an hour on the Tour Easy attached to the stationary trainer in my garage, a fan blowing on me to keep me from drowning in sweat. I also kept up my gym workouts that I do year round. Even so, I began the mountain inclines early in the week at 4 mph. The next day I was up to 6 mph. The third day I got to 8 mph. I’ve never ridden in the western mountains, but these eastern mountains tend to go straight up with minimum switchbacks. I used all 27 gears, and I must say they were a delight. Smartly clicking away at my command, keeping me comfortable, laid back and loving it.

And I wasn’t the only one on an Easy Racer there. There were several Tour Easy riders, at least one Gold Rush rider, and a couple of EZ-1 riders, including one pulling a loaded child trailer all 400 miles. Overall, there was a good mix of other recumbents, including under-seat steering models. None of us pushed our bikes up those mountains. We pedaled every mile and arrived relaxed. I even rode up a part of a mountain that I wasn’t expecting to after leaving my water bottles sitting on a bench at a picnic area. That just gave me another chance to go zooming down the mountain again, and I’ve got memories of three places where I exceeded 50 mph doing that.

That picture of me with the Tour Easy loaded with about 60 pounds of gear isn’t just a show piece. I actually rode the bike loaded with all that gear from Smyrna, GA to Rockmart, GA over the Silver Comet Trail on registration day, averaging 15 mph. The bike was a bit heavy to heave up onto the double kickstand, but it was stable. I gave all that gear to the baggage haulers each day though. I rode the bike with two water bottles and the ERRC bag loaded with tools, rain gear, extra tubes, Power Bars, and a cell phone.

It was a grand trip. Beautiful, fun, and a real climber.

Richard Stanford

I'm not sure who to send this to but I just wanted to tell someone there how much I have enjoyed my brand new EZ-1 SC. I have been a cyclist for many years, logging thousands of miles over the years until just the past few years. Than age and nagging aches and pains took me off cycling and away from something I enjoyed. I tried getting back on my bike earlier this year but after just two short rides decided I'd had enough. I went to my favorite bike shop here in Jacksonville, Champion Schwinn, and purchased my EZ-1. Even though I've had it for less than a week I have to tell you what an absolute joy it is to be back on a bike again! I haven't gone very far yet or very fast, but after each ride the only thing sore were my legs. My back, neck, arms, shoulders and especially my backside didn't even know they'd been out for some fresh air and exercise! No pain at all.

Thank you for building a recumbent bike that I can afford and getting this old weary body back on the road!

By the way, a good friend of mine and his wife, both of whom gave up cycling a few years ago, are planning to go to Champion Schwinn and invest in a couple recumbents after taking mine for a spin around the block.

Thanks again and keep up the great work.

John Buckley in Jacksonville, FL

Hi There,

My name is Lee Franklin and I live in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. I have a 10 year old son who has a balance problem. He had been riding an ordinary two wheeled bike with training wheels, but had grew too to continue that. I searched internet and phoned every bike store in Toronto, finally finding one in Richmond Hill who sells your product.

Well, I am very impressed to say the least. My son was, for the first time, the envy of our street. He looked wonderful riding down the street with his Dad (like every other little boy of his age would do) for the first time in his life. It brought tears to my eyes. We bought the EZ-3 Trike and love it.

...My husband and I would very much like to promote your bike amongst our friends at the rehab center... My son is currently the only child we know who has this type of bike and it has raised his self esteem level so much. I would love to see more children as happy as he is. It is so nice to hear the words, "Dad, want to go bike riding with me?" You can't imagine how great this feels...

Thank you so much and happy biking.

Lee Franklin

Dear Easy Racers Inc.,

First of all, I would like thank you all for the time you spent with me while I was deciding on a bike. Freddy was patient and friendly, answering all my questions before and after my test ride (including loads of questions about his racing endeavors). He even adjusted an EZ-1 for my son to ride in the parking lot while I was testing the Gold Rush... I think we can add another 'bent rider to our numbers, he loved the bike and the attention. I ordered my bike by phone just two days after I returned home from your facility. The service I received when I called was excellent, again I thank you. Most of all, though, thank you to Gardner for designing a bike that has wings! He took the time to personally go over all of the points of adjustment on the bike with me, from the aligning the seat and derailleur to truing the wheels. You can't get that kind of customer service or attention to detail anywhere these days (or so I thought). I've ridden it 65 miles (I've only had it four days) and the performance is fantastic, this bike cruises easily at 18 mph, but it but it purs when it hits 20 mph. I have no problem hitting top speed on flats and rolling hills. I can almost hear the bike telling me to keep it up and ride faster still. Honestly, I keep looking for where you installed the wings because this baby really flies! The low speed handling is awesome as well. With only two days of riding under my belt I can practically stand it up at an intersection waiting for the light to turn green. I've certainly never heard of another recumbent bike with comparable handling.

