Recumbent - I think I'm going back to regular bike

Maybe my ~250 miles isn't enough to appreciate bents, but the back seems to have recovered and I've done a few workout rides on my old bikes and like it.
(1) The bent seems almost too comfortable. Only my legs seemed to be engaged in any work at all. The rest of me wants to be reaching for the remote or looking for the recliner lever. I feel like I could let my belly get very large and still ride this thing. I don't want that. I want to have to be in shape.
(2) Starts are more difficult. I would unlikely consider a bent for commuting in traffic. I like being able to hop on and accelerate quickly through an intersection. I don't think I could weave tightly through car traffic on a bent like I could on a bike (not that I plan to).
(3) I don't feel anywhere near as "sturdy". On a regular bike I can jump curbs and hop obstacles if I need to. On a bent I have to slam into unavoidable stuff like holes or curbs.

I guess overall I feel less immersed in the activity on a bent. My evening cruises around the neighborhood are a little too lazyboy'ish. I guess maybe I'm not a bent person.

I think I see the problem. Based on your picture, you didn't grow the beard. Without the beard to balance you out, the bent will naturally handle funny.

well, I know how hard it is to avoid those potholes - after all, they chase you down and stuff and they're so hard to see with the naturally camoflaged fur and everything! And it does suck to be comfortable when you ride.

Bents aren't for everybody -you just found out the hard way. Enjoy your shiny new DF!

dbg - I have owned both bents and DF bikes. The pendulum is swinging back towards bents for me as I cannot ride more than 100-140kms on a DF bike and I have long distance aspirations. I am totally open minded towards either kind of bike. For commuting and general city riding I prefer a DF bike. I like having my head at the front of the bike and higher up so I can see around corners and over cars. I also like being able to get out of the saddle and sprint when needed. Having said all this I could make a bent work for city riding if I couldn't ride a DF bike.

Riding a bent is a totally different asthetic experience than a DF bike so I can see why you don't feel as "into" it.

Bottomline is ride whatever makes you happy. It really doesn't really matter either way.

One thing just came to mind - what kind of bent are you riding? If you want to have a more road bike like experience maybe consider a Bacchetta or Volae high racer?

http://www.bacchettabikes.com/buzz/articles/article001.htm

http://www.bacchettabikes.com/buzz/articles/article002.htm

Just a thought.

Try a nice hard ride on a 'regular' bike before you pull out your wallet.

Then get back on the bent, and you will know...

well, I know how hard it is to avoid those potholes - after all, they chase you down and stuff and they're so hard to see with the naturally camoflaged fur and everything! And it does suck to be comfortable when you ride.

Bents aren't for everybody -you just found out the hard way. Enjoy your shiny new DF!

But how could I ever give up reading this forum group. You guys are the best.

Keep in mind you CAN have both! I love training on my upright, so long as it's less than 40 miles. After that it becomes a chore and you'd never find me doing a century on an upright, ever. If I want that kind of feeling I'll go to prison for a couple days. :p


But how could I ever give up reading this forum group. You guys are the best.

Keep in mind you CAN have both! I love training on my upright, so long as it's less than 40 miles. After that it becomes a chore and you'd never find me doing a century on an upright, ever. If I want that kind of feeling I'll go to prison for a couple days. :p
I agree. I use my upright for heavy traffic, utility cycling, etc and my bent when riding for fun. No reason to not have the best of both worlds.

Some bents definately don't lend themselves to urban cycling, but my p-38 certainly does. It's as versatile as any upright, provided you don't curb-hop, and not once in my years of riding has it ever been necessary. I'm still much faster than a roadbike, yet high enough that I integrate well with traffic. My eye level is usually exactly that to someone in a car, and I can haul 50 pounds in my rear panniers no problem. Honestly, I wouldn't have any qualms about riding my baron in traffic either, but it's more work in stop-and-go traffic.


I agree. I use my upright for heavy traffic, utility cycling, etc and my bent when riding for fun. No reason to not have the best of both worlds.

As several here have observed, you need not limit your bike choices to recumbent or DF. Myself I have my Stumpie FSR for the trails, my Bianchi Pista for my shorter training rides and my Baron for the long, fast rides.