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06-01-05, 11:18 AM
I am 63, commute daily, and bicycle for fun and my health. I am working on the 4th week on my TE. I now have about 350 miles. Two weeks ago I rode an 81 mile ride, 2 County Double Metric Century, and Monday I rode 77 miles on a recumbent unfriendly ride, The 7 Hills of Kirkland. I rode the 11 hills route. I cut a good hour plus off last years time on a df bike. Muscle pain is not any greater than with the df bike after long rides.
With over 20,000 miles on a df bike commuting and rides since ’99 I have found the differences to be considerable but in my case mostly good. The first casualty was the hands. No more pain or fingers going to sleep even on my 5 mile commute. The second was no standing to relieve saddle pain after about 40 miles. At the 50 to 60 mile range I would have to stop for a minute or two every 10 miles but now I just keep on pedaling.
Commuting is different. I think part of it is where you sit in relation to the cars. On the df bike I sit above the window level where the car starts to lean away from you. Now I set down beside the doors and it seems like they are closer. The lwb TE is hard to maneuver into the bike rack at work and harder to carry up the 1 flight of stairs when I leave.
I have raised the front of the seat about 3/4 inch and this has been good for me. I have problems on long steep hills where I am in the lowest gear. I tend to wander and have had to stop and walk when I get to wandering too close or into traffic. I am still wobbly when starting especially on a hill. I hope both get better with more mileage. Taking a drink is still hard. I miss my camelback. Wish there was a good bladder and mount for it for a bent.
My cadence is back to normal. I am looking forward to an 800 mile tour in July down the Oregon coast. Those long down-hills are exhilarating. No problem convincing me the recumbent was the right move.
Phil
With over 20,000 miles on a df bike commuting and rides since ’99 I have found the differences to be considerable but in my case mostly good. The first casualty was the hands. No more pain or fingers going to sleep even on my 5 mile commute. The second was no standing to relieve saddle pain after about 40 miles. At the 50 to 60 mile range I would have to stop for a minute or two every 10 miles but now I just keep on pedaling.
Commuting is different. I think part of it is where you sit in relation to the cars. On the df bike I sit above the window level where the car starts to lean away from you. Now I set down beside the doors and it seems like they are closer. The lwb TE is hard to maneuver into the bike rack at work and harder to carry up the 1 flight of stairs when I leave.
I have raised the front of the seat about 3/4 inch and this has been good for me. I have problems on long steep hills where I am in the lowest gear. I tend to wander and have had to stop and walk when I get to wandering too close or into traffic. I am still wobbly when starting especially on a hill. I hope both get better with more mileage. Taking a drink is still hard. I miss my camelback. Wish there was a good bladder and mount for it for a bent.
My cadence is back to normal. I am looking forward to an 800 mile tour in July down the Oregon coast. Those long down-hills are exhilarating. No problem convincing me the recumbent was the right move.
Phil