What exactly is the point of a Recumbent Bicycle?
Are they for lazy people or old timers who need back support? Are they more aerodynamic so therefore faster than Roadbikes? Are they legal in any competitions or do they have any recumbent exclusive comps? Etc.
- The Recumbent and the Upright: A Bicycle Adventure by Two Retired and Unfit Cycle Enthusiasts, That Grew into a Ride Across the Continent
- Cycle Types: Bicycle, Unicycle, Road Bicycle, Mountain Unicycling, Tandem Bicycle, Recumbent Bicycle, Mountain Bike, Self-Balancing Unicycle
- l bought and now ride a bent bicycle [recumbent] lt’s good for my back. Checked it on google.It’s fun too,?
- Bicycle Gearing: Bicycle Pedal, Crankset, Bicycle Chain, Belt-Driven Bicycle, Shaft-Driven Bicycle, Gear Ratio, Single-Speed Bicycle, Hub Gear, Derailleur Gears, Bicycle, Cogset, Recumbent Bicycle
Tags: bicycle, exactly, point, Recumbent
Dan S
March 13, 2010 at 12:35 pm
Recumbent bikes work a different muscle group in your legs. I’ve never tried one but from what I heard, it works completely different muscles in your legs that an upright bike. I believe that they are illegal in competitions, but you should double check that with the races. I would think that they have competions for recumbents only (check out bycicling.com, they have a feature you can use to look up races in your area.
If recumbent bikes were faster than road bike, than everyone (Tour de France, Olympics, and every other major bike race would be riding them, but they’re not), so recumbants are really not that much faster than road bikes. They are more dangerous than a road bike, because they are lower to the ground, I think they are required to have a flag.
Hope this helps.
Glenn B
March 13, 2010 at 12:40 pm
Recumbent bike have been banned from mainstream competition since 1934.
http://www.helsinki.fi/~tlinden/winforb.html
The reason for this is that they offer an aerodynamic advantage.
Yes they are mostly quicker. The exception would be hill climbing. A good technique will mean that it won’t be that much slower. All the human powered vehicle records are on recumbent bikes (usually fitted with a wind fairing). There are races conducted by recumbent groups though this is not considered mainstream.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cycling_records
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OV3Xd6VBSsA
Recumbents come in various types. High riders are about the same high as a standard bike.
http://www.m5-ligfietsen.nl/site/EN/Models/Models_overview/
Most recumbent riders claim they are more comfortable. Most riders will be slower when they first get on one. It takes time to adjust to the different position. It is harder on the quads but all the same leg muscles are in use.(less upper body muscles)
Yes lazy people, old timers and people that need back support can ride them also. Anybody can
Ric
March 13, 2010 at 1:39 pm
I can’t tell you exactly what the point of a Recumbent or bent as most riders refer to them as is, but as someone else mentioned they have been banned from competition in most cases because of there aerodynamic advantage.
Most all recumbents for the most part are easier to ride, faster and more comfortable than the upright bike and can be ridden greater distances with less effort than any bicycle.
Recumbents come in various types, LWB, (Long wheel base,) SWB (Short wheel base) Clwb, (Compact long wheel base) and Trikes
http://www.bacchettabikes.com/ as you can see in the previous link, they also make Tandems in both the upright and Trikes. They also have and make a Lowracer which is extremely fast.
I do know the recumbents compete in the RAAM ( Race Across America) and John Schlitter (not sure of the spelling) has finished with best times, you can do a google search on the RAAM and find out about his speeds. There is also a competition in south Florida ever year and they sometimes compete Bikes against Bents for fun.
Recumbents handle well, in traffic, city, or country roads, and are great for touring at least that’s where I ride mine and have never had any problems. Remember most of the crap you here from people that badmouth recumbents, don’t own a recumbent, never have owned a Recumbent, and have never ridden one.
The fact is I find that most DF riders fear what they don’t know, and don’t understand or is different, they just repeat what they here and it’s 99% all myth.
If you’re interested you can check out some of the following groups and talk to some people and get more information.
http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/CentralFloridaRecumbentRiders/
http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/TeamCatrike/
http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/usarecumbents/
potatoboy27
March 13, 2010 at 2:26 pm
It was unfair that only drivers can fall asleep on the wheel, so they created the recumbent.
dlwr300
March 13, 2010 at 3:24 pm
There are some other message boards you can check. You won’t get any wiseacre responses there.
ICF and USCF doesn’t allow them but maybe local, non-USCF sanctioned races permit them.
ladyquesteur
March 13, 2010 at 3:26 pm
They are for wise people that can afford the higher purchase price. They are valued by dedicated cyclists, commuters and touring bicyclists… and yes, the senior and disabled that are in the know.
Those that consider and use a bike as a toy, don’t need or recognize the advantages and advances of the modern recumbent as a viable mode of transportation.
A lazy person wouldn’t ride a bent any more than they would ride a wedgie… it still takes energy and effort… but they would be much more comfortable if they ever tried. Though the seat looks like a recliner and offers back and neck support, the major advantage would be to the lack of acute pressure on the genitalia. Men in particular can avoid numbness and loss of sensitivity, permanent nerve damage, and possible erectile dysfunction… can’t disparage that!
Recumbents were separated out from (the standard diamond frame) bicycle races in the beginning because they proved consistently faster. Not only due to aerodynamics in action, but also because the position allows more power to come from the leg and associated muscles. Hence, a rivalry developed that banned them from competing in sanctioned races together. They have their own races and events all over the world.
The main reason that bents still aren’t commonly used is because it is only relatively recent that they are being mass produced by a few companies, so they are expensive because they are predominantly handmade. Most you have previously seen have been homebuilt bike conversions and secondary private sales. As they become more utilized as commuter vehicles, the price will lower. A low priced, new entry level bent still costs around $500. A far cry from the child slavery import, Wally World bikes for $79.99!
They also have a learning curve, so some folks that try to ride one for the first time crash and burn. They tend to think they are too complicated, expensive, and just don’t get beyond the novelty factor.
Also, they have traditionally been longer overall due to having adapted diamond frames. Storing and transporting a bent took special racks and extra clearance. Now there are models that have a wheel base comparable to the dimensions of the diamond frames, this compliments supplementary mass transit options. There are also foldables and telescoping booms that allow you to carry your bike in a suitcase sized package if needed. They still use specialized accessories due to their structural setup, but these are standardized within the recumbent industries.
Bents for the serious racer are very low to utilize aerodynamic advantage (butt sliders), and the “common” bent was made lower than the average bike for a similar reason, but there are bents that use 700c and 26″ wheels (high racers) so not all are low. The advantage of being safer due to footing is lessened and traded for enhanced visibility. Those with 20″ wheels will make you about eye level with most drivers. Adding a fairing not only makes you more streamlined, but comfortable in cold and rain. There are “Spandex” like coverings called windsocks that further streamline and protect you from the elements, but their greatest asset to the road rider is to add visual mass (equivalent to a “pup tent”). It is hard to claim that you did not see the screaming chartreuse bicyclist before you cut ‘em off and ran them off the road!
I started riding bents back in the early 70’s when they were still homemade… now I am planning my spring tour of the West Coast.
Check these:
http://www.recumbents.com
http://www.bentrideronline.com
http://www.bentupcycles.com
http://www.bicycleman.com
http://www.sunbicycle.com
http://www.ransbikes.com