Advocacy & Safety - Do you ride a non-standard bike, and what have you learned?

There are a lot of recumbent cyclists here, and at least one guy rides an upright trike with his cute little doggy in back. We who ride bikes that aren't the normal, every day kind have to develop our own tips and tricks to survive the experience.

If you ride a non-standard bike, what kinds of things have you learned about cycling in general?

probably a "dumb" response but I have had 7 beers in me tongiht. I ride a fixed gear w/ a front brake---if that is considered "nonstandard." Even w/ the brake, riding fixed gear has taught me to be more attentive to my surroundings----to constantly calculate stopping distance and look for "escape paths." Wheras before I would just ride w/ my my head in the clouds, now even on a "pleasure ride" I am much more conscious of my surroundings, whether it be terrain, motor vehciles, or pedestrians. One of the things I truly enjoy about riding fixed is that I don;t have to worry about changing gears and wondering if I am in the "right" gear-- I just go where I need to go and ride how I need to ride.

First of all I kind of resent being called abnormal for riding a recumbent. ;)

As far as the things I've learned pver the past 5+ years I've had it. Where do I begin?

1. It is a myth that motorists can not see you as well as they could a cyclist ona wedgie.
2. Short wheel base recumbents are more responsive & can be down right twitchy compared to long wheel base.
3. You can not mash big gears while climbing hills on a 'bent. You have to gear dpwn & spin.
4. Recumbents have a better advantage over wedgie riders in a head wind.

This is all I can think of for now. I'll think of more & add them later.

First of all I kind of resent being called abnormal for riding a recumbent. ;)

As far as the things I've learned pver the past 5+ years I've had it. Where do I begin?

1. It is a myth that motorists can not see you as well as they could a cyclist ona wedgie.
2. Short wheel base recumbents are more responsive & can be down right twitchy compared to long wheel base.
3. You can not mash big gears while climbing hills on a 'bent. You have to gear dpwn & spin.
4. Recumbents have a better advantage over wedgie riders in a head wind.

This is all I can think of for now. I'll think of more & add them later.

I've really wanted to get a bent for a few years---but consideringi am building up another fixed gear, i can't really jsutify it right now-----I was on a bike pub crawl last summer and saw someone who had a recumbent trike---i dont even know if that is the right term (two wheels in front--one in back--"tank" style steering---it was a friggin BLAST to ride.

probably a "dumb" response but I have had 7 beers in me tongiht. I ride a fixed gear w/ a front brake---if that is considered "nonstandard." Even w/ the brake, riding fixed gear has taught me to be more attentive to my surroundings----to constantly calculate stopping distance and look for "escape paths." Wheras before I would just ride w/ my my head in the clouds, now even on a "pleasure ride" I am much more conscious of my surroundings, whether it be terrain, motor vehciles, or pedestrians. One of the things I truly enjoy about riding fixed is that I don;t have to worry about changing gears and wondering if I am in the "right" gear-- I just go where I need to go and ride how I need to ride.

This is pretty much what I came here to say, aside from all the beer. Right down to the front brake.

One of the things I truly enjoy about riding fixed is that I don;t have to worry about changing gears and wondering if I am in the "right" gear-- I just go where I need to go and ride how I need to ride.
Maybe if I couldn't handle my beer drinking, I might worry about changing gears and wondering if I am in the "right" gear. So far that has never occurred in over 50 years of cycling. In fact, I never met any cyclist (except electronically on BF) who worried about being in the wrong gear.

There's no "best" kind of bike, and the optimum riding style depends on what you ride as well as riding conditions. Lastly, what you ride and what you look like makes a big difference in how motorists treat you.

For example, take the velo shown in my avatar. Experience has taught me that I cannot "herd" cars with it as I can when I'm on my racing bike. If I attempt to do so, I will find people cutting me only a few inches of space. I suspect that this is because people cannot see me -- they just regard me as a piece of equipment. Conversely, I usually have no trouble "herding" cars when I am on a DF. I believe this is because they avoid smushing me for the same reasons they avoid smushing a spider (even though they don't like either).

However, I have also found that people who belong to demographics not normally associated with love for cycling (e.g. males in jacked up trucks) react very differently to me when I'm in my velo than if I'm in full kit on my racer. The normal reaction is curiosity and a certain amount of wonder rather than contempt and questioning of my manhood.......

