Recumbents... Why?
Discussion
Seriously, I'm not trolling- They just (to me) look ridiculous.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4HZpw41Sxc
What am I missing?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4HZpw41Sxc
What am I missing?
Benmac said:
The position (I think) is more efficient for pedalling and low to the ground with less frontal area it's more aerodynamic. As such, faster. However, they can't cope with steep hills and obviously there is the safety aspect as well when anywhere near traffic.
Interesting, hadn't considered the aero factor. I'd be worried about the safety aspect being so low... And they do seem to be ridden by an, ahem, typecarreauchompeur said:
Seriously, I'm not trolling- They just (to me) look ridiculous.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4HZpw41Sxc
What am I missing?
Don't buy one if you don't like them. It would be very boring if everyone rode the same thing!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4HZpw41Sxc
What am I missing?
I keep an eye out for bikes when I'm driving, came up behind one of these last week on a main road.
So hard to notice! The less frontal area thing works for being visible from the rear too. I think it's also part to do with not being easily recognisable as a bike.
Even with a ghey flag sticking up
So hard to notice! The less frontal area thing works for being visible from the rear too. I think it's also part to do with not being easily recognisable as a bike.
Even with a ghey flag sticking up
Saw the great designer of these type (Mike Burrows) riding his last year - Yes is was smaller than a bike, but still visible to anyone looking where they're going! He was doing about 35mph at the time (on the flat).
Many years ago (pre WW2?) Oscar Egg was known for beating the GB team around the track by using a recumbent - very good aeros indeed
Many years ago (pre WW2?) Oscar Egg was known for beating the GB team around the track by using a recumbent - very good aeros indeed
Fastpedeller said:
Saw the great designer of these type (Mike Burrows) riding his last year - Yes is was smaller than a bike, but still visible to anyone looking where they're going! He was doing about 35mph at the time (on the flat).
Many years ago (pre WW2?) Oscar Egg was known for beating the GB team around the track by using a recumbent - very good aeros indeed
I agree that in aero terms etc they're better. But "visible to anyone looking where they're going"... I hate to say it, but I was knocked off by someone who pulled out without looking. As I was on a normal bike, he hit the bike, I landed on his bonnet and then rolled off and down the road a bit. Many years ago (pre WW2?) Oscar Egg was known for beating the GB team around the track by using a recumbent - very good aeros indeed
On a recumbent he would have hit me directly, at bumper level, and may not have seen me and stopped as quickly or at all.
Sample size of one accident, clearly there are a million scenarios. But you wouldn't catch me on the road in one.
carreauchompeur said:
Seriously, I'm not trolling- They just (to me) look ridiculous.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4HZpw41Sxc
What am I missing?
Not the best video but...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4HZpw41Sxc
What am I missing?
I'll try and answer as I rode a recumbent extensively until 2011. I had a pesistant back issue from too many ill-concieved Rugby tackles and as a lazy man didn't do my physio properly and was not getting fit and was unable to ride a Diamond Frame for more than 10minutes without my back giving out. I then moved to where cycling was more appealling and I wanted to use my MTB (but couldn't) and heard about recumbents, one of the positives is they are (when riding gently) easy on your back.
So I got a second one off ebay and rode it around for a few years, back improved considerably and now back into MTB'ing, as the recumbent was a road bike I also got into road riding, did a few sportives and now have a road bike too (more on that later)
So, Pro's of Recumbents.
1. Aero- Oh yes, very! Headwinds are Much less of a issue, flatland speed is incredible, downhill they are borderline dangerously fast (I had over 55mph on several occasions, places I struggle to get over 40mph on road bike even tucked up like a looney)
2. Comfortable- Very comfortable, for long distances they cannot be beaten. Not just the broad comfy seat, also nice for neck and no weight on shoulders.
3. Braking- This surprises some people. On a recumbent (long and low) you can brake like a demon, even locking the front wheel in a straight line, stops that would have you over a DF bike's handlebars are possible.