I just wanted to drop you this note and say thank you.

Chris Markus

Dear Sirs,

... I am a very proud owner of one of the earliest productions of your Ti-Rush, and I have to say that I have never bought a more satisfying product. It has changed my life and my outlook on the future in some very positive ways. I now know how I will spend a lot of time in my retirement years. This country was meant for exploring, and my Ti-Rush and I will join forces for adventure. It truly is an incredible bike!

I do however have one reservation about touring the country on my Ti-Rush. You see, it's the an ultra high performance Speed & Sport model. In the interest of portability and rugedness I'm currently looking into an Expedition model Fold Rush. I think I could really benifit from having rear suspension. A second Rush would better suit my touring needs while allowing me to leave my Ti-Rush untouched for regular runs at top speed... what a "rush" they are!

Thanks again for giving me prompt service on the parts I ordered from you, and thanks for having the insight to design such a unique product and build it in America. I salute you.

Sincerely Yours,

Dennis Anderson

I know you get testimonials from satisfied customers all the time but I have been meaning to write and add mine for quite awhile. You may remember me as the guy from Wisconsin who stopped at the factory in August of 2000 with my Rans Gliss. We tested it with your new suspended GR over the bumps in your parking lot. My Gold Rush arrived at Wheel and Sprocket last February and I put 3,000 miles on it during the year. I also did two, week long, van supported tours and my first century. Weather permitting, I ride it 4 - 5 times per week (I'm retired) and every time I ride it's pure pleasure. I am eternally grateful to you all for deciding way back when to start building these for the rest of us. I can't imagine what RCN is talking about when they make comments about Easy Racers needing to "update" their line. Please don't change a thing on the GRR. But I think it's great that you are filling a new niche with your EZ-1 and great looking, EZ Sport. I am hoping to get my wife interested in the latter (she's a avid non-cyclist). I really hope these new bikes do well for you.

I am in the process of setting up my Gold Rush with panniers, my objective being to complete my first self-contained tour this summer. Come next year, I am thinking of purchasing a Ti-Rush. What the hell, life is short, why not ride the best? Chris Kegel at Wheel and Sprocket tells me the ride on it is amazing and every time I go down there I see his shiny titanium Gold Rush. I'll most likely participate in a coast to coast ride in 2003 (if my wife will let me be away for over 90 days) and I can't imagine a better bike to do it on than a Ti-Rush. Next time I'm on the West Coast I'll plan on stopping by. I'm sorry that I've thus far missed the "Return to Freedom" rides. They sound like great fun. Again, many, many thanks for your wonderful product, service and for your sensitivity and kindness to your customers. It's all very much appreciated.

Very Sincerely,

Ken Wodtke

This Saturday I led a group on one of my favorite 45 mile rides through Fairmont, GA for lunch. On the return, hilly segments that have always beaten me down on my [other recumbent] melted away under my Tour Easy. I'm still pinching myself, I just can't believe what a difference this bike has made in my riding. For me it is not just about the speed, but the pure enjoyment of the ride. And pure enjoyment is what I feel when I ride my Tour Easy.

Waldy Cuevas

I bought a Tour Easy Sport from Alan's Family Bike Shop in Oceanside in April to replace my stolen [other recumbent] and I just recently took it on a cross-country trip. Starting in San Diego, we headed down to Baja California, across the water to mainland Mexico, then up to Texas and around to Tampa, Florida, pulling a Bob Trailer the whole way. The bike performed beautifully for the full 3,700 miles. Thanks Easy Racers.

Ross Roads

Thank God for Recumbents and thank God for Easy Racers! During the course of the past year I've owned [three other recumbents]. All of these bikes were nice in their own ways but I was unable to climb up most of the steeper grades I encountered. And since walking a bike up a hill is no fun I eventually sold them all.

