Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Recumbent
Reload this Page >

What is the Purpose of the Recumbent Bikes?

Notices
Recumbent What IS that thing?! Recumbents may be odd looking, but they have many advantages over a "wedgie" bicycle. Discuss the in's and out's recumbent lifestyle in the recumbent forum.

What is the Purpose of the Recumbent Bikes?

Old 09-18-19, 03:57 PM
  #1  
smullen
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Fredericktown, Mo
Posts: 67

Bikes: Trek 4900, Giant Anthem x 29er 4

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 21 Post(s)
Liked 16 Times in 10 Posts
What is the Purpose of the Recumbent Bikes?

1st, not knocking them... I like all Bikes. I'm like a kid in a candy store when I go to a bike shop. Its like I want one of each...
There are so many types, most I get their niche, but not sure on the Recumbent Trikes.. They look fun...
smullen is offline  
Old 09-18-19, 06:53 PM
  #2  
BlazingPedals
Senior Member
 
BlazingPedals's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Middle of da Mitten
Posts: 12,473

Bikes: Trek 7500, RANS V-Rex, Optima Baron, Velokraft NoCom, M-5 Carbon Highracer, Catrike Speed

Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1511 Post(s)
Liked 732 Times in 453 Posts
The main attraction for recumbent bikes is comfort. There's no hard skinny saddle between the rider's legs, no requirement to put weight on hands, and no craning the neck to see down the road. Most recumbent riders get into recumbents because they couldn't get comfortable on an upright bike. Additionally, many 'mature' riders who are coming to cycling in their later years are choosing recumbent trikes because they don't require balancing (easier to learn.)

A very few recumbent riders like me discover after converting, that a good racing bent can be stupid-fast in a way a time trial bike could never hope to be. The UCI realized this in 1930 and banned bents from competition in any of their sanctioned races.
BlazingPedals is offline  
Likes For BlazingPedals:
Old 09-18-19, 09:11 PM
  #3  
Shahmatt
Senior Member
 
Shahmatt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Singapore
Posts: 473

Bikes: Cruzbike Flamingo folding conversion, Oyama East Village

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20 Post(s)
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
What he said.

Also the sheer variety of designs out there makes for great commentary, innovation, experimentation and sustainable interest. In short it's a good hobby to get involved in.
Shahmatt is offline  
Old 09-18-19, 09:23 PM
  #4  
Jeff Wills
Insane Bicycle Mechanic
 
Jeff Wills's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: other Vancouver
Posts: 9,808
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 785 Post(s)
Liked 687 Times in 366 Posts
Originally Posted by Shahmatt
What he said.

Also the sheer variety of designs out there makes for great commentary, innovation, experimentation and sustainable interest. In short it's a good hobby to get involved in.
The great thing about recumbent bikes & trikes is that there are no rules about design.
The bad thing about recumbent bikes & trikes is that there are no rules about design so it's hard to choose.

I got into recumbents in the early '80's after I went to the Human Powered Speed Championships. I've gone back and forth- I now have three recumbents and three uprights in the garage. Each has its purpose.
__________________
Jeff Wills

Comcast nuked my web page. It will return soon..
Jeff Wills is offline  
Likes For Jeff Wills:
Old 09-19-19, 05:11 AM
  #5  
kingston 
Jedi Master
 
kingston's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Lake Forest, IL
Posts: 3,724

Bikes: https://stinkston.blogspot.com/p/my-bikes.html

Mentioned: 42 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1759 Post(s)
Liked 488 Times in 313 Posts
I bought a used recumbent this season to try it out and while I like it quite a lot, I like riding uprights a lot more. The best thing about recumbents to me is that it allows some people to ride a bike who are not able to ride an upright. I ride brevets and most of the recumbent riders I meet on on those rides had ridden uprights for years but for one reason or another, bad back, neck wrists, etc. couldn't do long rides on an upright anymore, so they got a recumbent and are still out there riding. Just a couple weeks ago, I met a guy on a 600k who had been an ultradistance upright rider for years and switched to the recumbent because his back was starting to bother him on long rides.
kingston is offline  
Likes For kingston:
Old 09-19-19, 05:37 AM
  #6  
Trsnrtr
Super Modest
 
