Recumbent - Why do all my friends hate recumbents?

I'm a bike person, I own half a dozen; road, mountain, commuting, touring etc., and my friends are all avid cyclers too.

So why do they hate recumbents? Whenever I bring up the subject I'm told recumbents are stupid, slow, hard to see, don't handle rough roads, can't climb hills, only ridden by social deviants.
They say to me "If they are so good why don't more people ride them?"

I think I may have to get one for myself.

I'm a bike person, I own half a dozen; road, mountain, commuting, touring etc., and my friends are all avid cyclers too.

So why do they hate recumbents? Whenever I bring up the subject I'm told recumbents are stupid, slow, hard to see, don't handle rough roads, can't climb hills, only ridden by social deviants.
They say to me "If they are so good why don't more people ride them?"

I think I may have to get one for myself.

yep, know what you mean .... so i got one as well and have never looked back [well you can't really without wobbling or falling off :D ]
oddly, my workmates were really keen to get the bike built up, but once it was built, they weren't keen to try it out! :D

they are slow? quite a few roadies have gotten beat up on pretty badly by some recumbent riders around here. You guys and your aero fairings and low profile.... it's hard for a roadie like me to keep up! Then you just lay back in your chair and take your drink from the cup holder and and laugh as i labor to keep up!! *sigh*

I'm a bike person, I own half a dozen; road, mountain, commuting, touring etc., and my friends are all avid cyclers too.

So why do they hate recumbents? Whenever I bring up the subject I'm told recumbents are stupid, slow, hard to see, don't handle rough roads, can't climb hills, only ridden by social deviants.
They say to me "If they are so good why don't more people ride them?"

I think I may have to get one for myself.

Simple - Ignorance

So why do they hate recumbents?

Around here they rent them to people who zig zag their way all over the recreational bike paths.

Simple - Ignorance

Also FUD, jealousy, prejudice, etc.

People don't ride them more because you can't go down to wal-mart and pick one up for $99.87.

people are scared of new things. bents are not new but they really have not shown up much till latly. I don't care how good a new thing is people will run away from it.

Why? I'll bet none of those guys has ever ridden a recumbent. It's easy to have an opinion on anything. Knowledge or experience are not required; fear, ignorance and hate will suffice. Of course, it's up to you to choose which kind of opinions you value.

Whenever I bring up the subject I'm told recumbents are stupid, slow, hard to see, don't handle rough roads, can't climb hills, only ridden by social deviants.

I love riding with people like that They don't usually make such ignorant claims a second time.

Tell 'em, don't blame the bike for the rider. Just because they see a few slow wobbly riders on 'bents doesn't mean it's the 'bent's fault. If we put those same riders on racing bikes, then maybe your buddies would have the bad rep through association!

Some of the meanest disrespectful people I've ever met ride bikes... AND... some of the nicest people I've ever met ride bikes. Not much in the middle I'm afraid...

Some of the meanest disrespectful people I've ever met ride bikes... AND... some of the nicest people I've ever met ride bikes. Not much in the middle I'm afraid...

The people in the middle drive cars. They are "normal."

I love riding with people like that They don't usually make such ignorant claims a second time.

I stopped by my club's fast ride the other day just to say 'hello' and then continue on my way. One of the local racers kept making fun of my Aero and my Shimano sandals. At that point, I decided to ride along with them for awhile despite already having 30 miles in of my own. After winning a few sprints and dropping the group several times, the guy finally conceded not being able to keep up. I told him I hope when he tells his buddies about the night's ride, that he remembers to mention how he kept getting dropped by the fat old guy wearing sandals on the 22# recumbent. :)

So why do they hate recumbents? Whenever I bring up the subject I'm told recumbents are stupid, slow, hard to see, don't handle rough roads, can't climb hills, only ridden by social deviants.
They say to me "If they are so good why don't more people ride them?

Why is anything different hated?

Pure ignorance. Note: I do not mean to be insulting or disrespectful of your friends. But, they have probably never ridden one for anytime at all. So they are truly ignorant to what they do and are capable of doing.

The people in the middle drive cars. They are "normal."

Yikes... now you're scarin' me!

[
So why do they hate recumbents? Whenever I bring up the subject I'm told recumbents are stupid, slow, hard to see, don't handle rough roads, can't climb hills, only ridden by social deviants.
They say to me "If they are so good why don't more people ride them?"


