|
Click on the question and you'll jump to
the answer:
Question: What are recumbent cycles?
Answer: Recumbent cycles, often affectionately referred to as “Bent”
bikes, get their name from the seating position. Rather than sitting
on a high, narrow seat and leaning forward over the handlebars, bent
bikes have a reclined, lower seating position much like a
recliner.
Recumbents come in
many shapes and sizes. For bikes, the most common configurations are
LWB bike (long wheelbase typically 65-71 inches), CLWB bike (compact
long wheelbase - or, as I'm sure you figured out already, medium
wheelbase 46-64 inches), SWB bike (short wheel base 33-45
inches), delta trike (one wheel in front for steering and two in
back supplying the power, typically rather upright in appearance)
and tadpole trike (two wheels in front for steering and one in back
for supplying the power, typically lower to the ground looking and
acting very sporty). They can have over seat steering (OSS) or under
seat steering (USS). The type of recumbent you should ride depends
somewhat on what kinds of cycling you want to do, but mostly on
which configuration feels the most comfortable to you while
riding.
Recumbents are not
new. Their roots reach all the way back to the mid 1800s with the
Macmillan Velocipede and the Challand Recumbent. In 1933 Charles Mochet built a
supine recumbent named the "Velocar". Between the years of 1933 and
1938 pro racer Francois Faure, while riding the Velocar, set several
speed records for both the mile and kilometer. In Paris on July 7,
1933, Francis Faure broke the 20 year-old hour record of 44.247 km.
by going 45.055 km.
Unfortunately Faure's hour record
created a controversy amongst the Union Cycliste Internationale
(U.C.I.), the governing body for bicycle races. In February 1934,
the U.C.I. decided against Faure's record and banned all recumbents
and aerodynamic devices from racing. That is the reason why
recumbents have not gained popularity in the racing scene, and why
they have not been as mass produced by bike
manufacturers.
Question: Are recumbents comfortable?
Answer: Absolutely. Due
to the reclined seating position, you are not hunched over the
handlebars like on a normal bike. Your weight is not resting on your
arms, so you eliminate all the strain and pain from your hands,
wrists, arms and shoulders. Since you are sitting in a position
facing front, you don't get the neck strain so common with normal
bikes, plus you have a better view of your surroundings at all
times. You are sitting in a seat with back support, not
balancing on a little wedge of hard plastic. That means no more
chafing in those tender spots.
Question: Are they difficult to
ride?
Answer: 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
may experience climbing hills a bit slower than you're used to until
you develop the new muscle groups. Until your muscles develop it is
recommended to do a lot of "spinning" when you climb hills. Spinning
refers to selecting a lower gear and spinning the pedals around
faster rather than straining your muscles by trying to use power
strokes with your legs. Spinning is recommended for all new
recumbent riders for the first few
weeks.
Question: Do
they "do" hills?
Answer:
Yes, they "do"
hills. Some people think that because you can't stand on the pedals,
that you can't ride up hills. Depending on how steep a hill you're
climbing, you may need to shift into a lower gear and "spin" your
way up the hill until your new bent biking muscles
develop. Even though you can't stand on the pedals and use
your weight to propel yourself up the hill, you do have the
advantage of having your back braced against the back of the seat.
This lets you use your quads a bit more than normal cycling,
but after they get used to your new bent bike, you'll find them
plenty powerful enough. 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 down hills and flat ground.
Question: What about commuting in traffic?
Answer: You'll
gain two advantages when commuting in traffic on a recumbent. First,
in your more upright seating position, you are facing front as you
ride, making it much easier to keep tabs on the road, traffic and
road hazards around you. Second, due to the unique shape you present
when riding a recumbent, you catch the attention of drivers much
more than normal cyclists that drivers often fail to see.
You may want to take a few precautions, however, just for
safety sake. Why? Because in a crash between a bicyclist and a car
or truck, the cyclist is always going to come out worse for wear.
Even a cyclist on a normal bike should consider these things when
choosing to ride on the roads in traffic:
- Put an upright flag, spinner, windsock, streamers or some
other attention-getting device on your bike. Using bright colors
for such attention getters, and positioning them so they are in
plain view can do wonders to make vehicles coming up behind you
aware that you are there. The more they catch the wind and flap
about, the better. For the real performance oriented, these kinds
of devices will create some wind resistance and will slow you down
slightly at higher speeds. But if being a tad slower bothers you
more than the risk for an accident, keep in mind how slow you'll
be if you're laying around in a hospital bed after a crash. Here
is a great example of attention getters on a TerraTrike and
trailer:
- Wear a helmet. They may not protect you in every kind of
crash, but they certainly have a better chance of helping if worn.
Some of the newer helmet designs are actually made to withstand
multiple impacts rather than just one (see Shain helmets).
- Use mirrors, either mounted on your bike or on your glasses or
helmet. This lets you see what is coming up behind you, allowing
you to move out of the way if you see a vehicle charging toward
you and not giving you adequate clearance (which may happen with
an inattentive driver even though laws exist almost everywhere
requiring vehicles to give cyclists adequate clearance).
- If riding at night, use lights on your bike. Not so much to
help you see as to make sure that you are seen. Flashers are a
great idea. And don't forget reflectors.