BTW, nonstandard bike owners post pics.

This is all I can think of for now. I'll think of more & add them later.
You forgot that if you ride certain types of bikes, people will assume you have a physical disability -- even other cyclists make this mistake (though awareness of different bike types seems to be increasing).

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q119/hotbike/00000024-1.jpg

"Non-standard bike". I think that term includes this one.
Flat-foot, or semi-recumbent, it makes me very comfortable.
The fairing is a quarter scale truck spoiler, but it's also a utility box. It's like I have a glove-compartment and it's full of beverages and snacks.
The fairing is made of heavy fiberglass, a quarter inch thick. I can ride in the "door-zone" and the motorists have to look out for me, or I'll take their door off.

Gives a new meaning to "SEMI-recumbent" , as motorists think they see a Mack truck and stay out of my way. Okay, the fairing design is based on a Kenworth...

Because the seat is over the rear axle, this bike can make really tight U-turns, and also do wheelies. Air gets caught under the flat bottom of the fairing and makes wheelies effortless.

I also learned that green is the best colour for a bicycle, but that might just be my opinion.

Hard lesson: copyright everything. I thought I had a monopoly on the word "Spoiler", as it applies to bikes, but then Schwinn came along and named their lowrider the Spoiler.

I agree that you learn that what you look like makes a difference in traffic. Sometimes you get different treatment because your appearance makes them make assumptions about you.

On the trike they often think I'm handicapped. They give me extra room. They'll change lanes to pass me even if I'm in a 10' bike lane. They freak out at 4-way stops. All directions wait to see what I'm going to do. I have to tell THEM what to do otherwise we'll get nowhere.

On my upright there are a few places on my route where I have to take extra care because I'm not going to be very visible. Like this one block of apartment complexes with cars parked along the street. People are often coming and going from the driveways and they can't see me well so on my upright I move out and take the lane so they'll see me and I'll have time to react. On my trike it doesn't make much difference if I do that. They still are not going to see me and I'm not going to see them either so there won't be much time to react.

When I ride my recumbent two-wheel bike I find that traffic treats me well, like I'm a professional. They give me adequate room, but not like the trike where they are doing it because they think I'm a ******.

On the recumbent bike I do have to worry what gear I'm in because if I stop and I'm in too high a gear it can be nearly impossible to get started again. I hate flailing and struggling in front of people. I don't see how anybody can ride a fixed-gear bike with no gears unless they live somewhere flat. I need all these gears!

I don't see how anybody can ride a fixed-gear bike with no gears unless they live somewhere flat. I need all these gears!

The trick to gearing a fixed gear bike is to find a gear that you comfortable with in most situations. Mine is geared 52X21 making for about 63 Gear Inches. If you've ever driven a stcik shift car, its like third gear all the time. It's a compromise but it's well worth it for the control and the flywheel effect you get on the fix.

The thing about it is you need a gear that is tall enough to allow you a decent cruising speed, but not so tall that you can't control the spin going downhill.
My gearing allows me enough top end to ride in traffic, I'm not out of control going down hill and I can skip and skid if I need to.

To those who have never tried fixed, try it....I bet you'd like it alot.

Since someone asked for photos, heres my (conversion)Fix. She's not the prettiest girl at the dance, but she only dances with me and she's going home with me at the end of the night.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/153/373319835_4623854376.jpg

Also, my other alt bike, my chopper;
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/166/353386941_d4df2a8d5e.jpg

Both bike are front brake only, routed moto. The chopper has a 44X15? gear ratio with these rediculously short cranks from a child's bananna seat bike. Its a single speed freewheel. Makes for an interesting ride with a 26 inch wheel up front and a 20 incher in back.

You forgot that if you ride certain types of bikes, people will assume you have a physical disability -- even other cyclists make this mistake (though awareness of different bike types seems to be increasing).

This may be possible. But I have yet to have someone ask why I switched from a wedgie to a recumbent. I have had my Vision for over 5 years now, got it just before 9/11 happened. I have been asked if I still have a road bike, to which I say no, but not why.

