Classic & Vintage - how long have recumbents been around?

is there such thing as a "vintage" recumbent or is that a new thing?

There are some "vintage" recumbents such as a HyperCycle or an Avatar 2000.
The prior being a nearly homebuilt looking short wheelbase, underseat steering rig with a 16" front wheel and a 27" rear.
The latter being a machinists wet dream, long wheelbase w/underseat steering as well.
Very detailed machined bits for the steering and seat brackets.

There are likely others, as recumbents were banned by the UCI in 1932 or 1933. But most are likely to be one-offs and very hard to find.
There is an Avatar locally, but the widow isn't ready to part with hubby's pride & joy just yet.
And there are a few of us patiently waiting....:rolleyes:

For the most part, production 'bents are not likely to be more than 25 years old.
Most were made in the last 15-20 years.

Are you looking for one, or do you have one???

is there such thing as a "vintage" recumbent or is that a new thing?

Hmm, this question really should go in the Recumbent thread. Or try the Bent Rider Online forum.


Based on my limited knowledge of bent history:

Late 19th century - first recumbent bicycle

1930's - first recumbent with decent performance

1980's - first commercially produced "modern" recumbents

First bent I ever rode was a Ryan recumbent, around 1987-88.

Hmm, this question really should go in the Recumbent thread.
Not really! Most in that forum have limited knowledge of "vintage" bike issues, much less any knowledge of "vintage" recumbents! :rolleyes:


Or try the Bent Rider Online forum.
Hey now!! Don't be chasing away BF members! :D
I'm over here, not over there! ;)

And yes, Ryan offered the Vanguard, a design very similar to the Avatar 2000. I believe that someone from Avatar parted company and started Ryan. Thanks for adding that brand to the thread. :)

i was just curious. i have a mountain bike, a road bike but if i were adding another pony to the stable it would be a recumbent. just wondered how long they'd been around.

(my brain is full of silly questions, a lot of them leak out through my fingertips all over the keyboard and wind up on these forums)

Recumbents were made in the 1930s in commercial quantities. Vélocars made in France were made in quite reasonable numbers and survive in reasonable numbers too. It was this make that got the recumbent bike design banned by the UCI. Cyclo and Triumph Moller (made in Denmark with a steering wheel instead of bars) were made in reasonable numbers too. Enclosed are two pics of Vélocars. The picture with an Ordinary and conventional lightweight was taken at south London's famous track, Herne Hill in 2004 when a photogragh that appeared in a 1935 issue of Cycling magazine was recreated at the Veteran-Cycle Club's Herne Hill track day. The other pic is of a first pattern Vélocar that was originally imported into Britain in the 1930s. There are quite a few here today but most are recent imports from France. Vélocar started out by building pedal powered 4-wheel cars in the 1920s - thse continued to be available into the 1940s before they diversified into the Mochet microcar just after WWII. http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r77/hilarystone/Velocar-demo.jpghttp://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r77/hilarystone/Velocar-ex-Bill-Bush.jpg

Recumbents were made in the 1930s in commercial quantities. Vélocars made in France were made in quite reasonable numbers and survive in reasonable numbers too. It was this make that got the recumbent bike design banned by the UCI. Cyclo and Triumph Moller (made in Denmark with a steering wheel instead of bars) were made in reasonable numbers too. Enclosed are two pics of Vélocars. The picture with an Ordinary and conventional lightweight was taken at south London's famous track, Herne Hill in 2004 when a photogragh that appeared in a 1935 issue of Cycling magazine was recreated at the Veteran-Cycle Club's Herne Hill track day. The other pic is of a first pattern Vélocar that was originally imported into Britain in the 1930s. There are quite a few here today but most are recent imports from France. Vélocar started out by building pedal powered 4-wheel cars in the 1920s - thse continued to be available into the 1940s before they diversified into the Mochet microcar just after WWII.


Thanks Hilary! I love those pictures. Here (http://www.microcarmuseum.com/tour/velo-velocar.html) are some more pictures and if you punch the next button it will take you up the progression of the Velo-car production.

Aaron:)

Rans and Easyracers arrived at a similar design in the early '80's. I have seen mid 80's examples of both a Tour Easy and a Stratus for sale in the last 2-3 years.

Here's a link to a Rans article on the evolution of the Stratus: http://www.ransbikes.com/ITRStratus.htm
and a brochure from the late 80's: http://www.ransbikes.com/STBrochure.htm

So I think you'll find this pic of Vélocars racing at the Internatrional Veteran Cycle Rally in 2005 slightly interesting...

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r77/hilarystone/Velocar-racing.jpg

So I think you'll find this pic of Vélocars racing at the Internatrional Veteran Cycle Rally in 2005 slightly interesting...

Hilary

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r77/hilarystone/Velocar-racing.jpg

Does this classify as a recumbent? That's a late 19th/early 20th century (don't remember correctly) tricycle in our local museum.

http://www.vast-arp.spb.ru/mozgj/velo/museum1.jpg