Recumbent - any recumbent health hazads

Hi,

I am consideing getting a recumbent. Since I am young, 22, I am worried about any long term health problems associated. Does anyone know of any?

Everit

None I know of, same for standard bikes. Just keep in mind if something hurts, dont do it.

I have been told that a recumbent might not be the best idea if you have glaucoma.But this probably wont effect you.
Having said that the only bad heath effects of riding a recumbent is being attacked when riding one.If you live in a city like Birmingham where there are a lot of idiots you can get a lot of hassle.
I cant get the vision out of my mind,wheni got of a train,and there in front of me was a man just getting into his windcheater.He seen me coming toward him i only wanted to talk,because i also ride a recumbent,but you see the look on his face.Oh no not another barrage of stupid questions.
But if you can ride one in a area where people have some sort of brain you will have a lot of fun on a recumbent.They are the closest thing to flying.

As I write this I am sitting up in bed recovering from breaking my leg and the surgery that followed.

The weekend before last I took my new recumbent bike out for my third ride on it. (I have been riding mountain bikes and road bikes for about 4 years.) It had been raining for the previous 3 days, and the rain finally broke. I checked the radar on the weather channel and figured I had a good two hours to ride before it rained again.

I was riding a familiar paved bike path. In a curve that I have ridden many times the bike started to slip from underneath me. But I recovered without crashing. I wondered at the time whether or not it was because the ground was wet or if the EZ-1 SC Lite was not as stable as the other bikes I have ridden. I decided to be careful and continue on my route.

I was heading down the path, and it was straight, when I hit a bump in the road that caused my water bottles to jump out of their cages. I quickly hit both brakes and that is when I lost control of the bike. I was probably going about 14 mph when I attempted to brake. I pulled out of my clipless pedals and went down on my left side. I tried to stop my fall with my left foot, which got pulled underneath me and I landed on top of it.

At first I thought I had sprained it. But when I pulled it out from underneath me I could see that it was pointed in the wrong direction and that it was at least dislocated. Fortunately, I had my cell phone with me. I always carry it with me when I am on my bike, especially when I am going to be riding alone.

I have run the whole thing through my head over and over, trying to decide if the same thing would have happened if I had been on one of my other bikes. I just don’t know. I’m wondering if there are special safety consideration that have to be taken into account when riding a recumbent?

I wonder if the long wheel base recumbents are stable?
I wonder if I should have had some special training to handle crashes better?
I wonder if the same thing would have happened on one of my other bikes?

I’m ready to take a *crash* course in bike safety if there is one. Because I want to keep on riding when the leg heals.

Ride safe….

Wet pavement can be tricky, sounds like you locked up the front wheel and the tire washed out on you. Sounds like you suffered "leg suck" your leg gets pulled under you when your feet touch the ground, same thing can happen on an upright bike.

I did close to the same thing on a long wheelbase bike. I was riding though an intersection on a group ride, just after it rained. I hit a manhole cover and the front wheel slipped on the steel. I almost lost it, but was able to keep it up. Scared the hell out of me, it was really close.

Two others in the group did go down, one was riding a road bike. When he hit the manhole cover he turned the bars sharply, when the wheel hit pavement it folded and sent him over the bars, and to the emergency room. The other rider on a mountain bike recived road rash when she went down.

Ive never seen or heard of a leg-suck injury on an upright.
Are 3 wheeled designs like the windcheater, much safer than 2 wheeled? You dont suffer from leg-suck on a trike, and your front wheel cant skid out.

Any recommendations on how to handle situations where leg suck is likely? I want to start riding again as soon as the leg heals, but I'd like to have better chances if the same thing happens again. I'm riding a long wheel bass bent (EZ-1 SC Lite).

Thanks,
HypnoBassMan

I've fallen three times in two years on my SWB, each time due to loss of tire control (sand on the path, too steeply banked in turn, etc.)

Try to be aware of road conditions and ride accordingly but if you start to lose control in one of those unpredictable situations, try to focus on steering without death-gripping the bars or trying to stabilize by unclipping. It's hard not to panic when you lose control but it's to your advantage to remain clipped in if your going down at speed. You're not in danger of a clavicle-snapping endo and your fall will be a relatively short, albeit painful, one.