- Bright clothing is always a good idea. It tends to draw the
eye and will get you noticed.
Question: Are
they faster?
Answer: Well,
this is very controversial. In the IHPVA sanctioned events, all the
land speed records are held by recumbent or semi-recumbent designs.
The real question you are asking is, will you be faster on
a recumbent?
The answer is: "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.
Here are some examples of partial and full fairings on
recumbents:
Question: How do you steer
it?
Answer: Well, recumbents have either
over seat steering (OSS), or under seat steering (USS). On the over
seat steering bents, the handlebars are located at about shoulder
height. 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 and actually offer a more aerodynamic line.
Trikes work much
the same way, with OSS or USS steering. OSS steering is more common
with delta style trikes, and USS with tadpole trikes.
Question: Have
recumbents been around a while or are they a recent
invention?
Answer:
Recumbents have
been around since the mid 1800's with the Macmillan Velocipede and
the Challand Recumbent. In 1933 Charles Mochet built a supine
recumbent named the "Velocar". Between the years of 1933 and 1938
pro racer Francois Faure, while riding the Velocar, set several
speed records for both the mile and kilometer. In Paris on July 7,
1933, Francis Faure broke the 20 year-old hour record of 44.247 km.
by going 45.055 km.
Unfortunately Faure's hour record
created a controversy amongst the Union Cycliste Internationale
(U.C.I.), the governing body for bicycle races. In February 1934,
the U.C.I. decided against Faure's record and banned all recumbents
and aerodynamic devices from racing. That is the reason why
recumbents have not gained popularity in the racing scene, and since
they aren't typically seen in races, the general public has not been
as aware of their existence. That is why they have not been mass
produced (tens to hundreds of thousands of each model each year) by
bike manufacturers.
Question: What
are the different styles of recumbents?
Answer: The
most noticeable difference between the different styles is the
length of the bike. There are long wheelbase (lwb), short wheelbase
(swb), and compact long wheelbase bikes (clwb) which are really just
medium wheelbase.
LWB - long wheelbase CLWB -
medium wheelbase SWB -
short wheelbase
A long wheelbase bike (LWB) is 65" - 71". Their ride is quite
smooth, comfortable, fast and stable. A short wheelbase bike (SWB)
is 33" - 45". Their front wheel is underneath or a little ahead of
the riders 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. Being
shorter, however, their ride is more like a compact car compared to
a luxury model. 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.
Trikes come in two basic styles: delta and tadpole. Delta style
trikes have two wheels in back and one in front and typically have a
long wheelbase. Tadpoles have two wheels in front and one in back
and typically have a short wheelbase.
  
Delta trike with
OSS
Delta trike with under seat
steering
Tadpole trike
Delta trikes are seen more often than tadpoles, primarily because
they appeal to older cyclists who don't want to give up riding, but
lack the strength to go fast or balance to keep riding a
two-wheeler. They are often outfitted with a cargo carrying area
behind the seat. In high-speed turns, delta trikes tend to be quite
tippy.
Tadpole trikes are much lower to the ground and have a much
sportier look. They are performance oriented and and ride much like
a go-cart feels. These trikes are often used for touring because
they are comfortable to ride for long distances, tow a bike trailer
quite nicely, are more stable in high-speed turns than deltas
trikes, and they are just plain more fun to ride. Love for
tadpole trikes is a highly contagious condition for which the only
cure is buying and riding one. Typically the primary symptom is
Triker's Grin, which often presents itself immediately after the
first test ride on a tadpole trike. Don't say we didn't warn
you!
Question: What
is an X-seam measurement?
Answer: The X-seam
measurement is used to determine which size of recumbent to
purchase, or if the recument is adjustable, it is used to set up the
bike or trike.
Question: Why
purchase from a dealer rather than over the
internet?
Answer: Recumbent
Cycles of Utah prices all its bikes and trikes the same as the
factory price through the internet. However, at Recumbent Cycles of
Utah, the price includes shipping, handling, assembly and tuning, so
it is an out-the-door price to you. Depending on the recumbent
model, shipping, handling and assembly costs can range from about
$200 to $400 in addition to the list price when you buy through the
internet. The only additional cost you have is sales tax, like every
other business in Utah has to charge. In addition, you can get your
first tune-up free at either Recumbent Cycles of Utah, or at the
Bike Barn in Lehi, Utah. And don't forget that any accessories you
purchase with your bike or trike at time of initial sale get
installed for free. All these things combined can mean big
savings for you when you purchase from a dealer like Recumbent
Cycles of Utah rather than buying over the internet.
Question: Why
are test rides important?
Answer: Every
recumbent bike and trike are different. You need the
opportunity to try a variety of types and models to get one
that feels the most comfortable to you and that best meets your
needs and desires. At Recumbent Cycles of Utah we believe this is
the most crucial part of investing in a fine human-powered recumbent
vehicle. We try to keep all the most wanted models in stock all
the time. Sometimes we fail, but not often. If we don't have the
standard version of the recumbent bike or trike from the
manufacturers we represent in stock when you come to the shop to
purchase, we'll deliver it to your home for free as soon as we
receive it from the manufacturer and get is assembled and tuned. You
won't have to make a second trip. (Please note that custom color and
factory-installed option orders are excluded from free
delivery.) |