Yea they suck, Recubs are for cycling Dorks.

A few years ago my recumbent riding buddy and I showed up at the local Sunday AM ride. These are pretty good riders and we have rode with them before. On new guy said, Are you gonna ride with us on them? The regulars about crapped cause they knew we would set a torrid pace just to beat up on the new guy. 40 miles later the group of 7 was 4. The old recumbent riders and the two best riders in the group. Most riders that dis recumbents have not come across a really accomplished bentrider on a LowRacer or a HighRacer recumbent. These are what the fast bentriders ride.

I ride with the racing crowd all the time. They've come to accept me and don't make any crude comments since they know that I can whoop all of them silly. I must admit however that last night on a hilly 52 mile course with a bunch of cat1 and 2's, that I got dropped on a big hill and it took me the last 7 miles to catch back up to the pack. I did manage to just come back up on their tails as they were turning into the parking lot. This group of guys I have beat really bad many times but also they've beaten me pretty bad a number of times also. Last night I made the mistake of making a break from the pack too early. I sprinted away from the pack that was already doing a pace of 28mph. I wanted to gain some ground on them in an attempt to get to the top of the toughest climb before they got to the hill. It took a 30 to 32 mph effort for a couple miles to get far ahead of them. It wasn't enough of a lead. They caught me half way up and I was out of gas to do their pace up the hill. After the top of the hill there is a 4 mile stretch of all downhill in which I can maintain 40 to 45 mph. The pack usually holds 35 mph on this downhill stretch. They got enough of a lead on me on that climb that it took me 7 miles to catch back up. I passed a few other riders that also got dropped on that stretch like they were standing still.
In order to beat them, I'll have to maintain my past method of sticking with the pack saving some energy to hammer up the climb with them. Once to the top and even if they get a 100 yard lead on me, 2 minutes later they are toast when I fly by them. Then its hammer time all the way back to the parking lot 7 miles away. I averaged a final speed of 23.8mph for the 52 miles.

Tonight my legs were toast or so I thought for the 30 mile fast ride with another group on a mostly flat course but through large fields where there is always some wind. I got to the ride a bit late and was still unloading my bike when the pack started out. I had a 4 minute deficit to catch up on. It took roughly 7 miles for me to catch the pack. Once I caught them I hung at the back for a couple miles to recover a bit from my high speed effort in catching them. Once recovered I passed the paceline and got into a good 28 mph pace ocassionally touching 30mph. I was pretty whipped from the night before and the pack did catch back up to me about 5 miles from the finish. A couple riders attempted to get passed me, but this was all the encouragement I needed to do a 35mph pull away. Once I felt I had enough distance between myself and the pack, I eased my pace back up a bit to the 27mph range. It was enough to not even have to sprint for the finish line if it hadn't have been for John Foltz sneeking up on me near the end. I had my best average speed tonight with a 25mph flat for the 30 miles. John said he ended up with a 24.1mph average and he rode with the pack the entire way except near the end where he outsprinted the guys.

This ride I normally about mile 2 sprint out ahead and solo the 28 remaining miles as far out in front of the pack as I can. On a good night I can usually beat them back by around 4 to 5 minutes.
Nobody there thinks my bike is dorky. They are afraid of it though. :)

You're right none of my friends have ever ridden one,
but they are all knowledgeable bike people. We all know somebody who has one.

What is your bike lowracer1?

http://groups.msn.com/BicyclingForumPicPost/trainingsetuppics.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=10464

http://groups.msn.com/BicyclingForumPicPost/trainingsetuppics.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=10268

http://groups.msn.com/BicyclingForumPicPost/trainingsetuppics.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=10258

http://groups.msn.com/BicyclingForumPicPost/trainingsetuppics.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=10462

http://groups.msn.com/BicyclingForumPicPost/trainingsetuppics.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=10459

its a carbon vk-2 with rotorcrank and franknspeeds razz fazz tailbox.

They say to me "If they are so good why don't more people ride them?"

I think I may have to get one for myself.

I think if you did, you would be among a growing group of people who are now riding them.

I used to see maybe one or two bents each time I was out. This last weekend I saw at least seven of them and that was in about only 150 other bikes.