I've torn my clothing, scuffed up the bent, and suffered serious road rash (with a honking-huge hematoma) but that's as bad as it's been for me. No broken bones, yet...

I've seen leg suck, no maybe not leg suck more like foot suck, but is much the same thing. The foot comes off the pedal and is dragged under the bike, most often you end up with road rash on your shoes, unless you ride in sandals. I have also seen riders pulled forward off the seat, onto the top tube and stem and then over the bar. I'm not talking about kids, I've seen semi pro racers crash like this.

If your going to crash, it's going to hurt. Recumbent or upright, on road or off-road crashing sucks. On a bent you are more likely to suffer from leg injury and on an up right your more likely to suffer head injury in a crash.

You can get leg suck on a trike, but it is less likely. On a trike when things get ugly there is no need to put your foot down, your not going to tip over. The tadpole trikes (2 wheels front, one rear) are very stable and you really have to try to get one over, the delta trikes (one wheel front, two rear) are built a little higher and can be dumped.

So now, if I am understanding you right, if I am heading down the road at say 11 mph or faster I am better off keeping my feet in the clipless pedals and getting road rash than a leg in a cast.

And, that I am better off crashing in a recumbent because I am more likely to injure my leg than my head.

Am I catching on?

Now I could look at the bright side - at least the cast in on my leg rather than on my head! :)

Originally posted by hypnobassman
So now, if I am understanding you right, if I am heading down the road at say 11 mph or faster I am better off keeping my feet in the clipless pedals and getting road rash than a leg in a cast.
I'm sure given a choice, you'd of course choose not to crash at all, however, the next time you do lose control before crashing you can decide whether or not clipping out is the better action: road rash with bruising or another fracture(s) of foot/ankle/leg? Life is full of tough choices... ;)

bentrox,

It seems like there is some kind of speed threshold. Something like, if you are going less than 5 mph, then put your feet down. If you are going faster, then keep your feet in the peddals and ride it out.

What do you think?

hypnobassman,

Yes, I think you're right, though I'm not sure what threshold speed that might be - under 5 mph sounds slow enough. If you can put your foot down without it being immediately sucked toward the rear, then your speed is in "safe landing zone."

The hard part is not unclipping at higher speeds in a falling scenario when we're all conditioned to do so from years of riding upright bikes, upon which, as someone mentioned before, leg suck is unheard of.

5 mph sounds about right. So, I've decided that I need to wear long pants to help reduce the possibility of future road rash. Maybe the answer is to wear my chaps :)

If you like to ride in jeans, check out Draggin' Jeans (body armor-lined jeans and jackets.)

http://www.dragginjeans.ca/prodV_armor_univ.html

Thanks for the scoop on the kevlar jeans. I'll check it out.

Back to the original question. One response came pretty close as to potential long term medical issues with a recumbent. It's called "geek factor syndrome." Like anyone who does something out of the norm, people always tend to have a hard time accepting those who march to a different drummer. 'Bent riders are among this category. As such, the "geek factor" is high. For some, the horn honking, shouts from young children of "cool bike," questions about is it hard to ride, where did you get it, did you make it, does it go fast, are taken in normalstride. Others find it to be much like the fellow on the Windcheetah, and they run from all the attention.

If doing something different that is healthy and fun would be likely to cause a problem, don't get a bent! Get a DF bike, and then you can join thousands of others who ride in pain and misery. After all, doesn't "misery love company?"

You have raised a very important point about bent riding.
Yes they comfortable,fast and fun.But when mixed with the public they can have bad effects.
I know i love riding my recumbent,but every time i ride it i get the usuall problems.
This then leads to a real hatred of human nature.
Unfortunatly i suppose evet minority has had to put up with the negative side of human nature at some time.
I get really pissed off .If i was Dave Beckham and rode a recumbent you could bent your life that recumbent sales would go sky high.
Then again if Dave Beckham started eating dog turds the masses would follow
thinking it was the in thing to do.
SEE WHAT I MEAN.If you ride a recumbent get ready to find out the true nature
of the human beast.