I noticed & this is a good thing that the OP does not specifiy what she defines as an abnormal bike. She gives examples but does not say she only talking about recumbents, or the like. People are considering what they have as a bike to be abnormal or not, with a few citing their fixies as such. Diane could have easily specified that she is talking about frame design only. If that were the case then fixies would fall into the wedgie bike catagorie. Kudo's to you Diane.

I have non-standard bike in that I ride a 45lb monster with 24x3" tires on the road. I've learned that rolling resistance is not your friend.

Yes, N_C, I didn't want this thread to be only about recumbents. And I never used the word "abnormal". I used the word "non-standard."

I get passed by a guy on a pretty fixed gear every morning. I get passed by him again every evening. I think the skull and crossbones tattoo on his leg smirks at me.

Diane,

I was wondering what you call "non-standard bike" and therefore what it implies. Each type of cycle – bicycle or tricycle – has a few inherent plusses and minusses, and the reaction of others is also something to account for.

I only ride a diamond-frame bicycle. But I ride different types of them: single or tandem, and either of these with the trailercycle, and sometimes with the cargo trailer too. Special lessons :

– Plan your path accordingly: with the long bike, it means longer turns, no weaving in traffic, need for more caution in hills (up or down), and it also means that I have to plan for 3 tracks. Finding my way around potholes is sometimes a wee bit challenging.

– Check other people even more. I'm not sure which is worst. With the long bike, everybody notices me which is good, but there is also a lot of rubbernecking. Some drivers look at us a wee bit too long and sometimes forget to watch other traffic on the road.

– Plan lighting accordingly.

Here's mine. BikeE RX with brand-new wheels, custom 'crossing guard' seat cover, and soon to have disc brakes. I have learned that riding a recumbent is much more comfortable in the seat, neck, and shoulders and allows me to enjoy the ride a bit more. It's more of an Eldo than a Ferrari, but it suits me fine.

I use a semi-recumbent (BikeE AT) as my primary commuting vehicle, a modified trike-cruiser for lugging stuff around, a chopper for fun and a custom stretch cruiser (8 feet long) for showing off (LOL), so all my bikes are non-standard. I don't resent being labeled abnormal as someone else here objected; I celebrate it.

One of the things I have learned from riding all these odd bikes is that I get noticed because the bikes are unusual and that is a good thing. Rather than motorists ignoring me as 'just another cyclist,' or shouting in anger and frustration if I happen to impede them when they want to race down the right lane, they tend to pay attention and offer thumbs up or congratulatory remarks, often giving me a wider berth than normal. Stopping at lights, I can be sure to have pedestrians and motorists alike gawking and pointing at whichever bike I am on and if I make eye contact I can almost guarantee they'll ask about what I'm riding. I'll take curiosity over hostility any day.

The other things I have learned are more practical. Since most of my bikes are slow, I am very conscious of the routes I choose. Some cyclists can keep up with aggressive, fast-moving traffic on busy thoroughfares, I have noticed. I can't, so I don't. I choose lesser-travelled residential streets that often have traffic-calming measures to reduce motor vehicle speed and offer a measure of protection for cyclists like me.

Also, because my seating position is lower on all the bikes except the trike, I make sure I am especially visible with two rear blinkies mounted at different heights and good, clean reflectors as well as front lights.

And, finally, because my bikes are all rare and unique, there is less of a chance they'll be stolen. While I use two expensive locks on every bike to discourage theft as well as parking them, primarily, in areas where I and my bikes am well-known, the casual thief has less of a market for my bikes as the parts and components are often not interchangable with regular bikes nor popular. A thief generally likes to blend in with the city-scape and that is difficult to do on bikes that make peoples heads turn and even attract the notice of police officers.

First of all I kind of resent being called abnormal for riding a recumbent. ;)



I agree. I should be considered abnormal for myself, not for what I ride.

I should be considered abnormal for myself, not for what I ride.
Maybe, but most "normal" people don't ride bikes on public roads.... :p

I pull my son in a Burley trailer a lot. We get lots of attention. I spend more time talking to people about cycling when I travel with him in the trailer than when I ride alone.

Other drivers also give us a lot more room than when I'm cycling by myself.

