Time to diversify.
#76
Senior Member
Not necessarily a recumbent issue; but you don't need FAT (3-5 inch wide) tires to ride gravel. Most MTBs with 1.75-2.1" tires do gravel just fine. You don't need the fatties until you get into deeper snow or soft sand; and even then there's a limit to how much benefit they have.
PS this is a dead thread. OP has obviously moved on.
PS this is a dead thread. OP has obviously moved on.
#77
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Do they work in snow? There are still 28 days of winter left in Nebraska.
#78
Senior Member
Back when I lived in town, I used to cycle-commute year around. Mostly on an upright. Even my mountain bike had problems when the snow got more than a couple of inches deep. Bents were fair-weather only.
Here in Michigan, we hope the groundhog sees his shadow so there's ONLY 6 more weeks of winter. Ice fishing on inland lakes usually runs until the end of March, and it's hard to define "spring" to be something before ice-out happens.
Here in Michigan, we hope the groundhog sees his shadow so there's ONLY 6 more weeks of winter. Ice fishing on inland lakes usually runs until the end of March, and it's hard to define "spring" to be something before ice-out happens.
#80
Senior Member
I love my recumbents but I hate to ride them on slippery surfaces such as mud, loose sand/gravel or maybe even snow. Mainly because of the balance. I had two crashes on mud patches because I saw them too late and was not able to stabilize with my legs in time. On an upright bike you can use your legs as counter weight if you start sliding. At least to a certain degree. And with a straight stretched leg on an upright bike you have a better chance and more strength than with a bent leg on a recumbent. Fortunately we don't have snow where I live now. And I avoid gravel where I can and try to ride on pavement only. I really only ride recumbents because of my back problems. They work much better for my back than any upright bike. I am not doing it for speed. Just for comfort. And if we would have snow here in winter I would get a trike for winter to be saver on three wheels.
#81
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I love my recumbents but I hate to ride them on slippery surfaces such as mud, loose sand/gravel or maybe even snow. Mainly because of the balance. I had two crashes on mud patches because I saw them too late and was not able to stabilize with my legs in time. On an upright bike you can use your legs as counter weight if you start sliding. At least to a certain degree. And with a straight stretched leg on an upright bike you have a better chance and more strength than with a bent leg on a recumbent. Fortunately we don't have snow where I live now. And I avoid gravel where I can and try to ride on pavement only. I really only ride recumbents because of my back problems. They work much better for my back than any upright bike. I am not doing it for speed. Just for comfort. And if we would have snow here in winter I would get a trike for winter to be saver on three wheels.
#82
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I can resonate with this. I have a high school friend, who after years of being a fat slug, finally decided to do something about it and convert to a whole-foods, plant-based lifestyle. I must say that he's very successful at it, but MAN what a pain in the arse he is about it. Constant bragging and holier-than-thou does not even begin to tell the story. So I can see why Rydabent's evangelism can really bug people. I for one am not anti-recumbent, having owned a few myself, but I have yet to find one that speaks to me.
#83
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I took Prof. David Wilson's recumbent for a spin 1976. Knew right away that bike was the real deal; that had it been equipped with race gear and wheels, it would be fine ride. (Also caught up to him and rode with him several times. He as not slow. I was faster because I was a mid 20s in form racer and he was middle aged.) But that recumbent lacked on feature that I live for. The dance. (Out of the saddle climbing. My happy place.) Gotta solve that or I have to become unable to ride DFs for me to switch.
Oh, and ever since that ride I have known that a small front wheeled, short wheelbase under the knees steerer was it. I don't see a lot of those.
Oh, and ever since that ride I have known that a small front wheeled, short wheelbase under the knees steerer was it. I don't see a lot of those.
Velos are an entire different beast of recumbent, and I love mine...unless I'm climbing a big hill, since it does weigh 80 lbs.
#84
Senior Member
Well I can speak with experience about BENTS
I have ridden them quite a bit and no matter what style of a bent a person rides
They all have at least one sucky issue or more !
LWBs and SWBs are not stable at slower speeds and riding uphill is a real pain
Tadpole bents have numerous issues
1. I dont like being on eye level with a German Shepherd
2. I dont like being on eye level with the hubcaps of a 4x4 pickup
3. front end width on a tadpole is not conducive to narrow spaces such as a lot of mups
4. visibility is limited both for a rider or a car driver
5. Its real hard to jump a curb or bail off if need be (actually more or less impossible)
6. All bents are a PITA to transport in or on a vehicle compared to a "DF"
And last but not least there are a lot of complaints over on BentRideronline.com
About sore necks ,sore sweaty backs sore butts and numb arms just like on a DF bike
You must just skip past them posts over there ?
Bents are not the living room "sofa" for everybody contrary to what some people claim
I could go on and on but I think I made a few points
I have ridden them quite a bit and no matter what style of a bent a person rides
They all have at least one sucky issue or more !
LWBs and SWBs are not stable at slower speeds and riding uphill is a real pain
Tadpole bents have numerous issues
1. I dont like being on eye level with a German Shepherd
2. I dont like being on eye level with the hubcaps of a 4x4 pickup
3. front end width on a tadpole is not conducive to narrow spaces such as a lot of mups
4. visibility is limited both for a rider or a car driver
5. Its real hard to jump a curb or bail off if need be (actually more or less impossible)
6. All bents are a PITA to transport in or on a vehicle compared to a "DF"
And last but not least there are a lot of complaints over on BentRideronline.com
About sore necks ,sore sweaty backs sore butts and numb arms just like on a DF bike
You must just skip past them posts over there ?
Bents are not the living room "sofa" for everybody contrary to what some people claim
I could go on and on but I think I made a few points
#85
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Well I can speak with experience about BENTS
I have ridden them quite a bit and no matter what style of a bent a person rides
They all have at least one sucky issue or more !
LWBs and SWBs are not stable at slower speeds and riding uphill is a real pain
Tadpole bents have numerous issues
1. I dont like being on eye level with a German Shepherd
2. I dont like being on eye level with the hubcaps of a 4x4 pickup
3. front end width on a tadpole is not conducive to narrow spaces such as a lot of mups
4. visibility is limited both for a rider or a car driver
5. Its real hard to jump a curb or bail off if need be (actually more or less impossible)
6. All bents are a PITA to transport in or on a vehicle compared to a "DF"
And last but not least there are a lot of complaints over on BentRideronline.com
About sore necks ,sore sweaty backs sore butts and numb arms just like on a DF bike
You must just skip past them posts over there ?
Bents are not the living room "sofa" for everybody contrary to what some people claim
I could go on and on but I think I made a few points
I have ridden them quite a bit and no matter what style of a bent a person rides
They all have at least one sucky issue or more !
LWBs and SWBs are not stable at slower speeds and riding uphill is a real pain
Tadpole bents have numerous issues
1. I dont like being on eye level with a German Shepherd
2. I dont like being on eye level with the hubcaps of a 4x4 pickup
3. front end width on a tadpole is not conducive to narrow spaces such as a lot of mups
4. visibility is limited both for a rider or a car driver
5. Its real hard to jump a curb or bail off if need be (actually more or less impossible)
6. All bents are a PITA to transport in or on a vehicle compared to a "DF"
And last but not least there are a lot of complaints over on BentRideronline.com
About sore necks ,sore sweaty backs sore butts and numb arms just like on a DF bike
You must just skip past them posts over there ?
Bents are not the living room "sofa" for everybody contrary to what some people claim
I could go on and on but I think I made a few points
#86
Senior Member
Yeah and I can more or less track stand at 0.5 mph while waiting for traffic
how many Tadpoles or LWB bikes can you get on a Camaro , Mustang, or a Toyota Camry ?
, A lot more people own cars than P.U. trucks
P.U. trucks you also need either a strong back or ramps to load a Tadpole or LWB in
For a sit up bike or a drop bar bike all someone needs is a $ 50.00 bike rack that will work on just about any car
and it will haul more than one and they wont strain there back loading a 20 pound bike unlike trying to load a 45 pound recumbent
I dont have anything against Recumbents
I own a Cat Trike Dumont and a LWB Sun EZ Sport
But they are not superior to a regular bike and they are not more advanced/modern !
#87
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Lol !
Yeah and I can more or less track stand at 0.5 mph while waiting for traffic
how many Tadpoles or LWB bikes can you get on a Camaro , Mustang, or a Toyota Camry ?
, A lot more people own cars than P.U. trucks
P.U. trucks you also need either a strong back or ramps to load a Tadpole or LWB in
For a sit up bike or a drop bar bike all someone needs is a $ 50.00 bike rack that will work on just about any car
and it will haul more than one and they wont strain there back loading a 20 pound bike unlike trying to load a 45 pound recumbent
I dont have anything against Recumbents
I own a Cat Trike Dumont and a LWB Sun EZ Sport
But they are not superior to a regular bike and they are not more advanced/modern !
Yeah and I can more or less track stand at 0.5 mph while waiting for traffic
how many Tadpoles or LWB bikes can you get on a Camaro , Mustang, or a Toyota Camry ?
, A lot more people own cars than P.U. trucks
P.U. trucks you also need either a strong back or ramps to load a Tadpole or LWB in
For a sit up bike or a drop bar bike all someone needs is a $ 50.00 bike rack that will work on just about any car
and it will haul more than one and they wont strain there back loading a 20 pound bike unlike trying to load a 45 pound recumbent
I dont have anything against Recumbents
I own a Cat Trike Dumont and a LWB Sun EZ Sport
But they are not superior to a regular bike and they are not more advanced/modern !
Im 82 and lift my tadpole trike into the bed with no problem at all.