Trsnrtr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Central Illinois
Posts: 23,358

Bikes: Trek Emonda, Giant Propel, Colnago V3, Co-Motion Supremo, ICE VTX WC

Mentioned: 107 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10872 Post(s)
Liked 4,529 Times in 2,076 Posts
I split my riding between a Giant Propel and an ICE VTX. Both have their good and bad traits but both are fun. I have a little over 2,000 miles on each one so far this year so they compliment each other just fine.

For the record, I rode 54 miles on my trike yesterday with a 14.7 mph average on my road bike, I would have been about 16.5 mph which is common for bikes vs. trikes. When I had two-wheel bents, I would have been faster on the bent than my upright.
__________________
Keep the chain tight!







Trsnrtr is offline  
Likes For Trsnrtr:
Old 09-19-19, 11:48 AM
  #7  
Notso_fastLane
Senior Member
 
Notso_fastLane's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Layton, UT
Posts: 1,606

Bikes: 2011 Bent TW Elegance 2014 Carbon Strada Velomobile

Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 626 Post(s)
Liked 701 Times in 418 Posts
My bent is way more comfortable than my upright bikes ever were. I use my bikes 99% for commuting, so racing isn't something I do, but I do like to get to work faster if it is also within the other parameters of my riding.

The only thing sore after a long ride now are my legs. I no longer have wrist, shoulder or neck pain from riding. My bent is a tiny bit faster than my old road bike, and they are about the same weight (within a couple of lbs when outfitted for commuting).

I also now have a Strada velomobile, which allows me to ride even in very cold weather, and ice and snow without being ridiculously uncomfortable and is safer because it's fully enclosed, and 3 wheels.
Notso_fastLane is offline  
Old 09-21-19, 07:10 PM
  #8  
cat0020
Ride more, eat less
 
cat0020's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Philla PA, Hoboken NJ, Brooklyn NY
Posts: 2,069

Bikes: Too many but never enough.

Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 713 Post(s)
Liked 726 Times in 448 Posts
As any other bike, you decide what the purpose of the bike is for you.
I started riding road bike over 30 years ago, pedaled across the continent and still enjoy riding my road bike 1-2k miles annually.
I started riding a recumbent about 13 years ago, originally just trying it out for riding slower pace with my GF, so I don't have to strain my neck, shoulder, arms as on a road bike riding at slower pace. But the more I ride a recumbent the more I find it more efficient than my road bike for long hours in the saddle.
I am able to ride longer, further without neck, back, shoulder or wrist pain. I am able to recover faster after a long recumbent ride vs road bike ride.
On flat ground, I am faster and use less energy to go fast on a recumbent bike.
I don't ride a trike, I feel that it you take up as much road, you might but as well be in a cage like a car.
cat0020 is offline  
Old 09-22-19, 05:50 PM
  #9  
grayrest
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2019
Location: NYC
Posts: 72

Bikes: Birdy, Orbea Gain, Optima Baron, SatRDay

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 24 Post(s)
Liked 11 Times in 8 Posts
I got into recumbents because I saw one on Craigslist in my area, had never ridden one before, and thought it looked like a neat bike. What I like about recumbents is that the crank out front means there's no one correct way to design one. Each decision is a tradeoff. Want to drive the rear wheel? The chain is going to be long and has to be routed around the rider. Or maybe you have two chains like my folding recumbent and the jackdrive between the two is used to step up the gearing and make a larger effective front chain ring. Want to drive the front wheel? How do you plan on handling the steering? Should the chain twist with the fork? If so, how do you route it without losing too much power to the idlers? Should the bottom bracket move with the fork instead? Should the fork be the entire front half of the bicycle like a python? Should the steering be above or below seat? Direct or via linkage or wires? Should the rider's center of mass be below, in line, or above the hubs? What should the bottom bracket position be relative to the seat? All the options I've listed have been tried and they have their benefits and drawbacks. It's fun to geek out about.
grayrest is offline  
Old 09-23-19, 08:26 AM
  #10  
Lightning Pilot
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Peoples Democratic Socialist Republic of Madiganistan (formerly known as Illinois)
Posts: 113

