Recumbent cycling
Discussion
Has anyone tried recumbent cycling?
I recently managed to try out an ICE B2
Seriously fun piece of kit.. if a little wobbly at first.
I was surprised to learn they are now discontinued. (any idea where to get parts these days?)
I've searched eBay and they seem pretty rare beasts.
Has any other UK manufacturer ever taken up making them?
They are very comfortable to ride.
I recently managed to try out an ICE B2
Seriously fun piece of kit.. if a little wobbly at first.
I was surprised to learn they are now discontinued. (any idea where to get parts these days?)
I've searched eBay and they seem pretty rare beasts.
Has any other UK manufacturer ever taken up making them?
They are very comfortable to ride.
I've ridden an ICE B2 - they are great fun. Velovision is the best UK forum for getting hold of them secondhand. Kevin at DTEK in Thetford is probably the best place to buy a s/h recumbent - his selection is astounding. In terms of discussion, Bentrideronline is the best forum.
I've ridden a load at DTEK and Mildenhall, and my favourites were a Bacchetta Strada and an ICE Sprint (would love to try a Vortex). However, when push came to shove, I couldn't bring myself to buy one. I've got a fixed cx bike, tourer, carbon bike, bmx, cargobike and tandem. If I got another bike, it'd probably be a MTB, and then after that, maybe a 'bent, albeit I'd probably regret not getting a velomobile. Still, something like this would be a hoot
http://www.velovision.com/forum-new/read.php?4,120...
You can drift them in the dry - epic fun, albeit it sounds like the tyres are being shredded.
I just don't struggle to get comfy on DF bikes, so the compromises are too great for me.
[edit] in terms of spares support for a B2, I think a bunch of the parts might be shared with the trikes. Given ICE are setup to build custom bikes, I suspect anything they run short of they could make at a price.
I've ridden a load at DTEK and Mildenhall, and my favourites were a Bacchetta Strada and an ICE Sprint (would love to try a Vortex). However, when push came to shove, I couldn't bring myself to buy one. I've got a fixed cx bike, tourer, carbon bike, bmx, cargobike and tandem. If I got another bike, it'd probably be a MTB, and then after that, maybe a 'bent, albeit I'd probably regret not getting a velomobile. Still, something like this would be a hoot
http://www.velovision.com/forum-new/read.php?4,120...
You can drift them in the dry - epic fun, albeit it sounds like the tyres are being shredded.
I just don't struggle to get comfy on DF bikes, so the compromises are too great for me.
[edit] in terms of spares support for a B2, I think a bunch of the parts might be shared with the trikes. Given ICE are setup to build custom bikes, I suspect anything they run short of they could make at a price.
Edited by DrMekon on Wednesday 24th April 12:19
Someone commutes down the A4 on one of these and he is a right militant ****
Shouts at anyone who overtakes him, often positions himself badly and always has a massive queue of cars behind his too wide,slow and low vehicle.
I once saw him try to overtake slow moving cars, even though the obstruction that slowed the cars had now been cleared. If he was on a proper bike, he'd have seen this coming.
The cars sped up, He was then left out in the middle of the road. Another car driver backed off and let him pull his recumbent back in from the on coming traffic and then Mr recumbent shoved his brakes on and shouted and swore at the driver who let him in. Why? The driver only just stopped in time.
It's not the first time I've seen him do this either.
He is so annoying that he has ruined recumbent bikes for me. I couldn't ride one as it would associate me with him.
Edit to add: Sorry, for hijacking the post. I guess I'm trying to say, don't commute on one!
Shouts at anyone who overtakes him, often positions himself badly and always has a massive queue of cars behind his too wide,slow and low vehicle.
I once saw him try to overtake slow moving cars, even though the obstruction that slowed the cars had now been cleared. If he was on a proper bike, he'd have seen this coming.
The cars sped up, He was then left out in the middle of the road. Another car driver backed off and let him pull his recumbent back in from the on coming traffic and then Mr recumbent shoved his brakes on and shouted and swore at the driver who let him in. Why? The driver only just stopped in time.
It's not the first time I've seen him do this either.
He is so annoying that he has ruined recumbent bikes for me. I couldn't ride one as it would associate me with him.
Edit to add: Sorry, for hijacking the post. I guess I'm trying to say, don't commute on one!
I rode a recumbent (2 wheel) last 3 years, great fun, not for the shy, insanely fast on flat and downhill (I saw high 50's several times) brilliant into headwinds and supremely comfortable on long rides.
With regards wobbly, at first yes, with practice- no, very stable, especially at speed due to wheelbase, tip- shake the handlebars as you start left and right, your body automaticallycorrects and calibrates to the balance required sitting down in my experience.
They do lose out on medium gradient hills IMO, mainly due to the fact that being longer and less developed they obviously weight abit more that road bikes, you have to ride one for a few months to adapt your pedalling style, its abit weird to hop back and forth from recumbent to DF.
"People" will tell you they are sh*te because you can't stand on the pedals, ignore anyone who says this because its nonsense, you can push back against the seat on a recumbent and exert far higher pressure on the pedal than a Diamond Frame, so much so that you do have to be mindful of your knees!
