Article about bents in BICYCLING magazine

[Mars]

Devoted several pages to recumbents. However, they sure didn't do us any favors. They made us seem like a bunch of goofballs, in my opinion. The pictures of recumbent riders were quite the contrast to those that you see of people riding their roadies. The roadie riders are always buff, in the latest cycling fashions, and looking fast and cool. In the bent article, the pictures were of middle aged folks in plaid shirts and rubber duck squeaky horns on the handelbars. I realize that a lot of middle aged people ride bents, and that's fine to have pics of them. But where was the picture of a high or low racer with an athletic person riding it?

The article had some nice things to say about bents, but also talked about bent "conspiracy theories" and "FOGs".

[World Tour]

Posing roadies are annoying IMO. Give me a bent any day. AT least we won't have numb crotches, maybe our women will be grateful for that hehehe.

[blknwhtfoto]

Woah Woah Woah there Mars, first what specifically is wrong with a rubber ducky horn?! I actually don't have one, but the toy plane+air horn have the same effect. LOL, just(kinda) joking. I am in no way middleaged or athletic(20 yrs old) and a recovering semi-fat person. But, I am glad that they're at least putting them in their damn magazine. I am getting a bit faster on my bent now, and I was chasing some fellow on his fancy roadbike today and caught-surpassed him. I feel good about that. lol.

[twahl]

In the magazine world you have to write the article to the audience, and I think this one was right on target. Bicycling tends to cater to roadies in a big way. The article was written from a roadie perspective, and from that perspective it put (I thought) a very positive light on recumbents. I enjoyed it and I think my wife, the bent pilot in the house, enjoyed it as well, although she said the author was a wuss.

[linux_author]

In the magazine world you have to write the article to the audience, and I think this one was right on target. Bicycling tends to cater to roadies in a big way.

- dunno about this... if one gauges readership by Bicycling's advertising, the magazine would seem to appeal to automobile-driving 40-somethings suffering from sexual dysfunction...

:-)

[blknwhtfoto]

Hahahaha, thats funny linux. I think you're right, cause who else can afford a new pair of Sidi shoes and a fully carbon bike?

[Olebiker]

To paraphrase Robert Burns:
"Oh what power the gift could give us
To see ourselves as others see us"

[megaman]

The roadie riders are always buff, in the latest cycling fashions, and looking fast and cool. In the bent article, the pictures were of middle aged folks in plaid shirts and rubber duck squeaky horns on the handelbars. I realize that a lot of middle aged people ride bents, and that's fine to have pics of them.


I think us bent riders have a tendency to be more laid back about our attitude and wear. Roadies need to look buff cause that's the only thing they've got going for them ;) Let them have the style, I'll take the comfort any day.

[Gus Riley]

Heck I read it and enjoyed it. It convinced me that I need to give 'bents a try.

[mobilemail]

Years ago I enjoyed Bicycling, but I think it has been refocused toward the cappucino jockeys who ride their bikes during focus group outings on their lunch breaks. Don't get me wrong, I like cappucino, and wouldn't mind cycling on my lunch break. But I miss articles about people who tour in faraway places, and the ones who become role models just because they have made cycling a successful part of their own lives, without having to trade in their job or family to do so. And I miss the somewhat unsung heroes we used to read about, Like Lon Haldemon and the Great American Bicycle Race (now full-blown RAAM). If anyone knows of a bicycling magazine that is more focused toward these kinds of articles, let me know.

[djwid]

I read the article yesterday. The day before that a co-worker was talking about 'bents and trikes and I was looking for material to research them. I was suprised by the coincidence that bicycling actually had an article on 'bents at all. I read the article in Borders. It wasn't enough for me to buy the magizine.

OTOH, I am very interested in 'bents and trikes now. I will have one before the end of the year.
-Djwid

[nedgoudy]

I think us bent riders have a tendency to be more laid back about our attitude and wear. Roadies need to look buff cause that's the only thing they've got going for them ;) Let them have the style, I'll take the comfort any day.

I can hear that! I just got back from a
30 miler myself and passed a 30-40
something couple both of whom were
on road bikes and decked out in their
penis pinching gear and little brightly
colored hats. I actually felt sorry for
em. Apparently they thought they
had to wear the duds to join the club
or something. Me, I was in a pair of
denim shorts, worn out tennis shoes
and a T-shirt and an old Dodger's
baseball cap.

I also blew by a couple of Cross Bikes
and a mountain biker today and I ain't
fast I tell ya... But, as a former fat boy
I am glad to be trim and fit and healthy
enough to ride as far as I want on a nice
day.

And no, I don't have any ducky horn
on my recumbent. But I might get an
Aoooogah horn for my Rhoades Car when
I take deliver the first week in August.

That, or more likely an AIR HORN to
let the donkey's know when they are
getting on my nerves.

55 and still alive, and riding stronger
than ever! And I ain't no athelete.

[Mars]

You know, I have nothing against people with funny toy horns on their bikes, or plaid shirts, or knee socks, or conspiracy theories. But their must have been hundreds of people at that recumbent rally and they chose pictures that reinforced a certain pre-conception of what it means to be a recumbent owner/rider. And that is these bikes are uncool and the people who ride them are uncool as well.

If you go to any large group of cyclists - at a charity ride for example, you will see plenty of people who do not dress or act in typical cool cyclist mode. And that is fine, of course, but you wouldn't see all the BICYCLING photos focusing of them. Instead, they would be looking for athletic, good looking people to promote the cycling lifestyle and make biking appear hip and healthy. Their editorial choices, both textual and visual, show an attitude, IMHO, that is patently condenscending and hostile to our type of bicycle.

[iowarose]

Well, I'm a DF rider, but while I did see some DF bias in the article, on the whole I thought it was a very positive portrayal of recumbent riders. There was a lot of emphasis on how much 'bent riders were enjoying themselves.

And any cyclist who has done any sort of riding beyond racing will have seen plenty of DF riders with rubber-ducky horns on their handlebars, etc. I ride with people who use cycles of every sort. And one of the fastest, fittest riders where I live rides a recumbent trike.

[ken cummings]

And I miss the somewhat unsung heroes we used to read about, Like Lon Haldemon and the Great American Bicycle Race (now full-blown RAAM). If anyone knows of a bicycling magazine that is more focused toward these kinds of articles, let me know.

You could join the UMCA and get their magazine. Lot of new things going on this year. Or just subscribe.

[Grampy™]

I ride 'em just to piss off guys like Olebiker...... :D

[tom porter]

I finally got to the local library to read the article, I haven't thought of buying this repetitive diatribe mag in many many years. I have been attending the Stevens Point rally since its inception and was a bit surprised when I talked to someone sat AM that they were going to write an article about recumbents. They used to cover the IHPVA championships in the early 80's, they even had a photo of Eric Heiden riding a tandem with hand and foot power as the stoker. This must have been the days of the open mided regime at this mag as they have had almost nothing to say since then. I was not surprised that the article turned out the way it did, I think at least they could have shown a photo of the NoCom that was there to balance out there nerdathon that the rest of article was. I am not amused or surprised. How do you tell a fast recumbent rider? They don't have beards.

[Olebiker]

I ride 'em just to piss off guys like Olebiker...... :D

Olebiker loves 'bents and would own one if he had the disposable income. I love riding with 'bent riders. What I don't love is the "us vs. them" attitude of 'bent riders.

[markw]

I think that stems from being banned from races by sanctioning bodies. I've got a friend who does crits on a Bacchetta recumbent, he was a Cat 2 before a back injury sidelined him. After a couple years he decided to try bents. He's now on a CF Aero, and his crit reports are halarious. He's the crazy guy on the recumbent that goes off the front and usually stays there. If that was a USCF event he wouldn't be able to ride. So quite a few recumbent guys go for TT's and such where they allow us. For example, I'll be in Iowa later this month, there's a 5k TT and road race event happening when I'm there. I'm welcome to do the TT, but not the road race. :( I mix it up in pacelines all the time on the bent, and most DF guys don't have issues with highracers. It all goes back to the 1933 ban. UCI is known for banning technology, and USCF follows suit. They don't just ban recumbents, but they also ban stuff like Trek Y-Foils, and Obre's bikes, they also ban bikes that are too light. If they stuck to 2 wheels, human powered, you'd see bents on the flat stages of the TdF, and silly light climbing DF's in the mountains. :) Recumbents wouldn't be so darn expensive either since there'd be larger numbers.

[MaxBender]

What do you expect from a magazine that tells you to "Toss that training plan..." and drop $3,000+ as the easiest way to go a little faster?

[FarHorizon]

Anybody that thinks that "Bicycling" magazine is neutral about anything is grossly naive. The magazine revealed its true colors when it did an article about illegal immigrants who ride junk bicycles and said that we all have a "responsibility" toward that cycling community.

Bicycling is a mouthpiece for the editorial stance of Rodale Press - period. Rodale doesn't care one way or the other about recumbent bikes or their riders, and that is what I got from their article. Rodale's target audience is wealthy, lazy, liberal, and very focused on giving the appearance of being socially and environmentally aware and active.

