Electric recumbent bike ?

[phib]

Short version of a long story but I wont be driving for a few months (no speeding no drinking !!)

And I need to get around, does anyone have experience of electric recumbents ?

I know of all the pit falls of not being seen etc etc but does anyone know what they are actualy like ?

Thanks in advance

Phib

[Burrow01]

I've ridden an electric recumbent trike, and its great fun.

https://www.icetrikes.co/

A friend of mine sells adapted versions of them to people with illnesses / disabilities. He has a leg amputation, and we both went out together a couple of weeks ago for a 17km ride in Yorkshire

Edited by Burrow01 on Wednesday 20th March 22:15

[blueg33]

Can you still get Sinclair C5’s? They were definitely an electric recumbent bike.

[smifffymoto]

hp velotechnik make what you want but be prepared to pay.The Delta looks particularly interesting for bobbing about town on errands.

[phib]

Thanks for all the replies !! I wasnt expecing many

Phib

[phib]

Burrow01 said:

I've ridden an electric recumbent trike, and its great fun.

https://www.icetrikes.co/

A friend of mine sells adapted versions of them to people with illnesses / disabilities. He has a leg amputation, and we both went out together a couple of weeks ago for a 17km ride in Yorkshire

Edited by Burrow01 on Wednesday 20th March 22:15

I had been looking at the ICE ones, can I ask how you felt riding it around cars etc, I have heard very mixed views, some say car drivers give you a bit more room and others say its just down right dangerous as you cant be seen.

I am only going to be riding local roads and really its just to get to shops, gym and visit a few friends.

Many thanks

Phib

[Burrow01]

No big problems at all, although we do tend to stick to the quieter local roads and off road tracks.

In terms of comfort, the seats and seating position are much more comfortable than a bicycle.

Even without suspension the ride is pretty good.

I've not experienced any problems with close calls with cars, although I have only had a few rides. My mate goes out most days, and does not have any concerns. He only has one leg, and so for him its his main form of transport for local journeys.

I would only have one with electric assistance though, as they are pretty heavy to pedal unassisted

[OutInTheShed]

Burrow01 said:

N.....

I would only have one with electric assistance though, as they are pretty heavy to pedal unassisted

Ehh?
I thought the point of them was that they were easy and fast?
Having seen a few around, (I think there was a club for them near Chichester?) I would have thought a recumbant which only assisted up to 15mph would be a bit silly. But hill assistance will always be good, as I imagine they're not easy things to 'get off and push'?
I think they have very wide range gear?

The safety side of them is a bit alarming, not only can car drivers struggle to see them, the 'rider' can't see miles ahead down there either!

[JQ]

blueg33 said:

Can you still get Sinclair C5’s? They were definitely an electric recumbent bike.

Myself and my son will be spending this summer renovating my childhood C5 which we've recently rescued from my father's garage. Can't wait.

[Burrow01]

OutInTheShed said:

Burrow01 said:

N.....

I would only have one with electric assistance though, as they are pretty heavy to pedal unassisted

Ehh?
I thought the point of them was that they were easy and fast?
Having seen a few around, (I think there was a club for them near Chichester?) I would have thought a recumbant which only assisted up to 15mph would be a bit silly. But hill assistance will always be good, as I imagine they're not easy things to 'get off and push'?
I think they have very wide range gear?

The safety side of them is a bit alarming, not only can car drivers struggle to see them, the 'rider' can't see miles ahead down there either!

The ones I am discussing are trikes, and so quite heavy. I did see quite a few recumbent bicycles when I lived in The Netherlands, but have no experience of them, they certainly seemed pretty fast.

[OutInTheShed]

A lot of these things are not really 'recumbent' cycles, more like sit-up, feet first.
Some recumbents really were 'lying flat on the back' with or without streamlining.

I recall seeing them on the road and wondering how fast they'd go with 50cc...
I think maybe they used to race them on one of the old airfields around Chichester?