I ride with the racing crowd all the time. They've come to accept me and don't make any crude comments since they know that I can whoop all of them silly. I must admit however that last night on a hilly 52 mile course with a bunch of cat1 and 2's, that I got dropped on a big hill and it took me the last 7 miles to catch back up to the pack. I did manage to just come back up on their tails as they were turning into the parking lot. This group of guys I have beat really bad many times but also they've beaten me pretty bad a number of times also. Last night I made the mistake of making a break from the pack too early. I sprinted away from the pack that was already doing a pace of 28mph. I wanted to gain some ground on them in an attempt to get to the top of the toughest climb before they got to the hill. It took a 30 to 32 mph effort for a couple miles to get far ahead of them. It wasn't enough of a lead. They caught me half way up and I was out of gas to do their pace up the hill. After the top of the hill there is a 4 mile stretch of all downhill in which I can maintain 40 to 45 mph. The pack usually holds 35 mph on this downhill stretch. They got enough of a lead on me on that climb that it took me 7 miles to catch back up. I passed a few other riders that also got dropped on that stretch like they were standing still.
In order to beat them, I'll have to maintain my past method of sticking with the pack saving some energy to hammer up the climb with them. Once to the top and even if they get a 100 yard lead on me, 2 minutes later they are toast when I fly by them. Then its hammer time all the way back to the parking lot 7 miles away. I averaged a final speed of 23.8mph for the 52 miles.

Tonight my legs were toast or so I thought for the 30 mile fast ride with another group on a mostly flat course but through large fields where there is always some wind. I got to the ride a bit late and was still unloading my bike when the pack started out. I had a 4 minute deficit to catch up on. It took roughly 7 miles for me to catch the pack. Once I caught them I hung at the back for a couple miles to recover a bit from my high speed effort in catching them. Once recovered I passed the paceline and got into a good 28 mph pace ocassionally touching 30mph. I was pretty whipped from the night before and the pack did catch back up to me about 5 miles from the finish. A couple riders attempted to get passed me, but this was all the encouragement I needed to do a 35mph pull away. Once I felt I had enough distance between myself and the pack, I eased my pace back up a bit to the 27mph range. It was enough to not even have to sprint for the finish line if it hadn't have been for John Foltz sneeking up on me near the end. I had my best average speed tonight with a 25mph flat for the 30 miles. John said he ended up with a 24.1mph average and he rode with the pack the entire way except near the end where he outsprinted the guys.

This ride I normally about mile 2 sprint out ahead and solo the 28 remaining miles as far out in front of the pack as I can. On a good night I can usually beat them back by around 4 to 5 minutes.
Nobody there thinks my bike is dorky. They are afraid of it though. :)

man thats fast (G)
but hell I have been matching and sometimes beating my dc 22 pound racing bike on my burley limbo. a bit slower up hills but faster on the flats. that bike is 37 pounds

The people in the middle drive cars. They are "normal."

Normal? Gee it's nice not to be normal.
As far as I am concerned it's about finding where you like to be and then going there - and for me thats riding a recumbent. If you want to drive - fill your boots but please don't call that "normal" because there is no such thing. Nothing like that is black or white, there is always a shade of both.

As someone once said - I ride what I like and I like what I ride.

Regards
Andrew
http://www.geocities.com/andrewhooker59/CycleTouring.html

[
So why do they hate recumbents? Whenever I bring up the subject I'm told recumbents are stupid, slow, hard to see, don't handle rough roads, can't climb hills, only ridden by social deviants.
They say to me "If they are so good why don't more people ride them?"


Yea they suck, Recubs are for cycling Dorks.

Thanks for calling me a dork - which is pretty good since you don't even know me, and I'll wager you don't know any recumbent riders personally either so your statement can only be made out of ignorance.

BTW - If you have never ridden a recumbent you will never know how much fun and enjoyment you can have on one.

Regards
Andrew
http://www.geocities.com/andrewhooker59/CycleTouring.html

The "true dork" is the one who goes around labeling other people as "dorks".

Projection and ignorance, projection and ignorance.

I originally took pacesetter's remark as a sarcastic response to the roadie attitude. But after looking at his profile I see he's a roadie himself. So now I'll mentally file his statement under 'troll' and disregard him.

