If there's one thing that can set two recumbent owners off on a long and heated discussion it's the relative merits of mesh and solid seats. Mesh seats are comfortable and offer good ventilation, while the solid type - popular in mainland Europe - can offer excellent back support if a good fit, and can feel more solid to press against when pedalling hard.
The Toxy from Quantum Spezialräder neatly sidesteps the debate, offering a choice of mesh or solid seats (in three different sizes), on mountings which let you adjust either model for both seat height and angle. You can also of course adjust for leg-length: the Toxy will fit riders between around 1.5m and 2.00m tall.
Another important choice is between above-seat steering, or handlebars below the seat. Again, it's largely a personal preference, and again, the Toxy offers you the choice. Flexibility is the hallmark of this multi-purpose machine. To further adapt the machine to your needs, you can choose front and rear fairings, wheel discs, rear box, racks for four panniers, and more. The versatility extends to the bike itself: the lightweight aluminium frame and lively steering combine to provide a sparkling ride that is ideal for zipping around town, yet with front and rear suspension, the experience is relaxing enough to suit long-distance touring. Front and rear wheels are both the popular 20" (406) size, and low-maintenance, industry-standard components are used to ensure that obtaining spares is never a problem, even away from home. The transmission uses either the Sachs 3x7 system or Neos 24-speed derailleur gears. Mounting points for luggage, water bottles, fairings or other accessories are provided as standard on the Toxy frame.
Overall weight is around 15kg for a typical machine. Standard finish is a powder-coated red, but yellow and black are available on request, as are Magura hydraulic brakes and dynamo lighting. Also in Quantum's catalogue is a long list of spares, and even a selection of specialist tools. If that still isn't flexible enough for you, buy a frameset and build up a bike yourself!
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