Lightning riders

Larry Guevara’s Lightning Phantom

Before

The Lightning Phantom may not be the most exotic bike for its price range, but I haven’t seen much information or pictures for the 2007 Phantom model. I had ridden an older, much-used 2000 model Phantom in the Santa Rosa Wine Country Century, so I had a chance to make some comparisons. The yellow large frame bike arrived two days after being shipped from the Lightning factory in Lompoc, California. Everything was in perfect shape, although one of the crankset boom bolts had fallen out and was stuck in the zZipper fairing package.

The wrap-around grommet mesh system seat seems much improved over the old model, which had grommets tied directly to the seat frame. Also, the seat is adjustable for tilt, but not fore and aft on the frame as the old model was. The seat support is welded to the frame, where on the old model the support and return idler could be moved back and forth. The only adjustment for leg length on the 2007 model is the crank boom. The stem has a quick-release lock-down tilt adaptor that seems to work very well, but the steering mast has the cable guides welded on. There is a take-up idler that was an option on previous models that allows some adjustment for boom length for different riders. The manual is simple but much updated from the 2000 manual. The 2000 manual mentioned the availability of heel supports for the pedals.

I attended the same high school that Lightning owner Tim Brummer went to, but he’s a little younger and faster.

Larry

Source: The Recumbent Blog

After

Lightning owner Tim Brummer named his recumbent models after fighter aircraft. His P-38 is still a classic, the faired F-40 holds many speed records, and the carbon frame R-84 is light and rare. The Phantom model I purchased was updated in 2007 with a chain tensioner, fixed seat mount, and new seat mesh.

I added shortened cranks, bottom bracket, wheels, pedals, lights, and fenders. I work near Naval Air Station Lemoore and saw the Blue Angels flight demonstration team in 1999 as the guest of the outgoing base commander. Also, The F-4 Phantom jet was used for the Navy Blue Angels and the Air Force Thunderbirds. I had the frame painted in Blue Angels colors by Spectrum Powderworks. It’s not a Rivendell style paint job and it doesn’t go any faster, but I like how it turned out.

Larry

Blue Angels Painting by Spectrum Powderworks
Size: L
Brakes and Brake levers: Tektro
Shifters: Shimano Dura-Ace bar-end
Rear derailleur: Shimano Deore
Front derailleur: Shimano Sora
Crank: 155mm Ultegra shortened by Mark Stonich — 24/36/46
Pedals: Yellow Crank Brothers
Bottom Bracket: Shimano 105
Cassette: Shimano Ultegra 11-28
Chain: Shimano Dura-Ace
Chain stay protector: Genuine Schwalbe double punctured tube with zip ties
Idler: Terracycle
Front Wheel: Phil Wood hub/ 36h Velocity Taipan Yellow
Rear Wheel: Shimano XTR
Cassette Hub / 32h Velocity Synergy Asymtrical Yellow
Tires: Schwalbe Marathon Racer: 40/406, 35/559
Headlight: DiNotte
Taillight: Cateye
Fenders: Planet Bike
Fairing: Lightning Zzipper small

Source: The Recumbent Blog

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