Update: The Baron was collecting dust since I no longer have any riding buddies who ride recumbent bikes. So, the Baron has been sold.
I bought my Optima Baron from Bentup Cycles. I’ve never owned a low racer so I thought it might be fun to try. I had a high racer (Bacchetta Corsa) for a while but it just didn’t do much for me. I’ve grown to really love the Baron. I’d guess that my average speed is about 2 mph faster over any of my trikes. I still own the Baron and ride it at least once a week and when I need to keep up with my friend Nick on his Corsa.
Laid Back Log 
How do you like the disc on the back wheel
I like the way it looks, but I couldn’t really tell a lot of difference in performance. It’s kind of noisy and it makes it difficult to inflate the tire.
Hi, Can I ask you a question?
I saw you sold a Baron for your friend Greg. A very nice bike! I am trying to figure out which parts were used for the open cockpit, especially the stem. In the description only the Terracycle Glideflex is mentioned, and the (likely) handle bars. I have been searching for the stem, but I haven’t been able to find it. I would like to transfer my Fujin to an open cockpit, and the stem seems juist right. Can’t even find something that is close.
Could you please ask Greg what brand it is? Thanks very much!
O, I forgot. I can’t find the Aero front 406 wheel neither. Could you also ask him where he bought it?
Thanks!
Regards, Ronald.
(Sorry for posting here, I cannot post below the right blog).
Hi Ronald,
Hi Ronald. Greg bought that Baron already configured like that from Jim Verheul (http://www.jbvcoaching.com/jimverheul.asp) also on BROL as jverheul. I’d suggest contacting Jim. I’m sure he can answer your questions.
Thx!
As a Corsa owner I’m curious about how the Baron compares to the Corsa in terms of handling and speed, I would assume the more reclined seat and lower frontal area of the Baron would give it the edge in speed
Hey Don,
For some reason, the Baron felt slower to me than my old Corsa and my current Carbon Aero. Perhaps it was the smaller wheels on the Baron. The slow speed handling on the Baron was a lot trickier than on a high racer. While maneuvering the bike at slow speed, I’d get slammed to the ground before I knew what hit me. It seems like on a high racer, you’ve got more time to recover any imbalances. One benefit of the Baron over the high racer is the lack of heel strike.