I became a new recumbent user and a victim of a 'leg suck' accident just yesterday. I purchaced a used SWB Vision R40. As soon as I got home I took it for a ride through the neighborhood. Within blocks of my house I hit a bump (going maybe 15 mph) and lost both pedals. I don't know if I hit the breaks or not but it seem likely. Either way I was suddenly suprised to find myself catapulted into the air. I tried to roll with it but smacked my shoulder on the pavement hard enough to injure my collar bone. (Not a break but certainly a bad and painful bruse.)

The guy who sold it to me had suggested clipless pedals, now I know why. I am not sure I would ride this thing without clipless after that incident. It occured to me that a long wheel base bike would not have catapulted me but having read the above accounts, I guess being launched from the bike is a lot better than getting my leg mangled.

I have been riding upright bikes for years, worked in bike shops for about 15 of them and tried out any number of bicycle designs including high wheelers (which are perhaps the most dangerous HPV's imaginable) I have had plenty of spills on road and mountain bikes and have even been hit by a car but the sudden and unexpected results of a 'leg suck' incident are not something that I was in any way prepared for. It strikes me that in the litigation oriented environment that we have today, 'leg suck' injuries are a real liability for recumbent bike manufacturers and shops.

None the less I was 'back on the horse' today (with my SPD's installed) and rode about 12 miles. This bike is amazingly comfortable and a real pleasure to ride. However, I could not in good concience recommend a bent bike to anyone without first warning them of the potential dangers of a 'leg suck' accident.

Chris Gizzi

I've heard and read about leg suck. Personally I would prefer leg suck to become sterile and have other healt problems from riding on a narrow saddle and a bent over position! I've had both the front and rear wheels skid out on gravel, fortunately at low speeds. The end result being dumped on my butt, sometimes feet still srapped in to the bike. As I cross intersections and places where gravel driveways enter the street, I give these areas a wide berth. My funniest "wreck" occured at a complete standstill. My feet had a fine layer of grit on them from the sandstone in our driveway. I had mounted up in the paved road at the end of the driveway and prepared to launch. My balance foot slid out from underneath me and with the fine dust on my shoes I couldn't get a purchase on the road. Scramble as I might, I found myself sitting down on the road with a resounding "thump". I wasn't even moving yet! Not hurt but my foot tangled with the idlers and I sheared off a plastic chain keeper.

But there are two very serious side effects that no one has mentioned. The first is this big grin you get on your face. It becomes permanent and distorts you facial features. There is no known cure. The second is the addiction that is stronger than any opiates known to man. You want to ride. You need your fix. You want miles and lots of them. More miles, faster miles. You start propping your feet up when you are in your office chair and holding your hands like they would be on the bars. You get glassy eyed and dream of cruising down scenic roads. This is the point of no return. You are hopelessly hooked on recumbents. Something I'm not sure that a trip to the Betty Ford clinic could cure! Now, go get your 'bent and ride it!

'bent Brian

Geez Brian, you're not making this any easier... Here I am lurking in the back trying to find reasons why I should not get 'bent!!! ;)

Get a tadpole trike then slippery conditions just become time for fun, get clipless pedals or at least clip pedals you only have to put your feet down to get off, so if they jam who cares? ( ever had your foot jammed in the pedals when you want to stop on a 2 wheeler, not fun ) and their braking is phenomonal.

Leg suck, crashes, getting hit by a car, insulted by drivers, can and do happen with much more frequency on a DF bike than a recumbent. Now, before someone brings up the fact there are tons more DF bikes on the road than recumbents, take the time to investigate the seriousness of the ijuries and the relativity. In fact, I would go on to say that far more have met their end on a DF bike than a recumbent, no matter how you manipulate the numbers!

Anyone looking for an excuse NOT to do something will find it! The same goes for someone looking for the "glass half full!" It's difficult to say how many bent riders there are today, but it's a pretty safe bet there are darn few switching back to a DF bike or any other save a recumbent trike!

If it's too expensive for your pocket, make your own. If you're not mechanically inclined, buy a kit and have someone help you put it together. If you don't want to ride city streets, then find places or trails where the traffic is minimal. If you are determined to do it, and that is the key, you'll find a way. The opposite also applies.

Best slogan of the last 50 years still says it all. "Just Do It!"

I am consideing getting a recumbent. Since I am young, 22, I am worried about any long term health problems associated. Does anyone know of any?

People will think you had overactive botox surgery due to the unremovable smile from your face.

People will think you had overactive botox surgery due to the unremovable smile from your face.

There is the distinct possibility that you will achieve some measure of fame riding a bent... recently I was attacked in a public meeting because of my cycling passion, they considered it weird that I sometimes use a bike to get around when I am at work but riding my collection of homebuilt bents got me the title of village idiot... Biggest laugh I have had for years.
The more I laughed the louder and faster the stoopid woman ran off at the mouth... Oh man I thought she was going to pop a vein :D

Now let's see.... Would that make you famous or infamous... Probably both! He, He.

'bent Brian

I also broke my left leg on my new Linear recumbent. The left leg went under the recumbent at about five miles per hour while i was doing a u turn. The bike started to go over because my speed was down to 5 mph. . When i extended the left foot , and during the u turn, ,to hold the bike from falling, it twisted under the frame and i heard the fibula snap.

Then i was laying in the road, and it happened so quick at a very low speed. Years for riding since 1948, and falling off motorcycles and bicycles and never a broken bone. It appears that a complete stop on a recumbent before putting a leg down would have prevented a broken leg.

When the cast comes off i guess it will be back to my road bike, or beach bike. They do not suck your leg under the frame during a turn!

My wife and I ride trikes--WW. One of the real pleasures is the freedom from the concerns that are specific to two-wheelers. Balance, ruts, debris, sand, water, ice, sudden flats, and so on are all non-issues. You don't even unclip when you stop--unless you feel like it. You can literally follow people at a walking, make that strolling, pace while sipping your lemonade if you want. Pretty much the only way to end up on the pavement is to turn it over sideways and that will be the result of careless highspeed cornering.

Try one--you'll like it!

CS

I've been the victim of hatred for an alternative approach to surfing waves. I use surf specific kayaks and let me tell you, I've got some real good stories. However, that hasn't stopped me from doing it and I'm quite good at it. I've been riding a hybrid bike and I'm in the market for a used recumbent. If you're no longer comfortable with yours and want to part with it, send me an email. igodoy@sjm.com.

As far as I am concerned I left my my upright bike, a suspended mountainbike for reasons of health. My health has improved and my physical condition as well as a result of my daily training on a recumbent. I used to have a bad back, but now I feel strong as a horse. So if you want to gain health get yourself a recumbent and stop torturing yourself with an upright bike.

Hello Orbit,
I recognize the reactions of people in your description. All those endless stupid questions and so forth. When I started riding a recumbent two years ago, the frequency of silly questions hostile reactions was very high. I was hit by a plastic bag filled with water and urine and I met laughing idiots everywhere. Now two years later I can see a clear change in attitude: Nowadays the most frequent question is where to buy. People greet me instead of laughing at me. I think this change in attitude is due to increasing knowledge.

The main health problem that I have encountered thus far is addiction to recumbent riding...oh well, could be worse I guess!

The health risks riding a bent are certainly less than on a DF. If you have an accident on a DF you are likely to take a header over the handle bars. That can result in a concussion, double vision [which my wife had after being hit by a car on a DF) or worse yet, a broken neck and possible paralysis. In addition you usually have carpal tunnel problems, back problems, and circulation problems in the pubic regions from extended use of the DF bikes. The real laugh is that DFs are also called "safety bikes" since they were a safer bike than the "penny-farthing" high wheelers that they replaced. If the only major health problem or injury that has been reported with bents is "leg suck" and the resulting broken bones.

I have had only one accident with a bent since I went bent 3 years ago. I was riding a BikeE AT and while riding at around 8-9 mph my front tire caught between a manhole cover and the sidewalk. The bike imediately stopped and I slid forward onto the frame between the seat and the tiller bar. Other than a broken spoke that showed up later neither I nor my bike were injured.

