Recumbent - First 'Bent ride

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cwodave
09-24-05, 04:30 PM
Well, I rode an ICE trike on the Tour To Tanglewood today. 48 miles, "rolling hills", warm weather. Just a beautiful day.

Some points: Hills suck going up but rock going down. My butt feels better than it ever has after a ride of that length on a conventional bike. It rode rougher than I expected, but not too bad. Vision is less than perfect, I had a hard time watching for on coming traffic at intersections.

Is this pretty much standard?

All in all not bad. I think when I ride the other half tomorrow I'll ride my Bianchi road bike.

Dave

ppc
09-24-05, 04:54 PM
Some points: Hills suck going up but rock going down.

Duh... That's standard on any bike :)


My butt feels better than it ever has after a ride of that length on a conventional bike.

On almost any bent, your backside should feel like you haven't ridden at all, save for tired muscles and sweat perhaps.


It rode rougher than I expected, but not too bad.

An unsprung bent will always feel rougher than a DF, because you can't soak up road shocks with your legs.


Vision is less than perfect, I had a hard time watching for on coming traffic at intersections.

That's common with most bents, as your eyes aren't on top of the front wheel like on a DF, but much more at the back, forcing you to come foward a couple of yards past the red light to see what's coming right and left. The only other situations I know when vision is less than ideal on a bent is when you want to see precisely what your front wheel will roll over at low speed on a SWB, and also glancing backward on a very reclined seat. But none of that has ever been an issue to me. In all other situations, bents offer a much better vista than DFs.


All in all not bad. I think when I ride the other half tomorrow I'll ride my Bianchi road bike.

You might find the experience disappointing after riding the trike :)