Recumbent bikes

[the reluctant cyclist]

In the first couple of posts people mentioned that you see more - how does this work?

Wouldn't you see less being lower down or am I being thick again?

 

[CopperBrompton]

In the first couple of posts people mentioned that you see more - how does this work?

With a DF bike, your natural head position is down, and you actively have to strain your neck to look far forward. With a recumbent, your head is level, looking straight ahead, so although you're lower it's far easier to maintain distance vision.

Ben

 

[Nigeyy]

Your head is in a natural upright position. On a diamond frame bike you are really always turning your neck up to see ahead. A recumbent affords you a relaxed view of your surroundings. Though of course there can be people who always maintain that head position, I've found that on my diamond frame bikes I'll often look slightly down as opposed to the more natural upright position that gives me almost 100% level views on the recumbent.

 

[CopperBrompton]

The other thing on vision worth noting is that mirrors work well. On a DF bike, there's generally some head-shuffling to look past your elbows; on a recumbent trike, at least, you have constant rear vision.

On group rides, even when I'm at the front of the group, it's usually me who alerts the group to cars approaching from behind.

Ben

 

[J4CKO]

Cheers, very interesting read, I suppose I would like to try one along with a fixie just to see what its like, I dont know if I could cope with everyone asking about how often lorries roll over me ?

 

[Auntie Helen]

Another negative for recumbents is sweaty back. I don't really get aches and pains on my upright on long rides, but I did get a very sweaty back on a short recumbent ride.

I've found this too - I do get a sweaty back, even in winter. I think it must be down to one's individual physiognomy. I make sure that I wear suitable clothes that don't show the sweat.

Of course, being a lady I don't sweat or perspire, I 'glow'

 

[J4CKO]

I get a sweaty back, from my rucksack, ordered a rack and panniers today.

 

[Riding in Circles]

I am looking at this.... It looks so much fun. What with Bentmikeys and other recumbent riders enthusiasm on this forum, I think it's only a matter of time until I indulge myself... and crack open the wallet.

Oh, someone linking to my website, I've finally arrived.

 

[ufkacbln]

Oh, someone linking to my website, I've finally arrived.

I know a smutty joke about a posh lady a butler and "Jeeves, I'm arriving, I'm arriving - I've arrived!" but it is totally unsuitable and way off topic!

 

[sadjack]

I have enjoyed reading this thread, great mixture of information and humour

This maybe a little off topic as this is the "commuting" part of the forum, but has anyone experience of using a recumbent on tour?

 

[Riding in Circles]

I have enjoyed reading this thread, great mixture of information and humour

This maybe a little off topic as this is the "commuting" part of the forum, but has anyone experience of using a recumbent on tour?

I have done a few small tours on the trike, went around Belgium for 4 days in the summer, did about 200 miles.

 

[PrettyboyTim]

With a DF bike, your natural head position is down, and you actively have to strain your neck to look far forward. With a recumbent, your head is level, looking straight ahead, so although you're lower it's far easier to maintain distance vision.

Ben

I find this point very unconvincing. Sure, a racer DF with drops will require you to incline your head up, but something like a classic Pashley won't require you to at all.

Likewise, some recumbents look to me like you have to incline your head forward quite a bit, but as with DF bikes it all seems to depend on the model of the bike.

 

[CopperBrompton]

I've not ridden a Pashley, so can't comment on that specific bike, but everything else I've ridden - road bikes, tourers, mountain bikes, even my Brompton - have a natural head-down position.

Ben

 

[BentMikey]

I'm with Ben, it's much easier to see around you on a 'bent. Uprights that are fairly sit-up are better than road bikes, but still not as good as a recumbent, IMO.

Of course the accompanying disadvantage is that on a 'bent you can't always look over hedgerows or walls...

 

[Arch]

This maybe a little off topic as this is the "commuting" part of the forum, but has anyone experience of using a recumbent on tour?

I have, I've ridden with a group of friends in France twice now, first time a week, second a fortnight. Now, we did have a back up car, so didn't have to carry all our luggage, but I only packed two panniers anyway, one to carry by day (pump, waterproofs, stuff like that) and one with my clothes that travelled in the car. If I'd had to, I'd have just carried both...

The main thing, I think, for the trike at least, is the storage issue. It can't be shoehorned into as small a space as an upright, and there might be an issue with hostels that have a bike shed, or B and B's with no garage or anything... Mostly we were able to get nice secure and/or under-cover storage in France and that was all hotels....

If you were camping or such like, then if you can carry the kit on an upright, you can carry it on a recumbent. And of course over a long daily distance, the comfort really comes into play - no sore bum or stiff shoulders....