Bicycle Tips:
Recumbent Bicycles - A True Rider's Alternative!
By Tony
Anthonisen
I
was ten miles into my first longer ride on a rented recumbent bicycle
when I turned to my biking companion, Chase Allen, and said, "I
don't hurt anywhere!"
35 years
of bicycle riding has given me a tremendous amount of pleasure. It has
also given me hands and wrists that ache every time I ride more than
a few miles. A "normal" upright diamond-frame bicycle centers
a rider's weight over the handlebars, seat and pedals. A rider's hands,
wrists, fanny and feet absorb a tremendous amount of impact and vibration
in 35 years.
A number
of my bicycle-riding friends with bad backs and necks found recumbent
bicycles to be a wonderful and pain-free solution that made serious
"TCBC style" rides a pleasure again. I rode a Trek demo recumbent
around the St. Thomas parking lot at the LAB rally last summer and found
it to be easy to ride. So, I decided to try one for some longer rides.
I rented a good recumbent from Calhoun Cycle in South Minneapolis and
rode it for a weekend. Not only did I not hurt anywhere, it was great
fun to ride at about the same pace I rode on my good road bike. I purchased
a recumbent within a few weeks!
Frequently
asked questions about recumbents:
Q. Is
a recumbent a reasonable choice for a "TCBC style" rider?
A. Absolutely! Read on to find out why.
Q.
What IS that thing ?!?
A. It's called a "recumbent" bicycle or "bent."
The word recumbent refers to the seated position. They usually have
two wheels although some have three. They are most often powered by
pedaling with your legs, but some bents are hand powered, some are both
hand and foot powered.
Q.
Are they comfortable?
A. They are very comfortable. Recumbents seats are larger and you actually
sit in the seat. You aren't perched on top of a narrow saddle which
can tend to cause numbness and chafing. The handlebars are either above
the seat at shoulder level, or below the seat at a position where your
arms hang down naturally. This combination creates a comfortable ride
making long distance riding free from neck strain, saddle sores, and
wrist pain.
Q.
Are they difficult to ride?
A. No. It may take you a little time to get used to the feel and handling
of the bike. There are variations in handling just as there are in uprights
- some are fast, twitchy racing models and others are smooth, stable
touring models. Be forewarned though, recumbents use different muscles,
so even if you are a very fit upright rider, you will experience difficulty
climbing hills until you develop the new muscle groups.
Q.
Do they "do" hills?
A. Yes, they do "do" hills. Some people think that because
you can't stand on the pedals, that you can't ride up hills. Recumbents
do tend to be slower going up hills, but as long as you keep pedaling
the bike keeps moving. Usually you can keep up with some of the upright
riders, and if any time was lost climbing, you will make up for it on
the downhills and flat ground.
Q.
Are they faster?
A. Maybe. There are so many factors involved; how long you've been riding,
how long you've trained on the recumbent, style and weight of the bike,
topography - hilly, mountainous, flat. Since the biggest factor limiting
speed is aerodynamic drag, if you want to go really fast, use a recumbent
with a well-designed fairing or a full body. In this case, the answer
is YES, they are faster.
Q.
Are recumbents hard to see?
A. Since recumbents are relatively uncommon, they tend to be "noticed."
A recent study in California found that motorists were more likely to
see recumbents. To be fair to car drivers, whose attention and concentration
are on everything except their driving, you might want to do something
to get their attention, especially a bright jersey or helmet.
Q.
How do you steer it?
A. Generally, recumbents have either "above seat steering"
(ASS), or "under seat steering" (USS). On the above seat steering
bents, the handlebars are located at about shoulder height giving them
the "chopper" look. On the under seat steering bikes, they
are located just beneath the seat. If you are sitting on a chair right
now, let your hands hang loosely at your side; this is where your handlebars
would be. Above seat steering looks more conventional and is therefore
sometimes favored by beginners; but USS bents are really no more difficult
to control.
Q.
Have recumbents been around a while or are they a recent invention?
A. Recumbents have been around since the mid 1800's.
Q.
Why aren't recumbents more popular?
In 1933 Charles Mochet built a recumbent, and between the years of 1933
and 1938, pro racer Francois Faure, set several speed records while
riding Mochet's recumbent. Unfortunately Faure's hour record created
a controversy within the Union Cycliste Internationale (U.C.I.), the
governing body for bicycle races. In February 1934, the U.C.I. banned
all recumbents and aerodynamic devices from racing. This ban is still
in effect today.
With none of the "big" races, like the Tour De France, allowing
recumbents, and with none of the "big name" racers riding
them in races, bicycle manufacturers have largely ignored recumbents.
The "win on Sunday, sell the winning product on Monday" philosophy
has influenced what is available to bicycle riders. The great majority
of bicycle shops only offer bicycles with a basic diamond frame, a design
that has hardly changed since the Rover Safety Cycle was built in England
in 1884.
Q.
What are the different styles of recumbents?
A. The most noticeable difference between the different styles is the
length of the bike. There are long wheel base (lwb), short wheel base
(swb), and compact long wheel base bikes (clwb).
A long wheelbase bike (LWB) is 65" - 71". Their
ride is quite smooth, comfortable, fast and stable but due to their
length, low speed maneuverability can be a bit tricky on busy streets
or on narrow paths.
A
short wheelbase bike (SWB) is 33" - 45". Their
front wheel is underneath or a little ahead of the rider's knees, with
the crankset mounted on a boom. They have quick handling, are easy to
maneuver, and they are more compact, making it easier to transport and
stow than a lwb.
A
compact long wheelbase bike (CLWB) is 46" - 64".
These bikes are the easiest bikes to learn on. They are responsive,
very stable, and with a higher seat- they are more visible, making great
commuters.
Q.
I'm still slow! How long does it take before I'm up to speed?
A. Since it takes time to develop new leg muscles, it will depend on
how often and the amount of time you spend on your trusty steed.
Q.
How much do they cost?
A. Recumbents start at around $500 and can go as high as you want to
pay. TCBC riders can find good recumbents for "B" and "A/B"
speed and distance rides from just under $1000 to about $2000. $979
will buy a capable recumbent, like the Rans Rocket or Rans Tailwind,
and $1500 will buy an excellent bent from Rans, Vision, Osell and others
with very good components. Bump the price over $2000, and some real
"rockets" with top of the line components are available.
Q.
Where can I find out more about recumbents?
A. There are numerous resources on recumbents including:
