Dear Gardner, Sandra, and the Easy Racers Team,

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

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 lb. 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 downhills, 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 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 3 other bents out there. 1 was a polished aluminum Gold Rush, and the other 2 were Ti-Rushes. As far as I can tell, there were no non-EasyRacer bents at all. Yes, the mountain passes were rough (I was passed by a lot of upright bikes, but not all!), and the downhills 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 downhills and flats that it almost came to a wash. And moreoever, 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/TiRush 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.

Sincerely,
Don Clore

Gardner,

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 waterbottles in the cages and I have 150 ounces of water on board.

And 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 for me at speeds of 17-19 mph. That is pretty darned 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.
Had a great time. A fair showing of recumbents and ten or so Easy Racers. My Tour Easy went-- fast. 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 downhills and hammered down as well as up. Could have used a 54 or 56 on some of those long ones. Jaaahh whoooo!!

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 wtih 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 airhorn 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 replied - from the revised standard translation" I will make haste and not delay." In my free translation of the Hebrew" 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 dont even see your atill the next long climb. You did not read that part about not climbing well on a recumbent. Man you are riding adart. Sorry I didnt know you were on my left (pace line leader as he spit). I have never seen a recumbent get it on.

Your bikes are comfortable and us old f--- 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 Grunt, my fast Tour Easy.

Now in the next several months I will order a Gold Rush and I would like to know how Fast Freddy rigs his regular street Gold Rush. Gears, seat style, etc.

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

Gary Pichon - out of leg in Georgia and proud of it

Gardner with the beautiful handmade "Cobra" seat Gary Pichon gave to him.

Forever lay to rest the oft repeated statement that recumbents can’t climb. Between June 15 and June 22 I rode my Tour Easy on the Bike Ride Across Georgia (BRAG), billed as the most difficult BRAG yet. It got that reputation because it intended to go from Rockmart, 37 miles west of Atlanta, north to Rome, then to Dalton and Northwest GA, and then East over three high mountains to Ellijay. From there it continued on 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 Lake Hartwell Dam on the SC border. We covered more than 400 miles and climbed a cumulative 22,000 or more feet, seeing the beauty of the North Georgia mountains from the comfort of a recumbent seat in this case.

Was it a challenge? Yes indeed. I had prepared for this trip by doing at least three days per week for two months prior to the trip, spinning for an hour at a time 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 three 1.5-hour gym workouts that I do year around. 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 Easy Racer user 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 B.O.B all 400 plus miles. And there was a good mix of other recumbents, including under-seat steering and above-seat steering. None of us pushed out 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 do when I left my water bottles sitting on a bench at a picnic area at a scenic overlook and didn’t realize it until I’d gone flying downhill a mile. 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. Whoop-ti-doo!

That picture of me with the Tour Easy loaded with about 60lb of gear isn’t just a show piece. I actually rode the bike loaded with all that gear from Smyrna, GA to Rockmart, GA on 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 a tool bag, two water bottles, and the ERRC bag loaded with tools, rain gear, extra tubes, Power Bars, and a telephone.

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

Richard Stanford

Hi

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 EZ1-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 had had enough. I went to my favorite bike shop here in Jacksonville Fl, Champion Schwinn, and purchased my EZ1. I have only had it for less than a week but 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, my neck, my arms and shoulders and especially my backside didn't even know they'ed been out for some fresh air and exercise! No pain at all.

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

By the way, a good friend and his wife, both of whom gave up cycling a couple years ago, are planning to go to the same bike shop 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
Jacksonville FL

Hi There,
My name is Lee Franklin and I live in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. I have a son that has a balance problem who is 10 years old. He has been riding an ordinary 2 wheeler bike with training wheels on it, but he is now too old to do this now. I have searched the net and phoned every bike store that I could find in Toronto to finally find one in
Richmond Hill who sells your product...

Well I am very impressed to say the least. My son for the first time was the envy of our street. He actually 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 son belongs to an organization that would really benefit from you product. We know many many little boys and girls in the same situation as my son whose world could look a little brighter with this kind of bike. My husband and I would very much like to promote your bike to friends at our rehab centre. We would like to be able to order your bikes directly thru us or a local bike store that currently never had the opportunity to know much about your product. We would like as much information as you could possibly give to us, pamphlets, brochures anything. My son right now is the only child that has this type of bike and it has brought up his self esteem up so much. I would love to see more kids like this. It is so nice to hear the words " Dad want to go bike riding with me?"....You cant imagine as a parent how this would feel.