Even with the risk of "leg suck" the true safety bikes are bents!

GO BENT!!!! My leg is healing and I ready to ride again on the recumbent in a few weeks, but I will be more careful!

I am also buying a recumbent tryke for the wife's birthday!! Like I bought the Linear recumbent for her birthday, that she never rode!! Can't have too many bikes!

That's the spirit! Those tadpole trikes really rock. There is a guy in our riding club that has a Catrike Road. It weighs in less than my Tailwind and he flys on that thing. Awesome Machine. Has it equipped with a quad chainring. Now finish healing so you can ride!

'bent Brian

i suppose that if you were on a trike that would nothave happened eh?

odie(***

Safety and Health on a Recumbent.

It took me some time to really get familiar with the different balancing technique on a recumbent. I should say that when my son (14) took over my Rans Stratus, he adjusted much more quickly. I had more frequent and more damaging accidents on an DF than a recumbent, bike and trike.

Healthwise, the only additional health problem (if you can call it so) on a recumbent is that I can ride more often and farther. Things like the normal arthritis in my 59 yr old knees are more likely to make themselves felt. All the the pressure point issues (wrists, shoulders, crotch) are much better on a recumbent. I developed some carpal tunnel issues before started to ride recumbents and my hands would go dead in 5 miles on my Rockhopper.

Now, I ride a Greenspeed trike. It gives me the low-speed-balance and stay-clipped-in advantages that make it a pleasure to ride into the mountains or around town. I just have to be careful about coming out from behind parked cars.

Regards,

Gary

Clipless pedals are needed. Downhill at 45 mph and you foot slips off the pedals... Well, I hope you're not planning on having kids.

Does the chance of leg suck decrease with a hard shell seat instead of a mesh seat? I was thinking, maybe if the leg can slide around to the side, its less likely to break. Any thoughts on that?
John

Clip into the pedals and you will have no leg suck.
My only problem has been recumbutt. I am over it.

The biggest health problem with recumbents is not having one!

I think if I had an accident it would really hurt and I could get really messed up. But somehow I don't think the chances of massive head injuries are quite as great as on a DF.

As for leg suck, I've ridden my bike to work since December. It has platform pedals and I wear regular shoes and I have no trouble keeping my feet on the pedals. Even had some squirrelly moments in patches of sand, but the feet stayed put.

The only long-term health problems I can see is that I guess I use my stomach muscles a little while riding my recumbent. I had abdominal surgery back in October. I still get all swollen in my stomach when I ride.

Other long term health problem: Riding a recumbent is so easy you might not lose very much weight, if any, if that's your goal. Unless you're really fat already, you might find that it's not enough exercise to reduce or even maintain your weight.

I've fallen over twice when I couldn't unclip on time on my Action Bent RR. My seat hight is 22 inches. I looked stupid trying to unclip with the bike on top of me, but no ouch. I know two DF riders who also fell recently due to being clipped in while stopped. One cracked a bone in his elbow, the other broke her wrist.

Hi,
I am consideing getting a recumbent. Since I am young, 22, I am worried about any long term health problems associated. Does anyone know of any?
Everit

The short answer: I do not know of any long term untreatable health problems, having only the internet search and two + years experience upon which to rely. All info is anecdotal. Common problems I have found in both knowledge bases: leg suck, recumbutt, and crotch rash from clothing and perspiration, problems with knee joints, foot pain or "hot foot", and tendon problems. All treatable/preventable to a level of tolerance for most riders including me. These seem to be treatable with proper fit of equipment including frame size, seat position, etc., and shoes, cranks and pedals. Untreated, the problems could become essentially chronic, eg injured tendons in the legs or feet. DF riders have a similar set of problems and solutions (in addition to others).


Following is a little off the thread topic, but may provide additional food for thought from the perspective of a new recumbent rider.

