Recumbent bikes
- Thread starter J4CKO
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BentMikey
Rider of Seolferwulf
- Location
- South London
Normal bikes, for the most part, are a very old design that hasn't really changed since the 1800s, and have been held there by the UCI, barstewards.
Recumbents encompass a wide range of bike (and trike and more) designs, with far more types and varieties than with normal bikes. There are all sorts, with all sorts of design goals. Unfortunately, thanks to the dreaded UCI, not nearly as much money and design has been applied to most of them, so there is a lot more potential still to be had in many recumbent designs. Some are good for touring, some for light weight and racing, some as car replacements, etc.
Some people think that Chris Boardman is the fastest one hour rider, but he doesn't even come close to what has been achieved on recumbents - think 1.6 times further on a recumbent. What about the flying 200m sprint? The HPV record was recently set at 82.33mph. I would think Cav on a normal upright could perhaps do just over half that speed, and then only with a leadout.
Recumbents encompass a wide range of bike (and trike and more) designs, with far more types and varieties than with normal bikes. There are all sorts, with all sorts of design goals. Unfortunately, thanks to the dreaded UCI, not nearly as much money and design has been applied to most of them, so there is a lot more potential still to be had in many recumbent designs. Some are good for touring, some for light weight and racing, some as car replacements, etc.
Some people think that Chris Boardman is the fastest one hour rider, but he doesn't even come close to what has been achieved on recumbents - think 1.6 times further on a recumbent. What about the flying 200m sprint? The HPV record was recently set at 82.33mph. I would think Cav on a normal upright could perhaps do just over half that speed, and then only with a leadout.
BentMikey
Rider of Seolferwulf
- Location
- South London
Another disadvantage is that recumbents are generally not so easy to quickly mount and dismount as on an upright.
Nigeyy
Legendary Member
- Location
- Massachusetts, USA
Recumbents are just a different way of approaching cycling. To give a quick list of pros/cons:
Pros:
+riding position. Can help riders with bad backs or wrists, and you certainly see much more in arguably greater comfort.
+usually less wind resistance and faster on the flats given the same rider.
+riding experience is just different and for me at least, much more fun and relaxed. Think street luge and the word "fun".
+novelty and uniqueness. In traffic I've found you are much more noticeable.
+not that I've experienced this, but I think you might be generally better off coming off a recumbent; there is less height to fall from and your feet are first.
Cons:
-less value for money. Recumbents are not mass produced in numbers like regular diamond frame bikes and are very poor value for money compared to diamond frame bikes in the same price bracket.
-storage and transportation. Usually recumbents will be longer than a diamond frame bike, and can be subject to restrictions on planes and trains, let alone if you wish to put one in the back of your car.
-no knees for suspension. When you go over a bump, if your recumbent doesn't have suspension, well, it doesn't have suspension. You can't "stand" up on a recumbent to lessen an impact. For this reason I don't like riding in high traffic areas where there might be quite a few potholes.
-no bunny hopping or jumping obstacles on a recumbent.
-unable to vary riding style. Recumbents need your legs to spin all the time -you can't stand on the pedals going uphill.
-rack compatibility. Though not true for all recumbents, oftentimes you will need extra rack adaptors to allow for rack mounting. You can of course figure that into your complete costs but nevertheless annoying.
-difficulty in securing the bike. Some recumbents present an issue when trying to lock them up.
-harder to repair punctures/maintenance. Some recumbents are harder to remove wheels to repair punctures, as well as being awkward to fasten in a bike stand.
Contentious cons:
-problems on group rides. If you're on a recumbent, it can be harder to converse with your friends if they are all on diamond frame bikes, let alone the sometimes illogical attitudes of dislike of recumbents by other riders (sorry, but true).
-heel overlap on some short wheel base recumbents (though this is an arguable point as some diamond frame bikes have toe overlap as well.)
-stability. Short wheel base recumbents may not be ridden hands off -but again, one might say that of some diamond frame bikes as well.
Though looking at the list of pros and cons it might be easy to write off the recumbent, I have to add that the benefits of riding position and what you see can be hugely offsetting to any cons. If I were to tour across the USA, I've promised myself it would be on a recumbent due to comfort and the fact I'd see so much more.
And of course you might need to grow a beard, a pot belly, carry a pure mathematics book with you and wear open toe sandals with socks to ride one too
I'm sure there are some other factors I've forgotten to mention as well.....
