Diggy18

OK, so largely due to lower wind resistance (?) recumbents are more efficient machines, right? Does that mean that when I ride a recumbent, I need to ride loger in order to get the same workout benefits as when I ride my DF?

BlazingPedals

It's not a 'given' that a recumbent is more efficient. That depends on which model you have. Especially at the lower end of the price range, recumbents are designed for comfort and ease of learning, not speed or efficiency.

Assuming you have an efficient, aerodynamic model, and that you are riding at speeds where aerodynamics mean anything, you have a choice: ride further, harder, or for longer to burn the same Calories. Given that all your other parts won't be hurting, it should be easy to do all three if you want.

meb

Or faster for a given time, of even faster for a shorter time.

Dante221

Please forgive the newbie question: whats a DF?

cjs1948

Diamond frame, aka wedgie. Like Lance rides.

Chip

tribe3

Hi guys, don't mean to hijack this thread but I do have a question related to efficiency (at least mine):
Do the "set" of muscles used for pedaling recumbents differ much from traditional bikes? Would I have to start all over again to reach my actual hard earned pseudo-endurance?

Does the short gray beard a'La Sigmund Freud give more speed?? ( OKey forget this one)

Thanks

BlazingPedals

Yes it's a different muscle set. You'll still have most of your endurance but you would probably start a lot slower & have to work back up to your former speed.

Sensei

Hey folks, I'm new and most certainly a neophyte.

However, when I switched (a few weeks ago) from my Bianchi upright to my Burley Recumbent a whole new set of muscles ached for the first time.

It'll take you awhile to get your "new" muscles strong enough for a thorough workout.

I'll prolly try switching between them myself.

OldShacker

I would like to say that I am 51 and have been commuting to work for years on road bikes. I like to go fast and push it as much as I can to and from work that is 13 miles one way. Then I got a bent and wow I have taken off the pounds faster and enjoyed the ride a lot better. The funny thing is that I talked this one bent rider that I would see on the path every other day and found that this guy lost over a 75 punds he feels by working out on his bent for a few miles. So I feel that you get a better workout on a bent. I feel better riding my bent.

Mars

Regarding the beard: I don't believe that they will sell you a bent without one.

killahkosha

Hey, I'm not a bent rider, but I was just wondering how is the efficiency of a recumbent vs. a road bike that is being rode in the tucked aerodynamic position?

-jason keller

LRtrike

OH, NO, now I have to grow a beard! I wonder how my husband will feel about that???? <VBG>

Mars

I suppose that you could get a clip on beard for when you ride the bent.... just don't let anyone catch you with it.

gew0419

I think you have to have a beard and at least a little pot belly...any way that's what I've seen.