Bikes: Lightning P-38

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 48 Post(s)
Liked 32 Times in 26 Posts
Recumbent trikes have one more advantage for older riders, those over about 60: It's harder to fall. Most people think the danger of falling in older people is the danger of breaking bones. While that is true, there is another, worse hazard—retinal separation. Broken bones will heal or can be repaired. A separated retina has to be treated immediately, within hours or less, to prevent permanent blindness.

But bents are not just for the older set. I've only been on these forums for a very short time, and I constantly see mention of sore or painful (insert body part here) from younger upright riders. Recumbents are generally easier on the whole musculo-skeletal system regardless of the rider's age, especially when comparing amount of physical stress vs speed. So if you are young and healthy, and want to preserve the latter as you age, consider a recumbent.
Lightning Pilot is offline  
Old 09-23-19, 08:35 AM
  #11  
Lightning Pilot
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Peoples Democratic Socialist Republic of Madiganistan (formerly known as Illinois)
Posts: 113

Bikes: Lightning P-38

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 48 Post(s)
Liked 32 Times in 26 Posts
Originally Posted by cat0020
[snip}
I don't ride a trike, I feel that it you take up as much road, you might but as well be in a cage like a car.
I must disagree. Most of the recumbent trikes I've seen take up no more lane width than a motorcycle. The greater width does, however, mean you have to be more careful in traffic, and it's harder to avoid road hazards. And believe me, when you are on a recumbent trike in traffic, you don't feel like you are in a cage. You feel like you wish you were in a cage with two inch titanium bars!
Lightning Pilot is offline  
Old 09-23-19, 08:48 AM
  #12  
cat0020
Ride more, eat less
 
cat0020's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Philla PA, Hoboken NJ, Brooklyn NY
Posts: 2,069

Bikes: Too many but never enough.

Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 713 Post(s)
Liked 726 Times in 448 Posts
I have been riding motorcycles for two decades, some with panniers /sidecases wider than a trike.
I'm comfortable riding between car mirrors in bumper-to-bumper traffic of NYC, as I have at least a few horsepower at my disposal.

Disagree as you may, but I would not ride a trike in bumper-to-bumper traffic, lack of acceleration to get yourself out of trouble is simply too dangerous among busy traffic flow.
Two-wheel vehicles are easier to maneuver out of danger vs a trike.

Last edited by cat0020; 09-23-19 at 08:51 AM.
cat0020 is offline  
Old 09-23-19, 10:22 AM
  #13  
rydabent
Senior Member
 
rydabent's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Lincoln Ne
Posts: 9,920

Bikes: RANS Stratus TerraTrike Tour II

Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3344 Post(s)
Liked 1,054 Times in 634 Posts
I am a life long technician. I was drawn to riding bents because they seemed to be logical, and an advancement in cycling. That was 14 years ago, and my reasoning was not wrong. I now have a recumbent bike and a trike so I have the correct machine for the riding situation at hand. The trike is so convenient to ride in town on the bike trails since you do not have to clip in and out all the time. The bike goes mainly out on the hiways with club rides.