Pros:
+riding position. Can help riders with bad backs or wrists, and you certainly see much more in arguably greater comfort.
+usually less wind resistance and faster on the flats given the same rider.
+riding experience is just different and for me at least, much more fun and relaxed. Think street luge and the word "fun".
+novelty and uniqueness. In traffic I've found you are much more noticeable.
+not that I've experienced this, but I think you might be generally better off coming off a recumbent; there is less height to fall from and your feet are first.
Cons:
-less value for money. Recumbents are not mass produced in numbers like regular diamond frame bikes and are very poor value for money compared to diamond frame bikes in the same price bracket.
-storage and transportation. Usually recumbents will be longer than a diamond frame bike, and can be subject to restrictions on planes and trains, let alone if you wish to put one in the back of your car.
-no knees for suspension. When you go over a bump, if your recumbent doesn't have suspension, well, it doesn't have suspension. You can't "stand" up on a recumbent to lessen an impact. For this reason I don't like riding in high traffic areas where there might be quite a few potholes.
-no bunny hopping or jumping obstacles on a recumbent.
-unable to vary riding style. Recumbents need your legs to spin all the time -you can't stand on the pedals going uphill.
-rack compatibility. Though not true for all recumbents, oftentimes you will need extra rack adaptors to allow for rack mounting. You can of course figure that into your complete costs but nevertheless annoying.
-difficulty in securing the bike. Some recumbents present an issue when trying to lock them up.
-harder to repair punctures/maintenance. Some recumbents are harder to remove wheels to repair punctures, as well as being awkward to fasten in a bike stand.
Contentious cons:
-problems on group rides. If you're on a recumbent, it can be harder to converse with your friends if they are all on diamond frame bikes, let alone the sometimes illogical attitudes of dislike of recumbents by other riders (sorry, but true).
-heel overlap on some short wheel base recumbents (though this is an arguable point as some diamond frame bikes have toe overlap as well.)
-stability. Short wheel base recumbents may not be ridden hands off -but again, one might say that of some diamond frame bikes as well.
Though looking at the list of pros and cons it might be easy to write off the recumbent, I have to add that the benefits of riding position and what you see can be hugely offsetting to any cons. If I were to tour across the USA, I've promised myself it would be on a recumbent due to comfort and the fact I'd see so much more.
And of course you might need to grow a beard, a pot belly, carry a pure mathematics book with you and wear open toe sandals with socks to ride one too
I'm sure there are some other factors I've forgotten to mention as well.....
Auntie Helen
Ich bin Powerfrau!
- Location
- 47906 Kempen, Germany
Nigeyy's list of cons is longer than the pros. I agree with most of his cons – they reflect my experience. However the overall pros so massively outweigh the cons for me that the cons pale into insignificance. Overall the recumbent cycling experience is just brilliant. Might I also add as a pro, for a trike, that high winds don't knock you off your bike (you only really notice a headwind), slippery surfaces don't really matter either, and that I love going out just for a ride whatever the weather as trikes are such fun. Oh, and sooooo comfortable too. Another con, however, is that recumbents aren't so good off road (in my experience) so I tend to stick to proper roads or cycle tracks and not mud/gravel.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
So, as a die hard 'upright' (tisk..tisk...BM..... read "proper bike", not a funny bike ), how do they handle on a fast switchback descent ?
I've never ridden one, can see how they are faster for aerodynamics, but what about hilly areas etc....must be hard work hauling all that weight up 1 in 10's and steeper ?, And what about descending technical hills ?
I've rarely seen one up 'ere in Manchester.....
UCI aren't the evil ones... only on this stupid weight limit....even track bikes can't go below the 6.8kg's or whatever.......
Can see why you get more room, as BM's post earlier about some idiots coming close to his Langster even with a child attached....
One big ask.....what's it like in a crash on a recumbent ????? I've done my sliding on my arse and hands, superman 30ft flying lessons etc. on an 'upright' - so what happens in an off ?
), how do they handle on a fast switchback descent ?I've never ridden one, can see how they are faster for aerodynamics, but what about hilly areas etc....must be hard work hauling all that weight up 1 in 10's and steeper ?, And what about descending technical hills ?
I've rarely seen one up 'ere in Manchester.....
