Third best reason to ride a bent or trike

[kingrollo]

I didn't mean to appear condescending. There are many out there with more recumbent experience than I have, and it seems that I've been one of the lucky ones. Not only are we all different, but our needs and abilities change over the years. I suppose we are all looking for something, and have varying amounts of success in our search along the way.

YMMV, indeed!

No probs mate.

I the seat instead of a mini saddle has obvious advantages , yes there is no pressure 'down there' - but slamming that seat along a bumpy towpath brings a different set of issues IME.

When I had my hamstring injury - a recumbent was a good send. For my battered spinal discs and bone spurs the benefit is less obvious in terms of comfort

 

[Conrad_K]

I remember how, after a decade of riding motorcycles, I learned to drive a car and was horrified by the restricted vision and endless blind spots.

Where I grew up you could get a motorcycle license at 13. I got mine right after my birthday, and for some reason my parents never explained, a motorcycle as well. I put 15,000 miles on it in two years. At 15 I got my car license, and a car. But the car was ten years old, and worn completely out. I spent all summer learning how to overhaul an engine, replace front suspension and steering parts, change U-joints, do bodywork, and prep for paint. It was a valuable learning experience that served me well throughout my life.

It was a ton of work for a bookish kid who seldom went outdoors, but I *needed* the car. Girls, you know.

Anyway, after two years and 15,000 miles, I was an experienced "operator", as my state likes to call drivers. I knew the rules of the road, how to keep from being run over by idiot drivers, and all that stuff. I just needed the bits about keeping the rolling behemoth in its lane, stopping distances, that sort of thing.

I remember the blind spots compared to a bike, and the feeling of being shut off from the world by glass and steel. But mostly, I remember terrifying my Dad, who was trying to teach me how to drive a car. Thousands of miles and two years of habit had programmed "stop" as "apply brakes." Unfortunately, squeezing the steering wheel with my right hand while poking the gas pedal with my right foot did the exact opposite of "stop" when driving a car.

Poor Dad. It's a wonder I didn't give him a heart attack while I was sorting out a new reflex pattern.

 

[Conrad_K]

the seat instead of a mini saddle has obvious advantages , yes there is no pressure 'down there' - but slamming that seat along a bumpy towpath brings a different set of issues IME.

When I had my hamstring injury - a recumbent was a good send. For my battered spinal discs and bone spurs the benefit is less obvious in terms of comfort

Same here. The recumbent trike isn't too bad, but the recumbent bike really hammers my lower spine when I hit bumps, of which there are a plentiful supply locally. Still, better than not riding at all.

I bought a mountain bike with an eye to riding the extensive dirt trails in my area, but... while the suspension irons out the bumps nicely, the "pressure 'down there'" is a big issue after surgery, even with the oversize seat I tried. That's a complete non-issue with the recumbents.

Obviously, I need a recumbent with at least a rear suspension, but lately home repairs have been eating what the accountants laughingly refer to as "disposable income."

 

[kingrollo]

Same here. The recumbent trike isn't too bad, but the recumbent bike really hammers my lower spine when I hit bumps, of which there are a plentiful supply locally. Still, better than not riding at all.

I bought a mountain bike with an eye to riding the extensive dirt trails in my area, but... while the suspension irons out the bumps nicely, the "pressure 'down there'" is a big issue after surgery, even with the oversize seat I tried. That's a complete non-issue with the recumbents.

Obviously, I need a recumbent with at least a rear suspension, but lately home repairs have been eating what the accountants laughingly refer to as "disposable income."

Exactly - I'm not saying you won't gain comfort from a recumbent - just that IME the comfort element is overrated.