Posted this in Advocacy and Safety and got great responses, but realized this is, after all, the appropriate place to ask. :D

I've been commuting about a decade and currently ride about 30 miles round-trip to work and back, most work days. Now I'm getting a recumbent to do the job, something I've wanted to do after a test ride hooked me a few years ago. Now, the day is here!

:beer:

Give me any tips you can think of for an habitual DF commuter, even if it has nothing to do with commuting. The bike is a SWB with a 20 in. front wheel and a 26 in. rear, no suspension, USS.

Thankyouverymuch. :)

Seat bags are awesome. You get all the storage space of a good pannier but no Aerodynamic drag as they are behind you. I actually commute faster on my bent than the DF as my commute is pretty flat. Depending on how aggressive the seating position is on your new bent you may find that headwinds aren't as big a problem anymore as well. I seem to cut through headwinds much better on my bent (High racer, Bacchetta Strada)

Congratulations on all that dedicated riding, and welcome to the recumbent side. :)

I like laid back riding a lot, but watch the bumps/curbs/drops. You can't easily 'wheelie' over things like that on a bent, or shift your weight around, and I get a jolt at each one.

(rookie opinion here, I'm still in the beginner mileage range.)

Give me any tips you can think of for an habitual DF commuter, even if it has nothing to do with commuting. A mirror is good. Not something I ever 'needed' on a DF but essential on my 'bent, and I'll second the 'seat bags are awesome' comment above, especially a bright yellow one with reflective trim like this

Mirrors--are two better than one? And, is it possible to "look back?"

Thanks for the tips on accessories, this will be very important today, since I want to order them with my bent to save shipping costs. Here's what I already have in mind:

Seat bag, as mentioned; rear rack able to take panniers; "work stand" (simple rear-wheel stand; ) mirror(s.)
I already have a homebrew light system with 35W in the front and a powerful xenon strobe for the rear, all of this I might upgrade with more lights for more visibility.

How about visibility? Flag, for example?

You will be the same height as a car. Especially if you have a bright seat bag, they will see you (if they're looking at all.)

one mirror usually is suitable for me and it is possible to look back. For me I do a full rear look as my final check. Turning around has a tendency to steer you as much of the balance on these things is in your head. On a DF it is more in your body I guess what I am talking about is center of gravity. The short of it is a head turn affects your line much more on a bent.

Hey Squeeker, what bag is that? I have the bacchetta brainbox and I like it but kind of wish I had a bottle holder for commuting and it looks like that bag has a pretty nice one.

Mirrors--are two better than one? And, is it possible to "look back?"
Head checks are possible but harder on a bent, you can not turn your shoulders during the head check as much as you can on a DF.

I like using 2 mirrors, one wide angle bar end mirror and one flat (true view) helmet mounted mirror. Most times I prefer using the helmet mirror, but my commute is eastbound in the morning and westbound in the evening. That means that the sun is right in my face at certain times during the ride, making the helmet mirror unusable.

The bent you are buying looks like the bar end gives a perfect position for a mirror and so for you, one mirror on the bar end may be perfect. Most times a mirror on the right side is of only limited use, but if you want one there then by all means you should add it to your ride.

Rather than get the VC thing going in A&S, I will make any comments here and hopefully it won’t flame up. The flag idea is one that I use to get motorist to see me, but also remember that on a bent, your line of sight is also lower. On a DF, you height lets you see over parked cars and SUVs better than on a bent. So in IMHO, it is more important to use a lane position farther away from parking lanes, especially near intersections or driveways. A more center lane position will give a better line of sight for you to a pedestrian stepping out from parked cars, a car pulling out of a driveway behind a parked car, etc. Practice your quick turns on the bent, a bent is harder to lean out of danger than a DF, so the quick turn is even more important.

This is also a better place to ask your USS-v-ASS question. Many folks here have ridden all of the styles of bents and may have more info than I was able to give.

Hey Squeeker, what bag is that? I have the bacchetta brainbox and I like it but kind of wish I had a bottle holder for commuting and it looks like that bag has a pretty nice one.
Radical (http://www.radicaldesign.nl/en/products/recumbentbags/allfa_top_bags.html) (from Holland) - Christmas present from my wife - but I had to order it ;)

Radical (http://www.radicaldesign.nl/en/products/recumbentbags/allfa_top_bags.html) (from Holland) - Christmas present from my wife - but I had to order it ;)

How did you pay, it's in Euro's.

Thanks for the info so far!

I was wondering: some say climbing is slower in a bent. Is there any other reason for this beyond the inability to stand? I never stand on my DF, except when extreme acceleration is desired. Since I carry a load, I always spin slowly up big hills. How is a bent any different in that case?

How did you pay, it's in Euro's.with my Visa card - it all gets sorted out by PayPal (or Visa) - but suggest you check the exchange rate and postage first ;)

Thanks for the info so far!