I took delivery of my black Gold Rush several weeks ago and have never been happier with a purchase. This bike is phenomenal! There hasn't been a hill yet that I wasn't able to march right up. Skunk Hollow and Spalding Hill near Ripon, Wisconsin are no longer feared or avoided! I've read plenty of on articles on how best to climb hills on a recumbent but the best advise I can give is this: Buy a Gold Rush From Easy Racers!

Tom Ruping

Wow!!! You make a great bike. After being diagnosed with diabetes and advised to lose weight and get some exercise, I started riding my mountain bike again. I don't remember my body hurting so much the last time I rode. My hands would really hurt after about ten minutes. I tried gel gloves and wrist braces with no luck. I really enjoyed riding, so I went to my local bike shop and bought a "comfort" bike. Well guess what? The "comfort" bike wasn't so comfortable. The most I could ride would be about an hour before the pain in my hands would be extremely uncomfortable.

What started out to be exercise turned out to be fun, but at the cost of having my hands and rear end hurting. What to do? I looked on the net and started reading about recumbents. I knew I wanted to ride longer, farther, faster, and more comfortably.

I live in St. Louis, Missouri, not exactly the recumbent capitol of the world. I went to several bike shops around town, and unless you are a wedgie rider, there are slim pickings indeed. The few recumbents that were available were not what I wanted.

In my search for a recumbent, I couldn't help but notice all the positive comments about Easy Racers bikes. I went to your web site and the closest bike shop that had your bikes was R&M Cyclery, 120 miles away in Springfield, Illinois. So that is where I went. I was able to ride the EZ bikes, the Tour Easy, and the Gold Rush Replica. Now the hard part was choosing what model to get. As I weigh over 250 pounds, the Tour Easy seemed to be the model that would handle my weight and whatever gear I would be taking with me.

Nik at R&M cyclery was extremely helpful and knowledgeable about your bikes. It was his personal Gold Rush that I rode. I ordered the Tour Easy right before Thanksgiving, and I picked it up in December. I talked with Gardner about a tandem rear wheel and ordered that on my bike.
My first ride at the local bike trail, I shaved 2 minutes off of my regular time on a 12 mile course (without trying to go fast, just trying to get used to the bike). This bike is fast. I was never very good at hills, (avoiding them like the plague) but I find that they aren't so bad. After a 20 mile ride, no pain! I look forward to the many miles of comfort and fun on my Tour Easy.

The fit, finish, components, and attention to customer service at Easy Racers is second to none!!! I commend you for the outstanding bike and service you have given me. You can say that I am laid back and loving it… sitting down and satisfied… hands NOT hurting and happy.

I didn't mean to go on and on like this, but the Tour Easy has exceeded my expectations, and I wanted to thank you.

Thanks,

Frank Maytas

My quest for the ultimate recumbent bicycle has finally ended. Starting back in 1995, with [another recumbent], I have since owned and ridden [five different recumbent brands], as well as an EZ-1, Tour Easy, polished aluminum Gold Rush, and a Ti-Rush. All these recumbents were exceptional bikes and each offered a unique ride and handling characteristics. However, for some reason I have always been drawn back to Easy Racers. These particular bikes (Regardless to which one you choose) always give me that SWEET dialed in, smooth, precise handling, stability, you're one with the bike feeling. And for me, a low front crank, that allows you to place your feet squarely and safely on the ground is clearly what works best for me.

The bikes I'm talking about are Easy Racer bikes. My little EZ-1 is wonderful to dart around, run errands, or do a quick cruise up and down the beach. For those longer performance desired rides, my GRR TI fits my needs perfectly. Even after a 32 mile 20+ mph fast sprint with some of the local GO FAST DF (Diamond Frame) cyclists, I'm still fresh, to do an additional 20 mile ride; because I just don't get tired on my GRR TI. To anyone ready to rediscover the pure pleasure of bicycling, I strongly recommend you try and Easy Racers bike ASAP.

EZ Biker Ken

Living in Ocean City, New Jersey, only two blocks from the boardwalk, cycling has always been important to me, but I recently had an operation that left me unable to work or ride. I was ecstatic when I got permission from the surgeon to get back on my bike. He only approved it because it is one of yours… an EZ-1! I have been riding almost every day since, sometimes up to 25 miles! Riding has become a major part of my healing process.

I love this bike! I’m looking forward to getting a fairing for it in the near future. Attached is a picture of my 2-year-old grandson Caden and myself on the Wildwood, NJ boardwalk after taking a road trip on our "Low Riders.”