UCI aren't the evil ones... only on this stupid weight limit....even track bikes can't go below the 6.8kg's or whatever.......
Can see why you get more room, as BM's post earlier about some idiots coming close to his Langster even with a child attached....
One big ask.....what's it like in a crash on a recumbent ????? I've done my sliding on my arse and hands, superman 30ft flying lessons etc. on an 'upright' - so what happens in an off ?
BentMikey
Rider of Seolferwulf
- Location
- South London
Handling on descents? OH MY GOODNESS - it's the most fun and exciting thing ever. Like a jet fighter, fast, tight turns, *AWESOME*. Trikes are supposed to be even better - I take care on skog-filled country lanes on a two wheeler, but apparently you can just blast them on a trike.
My 'bent is fairly slow on hills, but that's really only because I'm not so fit, and my 'bent is old and heavy. There are loads of new superlightweight 'bents that should fly uphills. In any event, even my old heavy bent is so much faster on the flats and downhills that it's an easy 4-5km/hour faster than my langster in average speed on my commute.
UCI are defo evil in my opinion - it's not just the weight limit, but on so many different restrictions that they've stifled bicycle development for nearly the last 100 years. Tossers, imagine how much better and faster everything would be now without their meddling influence.
I've fallen off my 'bent a few times, it's a non-event on such a low bike. Bit embarassing is all. Not very far to the ground, that's for sure. High speed roadrash probably isn't very different.
My 'bent is fairly slow on hills, but that's really only because I'm not so fit, and my 'bent is old and heavy. There are loads of new superlightweight 'bents that should fly uphills. In any event, even my old heavy bent is so much faster on the flats and downhills that it's an easy 4-5km/hour faster than my langster in average speed on my commute.
UCI are defo evil in my opinion - it's not just the weight limit, but on so many different restrictions that they've stifled bicycle development for nearly the last 100 years. Tossers, imagine how much better and faster everything would be now without their meddling influence.
I've fallen off my 'bent a few times, it's a non-event on such a low bike. Bit embarassing is all. Not very far to the ground, that's for sure. High speed roadrash probably isn't very different.
Nigeyy
Legendary Member
- Location
- Massachusetts, USA
I'm with BentMikey on descents -really good fun. As I posted previously, think Street luge and fun!!
Going uphill is more difficult on a recumbent no doubt -you have to reel yourself up a hill rather than power your way up (though of course that could be more due to my recumbent bike model which is old and heavy as well as an indication of my personal fitness).
Can't comment on falling off as I've never come off the recumbent, but I'd guess it must be easier on you as you are closer to the ground.
Going uphill is more difficult on a recumbent no doubt -you have to reel yourself up a hill rather than power your way up (though of course that could be more due to my recumbent bike model which is old and heavy as well as an indication of my personal fitness).
Can't comment on falling off as I've never come off the recumbent, but I'd guess it must be easier on you as you are closer to the ground.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
BentMikey said:
Hold on...it is you that has an active job....... desk jockey here !!!
I suppose if you front end a car, it get's skewered by the chain rings......
BentMikey
Rider of Seolferwulf
- Location
- South London
Charles Potter just bought a Fujin SLII from our Bromley Cyclists group - I'm quite green, that is a new, light and fast machine. LeeW of the BHPC bought one too, put a homemade coroplast full fairing on, and did 35.1mph for an hour. Take that Chris Boardman!
http://www.bhpc.org.uk/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2213
http://www.bhpc.org.uk/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2213
PrettyboyTim
New Member
- Location
- Brighton
BentMikey said:
That's hardly fair, if you will insist on riding an upright that doesn't even have any gears...
BentMikey
Rider of Seolferwulf
- Location
- South London
LOL, fixed isn't really slower, just harder work.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
It's not 'upright' FFS !!! my bikes are hardly 'upright' - flat back and going some.....
Right............ I'm not having 'uprights' as a pseudonym for any conventional bike..... up right is a shopper...not a race bike...grrrrrrrrr
I'll have recumbents as 'odd ball' bikes then........ cheeky buggers you lot......I'll 'ave ya.........
Right............ I'm not having 'uprights' as a pseudonym for any conventional bike..... up right is a shopper...not a race bike...grrrrrrrrr
I'll have recumbents as 'odd ball' bikes then........ cheeky buggers you lot......I'll 'ave ya.........