BTW when I got my first bent a RANS Tailwind, my mountain bike and road bike really never turned a wheel again. Yes bents are that good.
rydabent is offline  
Old 09-23-19, 04:05 PM
  #14  
boilermaker1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Kent, Washington
Posts: 127
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 25 Post(s)
Liked 19 Times in 13 Posts
With recumbent trikes it's often the Riddle of the Sphinx.
boilermaker1 is offline  
Old 09-23-19, 04:56 PM
  #15  
Lightning Pilot
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Peoples Democratic Socialist Republic of Madiganistan (formerly known as Illinois)
Posts: 113

Bikes: Lightning P-38

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 48 Post(s)
Liked 32 Times in 26 Posts
Originally Posted by boilermaker1
With recumbent trikes it's often the Riddle of the Sphinx.
Yeah, that Sphinx is quite a bike …




(I'm sure that someone, somewhere, at some time, named a bike "Sphinx.")

And if your bike is making that sound (Sphinx, sphinx, sphinx …) get thee to a bike shop …
Lightning Pilot is offline  
Old 09-28-19, 01:35 PM
  #16  
davidgreams
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 5
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
You exercise your thighs more than on a normal bike. Be prepared to feel sore muscles in different areas than before. Although gravity doesn't help you pushing as much as in an upright position, my feeling is I can push more aggressively as the thighs are engaged more. Aerodynamics is a real speed boon.

I would not cycle them to work for various reasons: higher chance of theft, the upright position helps in seeing and being seen, and the longer "hood" of recumbents means that more bicycle is ahead of your eyes which means you'll have to slow down more at a multi-way stop before making sure no one crosses your way.
davidgreams is offline  
Old 09-28-19, 08:06 PM
  #17  
JanMM
rebmeM roineS
 
JanMM's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Metro Indy, IN
Posts: 16,215

Bikes: Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer

Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 653 Post(s)
Liked 345 Times in 225 Posts
Originally Posted by davidgreams
You exercise your thighs more than on a normal bike. Be prepared to feel sore muscles in different areas than before. Although gravity doesn't help you pushing as much as in an upright position, my feeling is I can push more aggressively as the thighs are engaged more. Aerodynamics is a real speed boon.

I would not cycle them to work for various reasons: higher chance of theft, the upright position helps in seeing and being seen, and the longer "hood" of recumbents means that more bicycle is ahead of your eyes which means you'll have to slow down more at a multi-way stop before making sure no one crosses your way.
I biked to work on 3 different RANS bikes from 2006-2018. Ten years on a SWB V-Rex. No problem riding a 'bent on my suburban/urban/suburban Spring through Fall commutes. (Currently retired.)
__________________
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
JanMM is offline  
Old 09-30-19, 06:06 PM
  #18  
robnol
Banned
 
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 333
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 277 Post(s)
Liked 18 Times in 15 Posts
Originally Posted by smullen
1st, not knocking them... I like all Bikes. I'm like a kid in a candy store when I go to a bike shop. Its like I want one of each...
There are so many types, most I get their niche, but not sure on the Recumbent Trikes.. They look fun...
comfort and sooo much more aerodynamic than a upright df bike....I have a high racer and it cuts thru the wind like butter....im looking to get a low racer they are even more aero....fast too
robnol is offline  
Old 09-30-19, 06:10 PM
  #19  
robnol
Banned
 
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 333
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 277 Post(s)
Liked 18 Times in 15 Posts
Originally Posted by rydabent
I am a life long technician. I was drawn to riding bents because they seemed to be logical, and an advancement in cycling. That was 14 years ago, and my reasoning was not wrong. I now have a recumbent bike and a trike so I have the correct machine for the riding situation at hand. The trike is so convenient to ride in town on the bike trails since you do not have to clip in and out all the time. The bike goes mainly out on the hiways with club rides.