Regarding Chris' tale of last night's ride, there were about 15 riders left for the final sprint. Usually the lead group breaks up by mid-ride, so there's only a few bikes chasing us. The larger group gave them the advantage to keep close to Chris; and they were still pulling 27 mph on the flats, at the end of the 30 mile ride. But their pacelining was getting sloppy. Sometime after I squirted off the front with a mile to go, one of the guys in back caught his front wheel, with predictable results. I hear he went down hard, and was given a nice ride by the good EMTs of the volunteer fire dept. :(

I guess I fit the stereotype for 'bent riders. I'm Fat, I'm Old, and I'm a Guy (FOG). I'm also a Social Deviant. To deviate from the social norm is...in my mind, a good thing. I don't wanna do what everyone else is doing just because that's what eveyone else is doing. I prefer the road less traveled. I'm looking for some baggy Hawaiian print T-Shirts to irk the wedgies further. I ride in elastic waisted gym shorts and great big (size 16) tennis shoes. Yes, I'm an engineer, a backyard inventor, and a do-it-yourselfer. I like the 'different' perspective and shun the 'normal' view. You've gotta get out of the comfort zone to grow. BBJ

I do not ride a recumbent. Never realy wanted to and still don't. I have no problems with others that ride them and I do make snide remarks but it is always in fun with riders I know. people who make stupid comments like bents are for dorks or bents are not real bikes are just stupid them selfs.

I do have one question though, if some one tells ya to "Get bent!!" do you reply, "Already have. ;) "

:beer:

...They are afraid of it though. :)

I don't know if I'd go that far, but it's certainly true that they expect you to beat them every time. But through hard teamwork, they still hold out some forlorn hope of pulling off an upset someday. Call it respect rather than fear. At that level everyone is pretty secure in their abilities and knows where they stand against the others. Nobody needs to talk trash, and everyone is friends at the end of the ride. And that's the way it should be. :D

Normal? Gee it's nice not to be normal.
As far as I am concerned it's about finding where you like to be and then going there - and for me thats riding a recumbent. If you want to drive - fill your boots but please don't call that "normal" because there is no such thing. Nothing like that is black or white, there is always a shade of both.

As someone once said - I ride what I like and I like what I ride.

Regards
Andrew
http://www.geocities.com/andrewhooker59/CycleTouring.html

Well, I WAS being sarcastic...

I originally took pacesetter's remark as a sarcastic response to the roadie attitude. But after looking at his profile I see he's a roadie himself. So now I'll mentally file his statement under 'troll' and disregard him.


I don't really think pacesetter's post was "trolling". Afterall, his last line said " I think I may have to get one myself."

Maybe he just wants to smile while he's riding. ;)

I don't really think pacesetter's post was "trolling". Afterall, his last line said " I think I may have to get one myself."

Maybe he just wants to smile while he's riding. ;)

Pacesetter didn't say that, skookum did.

Well, I WAS being sarcastic...

Fair enough.
It just didn't come out, or I didn't take it that way.

Safe Riding (no matter what you ride)

Andrew
http://www.geocities.com/andrewhooker59/CycleTouring.html
http://www.where2pedalto.gr8m8.net

people are scared of new things. bents are not new but they really have not shown up much till latly. I don't care how good a new thing is people will run away from it.

That's what it is.

When people are insecure about something, they hate it without even trying. You'll find this is true with folding bikes because no one wants to be the person who gets all the stares.

I stopped by my club's fast ride the other day just to say 'hello' and then continue on my way. One of the local racers kept making fun of my Aero and my Shimano sandals. At that point, I decided to ride along with them for awhile despite already having 30 miles in of my own. After winning a few sprints and dropping the group several times, the guy finally conceded not being able to keep up. I told him I hope when he tells his buddies about the night's ride, that he remembers to mention how he kept getting dropped by the fat old guy wearing sandals on the 22# recumbent. :)

Riding an Aero and wearing Shimano sandles? You could be me, except for the fat part :D .
I would never want to color my hair, because when I pass younger riders, I want them to know they were passed by a grey hair.

I especially love passing groups of road riders on the climbs, as I crank by them I say, "you know recumbents can't climb". Of couse the race ready young male riders can pass me on climbs, but I'm not far behind. And passing a pace line, gotta love that. Wait, maybe that's why they hate recumbents.