4. Visibility (Your's and others)- despite what people think and say you feel Very visible on a recumbent. They are so unusual that they seem to draw peoples attention like nothing else, in all my time riding one I never had a near miss... which I seem to have weekly on a DF. (Mine was about the same height as an MX-5 and the broad seat back was covered in reflective tape :-)
Secondly you have a great view as you don't need to crane your neck to look forwards.
5. Gearing- Long chains mean no cross over issues so 21speed really is 21 speeds!
Percieved Negatives.
1. Hills- I had MTB chainset but road cassette, rode up hills around here (Dorset) without issue, struggled a few trimes on 25%+ but then I struggle on those on a DF now so... People seemed to assume you "can't stand on the pedals" but in reality you could, on a recumbent you can "bridge" brace your back or even shoulders against the seat and push with all your strength, in fact much harder than you can even stand on DF pedals, so much so you have to be careful with your knees if you do it repeatedly.
Actual Negatives.
1. Weight- Because the UCI banned recumbents from racing in the 30's no major bike manufacturer has spent time and money researching them. Its been left to small businesses to design and build them, some are fantastic now but even the lightest cannot touch a 6kilo road bike, the robust touring recumbents are around 20kilos, the racier ones as low as 10, but Very expensive carbon jobs to get that light.
The weight is apparent on hills (which gearing gets you around) but you'll never be fast up the hills.
2. Ride- Because of the seating you can't hop holes, bumps or lift your arse off the seat for bumps, hence you either have a harsh ride or a thick comfy seat and/or suspension (more weight) IMO this was the biggest negative, I had FS on mine and it was tolerable, I tried a couple of racey ones but over cattlegrids your eyeballs would fall out! :-)
Summary- If I lived somewhere flat and windy I would go back to riding 'bents without hesitation but hilly and rough roads aren't their natural home, so I moved to a roadie. I enjoy it very much but miss the flatland speed, comfort and stability at speed.
If you haven't you should try one if you get the chance, brilliant fun.
I've ridden one a couple of times; they've good fun but I can't see myself ever wanting to own one.
Extremely comfortable and ate up the miles rather quickly. Faster up hills than I expected but oddly the speed advantage on the flat or downhill was not as significant as I anticipated. The biggest place that it struggled were long gentle drags, you could really feel the extra weight there.
I rode it on the road (in London no less) and being seen wasn't a problem (everyone stops and gawps) but seeing was more of a problem. Even a small car in front of you blocks your entire view down the road and makes it much harder to anticipate what's going on ahead.
Extremely comfortable and ate up the miles rather quickly. Faster up hills than I expected but oddly the speed advantage on the flat or downhill was not as significant as I anticipated. The biggest place that it struggled were long gentle drags, you could really feel the extra weight there.
I rode it on the road (in London no less) and being seen wasn't a problem (everyone stops and gawps) but seeing was more of a problem. Even a small car in front of you blocks your entire view down the road and makes it much harder to anticipate what's going on ahead.
I've tested a bunch. If I has some spare cash, ICE trikes are hilarious - like go karts for adults. Oversteer on loose surfaces, neutral drifts at speed. Just a massive hoot to hoon around on.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedd...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedd...
DrMekon said:
I've tested a bunch. If I has some spare cash, ICE trikes are hilarious - like go karts for adults. Oversteer on loose surfaces, neutral drifts at speed. Just a massive hoot to hoon around on.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedd...
OK, in fairness they do look awesome... http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedd...
If you're properly insane look up a Velomobile, like the ICE Trikes but narrower track and built in a GRP or carbon monocoque aerodynamic bodyshell. Heavier but popular in flatland (Holland etc) experienced users report cruising (leg powered) at 40mph, 70+ downhill with a roof and luggage space, electric hill assist they are a viable single person car alternative
el stovey said:
Someone flashed past me in one near leith hill a few months ago, as we approached the next hill I thought "I'll catch him now easily" but he then activated some kind of dick dastardly motor and tootled off up the hill.
Interesting - a semi faired recumbant absolutely flew past us on the cycle path around lake Annecy last week. I noticed a slight whirr/whine and some suspicious looking bulges on the frame as it went past. Was definitely a dastardly electric motor! Beard was in place though.Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff