I have noticed that recumbents seem to be involved in more bike-on-bike accicents than uprights. For example, the last time I rode in RAGBRAI ...maybe 1 percent were recumbents. A recumbent was involved in 10 of the 20 bike-on-bike crashes I saw, meaning that... 12.5% of the crashed bikes were recumbents.

When 1% of the bikes in an event represent 12.5% of downed cyclists that is cause for discussion.

Hey in investment circles a 12.5% return on 1% is considered a good thing!

I'm joking, of course. Whatever reasons there may be for this statistic, if it holds consistently true in your experience then why on earth would you consider a mode of transport with such an alarming propensity for accidents? Personally I've never seen this rate of mayhem, but I've only been recumbent for four years. Statistics never entered into my decision to go recumbent and it is certainly not something I fret over as I ride among other riders who are on traditional bikes. Then again I've never participated in a 15,000 rider event.

My point is I don't see much to discuss. If you're considering riding a recumbent but are convinced by your own observations that recumbents are more likely to be involved in accidents during mass rides, don't ride your recumbent in mass rides. Do that on a "safer" bike. Simple as that. You can still tour, riding solo or in smaller groups, on your recumbent. Just don't let bean-counting rob you of experiencing the wonders of riding recumbent.

I have noticed that recumbents seem to be involved in more bike-on-bike accicents than uprights. For example, the last time I rode in RAGBRAI (registers annual great bicycle ride across Iowa) I saw probably twenty or so bike-on-bike collisions where the riders were down. A recumbent was involved in at least half of those accidents. I have noticed the same thing in other large event rides (centuries, MS 150, etc).

A little math (based on my admittedly unscientific observations) shows why this is significant-

* of 15000 bicycles in RAGBRAI maybe 1 percent were recumbents. Maybe even less.

* A recumbent was involved in 10 of the 20 bike-on-bike crashes I saw, meaning that 5 of the 40 bicycles were recumbents. That is - 12.5% of the crashed bikes were recumbents.

* When 1% of the bikes in an event represent 12.5% of downed cyclists that is cause for discussion.

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before I started riding one, a bent that is... I used to feel very much ill will toward the bents, because when meeting them on the bike path, they seemed very piggish about wanting the whole path, couple of times I have gone off the path to avoid a crash. and wondered on group rides why they are so determined to take the whole lane and make cars wait untill they can get around us. now that I have one I understand, they can't ride in a predictable straight line! like in they are wobbily! no really I'm getting very good at taking off in a straight line, and staying on the white line on my commute, which I share with logging trucks on a hilly road. Ive got a swb and have only ridden a couple of hundred miles, but am very pleased that I can now do a u turn in one traffic lane, and ride with some confidence on that two inches left of the white line! I really should ride my old bike commuting, but I just enjoy the bent so much I can't stay off it! this morning I attached my head lite to my helmet can't wait to see how that works tonight!

when meeting them on the bike path, they seemed very piggish about wanting the whole path, couple of times I have gone off the path to avoid a crash. and wondered on group rides why they are so determined to take the whole lane and make cars wait untill they can get around us. now that I have one I understand, they can't ride in a predictable straight line! like in they are wobbily! no really I'm getting very good at taking off in a straight line, and staying on the white line on my commute, which I share with logging trucks on a hilly road. Ive got a swb and have only ridden a couple of hundred miles, but am very pleased that I can now do a u turn in one traffic lane, and ride with some confidence on that two inches left of the white line! I really should ride my old bike commuting, but I just enjoy the bent so much I can't stay off it!

Interesting. So one of my guesses was possibly correct. The high recumbent crash rate I saw on RAGBRAI may have been new bent riders who just didn't practice enough before showing up for a 15000 bike group ride. When I get my new bent I will keep that in mind before I go on any big rides.

In many circles, cycling is seen as a sport or as entertainment. Depending on who you talk to, cyclist must have a racing bike with "appropriate" clothing, or they must be mountain bikers, or using comfort bikes, etc. I suspect your wife likes to fit in the group and even to hide in it (whatever type of cyclists she prefers), and at best, she seems like a casual cyclist. Around here, we might call her a groupie.

When you ride your recumbrent, you don't fit in perfectly in her group. You don't have the "proper" bike, probably not the "proper" clothing, and you don't look like an occasional cyclist, because you had to train (even modestly) to be able to ride on your recumbrent.

P.S. Continue to use your recumbrent !


I noticed this as well. To me if you ride often, your a cyclist. Often isn't "Oh I go t to X, once a month", it's more like "nice, I just hit X thousand miles this year". I know guys who only ride beach cruisers...and some of them are reasonably fast on them, especially on climbs.

As far as recumbents...I think they are cool, but I would be afraid to ride on in commuter traffic, they are so low to the ground I would be worried about some guy in a lad yacht of an SUV not seeing me.

As far as recumbents...I think they are cool, but I would be afraid to ride on in commuter traffic, they are so low to the ground I would be worried about some guy in a lad yacht of an SUV not seeing me.

Eye level on my v-rex is above eye level on my wife's Cutlass. But then SHE worries about big SUVs, too. Just goes to show, size is always relative. If they can see the lane lines, they can see you.

good point. Are there online case studies between conventional and recumbent commuting, and how the drivers react I could look at? I dunno, I guess the idea is so alien to me that it's hard for me to get my head out of my butt :)

It does look super comfy though, and far more aero. How's the turning radius, and how well does it deal with speedbumps (just wondering since I use my bike for everything, so I'm trying to get a mental picture of good vs bad)?

How's the turning radius, and how well does it deal with speedbumps (just wondering since I use my bike for everything, so I'm trying to get a mental picture of good vs bad)?

I can't speak for all bents. My V-Rex is set up as a recreational bike, but it could take fenders, and with my fairing on it and the seat pad covered, it would do very well in wet. Turning radius is similar to an upright (except that the pedal boom hangs out beyond the front wheel's arc.) I have to slow more for speedbumps - going airborne on a bent would be a new and not necessarily pleasurable experience. Although knobby tires are readily available in 20" and 26" sizes, the inability to use body english is a liability in snow and ice.

Another downside to bent commuting is that they take a bit more space to park. My parking space is my office, which can make things a bit crowded.

good point. Are there online case studies between conventional and recumbent commuting, and how the drivers react I could look at? I dunno, I guess the idea is so alien to me that it's hard for me to get my head out of my butt :)

It does look super comfy though, and far more aero. How's the turning radius, and how well does it deal with speedbumps (just wondering since I use my bike for everything, so I'm trying to get a mental picture of good vs bad)?
I didn't plan on my new v-rex being my everthing bike but it is going to be that. turning radius, like I was bragging I can do a u-turn in one traffic lane! got fenders, cause ride in lots of rain, don't think I would ride it in the snow or ice, my only problem is have a quarter mile of gravel hill on my way home that when the rocks are loose I'm going to have to walk my bent up, god I hate walking a bike, can ride my df up it but barely, other than that its sad that I have so many bikes and I doubt I'll ride em any more. cept the mt bike.