Don't take this as blunt criticism, heck - I match a few of those tags myself, but I'm definitely not Bicycling's target audience (despite the fact that I currently have a subscription). Vote with your pocketbook - Don't like Bicycling? - Don't subscribe.

[imabeliever1]

Hate to souund lame, but I've checked the news stand at a couple of places and they didn't have a copy of Bicycling. What is the issue month with the recumbent article.

Thanks

[Dr.Deltron]

Olebiker loves 'bents and would own one if he had the disposable income. I love riding with 'bent riders. What I don't love is the "us vs. them" attitude of 'bent riders.

Maybe you could "dispose" of the DF and put that "income" towards a 'bent. I bought my first 'bent, a Challenge Hurricane used for $600. Last year I got a used Greenspeed GTX from the LBS bulletin board for $2,000.
Before that I scored a Tour Easy with fairing for $800.

As for any "us v. them", I just smile. I wave at all cyclists that pass by and am amused by the spandex covered carbon riding roadies that won't even acknowlege my salutation. S**t, my trike new would cost more than their DF's by at least a grand or two! (unless they got their bike used too) So I still smile & wave, knowing they think I am one "THOSE" riders. Maybe their proctologist can tell them what I already know.:rolleyes:

OK, I admit I still ride my DF bikes. But only when I don't want to talk to everybody!:D

[Olebiker]

Maybe you could "dispose" of the DF and put that "income" towards a 'bent. I bought my first 'bent, a Challenge Hurricane used for $600. Last year I got a used Greenspeed GTX from the LBS bulletin board for $2,000.
Before that I scored a Tour Easy with fairing for $800.

As for any "us v. them", I just smile. I wave at all cyclists that pass by and am amused by the spandex covered carbon riding roadies that won't even acknowlege my salutation. S**t, my trike new would cost more than their DF's by at least a grand or two! (unless they got their bike used too) So I still smile & wave, knowing they think I am one "THOSE" riders. Maybe their proctologist can tell them what I already know.:rolleyes:

OK, I admit I still ride my DF bikes. But only when I don't want to talk to everybody!:D

Oh, you're riding a trike.... My friend had to sell his Harley and get a Gold Wing trike when his vertigo got so bad that he dropped his Ultra Classic on his leg and broke it.

Shoot, Doc, other roadies don't wave or talk to me either, but I don't take it personally. I just figure that they have good sense or good taste.

Do you really have trouble with your hind end when riding a DF bike? I've just never experienced that. At least not since I quit trying to use a leather saddle.

[Dr.Deltron]

Oh, you're riding a trike....

Yes, trikes are the way to go when the cargo is 3&5 year olds! Also, I only have to clip-in at the beginning & end of my ride, not at every stop sign/light.

Shoot, Doc, other roadies don't wave or talk to me either, but I don't take it personally. I just figure that they have good sense or good taste.

I grew up in the '60's and I was always intrigued by the fact that every Volkswagen driver waved at every other Volkswagen driver. Motorcyclists still do that. Are not all cyclists brothers at that level?
I have a fine old Campy equipped road bike that has upright bars. If I ride with my elbows on the grips and my hands out front, all aero lookin an chit, alll other roadies wave back when I wave. If I ride with my hands on the grips, NO roadies wave back. Whadupwitdat?

Do you really have trouble with your hind end when riding a DF bike? I've just never experienced that. At least not since I quit trying to use a leather saddle.
Only on rides of an hour or more, and NOT on my Colnago. Ernesto has an Ideale leather saddle. It DID hurt for the first 6-8 months. Now it fits like a glove. Granted, NOW is some 25 years later. Love that saddle. Also helps in any case to Vaseline the chamois. Initially grooooss, butt effective! (and of course, DON'T wear underwear with cycling shorts! especially with a leather saddle!!!)

Still not convinced about the joys of a trike? Come by anytime and test ride one, single or tandem.

And next time another cyclist waves at you, show your good taste/sense and DON'T wave back!
It'll keep me amused!!! See ya out there!:)

[BlazingPedals]

I attended the rally a few years ago. Yes, I saw people wearing cutoffs and T-shirts, but as with any large group the attire runs the gamut. Since the Buycycling crowd is into looks, having the author concentrate on the casual attire of some bent riders only reinforced to the readership that bent riders were a bunch of weirdo hippy freaks (or some other undesireable epitath.) I see the reverse situation here, with some people feeling particularly virtuous because they *don't* wear cycling-specific clothing. Whatever! That crowd exists in the DF world too, believe it or not!

