A weekend with the Ultimate Kingcycle

On Thursday I was very pleased to be able to write about The Ultimate Kingcycle after Andy of A.D. Cycles had done a whole load of work on it. Now the real challenge was to use it for a weekend away to Aylesford Priory for one of the SEITE weekends for Student Ministers and Ordinands.

With some difficulty I managed to take only what would fit in the tailbox. The problem is that some of the essential books for a weekend like this are quite bulky - definately more than you would need if just cycling.
So I set off at around 2:30pm and went via Lingfield, Edenbridge (nice new bypass and some improved surfaces before and after), then Four Elms, Bough Beech, Charcott, Hildenborough, Shipbourne, Dunks Green, Plaxtol, Crouch, Offham, West Malling, A20 to Ditton, then to Aylesford. Total disance 40 miles.
I didn't rush and am unfit at the moment even by my low standards. Still overall did 12.2mph with only short breaks.
How was the Kingcycle?
Well really nice actually. Very stable. Very comfortable. I was a bit worried about having the weight in the tailbox so far back (I even had my camelback strapped on top of the tailbox as it would not fit inside).
It did feel a little front light going up-hill but by the time I came home today I had got used to that. Downhill it felt great. On the flat speed and comfort was super.
The brakes worked very smoothly and controllable, although there was a little front fork shake when braking hard - I guess the forks were not really designed for the power of disk brakes.
The handlebars were a little too high on the way there, coming home I lowered them a bit but could have gone lower still.
The only problems relate to the gears which I have done nothing to so far. By switching to a 26" rear wheel the gear ratios have changed quite a bit from the original 24" wheel. So I need a smaller chainring, on the way I was reduced to walking part way up the hill from Plaxtol to Crouch. The chainrings or bottom bracket are also slightly warped although not enough to be a significant problem.
Despite the tiny clearances I had no problems with anything getting caught - and some of the roads had a lot of mud on them. But I do need to fit something to stop water and mud coming up from the front wheel through the split frame and all over my front including face - some of it did not smell very nice as well.

All in all a great success, on the way home I increased the average speed for a total of 79 miles to 12.6 mph. No breakdowns, no falls, no big scares.

How this compares to a trike can wait for another post. But while I am a convert to two weeks for some things some of the time I definately will not be getting rid of any trikes and will continue to ride them a lot.

Comments

[harald]

Hi

I'm looking for a second hand bent. The KingCycle attract me more than lowracer. I'm looking for a commuter.
Do you know a place where I can buy a Kingcycle ?

Thank you for your answer.

Harald from Belgium

[John Linwood]

Hi,
I have a kingcycle for sale - large frame, 531 tubing, sturmey archer drum brakes , very little used and in excellent condition, has rear fairing and dynamo lights.
Please email me if interested.
John Linwood