BTW when I got my first bent a RANS Tailwind, my mountain bike and road bike really never turned a wheel again. Yes bents are that good.
trikes are unsafe in my opinion they take up to much road space.. sometimes u have to ride in the ditch to get out of the way for cars on a road with a tiny shoulder
robnol is offline  
Old 09-30-19, 10:59 PM
  #20  
Jeff Wills
Insane Bicycle Mechanic
 
Jeff Wills's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: other Vancouver
Posts: 9,808
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 785 Post(s)
Liked 687 Times in 366 Posts
Originally Posted by robnol
trikes are unsafe in my opinion they take up to much road space.. sometimes u have to ride in the ditch to get out of the way for cars on a road with a tiny shoulder
It's quite the opposite: since automobile drivers aren't sure what you are, they tend to pass further to the left than they would with an upright bike. Several of my recumbent-riding friends have both and they enjoy their trikes on many local roads.
__________________
Jeff Wills

Comcast nuked my web page. It will return soon..
Jeff Wills is offline  
Likes For Jeff Wills:
Old 10-01-19, 09:22 AM
  #21  
Lightning Pilot
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Peoples Democratic Socialist Republic of Madiganistan (formerly known as Illinois)
Posts: 113

Bikes: Lightning P-38

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 48 Post(s)
Liked 32 Times in 26 Posts
Originally Posted by Jeff Wills
It's quite the opposite: since automobile drivers aren't sure what you are, they tend to pass further to the left than they would with an upright bike. Several of my recumbent-riding friends have both and they enjoy their trikes on many local roads.
You are braver men/women than I, Gunga Din! My wife's tadpole trike and my bent have LOTS of running lights, some on staffs so they are at car drivers' eye level. When we are on the street, I position myself just behind her left front tire, since I'm a little higher and far more experienced. (Yes, the fighter escort analogy is obvious and apt. )
Lightning Pilot is offline  
Likes For Lightning Pilot:
Old 10-01-19, 01:45 PM
  #22  
rydabent
Senior Member
 
rydabent's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Lincoln Ne
Posts: 9,920

Bikes: RANS Stratus TerraTrike Tour II

Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3344 Post(s)
Liked 1,054 Times in 634 Posts
While they may look wider, trikes are not very much wider than the handle bars on a DF bike. I find that it is not a problem.
rydabent is offline  
Old 10-01-19, 03:53 PM
  #23  
Trsnrtr
Super Modest
 
Trsnrtr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Central Illinois
Posts: 23,358

Bikes: Trek Emonda, Giant Propel, Colnago V3, Co-Motion Supremo, ICE VTX WC

Mentioned: 107 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10872 Post(s)
Liked 4,529 Times in 2,076 Posts
Every trike I've owned has been 30-31" wide. An average drop handlebar is only 16.5" - 17".
__________________
Keep the chain tight!







Trsnrtr is offline  
Old 10-01-19, 07:04 PM
  #24  
Steamer
Zircon Encrusted Tweezers
 
Steamer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: high ground
Posts: 1,344
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 260 Post(s)
Liked 127 Times in 82 Posts
Originally Posted by Trsnrtr
Every trike I've owned has been 30-31" wide. An average drop handlebar is only 16.5" - 17".
Yeah, BUT....

I find the center of my body is in the same place on the road no matter what I am riding. On a trike I can safely put my right wheel closer to the road edge.

And the track of my trikes isn't much wider than my shoulders. So the trike adds only about 2 or 3 inches, at most, of additional intrusion into the lane.
Steamer is offline  
Old 10-01-19, 09:42 PM
  #25  
downtube42
Senior Member
 
downtube42's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 3,785

Bikes: Trek Domane SL6 Gen 3, Soma Fog Cutter, Focus Mares AL, Detroit Bikes Sparrow FG, Volae Team, Nimbus MUni

Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 875 Post(s)
Liked 1,997 Times in 1,046 Posts
Funny. I've been fighting off n+1 for a while, and finally caved and bought a 27.5 Plus MTB. Because I don't already have a MTB in the stable. So it's fun and all, messing around on trails with absurdly wide tires, but I'm wondering to myself...

WTF is this thing actually for? Clearly, it's a toy.

Now my 'bent, there's no doubt what it's for: long distance road rides. A brevet machine; 200ks are training rides. At the end of a 1000k earlier this month, I finished tired but with no sore spots.
downtube42 is offline  
Likes For downtube42:

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.