Thank you so much....Happy biking
Lee Franklin

Dear Gardner, Sandra, Freddie, and everyone at Easy Racers Inc.,

First I would like thank you all for the time you spent with me while I was deciding on the bike. Freddie was patient and friendly answering all my questions before and after my test ride. Including loads of questions about his racing endeavors. He went beyond that to adjust an EZ-1 for my son to ride in the parking lot while I was test riding the Gold Rush....I think we can add another 'bent rider' to our numbers, he loved the bike and the attention, thank you. Thank you Sandra for your time and personal attention while ordering my bike by phone just 2 days after I returned home after our visit to your facility. And most of all thank you Gardner for designing a bike that has wings! You took the time to personally go through with me all of the adjustments on the bike from the seat and derailers to truing the wheels. You can't get that kind of attention to detail anywhere these days ( or so I thought!). I've ridden it only 65 miles (I've only had it 4 days) and the performance is fantastic, this bike cruises at easily at 18 mi/hr, but it but it purrrrrs over 20mi/hr. I have no problem going 20-22mi/hr on the flats and rolling hills I can almost hear it coaching me to stay over 20mi/hr. I keep looking for where you installed the wings because this baby really flies!! The low speed handling is great as well, with only 2 days of riding it under my belt I can practically stand it up at an intersection waiting for a light to turn!! I've never even heard of another recumbent bike with comparable handling.

So I thought I'd drop you this note and say thank you,

Chris Markus

Dear Sirs,

Thank you very much for sending me the items I ordered. I am very pleased with them. As always your fine workmanship shows itself in all details of your products. I am a very proud owner of one of your earliest productions of the TI-Rush, and I have to say that I have never bought a more satisfying product. It has changed my life and, indeed, my outlook on life in some very positive ways. I know, now, how I will spend a lot of time in my retirement years. This country was meant for exploring, and the TI-Rush and I will join forces in it's exploration. The Ti-Rush is an incredible bike!

I do however have one reservation about touring the country on my TI-Rush. It's the ultra-performance SS, and my interest is peaking in buying a white Gold Rush EX, folding model. This is rear suspended isn't it? I think the second Rush would best suit my touring needs while leaving the TI untouched for spontaneous runs at high speed that elecit the words "awesome" from, even, die-hard wedgie riders! What a "Rush"! : )

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

Dear Gardner and Sandra:

I know you get many testimonials from satisfied customers but I have been meaning to write to add mine. Gardner 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 his new suspended GR over the bumps in your parking lot. My GRR arrived at Wheel and Sprocket last February and I put 3000 miles on it last year. Did two week long, van support 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 both 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 like you need to "update" your line. Please don't change a thing on the GRR. But I think it's great that you are filling a new nitch with your EZ 1 and your new curvy framed Sun EZ Sport. I am hoping to get my wife interested in the latter (she's a non biker). I hope these new bikes do well for you. I am in the process of setting up my GRR with panniers and my objective this summer is to do my first self-contained touring. In 2003 I am thinking of going for broke and purchasing a TiRush. What the hell...life is short. Chris Kegel at Wheel and Sprocket tells me the ride is a little better and every time I go down there I see his TiRush. I have been thinking about doing a coast to coast in 2003 (if my wife will let me be gone for 90+ days) and it would be great to do it on a TiRush. Next time I get to the west coast I will plan on stopping by. Sorry I have had to miss the "Return to Freedom" rides. They sound like great fun. Again, many, many thanks for your wonderful bikes 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 to 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 about what a difference this bike has made in my riding. For me it is not just speed, but the pure enjoyment of the ride, and pure enjoyment is what I feel on my Tour Easy.

Waldy Cuevas

Hi,
I bought a Tour Easy Sport from Alan's Family Bike Shop in Oceanside in April to replace my stolen (other recumbent*).
I just recently went cross-country from San Diego, down the Baja, across the water to mainland Mexico, up to Texas and around to Tampa, FL pulling a Bob Trailer. The bike performed beautifully for the 3700 miles.
Thanks.

Ross Roads

Thank God for Recumbents!
In the course of the last year I've owned (three models of another recumbent*). These bikes were nice in many ways but I was unable to climb up most of the larger hills I encountered. Walking a bike up a hill is no fun. I sold the bikes.
I took delivery of my Black 66" 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 haven't marched right up. Skunk Hollow and Spalding Hill near Ripon, WI, are no longer feared or avoided! I've read many articles and tips on how to master steep grades and hills; and the best techniques. I can recommend only one. BUY AN EASY RACER GOLD RUSH!.

Tom Ruping

Gardner. Thank you.
I cannot tell you what your bikes have meant to Pat and I. My Gold Rush is Geeeerate. My biking buddy Pat has had her Tour Easy for 3 yrs and would never think of riding anything else. All this aside, you bikes have made "BIKING" possible for two old beat up broads. Along with this comes improved mental and physical health, new friends, and a new set of goals to strive for as we approach our "Golden Years".

"Never has so much been owed to so few." Easy Racers family, thank you all, so very, very much.

Pat Henry and Sandy Campbell

My quest for the ultimate recumbent bicycle has finally been achieved. Starting back in 1995, with (another recumbent*), I have since owned and ridden (5 different recumbent brands*) AND a Tour Easy, a Gold Rush-Polished aluminum, EZ-1, and GRR-Titanium. All these recumbents were exceptional bikes and each offered unique ride and handling characteristics. But for some reason, I have always been drawn back to a "Particular recumbent brand". 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 (Daimond 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

Dear Gardner,
Just a note to tell you how much I have enjoyed my Tour Easy. It rides like the wind and has given me a whole new view of the Ohio countryside. So far, it has been trouble free.

Bob Caulkins