I have three bikes, and I may post the other two sometime when I have a photo of them. But I mainly ride a Rans Stratus recumbant, and I mainly travel to and from work commuting. I commute in traffic with it, and also have alternate routes for times I want to be away from traffic that include bike paths, sidewalks (which connect bike paths to streets around here), and side streets. I've found this bike to be particularly good, as it has above-seat steering. Because I have the older bars, I do not have the problem of the handlebars hitting my knees. The bike has two beefy tires (26" mountain-style back rim with a 20 inch front rim), and two rack systems, front and rear. I can carry over 60 pounds of "stuff," which includes clothes, tools, and my computer at times. The seat is great, and sitting back to ride gives a wonderful view of the countryside. Here are some specific advantages for commuting and safety:

--two rear-view mirrors give me all the vision I need to see behind and in front of me at a glance. This is a far cry from the helmet mirrors, or "looking back." You can see below the view that I have with my left mirror.

--The lower bottom bracket makes getting started in traffic easier than some other recumbants.

--The position, at the same height as the other drivers, give me a direct view of the driver's face through their side window, which is much better than looking down and trying to see through the roof of the car.

--I use a flag, reflective tape and lights to be visible. But I also find that the recumbant, as an unusual vehicle, is easier seen and "registered" by drivers than upright bicycles.

--People think that a long-wheel base vehicle has difficulty in handling, but that's really not true. It is longer, and you need about 500 miles to get used to the balance and handlind. But it is still pretty manouverable. And if you get in on a downhill at 35+ mph, it is really smooth riding...

--It is heavier than other bikes, even other recumbants, and so going up hills is slower. But with the right gearing (mine has it) these are fairly easily accomplished.

I'll put more into this as I remember it.

John

There are a lot of recumbent cyclists here, and at least one guy rides an upright trike with his cute little doggy in back. We who ride bikes that aren't the normal, every day kind have to develop our own tips and tricks to survive the experience.

If you ride a non-standard bike, what kinds of things have you learned about cycling in general?
Good point! I ride a recumbent (I have uprights, too, but I can't seem to get used to craning my neck anymore, so they just sit in the garage) and I've learned to take a little more space in the road. I also depend more on a mirror, which I used to think as optional, and now it's a necessity.

Recumbents taught me about mirrors. I never could get the hang of the glasses/helmet mirrors, though, but these mirrors mounted on my bars are great. I put one on my upright, too, but it's just not working as well.

probably a "dumb" response but I have had 7 beers in me tongiht. I ride a fixed gear w/ a front brake---if that is considered "nonstandard." Even w/ the brake, riding fixed gear has taught me to be more attentive to my surroundings----to constantly calculate stopping distance and look for "escape paths."
Must be the beers. You should be able to stop a FG with front brake as easily and as quickly a freewheel bike with front and rear - its not even a skill change. Maybe you are just learning to pay more attention overall.
Al

Must be the beers. You should be able to stop a FG with front brake as easily and as quickly a freewheel bike with front and rear - its not even a skill change. Maybe you are just learning to pay more attention overall.
Al

Depends where your brake lever is mounted---i ride bullhorns with my hands on the horns most of the time----my brake lever is mounted next to the stem and i usually slow down w/ backpressure/skipping-----so to sit up and reach for the brake lever does require extra anticipation

Depends where your brake lever is mounted---i ride bullhorns with my hands on the horns most of the time----my brake lever is mounted next to the stem and i usually slow down w/ backpressure/skipping-----so to sit up and reach for the brake lever does require extra anticipation
Well duh, if your riding with your hands away from the brake levers...
Just like riding a 'standard' bike on the bar tops, ya gotta move your hands to the drop/hoods to stop.
Al

Well duh, if your riding with your hands away from the brake levers...
Just like riding a 'standard' bike on the bar tops, ya gotta move your hands to the drop/hoods to stop.
Al
Which, like unclipping, takes virtually no time once it becomes an ingrained instinctive response.

Which, like unclipping, takes virtually no time once it becomes an ingrained instinctive response.


exactly---but that ingrained response was the result of being more alert to my surroundings. Also--before I started riding fixed 2 years ago, all i had was a mountain bike so my hands were always near the brake levers. So that was my point of comparison.

In any event, I certainly ride my fixed gear differently than my "standard" bikes.

I have 3 different shifting systems among the 4 road bikes I own and ride regularly - traditional shifters on the down tube on my 1973ish commuter, on the bar ends of my 1980s tandem, and STI for the two newer bikes.

It's weird, it's like I'm in a different frame of mind depending on which bike I'm on, and i don't seem to confuse systems at all. It's like switching between automatic and manual transmission. I never look for the clutch on our cars with automatic. I remember when I first learned to drive I used to have that problem.

This is pretty much what I came here to say, aside from all the beer. Right down to the front brake.

Fixed has made me more aware as well.

Tandems make everyone smile at you when you go by. Dont zig zag a swing bike too much or you'll go over the bars. My CX bike gets twitchy when braking around 45mph. Can you bunny hop a fixie?

riding an Italian track bike in New York City is always a good challenge. I'd recommend it for anyone who needs to get over their fear of drivers.

Recumbents taught me about mirrors. I never could get the hang of the glasses/helmet mirrors, though, but these mirrors mounted on my bars are great. I put one on my upright, too, but it's just not working as well.

One thing that I've thought about recumbents, and kept me away from them, is the lack of height and lack of ability to look around while standing on the pedals. Also, if you are broad sided, on a standard bike, I've gone over the hood, but it seems to me, on a recumbent, you would just be stopped by hitting at a lower level.

Are these 2 thoughts in the ball park? I think the ability to see above things and to go over, rather than go into, a car to be important.

One thing that I've thought about recumbents, and kept me away from them, is the lack of height and lack of ability to look around while standing on the pedals. Also, if you are broad sided, on a standard bike, I've gone over the hood, but it seems to me, on a recumbent, you would just be stopped by hitting at a lower level.

Are these 2 thoughts in the ball park? I think the ability to see above things and to go over, rather than go into, a car to be important.

This is exactly the thing that keeps me from seriously inquiring about buying a recumbent. Although ejection from your bike is a very dangerous thing, it does accomplish providing a buffer to allow for slower deceleration (sudden deceleration injuries being some of the most deadly traumatic injuries). Also, the fear (be it warranted or not) of ending up under the car rather than on it.

What is your take on this SB?

You'll crash feet-first instead of head-first. I think feet-first sounds better to me.

You can get under-seat steering in which can you can be properly ejected on impact for a clean landing on your head if that's what you prefer.

The two-wheel recumbents are not that much lower. You get used to it pretty quickly. You sit at the same height as someone in a small car. The trikes are very low which makes riding on streets with a lot of parked cars and queues of traffic a little scary. They are perfect for the open road and bike paths. Places where you can just go and go. People love touring with them. There's a lady on a pink trike riding across the southern US right now. Started in San Diego and is probably in Lousiana right now.

You can get under-seat steering in which can you can be properly ejected on impact for a clean landing on your head if that's what you prefer.

:roflmao:

Yeah, I think I had the trike style bents in my head when I was writing that. Probably not the best urban ride, but I could see myself owning a bent someday for long rural rides, thanks.

One thing that I've thought about recumbents, and kept me away from them, is the lack of height and lack of ability to look around while standing on the pedals. Also, if you are broad sided, on a standard bike, I've gone over the hood, but it seems to me, on a recumbent, you would just be stopped by hitting at a lower level.

Are these 2 thoughts in the ball park? I think the ability to see above things and to go over, rather than go into, a car to be important.
I have two bents -- a trike/velomobile and a Challenge Seiran SL highracer. Most bents are not great in traffic because two wheel bents are usually not agile enough and don't stop and start as quickly as a DF, and some of the trikes are too low. Except with lowracers, most two wheel bents are high enough.

If you need to stand up to see a lot, your conditions are not well suited for a bent of any kind. You do not want to be broad sided in any kind of bent. However, it's never occurred to me to worry about being broad sided. Right hooked, run over from behind, have a car move in on you, absolutely. However if you are vigilant and visible, you shouldn't be t-boned.

I like my DF bikes and currently use them more, but bents are actually more fun.

You'll crash feet-first instead of head-first. I think feet-first sounds better to me...

feet first doesn't sound too bad, but even after riding standard, diamond frame bikes since '67, I've never crashed head first.


If you need to stand up to see a lot, your conditions are not well suited for a bent of any kind....

I find the ability to be able to see as much as possible to be fundamental to safety. I think being able to see over much of traffic to be of great help. This is one of the reasons I've hated SUV's. They're just too big to see over (and I'm not too crazy about hitting the side of them, rather than going over a hood)

Riding a fix has taught me to pay attention to crank position.