I'm going to be doing the Marin Century in 2 weeks, looking forward to passing lot's of bikes.

Hold on here. Recumbents are slow? I wish THOSE recumbents were around where I ride so I could get a piece of my self-dignity back! Those things dust me every time! I have respect for those guys, especially the silver-haired riders. You guys ROCK!

I don't know if I'd go that far, but it's certainly true that they expect you to beat them every time. But through hard teamwork, they still hold out some forlorn hope of pulling off an upset someday. Call it respect rather than fear. At that level everyone is pretty secure in their abilities and knows where they stand against the others. Nobody needs to talk trash, and everyone is friends at the end of the ride. And that's the way it should be. :D


You're making me cry, man.

Geez, lowracer, no wonder you whip those guys. You've got a motor under that fairing, don't you?

When I was looking for a bike to buy this year when I seriously wanted to get back into biking, I NEVER would have given the first thought to a recumbent. Firstly, I'd never seen one. But if I had seen one, my only thought would have been "weird bike" and then I'd have moved on.

It's only through sheer chance that someone recommended I take a look at them. Oh man am I glad I did.

so how are you doing with the baron now aikigreg? Been getting many miles on it? Does it seem to work better than your previous one?

Let's see. Since I got back from Kentucky I got pneumonia, which lasted me until July 11. I had exactly one week after that before I got Staph infection, which has me back to the hospital every day and again with an IV permanently in my vein.

In spite of that, I've gotten in a couple hundred miles before I knew I had either of those things, and one really good ride. For the 46 miles of that ride I managed 18 mph for the entire trip which was great considering I was still rebuilding endurance and strength after the pneumonia, and on the flats I was never below 21mph.

The bike definately fits me better, for whatever reason. Must be the color :) Hopefully next time I get to run with you guys I'll be able to keep up for a few miles. Hills don't phase me nearly as badly as they once did, provided they're not at the end of the ride.

Still haven't put the clipless pedals back on but I think I need something with a bigger platform and easier unclipping. Thinking Shimano SPD, Look, or Time.

I have a Sun EZ-3 SX trike, its fast, but when you have a lot of stuff, the speed craps out. I need a lot of things so I don't commute on it. When I have it out, I can get it 25 mph on the paths or a bit higher, road I can hit 30 mph. Fixing it is a problem, its had a flat tire and a loose pedle for a month now. If only it was smaller.

When I had my EZ-3 USX that thing was a dream, it was about 100 pounds with all the stuff I added, but I would race my friends (they would be in cars). I could hit 40 mph on a flat, but mostly keeped it at 30 mph. When I would turn at the speed I could get it on two wheels and be in control, I miss that bike, but the frame broke 2x.

GEEK

The people in the middle drive cars. They are "normal."
normal=boring. Who wants THAT???

Before anyone goes slandering recumbents or their riders, they need to open their mind first and think of the possibility of differing needs. I ride a recumbent trike because of balance and medical issues.
Calling someone names because of a petty difference is nothing more than immature, and is best kept within the confines of an elementary school playground. Do they make fun of people who wear glasses, too?

Before anyone goes slandering recumbents or their riders, they need to open their mind first and think of the possibility of differing needs. I ride a recumbent trike because of balance and medical issues.

I for one would rather not have recumbents be known as a choice of last resort for cripples and handicappers, which is the impression many people have. I've been approached several times and asked what's wrong with me that I can't ride a 'regular' bike. Or who hasn't heard, "Recumbents look really comfy; maybe I'll get one when I'm OLD." (Unstated message: I'll only get one when I'm too feeble to ride a REAL bike.)

Although many of the attributes we like about 'bents also mean they'll accomodate people with disabilities, I only got my first one because I deserved to ride a bike that didn't hurt my butt. Only later did I discover that some bents can be extremely fast and that speed lends its own thrill to the ride. Now, extreme hillclimbing is about the only reason I can think of to NOT ride a bent. I guess more people in the midwest are getting the message; last week I did a small 'invitational' ride of about 500-600 riders. At least 20% were on recumbents.