[Olebiker]

Still not convinced about the joys of a trike? Come by anytime and test ride one, single or tandem.


I rode a little with Larry Varney (what a nice guy) on the Old Kentucky Home Tour a few years ago. I believe he was riding a Cattrike and seemed to be having an awfully good time. I am thinking that a trike is the only way I am ever going to get my wife back on a bike of any sort.

[magellan]

Say what you will about the article, as a former road biker and current mountain biker it has gotten me to take a very serious look at the "bent world".

[bentrox!]

I perused the article briefly at the local Borders Books and had to check the cover to make sure I hadn't accidently picked up an issue of Rolling Stone.

[bentrox!]

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[bentrox!]

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[bentrox!]

deleted.. duplicate posts.. not sure why this is happening.. sorry!

[Magilla Gorilla]

I attended the rally a few years ago. Yes, I saw people wearing cutoffs and T-shirts, but as with any large group the attire runs the gamut. Since the Buycycling crowd is into looks, having the author concentrate on the casual attire of some bent riders only reinforced to the readership that bent riders were a bunch of weirdo hippy freaks (or some other undesireable epitath.) I see the reverse situation here, with some people feeling particularly virtuous because they *don't* wear cycling-specific clothing. Whatever! That crowd exists in the DF world too, believe it or not!

Right on John.

Very well said. I think that the whole point of this article was to make fun of 'bent riders.
So what! Like you said there are plenty of DF folks that don't buy into the BuyCycling culture. They used to call them I believe Retro Groutches.
Now it looks like 'bent riders are the new wierdo's on the scean.
I would invite you to check out the Single speed phnomonom that is happining all over America amoung the young. No money for Buycycling culture and machines.
I guess high end recumbents that I ride would qualify.....
Bicycling Mag is a rag worthy of the outhouse....

MG

[sbhikes]

I did not think the article was so terribly negative. It really seemed to reinforce what I have noticed among bent riders which is that they simply like to have a good time and don't care too much about all the rest of it.

And of course they don't get all dressed up like DF riders. Those cycling togs for racers are padded up and have pockets on the back of your shirt and all kinds of specially designed stuff that doesn't quite work on a recumbent. They aren't made for recumbent riding so you wear what works instead.

And about that rubber ducky, you don't even know the story behind it so why are you so judgmental? I went to BROL last year. Lugged my bike from California to New York which I thought was a long way. When I arrived, a man from Australia had lugged a little stuffed kangaroo for me all the way from Oz. Now that's a long way to come! So naturally I put the 'roo on my bike.

The recumbent rallies are a bunch of people who sometimes know each other virtually, sometimes meeting for the first time, sometimes coming from far and wide. It's not a fashion show or a contest. It's a chance to make friends and have a good time and see bikes all in one place that you never can see all in one place any other way.

Besides, if you had read an article about recumbent riders gathered at a rally and all the people there were model-perfect, dressed in only the finest bicycle haute couture and standing around talking about weight weenie stuff would you have believed one single word of it?

[bobkat]

I tend to agree with most everybody both on the article in Bicycling magazine, and the magazine itself. I subscribed to it as the kid next door was selling subscriptions to benfit the school, but after a few issues I realize that it really does cater to the glitzy carbon fiber type roadies and mountain bikers and also has literally every second page as an advertisement for some expensive bike or gadget. Don't think I'll subscribe next year. Not much to that magazine. I do subscribe to all the bent magazines!

[blknwhtfoto]

What bent magazines are there?

[CruiserBob]

Sorry for this self promotion (I publish RCN), but here is the list of recumbent magazines

Recumbent Cyclist News (RCN) - - published since 1990 (print)
http://www.recumbentcyclistnews.com
http://recumbentcyclist.blogspot.com

Recumbent and Tandem Rider (print)
http://www.rtrmag.com/

Velo Vision (print)
http://www.velovision.co.uk/

Bentrideronline.com (Internet)
http://www.bentrideronline.com

[bobkat]

Sorry - I was away on rides and didn't get to repley till now.
RCN is excellent! Love it! - great reviews and advice on stuff. Their website is great, too.

Bentrideronline is good, too. Lots of discussion and good information

ERRC (Easy Rider's ???? Recument club???) That's an excellent magazine too! Lots of news reports about recumbent happenings, reviews of bikes, and lots of "miniarticles" reports and opinions by readers. Chock full of interesting stuff and info. ERRC Magazine PO Box 1688 North Plains, Or 97133-1688
or ERRCMagazine@hotmail.com

I don't know anything about Velovision or Recumbent and Tandem Rider. I'll have to look into these.