Recumbent Rides

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Psamathe

Senior Member
But never say never about riding on the dark side,
I agree. A lot can happen in life, older one gets more things happen. And sometimes things that happen are things that "go wrong" and can result in personal limitations. For a year or so I was unable to ride my 2-wheel upright so switched to recumbent trike (tadpole). I was lucky in that I recovered enough to be able to ride the 2-wheel upright again but find I just ride the recumbent most of the time. It's a sad reality but there are enough contributors to this forum that I'd guess at some point some will be faced with giving up cycling or switching to a recumbent ... and it doesn't have to be major life changing issues.

That said, some switch because they give it a try and find it great fun. Before getting my recumbent I had concerns about being low and the width of cycle. My cycling area is a high proportion of single track roads and you do occasionally meet oncoming cars. But I ended-up getting a fairly low recumbent (3½ inches ground clearance). And my pre-purchase concerns rerally turned out to be non-issues. And if I suddenly lost the trike tomorrow I'd buy the same one again.

For some years I'd spend a couple of months each year cycle touring (laden camping) on the 2-wheel upright in Europe (France, Germany, Belgium & Netherlands). These days my couple of months still in France, Germany, Belgium and Netherlands, still a couple of months but I take the recumbent.

Ian
 

Ming the Merciless

There is no mercy
Location
Inside my skull
Touring at the moment. What weather, shorts and T-shirt in early April!

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a.twiddler

a.twiddler

Veteran
7/4/25
Recumbent Ride
A Trio of Wayside Markers. First Ride on the Rans Stratus.


A fine sunny day so I decided to go on the Rans to pick up a parcel then do a few miles to see how it coped with some of my local routes. I took the seat back bag off the Spirit and put it on the Stratus. It was a good fit. A bit heavy once I’d put my tools, a pump and a lock in there though.

Out through the back gate, across the road and facing right by the kerb. I got on and made a few adjustments, then set off. It felt a little odd at first, but once I relaxed back into the seat and loosened my grip on the bars it felt much like the Linear, save for those extravagant handlebars.

I continued on to Swanlow Lane and got through the uphill lights. I found that the bike responded quickly to downhill slopes and was soon doing a decent lick towards the A54 roundabout. An effect of skinny tyres and 559 wheels, I imagine. Some traffic about, a queue for the roundabout, then stopped on red. Eventually I turned right downhill on the dual carriageway towards the town centre. Pedalling gently downhill then freewheeling through the town centre lights, to turn right at the next set. Right at the next two roundabouts to lock up at a supermarket car park barrier. I collected my parcel, unlocked and set off across the car park. Left at the next two roundabouts, straight on at the next lights then sharp left on to a cycle path alongside the dual carriageway.

In at the deep end, following a narrow, slightly winding cycle path on an extra long, unfamiliar recumbent. It was actually easier than anticipated, and I was soon at the junction for Grange Lane where I turned right along the pavement before crossing over to the other side of the road and continuing. Soon I reached the point where Grange Lane turned to the right through a small estate and headed out into the countryside.

Some easy pedalling and freewheeling brought me to the beginning of a dip so I changed down ready for the climb up the other side and was surprised at how far up the other side I got before I had to change down again. I soon came to the barrier leading to the up ramp to the Whitegate way. I changed down in readiness and surprised myself again by being able to ride slowly through and line up for the climb without stopping. I just carried on up the ramp. I could have done with a slightly lower gear but the bike climbs so easily I just carried on to the top.

It didn’t take me long to get used to the 3 X 9 derailleur set up after the Linear’s hybrid hub and derailleur arrangement, but I was aware that I had to make sure I was in a low enough gear before tackling a climb, whereas with the Linear it is possible to change down on the hub gear even if you come to a stop on a slope. Having to limit myself to a mere 27 gears compared with the Linear’s 42 wasn’t such a chore. The range of gears, particularly the low ones, was fine. I did have concerns that there was some chain rub in certain gears on the underseat rack I’d fitted but there was more noise from the front derailleur cage, which I soon got into the habit of trimming despite the SRAM grip shifter having positive clicks rather than just friction.

I’d been tormented by an earworm since last Saturday when I heard Lori Lieberman singing “Killing me softly” from 1972. Seems she co authored the song after attending a Don Maclean gig and was blown away by his performance of “Empty chairs”. Anyway, her gentle, heartfelt yet emphatic performance blew me away too. It never became a hit as it had done for the likes of Roberta Flack, whose version seems positively raucous in comparison.

So along with the birdsong in the bud -burgeoning trees I was accompanied by this song as I rolled along on the gently climbing rail trail. It was very dry underwheel today, with only one notable puddle.

I reached Whitegate Station car park and stopped for the usual mandatory leak.
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As I came out a couple on mountain bikes were taking an interest in the bike. “It’s one of those semi recumbent bikes”, the man said. “I’m still getting used to it”, I replied.

Through the car park, over the many small but vicious speed bumps until I reached the short uphill to Clay Lane. I left it a bit late in changing down here and managed to unship the chain at the front. I got it back on with no difficulty. I will have to watch out for that in future.

Left on to Clay lane, mostly downhill to Shay’s Lane Brook where I was overtaken by a tractor and trailer, raising a cloud of dust as he went past. Another one came the other way, no trailer. I got some speed up ready to turn right into Shay’s Lane and get up the steep hill there. As I turned in I saw the back of the trailer disappearing round a bend. At least that ought to hold any traffic back while I got up this steep narrow hill, I thought. The dust lingered in the air between the hedge banks. Last time I’d come this way it was very muddy, but it had dried out into a fine sandy soil.

I didn’t come across any other vehicles until I’d cleared the narrow stretch, and the tractor and trailer were either well ahead or had turned off somewhere.

I was quite pleased by the way the Stratus climbs. It feels at least as good as the Linear or Spirit.

There was a less steep climb to the low summit, then it was more level to the junction with Longstone Lane. I went right then posed the bike in front of the Long Stone, which gives the lane its name.
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The Long Stone is actually the base of an ancient wayside cross which was one of a series which guided travellers to Vale Royal Abbey which is nearby. I rode on to the next one which is about 400 yards away. This is variously known as the Headless Cross or Plague Stone, as in times of plague local residents may have carried out transactions here rather than meet in a crowded market place.
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I pressed on a little further to the Junction with the A49. The traffic was fierce here. Less than a mile away to the left there are traffic lights on the A54, and a couple of miles to the right there are traffic lights on the A446. I don’t think they are coordinated, so what happens is that there is a burst of traffic from one direction or the other, then a lull. I took advantage of one of these quiet spells to turn left and pedal furiously a hundred yards or so to the entrance to the Hollies farm shop on the left. Here I leaned the bike against a wall.
I’d worked out from the map that there was another marker stone approximately opposite this entrance. I hadn’t visited it yet. The sun was intense, with a lot of contrast between sunlight and shade. By scanning carefully from the other side of the road I could see a dark shape in the hedge opposite.
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Fortunately the hedge wasn’t in full leaf yet, otherwise I probably wouldn’t have found it. With the intensity of the traffic there was no chance that I could park the bike on the other side, so I waited for a gap, nipped across, and took a few photographs. It seemed to be the same sort of red sandstone base with a recess in the top to locate further stones or a cross as I’ve seen elsewhere, mostly obscured by shrubbery.
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I nipped back to the bike and waited for a gap in the traffic. None came, so I rode along a narrow gravelly pavement back to the junction where I’d previously come out. A blue car poked its nose out but pulled back a bit to let me get by as I turned back into Shays Lane. I lifted my hand in acknowledgement then stopped down the road in a shady spot to decide my route home.

After considering the traffic levels, I decided to go back the way I’d come. There were a few vehicles on Longstone Lane, but once on to Shays Lane it was quieter. The steep narrow sandy bit had the bike’s wheels moving about once speed got up downhill but generally in the right direction.

I don’t think this bike tolerates the weight high up behind the seat so well as the Linear or Spirit though they do have wider, treaded tyres at the front to damp down any oscillation on looser surfaces. Perhaps the rack bag formerly attached to the steel tourer might be more appropriate here, when I don’t actually use a pannier.

Left out on to Clay Lane, gradually uphill to the entrance to the Whitegate way car park, through the car park to stop at the sign for a photo stop.
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As I got going again a woman returning to her car called out. “like your bike!” “thank you” I replied wondering if the consequence of that might be me falling off as I crossed one of the speed humps at an awkward angle, but the bike swallowed that up OK. I continued, to stop at a handy picnic bench.
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As I sat there having a drink and listening to the birds I wished I’d brought some mini binoculars so that I could identify them. Several walkers and runners went by, then a man on a mountain bike towing a trailer followed by a woman on a similar bike. The man was talking loudly so I heard them before I saw them. I wondered if there was a child in the trailer or if he had brought his dog along. It was hard to see with the hood up.

