Discussion in 'Commuting' started by goo_mason, 27 Jul 2007.
Passed a bloke on a recumbent zipping along in the opposite direction this morning near the bridge over Crewe Toll. First one I've seen since I started commuting in April last year.
Not only can I not afford one (which is the most significant factor) but I wouldn't be able to take it on the train either.
I wouldn't mind the stares of wonderment from passers-by, but I wonder what impact the lower riding position would have on my visibility and ability to manouver in heavy London traffic.
You can rent then from the The Bicycle Works in Argyle Place (although I can't find anything about it on their web site). Also check out Laid Back Ligfiets who do a guided tour on recumbent bikes in Edinburgh.
Never seen a single recumbent on my Derby commute all the years I've been doing it.
One passed me on the Tissington Trail this week though!
I'm sure people can probably guess/already know my feelings on recumbents, so I'll not bother to state them again.
Now, let me guess..............................................No, give up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well, seeing as you really want to know...they're a deathtrap.
You can't see where you're going as well as on a normal bike, not to mention the fact that you're so much lower down so people can't see you.
They're more unstable - your centre of gravity is lower down, so minor adjustments in your horizontal position don't work as well.
They're unhealthy / unergonomic: you're constantly having to bend your neck forward to see what's ahead - can't be healthy on the spine or neck. Plus, your legs are pointing forwards when doing work - making your legs work under decreased bloodflow is harder and can't possibly be healthy.
And please don't say "but you haven't ever ridden one bonj" because I have once ridden one, that a mate had inherited from somebody and was selling but before he did asked me and a few others if we wanted to come round and have a go on it for a laugh. Needless to say I fell off it several times trying to go round his yard and up and down his road, but managed to get going for a bit. Even so, I judged it to be a work of absolute crapola.
Well in the end we get to the truth, you couldn't ride it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Visibilty is again a unfounded worry. I am taller on my street machine than many children an a few women riders on DFs. What is important is sensible riding. Providing you are not undertaking artics and other silly antics, you will have no problems.
Most drivers should be looking a hundred yards ahead for road markings, bollards etc, all of which are lower. At the distances drivers should be looking height is not a factor.
The ones who "don't see you" are the same ones who don't see ANY bike!
As with any bike it is simply acquiring the skills. A recumbent handles as well in most cases as a DF. If you have problems "nipping through a gap" then shouldn't one be querying the wisdom of the move rather than the ability of the machine?
I have no more problems with maneoverability or stability than with any other machine In fact the Trike is outstanding in both cases.
Also don't forget a lower CoG will make the bike safer in a fall as there is less distance and hence less impact!
They're unhealthy / unergonomic: you're constantly having to bend your neck forward to see what's ahead - can't be healthy on the spine or neck. Plus, your legs are pointing forwards when doing work - making your legs work under decreased blood flow is harder and can't possibly be healthy.
You don't need to bend your neck anywhere on a street designed machine. Even on my Hurricane this is not he case and that is a "low rider". As above, you are under far less strain with flexion than with the extended neck required on a mountain bike or racing machine.
As for the leg position, this is a benefit. That is why all gyms have recumbent cycling machines!. The fact that you can use bigger muscles as you can lock your hip into the seat makes the potential power output greater.
Like with any development in fitness the body will compensate, and there is no problem with the legs adapting to this position. The resultant increased blood flow actually makes this position more efficient - again try and find a gym without a recumbent machine!
Each one is completely different in design, handling, use and comfort. Using a single one to decide that it is "Crapola" is like driving a 1970's Skoda and then declaring that a modern luxury car is rubbish.
PS - they even go off road on hill tracks across the Pennines!
So which one are using off road?
That is the Street Machine, dual suspension and a comfortable hard seat.
The Hurricane is too low (not for safety, but because your buttocks get stung by nettles) and the Catrike too wide for some tracks. As I said above the Linear is now 25 years old and comes out fro the occasional rally rather than a daily use machine.
Last week I passed two recumbents and three unicycles. Haven't seen the rowing machine bike man in a while, hope he's okay.
Why is is that some of us see something new and think "Cool!" and some others automatically crawl back under their rock muttering...?
According to wikipedia they've been around since the mid 19th century - I wouldn't call that 'new'. Still haven't taken off.
Apologies. By 'new' I meant 'new to our personal experience', but you are right, they've been around a while.
Not taken off eh? What exactly do you mean by taken off? I mean we all know the world has to bend to your logic, so what do recumbents have to do to 'take off'. One owned by every cyclist? One in every household? Why not just admit that some people like them and have them - either exclusively or together with uprights, a lot of people would like one, but can't afford one, or don't have space for more than just one bike, and a lot of people who've never seen one look at them and say "That's cool!".
You stick to what you like, and stop telling other people what's good and what's bad, especially on subjects you know nothing about.