Recumbent

[Aint Skeered]

Why? I mean they are not really bikes are they.
Whats the appeal?
Seeing them on the road they look bloody vulnerable, due to the low profile.
Enlighten me.

 

[ufkacbln]

As a trike owner, mine id s certainly NOT a bike, it is fast comfortable, assured and much more stable than an "upwrong".

Personally I can't see the problem.

I suggest you need to ride one for your Damascean moment!

 

[Aint Skeered]

As a trike owner, mine id s certainly NOT a bike, it is fast comfortable, assured and much more stable than an "upwrong".

Personally I can't see the problem.

I suggest you need to ride one for your Damascean moment!

Do you ride one then? that to me means you sit astride, rather than on, or in.

 

[tdr1nka]

Do you ride one then? that to me means you sit astride, rather than on, or in.

You can 'ride' a tricycle so technically you could say you ride a trike.
One does sit 'on' an upwrong and as for 'astride', meaning your legs either side of the frame and drive train, then essentially the same applies to trikes, it just sounds very wrong.

To get around this tricky issue I simply 'pilot' my trike! :?:

 

[wafflycat]

Why? I mean they are not really bikes are they.
Whats the appeal?
Seeing them on the road they look bloody vulnerable, due to the low profile.
Enlighten me.

That's the typical reaction of someone who hasn't ridden a 'bent. I've got a recumbent trike (Ice T) and it is serious fun. I call it my mobile deckchair. It's comfy and you aren't going to fall off cycling slowly up a hill. You can stop, apply handbrake and know the thing isn't going to freewheel away from you. It brings fun to others - I get kids & pensioners alike smiling & waving.

As for vulnerable - I actually get given more room by motorists when I'm on the 'bent. I think it's a mixture of a "WTF! Better keep away from that!" and "Look at the brave disabled person trying to keep their mobility and I don't want to be in the press for having run over the disabled rider" Even though I'm not disabled - folk *assume* it - as I've had nice gentlemen offer to help me up and walk to wherever I want to be :?:

The downsides:- It's heavier than any of my uprights, so I'm slower on it but it's probably no heavier than many an MTB I suppose (I don't have an MTB to compare it to, just hybrid, race, tourer). It is slower going *up* hills. More pure leg work and I seem to use muscles differently somehow.

The upsides:- apart from those I've already stated - It's fast and incredible fun going *downhill* and with a low centre of gravity, you can accelerate round corners - and not ground a pedal causing a spill. No chance of sore 4r$3 as you're in a comfy chair : I refer to it as my mobile deckchair Did I mention it was fun?

Oh, and it's FUN​

 

[Keith Oates]

I've never riden a 'bent' although I did sit in one and go around the showroom on it. It certainly seemed very comfortable but for now I'll stay on a normal style bicycle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[asterix]

It wouldn't be much good round here as there are lots of hills, in fact even the flat bits are like what they call hills in York. And I like to see over hedges and things..

There have been lots more cycle tourists this year for some reason (no Brits seen so far) and I have never seen a recumbent here.

 

[tdr1nka]

My KMX has 7cm of ground clearance which is lower than a Lotus Elise!

Vulnerability, compared to an upwrong, is not really a major issue IMO.
Bents & Trikes are not seen that regularly on the roads so have a novelty factor and for most drivers, a fear/respect of the unknown which makes them drive more cautiously around you.

It's worth noting that from hub to hub my trike's front wheels are not much wider than my MTB bars and almost every overtaking vehicle gives me significantly more room than if I were on an upwrong.

 

[mr_cellophane]

I saw a girl on a 2 wheel recumbent at Cycle Surgery Spitalfields a couple of weeks ago. It looked very difficult to get going, you can just push off and then start peddling.

 

[asterix]

WHy do some recumbentalists call conventional bikes 'upwrongs'? Are they extreme members of a recumbententalism sect trying to convert me from my straight and narrow path? Should they not be more laid back about it all?

 

[Fnaar]

I don't have a recumbent, but I've just written this haiku about one:

Lying back I ride
My resplendent recumbent.
I don't fall off it


Then I found a cycling haiku website!!!!!
http://www.bikereader.com/contributors/etc/haiku/BRhaiku.html

 

[redshift]

Wot Wafflycat said is true - I used to call Speedy 'the world's fastest deckchair,' but someone reminded me that that title is taken:
World's fastest deckchair

 

[bonj2]

why does nearly everyone who rides a recumbent have a trike, rather than one with two wheels? Is it 'cos the ones with two wheels are more difficult to handle? You'd think cyclists would want to minimise their rolling resistance...

 

[ufkacbln]

Depends what you are after..

I have a Street Machine, high seat, 4 panniers, and fully suspended - excellent tourer and commuter.

My Hurricane is a lower bike with a shorter wheelbase and above seat steering, more of a racing and fast day ride thaan the SM, but with far less luggage capacity.

Finally there is the Catrike, fast, fun and more stable.


Whether any is "better" than the other is a matter of personal choice......

 

[TheDoctor]

Having 'dabbled' in the Dark side, I'll chuck in my 2 p-worth...
Riding a 'bent trike is a piece of cake. It really is. Get on, go. Simple as. A bike, OTOH, needs a bit more nerve and can be a little scary. Or maybe that's just me.

Both bikes and trikes, however are seriously comfortable and the most fun you could have with lycra on...