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Sandy Larkin, and her dog, Jakester, ride in absolute comfort on an Air Glide
Why an Air Bike?
Lynette Chiang asked Alan Scholz about the Air bikes after her first outing with a petite Air Friday.
Lynette: Why do you, Hanz, and many other folks ride an Air Bike?
Alan: The beam isolates you from road shock and vibration. When going down a hill, a bike's wheel naturally skips about. On a fixed frame bike this is transmitted directly up through your body. Up to an hour’s riding it’s no big deal. But for extended rides the vibration tires you. Thus, a suspended bike means you can ride longer in more comfort. Isolation from that skipping wheel also means you feel more solid on descents. You don't have your whole body jarred by the road. (A bit like sitting in a nice BMW vs an ancient VW Rabbit. In the former you can be going 100 mph and it feels like 40. Same with the Air bike.) Air Bikes are ideal for triathletes, where they must be very energized when they jump off the bike so they can run. It’s also great for Midwesterners, who have those infuriating concrete splits in the road that go kathump... kathump for miles and miles. It’s worse than gravel because it’s like water torture. On an Air bike, you only see and hear the splits in the road.
Lynette: What about that argument that a bike should be stiff not flexy?
Alan: I don’t get that. Bikes in the Tour de France have been some of the lightest, whippiest, fastest things for years. As are the riders. Next question.
Lynette: So what are the disadvantages of the Air Bike?
Alan: It's more involved to fold and pack. If that is the most important thing to you, get a Pocket Rocket Pro. Also, for some, the Air bike requires getting used to - that subtle oscillation. Some people take to it instantly. One person took an entire year - but will now ride nothing else.
Lynette: Well, I do know that after Rufus Woods rode Randy Komisar’s Air Friday in the recent PACTour/Bike Friday Training Camp, he immediately called to trade in his Pocket Rocket Pro.