I was wondering: some say climbing is slower in a bent. Is there any other reason for this beyond the inability to stand? I never stand on my DF, except when extreme acceleration is desired. Since I carry a load, I always spin slowly up big hills. How is a bent any different in that case?

Well, they do weigh more than a DF, so that slows you down. I have found that bents seem to encourgae mashing when you first ride them. You can generate a lot of power on a bent by bracing against the back of your seat, sort of like a wieght machine. This is hard on the knees though. Lastly, I have found bents a little less stabel at low speeds than a DF, which can make going up na really steep hill more wobbly.

Thanks for the info so far!

I was wondering: some say climbing is slower in a bent. Is there any other reason for this beyond the inability to stand? I never stand on my DF, except when extreme acceleration is desired. Since I carry a load, I always spin slowly up big hills. How is a bent any different in that case?


Seat position seems to have a lot to do with it too. The more upright the more torque you seem to get. The key is finding a happy medium between good climbing and aerodynamic.

Happiness is passing the guy who made a comment about slow recumbents on a hill climb.

Since you already are used to taking a load up big hills and spinning appropriately to get there, you shouldn't really have an issue. Take advantage of your speed down the hill and use your gears appropriately up the other side. Cake!

Thanks for the info so far!

I was wondering: some say climbing is slower in a bent. Is there any other reason for this beyond the inability to stand? I never stand on my DF, except when extreme acceleration is desired. Since I carry a load, I always spin slowly up big hills. How is a bent any different in that case?

I haven't posted much lately, but this thread brought me out of the woodwork.

Nothing much to add other than - Pete's got a recumbent?! Cool!

I've been commuting on mine (Bacchetta Giro26) for a few months now, and I've pretty much got the handling sussed. Mind you, I didn't hold back in trying it out. Took it lane-splitting on the first day. :) Have fun with your new ride, Pete.

I've been commuting on mine (Bacchetta Giro26) for a few months now, and I've pretty much got the handling sussed. Mind you, I didn't hold back in trying it out. Took it lane-splitting on the first day. :) Have fun with your new ride, Pete.
Thanks, Allister. I saw a pic of your Giro, made me jealous. :D

Got my Actionbent Jetstream II USS a few days ago. I wrote Dchiefransom (sometimes I wish I remembered people's real names!) about it, so here's what I said to him about my experience so far. I hope you don't mind my posting it here for those who have questions about this particular bent.


Well, since I wrote you I got my Actionbent Jetstream II USS delivered by UPS. I had one snag assembling it: the derailleur wouldn't screw into the frame. So my LBS man did it for me in a couple of minutes. I did the rest myself. I'm no bike mechanic, but over the years I've tinkered with a few older bikes and picked up enough to get the job done. Now that it's done, it seems quite simple.

I really like this bike. I like the way this bent shifts (could be all bents have this characteristic.) Because the chain is so long, it doesn't matter which chainring I'm on, I can use all my rear gears on every chainring. On my Trek 1200 triple chainring, the short chain length put an extreme angle on the chain when using high/low or low/high front-rear ratios. The only thing that holds me back now when I shift is when I need more range, or different stepping. I absolutely love that aspect of this bike--I can use all the gears.

One thing is a negative about the design of this bike, but it won't affect me much. It's the telescopic boom that adjusts for the leg length of the rider. Other bents slide the seat to adjust for that. No problem when riding, but if I want to adjust for another rider, forget it--that involves readjusting the front derailleur cable, too much of a pain. Oh, well, I'll be the only one riding it!

But hey, man, I really do love this bike! Suprisingly stable and maneuverable, even at low speeds. Even the under seat steering is more than sufficient for making u-turns, but I do have to cock my foot (or stop pedaling) to make a sharp turn, else I'll clip the front wheel with my heel.

This bike takes the hills in stride, like it was born for them. No, I'm not charging up hills (my legs are still adjusting anyway,) but I can eat any hill my 10-speed Motobecane could swallow. I sort of wish the large chainring had more teeth, I'd like maybe 52 on the front, but 48 is really enough--who needs to go that fast?

Some things about the bike are improved over earlier reports I'd heard. The seat angle adjustment is no longer quick-release, which needed extra tightening to prevent slippage over big bumps/shocks, but now it uses a telescopic stem like an upright bike, except that it has two bolts instead of one. Also, I'd heard the triple chainring was not adjustable, that is, it was a solid piece, so that if you wanted to change one chainring, you had to change them all. Not so, you can replace individual chainrings (maybe I'll cannibalize my Trek for it's 52-tooth chainring, but maybe I'll buy it at the LBS so it won't have any pre-wear.)

Dchiefransom, it don't look like I'll be riding my DF much anymore. I'll keep everyone updated as I wear this bike out!

:D

Pete

EDIT: Now that I think about it, adjusting the telescopic boom might not need derailleur adustments! Probably a brain spasm on my part! :eek: