The Tangent is one of the most amazing displays of metalworking I've seen. As I understand this, it's a joint venture between Wendy Huebner, who owns a laser cutting outfit, and Pete Flaherty who owns a machine shop. As a display, to show off their capabilities at trade shows, it would be excellent. However they intend to produce and market it. The plan is for only 250 numbered units to be built. A scarry proposition for anyone needing any of it's many custom parts, a few years down the road.

They hired an "ergonomics expert" to design the seat. From sitting on it, I'll guess is that his specialty is office chairs. Sort of like hiring a really good diamond cutter to do your dental work. On a recumbent with a low BB and no backpitch on the seatbase, you move back and forth with each pedal stroke. Not enough to notice, but after 60 miles your glutes are on fire. Also, a steep seatback is known to be a major cause of "recumbutt", as all your weight is on your bottom. At least the base is adjustable in relation to the back. An important feature many production bents don't have. The BB/seat/bars relationship is good, as are the seat contours. If they rotated everything 15-20 degrees aft, they would have a very comfortable setup.

This info may be what is proposed for the production bike. This frame wasn't stainless steel, and everyone who picked it up was skeptical about the claimed weight. They brought it to a WISIL meeting, where Warren Beauchamp estimated the weight at 100lbs. I'm sure it's well under 60, maybe even under 50.

It does have one nice innovation. As the seat is moved, the handlebars move with it, without the need to make any adjustments. Several people commented on the play in the sheathed cable steering, but I think that is not likely to be that big a problem with the machine in motion.