I gathered my stuff together and headed for the conveniences, dropped off my litter at a bin then tried the door. Hmm. Looked like they locked up at 4pm. Not to worry. I got back on and rode through the car park to where it meets a barrier, straight through and on to the rail trail.

I thought I’d practice riding really slowly on the way back, as it is mostly downhill to where the rail trail meets Grange Lane. This is how I’d learnt how to manage the Linear at low speed. I’ve been able to do almost trackstands in traffic on it for so long now that I just take it for granted.

I’ve read a lot about the apparent tendency of the front wheel on the Rans Stratus XP to flop to one side or the other at low speed, particularly on slow climbs, due to a combination of the unfeasible looking fork angle and the weight of the front wheel ahead of the spindle responding to gravity. It does look somewhat akin to a 1960s chopper. On the short sharp climbs I’ve done today I haven’t been aware of it, but I wasn’t looking at the speed at the time. It could just be an exaggerated form of what happens to any LWB bike when it suddenly loses steering ability below about 4 mph, or maybe a bit less. My feeling on experiencing the climbs was how well it got up them.

My main concern has been when turning tightly off road how far the bars move in the opposite direction particularly compared with under seat steering. Like everything else, I expect it’s just a matter of practice.

I don’t think that the Rans is particularly extreme. It certainly doesn’t feel difficult when riding it.

Anyway, I was just pootling along wondering how slow I could go before I had to put a foot down when I heard someone clapping. I looked up and saw some kids on a bank beside the trail where a footpath runs parallel to it. Someone said, “Phwoar!” Were they clapping for me? Maybe one of them had just climbed a tree, if kids do that sort of thing these days. It’s a new one on me. I trundled on. It’s actually not so easy to ride slowly on this bike, not for fear of falling off, but it just responds so well to a few turns of the pedals.

Soon I was at the steep ramp down to the road. It was a bit gravelly, but I wasn’t able to provoke a skid even by pulling quite hard on the brakes. I knew they were quite sharp, but the bike is quite sure footed too.

Once on the road, I rushed the dip and got up the other side with no issues. I turned right after a small estate, towards the sports complex. I followed the path between the playing fields to the exit A frame barrier. Here I got into difficulties as the bars are quite wide and I deranged my mirrors getting through. I must measure this barrier, as the bars are very adjustable and it’s nice to get through these things without fuss.

I got going again and climbed the steep lane easily. Right into an estate road, left on to Delamere St.

A good run across the A54 roundabout to Swanlow Lane, straight through to the Church Minshull road then a right turn into the lanes to stretch the mileage a little before I rolled up at my back gate.

A very pleasant ride today in the sunshine.

Mileage 17.08. Max Speed 23.6. Average 8.1 mph According to Garmin.
Ascent 434 ft. According to Bikehike.
 

Psamathe

Senior Member
However he found that at times people would shout their praise from the side of the road as he went past. They seemed to think he had some major disability because he was riding an recumbent.

I've found that common in France. Often getting cheers and/or thumbs-up out of car window leaving supermarket car prks. Once on a canal towpath a tourist boat with 20+ people sitting all started clapping as we passed each other. Once cycling through a town and a passed a group of school children being lead by teachers and as I passed they all started clapping.

I asked French recumbent riders why and they (several) have said it's because you are being different and not related to disability.
Happened to me a couple of days ago in the UK, rural roads and a small moped/scooter passed and once clear ahead right hand out and low with a thumb-up sign.

Ian
 

PaulM

Guru
Location
Portsmouth, UK
Glad to see you enjoying it. It does roll really well. I adjusted both hubs before fitting the wheels, adding grease and adjusting the cones. It's something I've learnt to do only relatively recently but is really essential with cup and cone shimano hubs. They invariably come from the factory with overtight bearings and not enough grease.
 
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a.twiddler

a.twiddler

Veteran
13/4/25
Recumbent Ride
Trip to Local A Frame Barrier to Measure Up on the Rans.


It’s the fence painting season so these last few dry days have been used up getting charcoal grey paint out of its containers and on to my back gate and fence panels. It says One Coat on the label. Maybe on a new unpainted panel it is, but not on old panels of a different colour. It’s a bit soul destroying, actually, to put a good coat on then to turn round a few minutes later to see it’s soaked in and the original colour is showing through as if I hadn’t painted it. Mrs T wants charcoal grey, so charcoal grey she’s getting, eventually. Two to Three Coats more like.

Still, I managed to escape this evening with a steel tape and the Rans to my nearest “A” frame barrier to take some measurements. The bars are very adjustable. I’ve changed the mirrors to Mirrycles since my last visit, so was hoping that the bars wouldn’t need much adjustment. The Spirit, which just goes through the barrier, has bars that are not adjustable for width.

Due to the design of the barrier, it gets narrower the higher you go, so low, wide bars such as the USS on the Linear go through fine and the seat width at the top is fine too as long as you approach it square on.

Anyhow, I went right out of my front gate to Swanlow Lane and the uphill traffic lights, then along the relatively flat if slightly undulating route to the A54 roundabout. There are no problematic uphills or downhills along this road but the impression I’d had on the last ride on the Rans was reinforced, that a little extra effort gives a disproportionate increase in speed compared with the other two bikes. I might think about some slightly lighter tyres, at least on the front, of those two, if this one lives up to its promise. I have seen Paselas in 406, but 305 might be more of a challenge.

In comparison with my experience with the Grasshopper, there’s not a lot of effort needed to keep rolling along on the Rans at what is a respectable rate by my standards, which seems counter intuitive considering the uprightness of the seat and low BB. The BB feels lower than the one on the Linear, and that is noticeably lower than the one on the Spirit.

Across the A54 roundabout on to Delamere St and then Chester Road. Right downhill on to an estate road, then left into the steep lane that leads to the sports fields and the barrier which I wanted to measure. I’d stayed in a highish gear thinking I’d go though the barrier and enjoy the downhill on the other side before turning back and measuring up. However, it was narrower than I remembered from coming the other way on my last ride, and I didn’t want to mess about resetting my mirrors so after coming to a halt at the barrier then pushing back I parked the bike against the adjacent gate and got the tape out.
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It looks here as if the gap between the barrier and the adjacent upright post is enough to get a bike through. If there was a straight approach to it perhaps it would, but the approach is at an angle, which makes it tricky. The approach to the barrier itself is at an angle from this side, which also makes it less straightforward.

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Barrier: Width at mirror height 22 inches. Width at the height of the handlebar ends 25 inches, so I just needed to be able to adjust them down to slightly less than that.

Dusk was falling, so I decided to head for home and sort it out in the discomfort of my garage. I paddled the bike round to face uphill then realised that I wouldn’t be able to restart in the gear that I’d left it in from coming down the lane.

It wasn’t difficult to carefully wheel it forward moving the front changer one click at a time while pushing the pedals by hand until the chain went to the middle ring then the small ring but it’s something I’d rather avoid with a bit of forethought next time. At least I managed to avoid making the chain fall off. One passer by was all it would have taken to make it fall off and probably jam somewhere. These things are best done without witnesses, and the accompanying sound of, “are you all right there, mate?”

I got on, paddled backwards a bit, then launched easily uphill. I even changed up once I got going.

Just before I reached the junction with the estate road I put the rear light to slow flash, dug out my front light from the bag and attached it, putting that to slow flash too. Then I set off uphill to the right. A left turn at the T junction with Chester Road, on to Delamere St and steady rolling with its helpful undulations speeding me on my way to the A54 roundabout and Swanlow Lane.

Straight on through Townfields Road lights and downhill to get through my uphill turn off, then a trundle downhill to my back gate.

Following this ride, I’ve made some adjustments, lowering the grips and turning them inwards a little, and moving the mirrors inboard. When I next make my escape from the seemingly endless list of household jobs I will try that barrier again.

Distance 3.90 miles. Max speed 22.3 mph. Average 9.6 mph. According to Garmin.
Ascent 88 ft. According to Bikehike.
 
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a.twiddler

a.twiddler

Veteran
24/4/25
Recumbent Ride
A Barrier and a Harrier.