Well, I have been away from this forum for several months. Much of that time, I have been riding my homebuilt Marko Lounger (a modified version of a Tour Easy clone). I had never sat my butt on a two wheeled recumbent prior to this. Built it Nov/Dec 2004. I went directly from many years on a road bike to a tadpole trike approx. two years ago. Recumbents of any kind are rare in my area. I had considered recumbent bikes over the years, but heard mostly disparaging remarks and was convinced that they were an esoteric product that was supported by a cult following. With the aid of the internet, I have become more knowledgeable. It is of benefit that the "recumbent community" is enthusiastic without being bombastic. I read informed opinion and facts and learned that there were several kinds of recumbent bikes and that the lwb probably was the easiest and safest for new recumbent riders.

So, being the DIY kind, (and cheap too), I searched for ideas and info and built my bike just to verify who was correct about the desireability, dangers and benefits. The most enlightening piece of advice came (IIRC) from the Tour Easy www site or was it from the site that has the plans for the clone? It explained the required technique for learning to ride the recumbent for the first time. This advice made all the difference for my first effort. Basically it stated the technique of starting on level surface, in a straight line, with one pedal high, giving a strong push on that pedal, and concentrating one's focus in the far distance as opposed to the near distance area near the bike. I wobbled a bit in the first ten yards distance, but was off on a good start. Problem is this grin. It collects bugs when at speed (possible allergic reaction health hazzard).

So far, I have layed it down once when I hit a patch of mud near a gutter and over corrected to get out of it; leg suck, minor road rash, no serious injury, lesson learned. Recently, made a fast turn at a T junction with a RR crossing at the turn. Should have slowed. Front tire hit the tracks in mid turn and slid, then found traction and repeated the sequence until finally gaining the tarmac. The sudden traction stood me up from the lean and I wobbled to a stop. The front tire was flat from the impact with the RR ties spike heads. No wonder I had difficulty to control the bike. All's well........

This is a long winded way of saying that there is a learning curve when changing from a DF to a recumbent bike. I tend to steer and correct from difficulties as though I was riding a DF bike. Do not do that. Seek to know the technique, do not assume that you know how to ride a bike. I hope you find, as I have, that the reward is worth the effort.

Jim

I have been riding a Rans Stratus for about a year and a half. I currently have 1957 miles on it (plus some not recorded). My impressions are that recumbants, especially long wheelbase (LWB) recumbants, are the safest bicycle on the road. It is stable, has a very ergonomic body and hand position, and provides for very good amounts of exercise. My weight is down from about 220 to about 192 right now (headed further down, I hope). My blood pressure is sitting at 102/68 at my last doctor's visit, and I'm 59 years old.

I have had three spills on my Stratus, and each was at low speed. One was crossing a crosswalk on the light, and hitting the curb slightly off the handicapped ramp; result--a bruised side and ego. The second time was on a bike pathway on a boardwalk, when wet. It was slippery, and I was trying to make a turn; result, dirty pants and bruised ego (I now walk it when wet, and the above seat steering (ASS) give the bike very good handling when being walked). the third time was going around a paved path too fast, and being dumped on the asphalt (~8 mph); result--bruised hip/buttocks and ego. So falling has not been a problem for me.

Right now I have a slight strain of my left, lower, out calf muscle. I went to short pants too soon, while the weather was still cool. I expect that to be gone in another day or so.

Concerning the leg suck, I've heard this from several Linear recumbant riders, and have commented elsewhere here that this may be more specific to the bicycle design (for Linear and maybe a few others) than other designs. But it only occurs when you put your foot down while still moving forward (something that is difficult to impossible to do when on a diamond frame). I've not had this problem on the Rans Stratus, and at one time when John Ben discussed his problem, I tried to get into that position on my Rans Stratus. I found that my frame did not trap my leg well, and it could pass under the seat (but I have pretty flexible knee and ankle joints too, from swimming and diving).

I have prevented several accidents by being able to see the driver at eye height, and determine that the driver had not seen me when turning in front of me.

So overall, I feel that the LWB recumbant is a much, much safer bicycle than the various various diamond frame bicycles. I switched after three accidents that I feel could have been prevented by riding a recumbant. Two were car accidents where I could not monitor the traffic well enough to prevent the accident, and one was a stuck wheel where I went over the handlebars on my Trek 1440 road bike at slow speed. So I would encourage anyone thinking about a recumbant to try them out.

John