My back is shot and riding a traditional road frame has become painful. I'm looking at recumebents, but not necessarily growing the requisite white beard
Anyway, I am looking at a traditional LWB like the Tour Easy with a diamond sorta geometry.
Question - I am really concerned about losing ability to climb hills on a recumbent. In spite of my back problems I am still an excellent hill climber and better than 90% of folks out there on road bikes.
I have severe atrophy in my calves because of the nerve damage in my spine, but my quads stay in pretty good cycling shape.
So here is my question - on a recumebnt like a Tour Easy - what muscles are most important on 1) flats and 2) climbing? If calves were most important, then I'd lose any advantage I get standing and climbing or pushing on my traditional frame, and I'd be walking up most hills.