#88
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#89
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https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/08/pick...s-of-2020.html
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#90
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#91
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And on a trike I can do a track stand and never unclip for as long as it takes. That is one reason that if you have several different types of bikes, a trike should be one of them. Starting and stopping while riding around town becomes very easy, since there is no clipping in and out at every stop. No wobbling around on startup that can make drivers nervous, while you are scratching around trying to get clipped in.
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And on a trike I can do a track stand and never unclip for as long as it takes. That is one reason that if you have several different types of bikes, a trike should be one of them. Starting and stopping while riding around town becomes very easy, since there is no clipping in and out at every stop. No wobbling around on startup that can make drivers nervous, while you are scratching around trying to get clipped in.
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#93
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This is one of your common fantasies.
The truth is that for most normal folks with any semblance of coordination, starting and stopping on a normal bike is very easy.
The truth is that for most normal folks with any semblance of coordination, there is no wobbling on startup and no "scratching around trying to get clipped in.
Many of those same normal folks can also trackstand and never unclip for as long as it takes the light to turn.
Just the facts...
The truth is that for most normal folks with any semblance of coordination, starting and stopping on a normal bike is very easy.
The truth is that for most normal folks with any semblance of coordination, there is no wobbling on startup and no "scratching around trying to get clipped in.
Many of those same normal folks can also trackstand and never unclip for as long as it takes the light to turn.
Just the facts...
Last edited by rydabent; 04-26-21 at 08:40 AM.
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#95
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BTW a couple of years ago on a ride of silence with a lot of DF riders I became aware of all the scratching around trying to get clipped in, being only a short distance away from their BBs.
#96
Full Member
I have a tadpole trike and a couple of SWB bents, I miss the maneuverability height and general all purpose use of the DF bikes, because of accidents I cannot afford another crash off one of them. I think I have been on borrowed time on the SWB's, they are fast, and have gotten squirrely a few times at speed, and I stay off them as well. The trike is definitely safer as far as falls, but I don't get them over 12-15 MPH, I can see how you could easily flip one at high speeds, and I would never ride one in town because of the visibility.
#97
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I have a tadpole trike and a couple of SWB bents, I miss the maneuverability height and general all purpose use of the DF bikes, because of accidents I cannot afford another crash off one of them. I think I have been on borrowed time on the SWB's, they are fast, and have gotten squirrely a few times at speed, and I stay off them as well. The trike is definitely safer as far as falls, but I don't get them over 12-15 MPH, I can see how you could easily flip one at high speeds, and I would never ride one in town because of the visibility.
#98
mosquito rancher
I've ridden a recumbent trike coast-to-coast on the Southern Tier. I don't regret that as the ride that I chose, but everything comes with tradeoffs.
- Comfort: Sure, my wrists and shoulders had it easy. But I had to hold my neck forward, which was a strain, and the buckles that tensioned the seatback eventually dug into my spine, creating a painful growth (this was specific to my model of trike, and I eventually dealt with it by adding some foam).
- Speed: A trike is slower. Go ahead and fight me on this. If you've got a long day ahead and are chasing the sunset from the word go, even on tour, that makes a difference.
- Navigability: In some places—Arizona and Mississippi especially—there was just no good place to ride because the shoulders are narrow and every road seems to have sleeping policemen. In Arizona, I either had to take the lane or carefully straddle the sleeping policemen with my left front wheel on one side and my rear wheel on the other. This was nerve-wracking, for hours at a time. In other places, I was just taking up more road width where it wasn't really available.
- Cargo capacity: I was touring pretty light, and could get everything into two conventional panniers (although this played hell with downhill handling). If I had wanted to carry more, it would have been a problem.
- Comfort: Sure, my wrists and shoulders had it easy. But I had to hold my neck forward, which was a strain, and the buckles that tensioned the seatback eventually dug into my spine, creating a painful growth (this was specific to my model of trike, and I eventually dealt with it by adding some foam).
- Speed: A trike is slower. Go ahead and fight me on this. If you've got a long day ahead and are chasing the sunset from the word go, even on tour, that makes a difference.
- Navigability: In some places—Arizona and Mississippi especially—there was just no good place to ride because the shoulders are narrow and every road seems to have sleeping policemen. In Arizona, I either had to take the lane or carefully straddle the sleeping policemen with my left front wheel on one side and my rear wheel on the other. This was nerve-wracking, for hours at a time. In other places, I was just taking up more road width where it wasn't really available.
- Cargo capacity: I was touring pretty light, and could get everything into two conventional panniers (although this played hell with downhill handling). If I had wanted to carry more, it would have been a problem.
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#99
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Well it is rather so. About 3 years ago I participated in a ride of silence, riding my trike. With no talking and being a low rider, I noticed all the scratching around getting clipped in by DF riders. It was simply reality.
#100
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Well it is rather so. About 3 years ago I participated in a ride of silence, riding my trike. With no talking and being a low rider, I noticed all the scratching around getting clipped in by DF riders. It was simply reality.