I got mine as just couldn't get over a back injury (rugby) and 10min on a normal DF was as much as I could do before I couldn't stand up straight, 2years of recumbent cycling allowed to to strength my core (lots of use of your stomach muscles recumbent cycling) while my back was protected such that I could ride my MTB again (the main goal) and in the process I got into Sportives so have now also inherited a road bike. Sadly n+1 was overuled by Mrs Scubadude so having done its job I sold the recumbent.
I would love to try a Velomobile (3 wheels, fully faired and b
d fast) just for the hell of it.
Sadly recumbents are largely ignored by mainstream manufacturers so only small companies make them which leads to considerably higher price than comparible DF bikes and because no major manufacturer with a large R&D budget has ever looked at them there are hundreds of different designs so choosing one to buy is rather hard- long or short wheelbase, 2, 3 or 4 wheel, high, medium or low racer, faired, unfaired, upright or prone seat, hardshell or sprung seat, suspended or unsuspended... you could go mad looking at the options! :-)
Velovision in the UK is okay but small, also check out-
http://www.bentrideronline.com/
http://www.bhpc.org.uk/
http://www.recumbents.com/home/
If flatland speed and distance are of interest you will definitely benefit great on a recumbent, if you are shy walk away now! :-)
Lastly- the occasional idiot will tell you because you are low "no-one will see you" I can tell you from experience that even if you rode naked with a flashing light on your head you will not get as much attention from pedestrians and road users as on a recumbent :-) Kids love it (lots of "cool/wicked bike mister" comments) Teenagers gape speechless, adults either smile and wave or shake their heads in confusion.
With regards wobbly, at first yes, with practice- no, very stable, especially at speed due to wheelbase, tip- shake the handlebars as you start left and right, your body automaticallycorrects and calibrates to the balance required sitting down in my experience.
They do lose out on medium gradient hills IMO, mainly due to the fact that being longer and less developed they obviously weight abit more that road bikes, you have to ride one for a few months to adapt your pedalling style, its abit weird to hop back and forth from recumbent to DF.
"People" will tell you they are sh*te because you can't stand on the pedals, ignore anyone who says this because its nonsense, you can push back against the seat on a recumbent and exert far higher pressure on the pedal than a Diamond Frame, so much so that you do have to be mindful of your knees!
I got mine as just couldn't get over a back injury (rugby) and 10min on a normal DF was as much as I could do before I couldn't stand up straight, 2years of recumbent cycling allowed to to strength my core (lots of use of your stomach muscles recumbent cycling) while my back was protected such that I could ride my MTB again (the main goal) and in the process I got into Sportives so have now also inherited a road bike. Sadly n+1 was overuled by Mrs Scubadude so having done its job I sold the recumbent.
I would love to try a Velomobile (3 wheels, fully faired and b
d fast) just for the hell of it.Sadly recumbents are largely ignored by mainstream manufacturers so only small companies make them which leads to considerably higher price than comparible DF bikes and because no major manufacturer with a large R&D budget has ever looked at them there are hundreds of different designs so choosing one to buy is rather hard- long or short wheelbase, 2, 3 or 4 wheel, high, medium or low racer, faired, unfaired, upright or prone seat, hardshell or sprung seat, suspended or unsuspended... you could go mad looking at the options! :-)
Velovision in the UK is okay but small, also check out-
http://www.bentrideronline.com/
http://www.bhpc.org.uk/
http://www.recumbents.com/home/
If flatland speed and distance are of interest you will definitely benefit great on a recumbent, if you are shy walk away now! :-)
Lastly- the occasional idiot will tell you because you are low "no-one will see you" I can tell you from experience that even if you rode naked with a flashing light on your head you will not get as much attention from pedestrians and road users as on a recumbent :-) Kids love it (lots of "cool/wicked bike mister" comments) Teenagers gape speechless, adults either smile and wave or shake their heads in confusion.
My wallet is shuddering in anticipation! 
I'm going to spend some time checking out the different bikes.
The trikes seem pretty nice.. i had the opportunity to try a custom home built one last weekend.
Although the challenge from a two wheel seems more appealing.
It's a fresh experence
Oh i wish they were slightly cheaper though..
I'm after a used one if possible.
I'm going to spend some time checking out the different bikes.
The trikes seem pretty nice.. i had the opportunity to try a custom home built one last weekend.
Although the challenge from a two wheel seems more appealing.
It's a fresh experence
Oh i wish they were slightly cheaper though..
I'm after a used one if possible.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rn9U494azHM
I reckon there must be a business in dumping groups of blokes in these at the tops of cols, and picking up the pieces at the bottom. A days of descending on these would be ludicrous fun.
Of course, there is cheaper fun available.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJkZ5eiqh70
I reckon there must be a business in dumping groups of blokes in these at the tops of cols, and picking up the pieces at the bottom. A days of descending on these would be ludicrous fun.
Of course, there is cheaper fun available.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJkZ5eiqh70
Edited by DrMekon on Friday 26th April 09:42
DrMekon said:
Of course, there is cheaper fun available.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJkZ5eiqh70
That looks like great fun!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJkZ5eiqh70
Edited by DrMekon on Friday 26th April 09:42
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