Sunny today, with a threat of cloud, a hint of rain later in the wind. I’d thought about going further, but the remaining fence panel nagged at me through the kitchen window. If it doesn’t rain, I’ll paint it later. I seem to have sacrificed a lot of sunny cycling time to those panels this month, and the only reason I’m not getting earache about painting our two sheds (one large, one small) is that Mrs T hasn’t made her mind up about the colour yet. So I was determined to get out on a bike today, even for a tiny ride.

Out through the back gate, across the road to face right in the direction of Swanlow lane. I got on, adjusted the mirrors and became aware of a mum with a couple of tiny kids watching me from the other side of the road. “Mummeee, I wanna see that bike go”, one said. Oh dear. No pressure then. I hadn’t ridden this bike (or any bike) for a couple of weeks, and it was in a highish gear.

I’d previously adjusted the bars and mirrors to be able to get through my local “A” frame barrier, and things felt different. A recipe for a pratfall, I thought. I zipped up my pockets, checked all was clear, and just got going, rather ponderously, in the highish gear. It all went smoothly, and I was soon rolling along nonchalantly.

Swooping into Swanlow Lane where I slowed uphill coming into the righthand lane to turn for the town centre. The light stayed green, a gap appeared in the oncoming traffic and I did a right turn without needing to stop. A left turn downhill a little later, and the bike just wanted to go. If not for the traffic, the downhill speed might have been higher, and I needed to stop and wait for some time at the town centre lights before crossing on to Grange Lane.

After negotiating the traffic calming humps I found myself flowing along, and earlier than expected. I was at the sports complex car park. I passed through it, got on to the path between the playing fields and was soon approaching the exit barrier. I’ve previously used this barrier to set up my other bikes, as at least locally, other similar barriers on cycle trails or towpaths are to the same dimensions.

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I had problems getting the bars and mirrors through last time, so I’d taken some measurements. Gratifyingly, I was able to paddle through forwards and backwards a few times without anything touching. It’s quite steep in this direction, but it’s possible that I might be able to get through with my feet up coming the other way.
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So, full of hubris I started off uphill. A false start, the front wheel veered to the right and I put my feet down. Gearing a was a little low when I stopped, I suspected, as from previous experience you just need it high enough to get a good thrust when starting to have the momentum to just swing your other foot up in time to keep on going. Too high, and you will stall. Just a matter of getting used to the gearing, I would think, as the Stratus with its big wheels hasn’t given me any of the expected low speed steering problems that I’d read about in tests and reviews.

I tried again with a bit more anticipation, and got going up the steep hill, maintaining a straight line and changing up a gear. It might be a different experience with a pile of luggage, but so far, so good.

Some genius had parked a car in the narrow entrance to the lane where it meets the estate road. You couldn’t get another car in but I got through OK on the bike. Right uphill, then across a staggered junction on Delamere Street into Littler Lane. A nice bit of downhill here then through some bollards,
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along a path then more bollards and out on to another road. It used to be a through route for motor vehicles but was blocked off a few years ago when some housing developments were built.

I came to an estate road, turned right and arrived at the A54 where there were roadworks with traffic lights. I went left up a pavement to where there was a lowered kerb and crossed over, turning left on to a shared path. This went past the Police HQ and then to a roundabout into an industrial estate. I returned to the road, then turned off to where there has been a Harrier parked as a gate guardian to an MOT station for many years. I took a photo,
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then went back the way I came, past the Police HQ then across the road, through the estate, through the bollards and uphill to Delamere St. where I turned right for the A54 roundabout. The traffic was clear, so I went across to Swanlow Lane. I made good progress here, and was soon at the Townfields Road traffic lights. They were red as I approached but turned green as I reached them so got some speed up for my uphill turn off.

Then a lazy freewheel through the lanes to my back gate.

As usual, I felt good after even this tiny ride. I even felt energised enough to paint another fence panel!

I must have worn black trousers on the previous occasions that I rode this bike as later on I noticed chain oil on the inside of the right lower leg of my grey trousers. It looks as if it’s happened when I’ve stopped or maybe even when riding. I’ll have to keep an eye out for contact in future. The Spirit has chain tubes between me and the chain, the Linear a very effective chainguard. It would be a shame to have to put a chain tube on this bike.

One of the nice things about riding recumbents is that you can wear ordinary clothes. Does the need for black trousers constitute “special clothing”? Hmm.

Mileage 7.37 miles. Max Speed 22.7 mph. Average 8.5 mph. According to Garmin.
Ascent 200 ft. According to Bikehike.
 
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