...I've been approached several times and asked what's wrong with me that I can't ride a 'regular' bike. Or who hasn't heard, "Recumbents look really comfy; maybe I'll get one when I'm OLD." (Unstated message: I'll only get one when I'm too feeble to ride a REAL bike.)

I've had the same question, like "how come you ride a wheelchair bike?" and I did get started in bents from a medical situation. However, like you, I was amazed at the performance possibilities that existed. I have friends (fast friends) that keep urging me to go back to road bikes but I assume they only want me to in the interest of self-preservation so I'll quit laying carnage to the group rides. ;)

-Dennis

Why does a recumbent rider have to be faster than everybody else to justify his/her existence?

I think we're dealing with stereotypes here. BlazingPedals is really really fast. He'd be fast no matter what he rode. Doesn't make recumbents better or worse, less dorky or more. It just means he's a really good rider.

I average only 13 mph. But I ride my bike nearly every day. I didn't do that before. I get a lot of waves and hellos and even a few blown kisses and hey cuties. They probably wouldn't do that if they thought I was a dork.

I got my first bike a year ago. It was a diamondback outlook, and I've ridden it about 9,000 miles. I loved every minute of it, but now I feel it's time to upgrade, and so I started checking out some new bikes.

Well, I saw the bents and thought they were cool as sh1t, so that's what I plan on getting! I didn't make the choice because I can't ride a "normal" bike. I love the uniqueness of these bents, and all the different varieties, it's awesome.

Why does a recumbent rider have to be faster than everybody else to justify his/her existence?

I think we're dealing with stereotypes here. BlazingPedals is really really fast. He'd be fast no matter what he rode. Doesn't make recumbents better or worse, less dorky or more. It just means he's a really good rider.


Thanks Diane; but as I wrote, I got my first recumbent for comfort reasons. Speed only came later. And I'm not the fastest thing on the road by a longshot. But you're right, we're dealing with some negative stereotypes that prevent many cyclists from considering recubments. Everyone thinks you have to be a bearded FOG (fat old guy,) have a physical disability, or be a total feeb/nerd/social deviant in order to ride a recumbent. Add to that they 'don't do hills,' and it's amazing that bents attract any newcomers. Personally, I don't evangelize because I don't care if bentdom grows or not; but OTOH I enjoy breaking the stereotype. It's fun getting reactions from people who suddenly realize that what they 'knew' about bents was just disproved. :D

Anyone who gets a recumbent for speed is probably going to be disappointed, because they won't be instantly faster, which is what they usually expect. Plus, most recumbents just aren't capable of the overpowering speeds that they're looking for. I used to laugh at the BikeE adds that noted the world bicycle speed records were all held by recumbents, implying that THEIR recumbents were inherently fast, too. :p

Thanks Diane; but as I wrote, I got my first recumbent for comfort reasons. Speed only came later. And I'm not the fastest thing on the road by a longshot. But you're right, we're dealing with some negative stereotypes that prevent many cyclists from considering recubments. Everyone thinks you have to be a bearded FOG (fat old guy,) have a physical disability, or be a total feeb/nerd/social deviant in order to ride a recumbent. Add to that they 'don't do hills,' and it's amazing that bents attract any newcomers. Personally, I don't evangelize because I don't care if bentdom grows or not; but OTOH I enjoy breaking the stereotype. It's fun getting reactions from people who suddenly realize that what they 'knew' about bents was just disproved. :D

Anyone who gets a recumbent for speed is probably going to be disappointed, because they won't be instantly faster, which is what they usually expect. Plus, most recumbents just aren't capable of the overpowering speeds that they're looking for. I used to laugh at the BikeE adds that noted the world bicycle speed records were all held by recumbents, implying that THEIR recumbents were inherently fast, too. :p

but showing up roadies will help the image. so it is not all a bad thing.
as far as speed I avrage what I did and sometimes beat what I did on my racing bike. and my bent is just a burley limbo. I am slower up hills but faster on flats and downhill. my bent is 37 pounds. but it did take almost a year to do that.

Hey, I'm new to this forum. I ride a road bike, and have no problems with recumbents, but it does seem like it would be harder to climb a hill on one. Obviously I wouldn't know, because I've never ridden one. I've seen a bunch of people talk about hills, but it seems that at a certain degree, you would just lose momentum and fall over. Can someone clear this up for me? Maybe I just need to take physics again.