It's a big deal when turning. When turning fast, watch out for the ground. When turning slow, watch out for the front wheel.

It is also relevant for stopping. Although not terribly difficult, it's not as easy to reset the crank position when stopped.

With the trike sometimes I can see under. Doesn't quite do the same job, though.

Short wheel base recumbents (SWB) can be very agile. Some people think they are too agile. I like being able to swoop through fast turns without worrying about my pedals hitting the ground as I lean. I can pedal all the way through.

One thing that I've thought about recumbents, and kept me away from them, is the lack of height and lack of ability to look around while standing on the pedals. Also, if you are broad sided, on a standard bike, I've gone over the hood, but it seems to me, on a recumbent, you would just be stopped by hitting at a lower level.

Are these 2 thoughts in the ball park? I think the ability to see above things and to go over, rather than go into, a car to be important.
Actually, I've found that even on uprights with raised handlebars, I don't see around me as well as I do on my recumbant Rans Stratus. I have two mirrors mounted on it, and that gives me almost 360 degrees of vision without hardly moving my eyes or body.

Concerning the lack of height, maybe it's because I live in SUV country, but even on an upright bike, it's hard to see over many cars, pickups, trucks and buses. Cars are seeming to get bigger, but maybe the $3/gallon gasoline price will bring that back down. I've found it much better to monitor the driver from the same height than from trying to look down through the roof of their car too (prevented one near collision by seeing that the driver was not paying attention to me at all at a stop, and would turn right).

Being broadsided on a recumbant probably won't happen either, as when we sit, we are in very good body position for seeing around us, and to the sides. We are not looking down, like many upright riders do.

As was pointed out, we also do travel feet-first, which would seem to have its advantages in any collision. Falls, also, are from a lesser height and tend to land me on my hip rather than on my head.

John

Actually, I've found that even on uprights with raised handlebars, I don't see around me as well as I do on my recumbant Rans Stratus. I have two mirrors mounted on it, and that gives me almost 360 degrees of vision without hardly moving my eyes or body. John

If I stand up on the pedals (and i do at intersecting driveways, etc) my eyes are at 78" and I can see over almost all cars (average luxury car height is 60-70"). Trucks, SUVs and busses, I can't. 2 I can understand, but SUVs are just excess danger (if you ask me). This vision pivots perfectly in all directions as I can swivel my body (almost) completely.


As was pointed out, we also do travel feet-first, which would seem to have its advantages in any collision. Falls, also, are from a lesser height and tend to land me on my hip rather than on my head.

John

I'd still rather be thrown from a collision than be thrown into a collision (but that's just my preference), but I do agree falling from a lesser height is a good thing.

Another thing with recumbents is if you fall to the side the seat will take the fall, not your body. I flipped my trike and my body did not even touch the ground as I stayed seated and skidded to a stop on my side.

Since I ride a trike, a recumbent bike and an upright bike I can tell you that each has advantages the others lack.

1. It is a myth that motorists can not see you as well as they could a cyclist ona wedgie. . .


+1, while there are a few hypotheticalsituations where the height of a DF would be a boon, I've never found myself in such a situation.

Other things to consider:

Make a cognitive note to unclip at that redlights/stop signs. I been known to pull a few Art Johnsons in the past on my SWB tourer after hours of straight riding. This is a phenomenon of the past on the lowracer as I now just put down the landing gear (my hand) at the redlight:)

Mirrors, mirrors, mirrors. Did I mention mirrors?

Learn to cope with not getting invited to group rides; those darn DF's are always going too slow or too fast at the wrong times.

Motorists have a more difficult time with a bent's speed differentials. You oft go from cruising at 30MPH to climbing at 10MPH. I try to wave 'em past before the hill.

If you have an introverted personality, maybe a 'bent isn't the best bike. People will waste your time with questions.

Crashing is generally less traumatic, but you pay the price in pounds of skin. Ask me how I know. Furthermore, slow down as you approach those questionable sandy shoulders.

'Bent specific accessories are fewer and more expensive, but generally stronger and better made.

A few other insights I might have forgotten at the moment. Generally the same as a traditional bicycle but with all the benefits of the recumbent style.