Fifty Plus (50+) - Why do you ride a recumbent?

As long as we're talking recumbents ... what issues and/or features influenced you to purchase a recumbent?

Be it a recumbent bike, trike, or quad.

Any 50+ related reasons?

As long as we're talking recumbents ... what issues and/or features influenced you to purchase a recumbent?

Be it a recumbent bike, trike, or quad.

Any 50+ related reasons?

Well, seeing I don't own a recumbent ... yet, the reasons I've placed an order for one are:

- they're different and I like different
- having got my df bike sort of working, it's only 'sort of' and though there are things wrong with the bike itself, they probably aren't going to fix my ongoing hand problems
- to remove my hand problems on the df bike, I'm going to have to dramatically improve my core strength and fitness and while that won't hurt me, I didn't get back into cycling to set myself on a rabid fitness regime and become an athlete. If the strength and fitness doesn't come from my riding (and it is ... slowly) I'm not inclined to go chasing it.
- I could live with the hand discomfort ... but why should I?
- I believe my bike should work for me NOW, some at some mythical point in the future
- I could go to a very upright bike, but I don't want to do that

But the main reason is that they're different and I'd like to try one. The spur to make the move now when the financial viability is problematic is the issue with my hand discomfort, and I may find it doesn't work (in that I fix the hand issue but discover other problems) but the fond hope is that in about six months, there'll be a Trek520 for sale (I've got other more 'normal' bikes ... such as my fixie) :D

Richard

I bought mine this past June because I was having problems with a conventional bike saddle as I recover from prostate cancer surgery. I have only able to ride for 300 miles since June but it is a lot more comfortable... except for the times that I fall off and land on the pavement.

from 2000 to 2005 a recumbent was the only bike i rode- why ?
Comfort.
started with a Rocket, then had a Thunderbolt, now a StreetMachine;
each one a more satisfying ride than the previous.
currently I mix, depending upon where i'm riding and the road surface
(or lack of); the StreetMachine and a Surly CrossCheck.

Cratered discs in my back.

I'm on my third bent, along with many wedgies. I try to live a simple, uncomplicated life. The fewer bikes that I own, the simpler my life is. However, being cognizant of N+1, I have always tried to justify another bike to satisfy a need-----a bike for daily rides, a bike for touring, a bike for groceries and running errands, a Bike Friday to take on the airplane.

The first bent was a C'dale, and it was a tank. It's hilly here, and I ran out of gears before getting to the top of the hills. The second bent was a Bachetta Strada. My feet went numb and my neck hurt from the laid back position.

My current recumbent is a 2007 Easy Racers Gold Rush Replica EX. I bought it for comfort and functionallity. I do my daily rides, my town errands, grocercy shopping and am planning a tour. It is the most comfortable, fun and functional bike I have ever ridden. Hills were extremely slow at first; however, while not as fast as on my wedgie road bike, the hills have become very doable.

I still have the Moots Compact and the Bike Friday Pocket Crusoe; however, the only time I've touched them has been to put them in the closet. The only negative about the GRR is the color--white.

The only negative about the GRR is the color--white.

Watch it, fella. Them's fightin' words! :D

subliminal messages must work

I suspect I'll end up on a bent. I rode one on the 2006 summer WI trip and was just fine (in spite of back problems). But I still think a regular bike is better. Case in point: On my commute home I hop on bike at a very busy suburban train station and navigate between busses and cars, hop over curbs, and often stand up for a quick burst of speed to get around or between tight spots. I don't think I could do any of that on a bent.

After pretty much being off a road bike for about a year and a half, I couldn't get used to the bike seat again. After 20 miles it felt like it was made of carpet tacks(this was with quality shorts with a good chamois). Looking back, I realized I'd always been sore after a long ride, my rear end, my shoulders, and my neck. Now my right shoulder hurts if I ride my road bike (age).
Today I rode 65 miles on my Rans Stratus. The only thing that is sore are my legs, since that is my longest ride this year.

I had givn up riding altogether because of 50+ DF pain issues. Back, neck, wrists and prostate. I hiked and walked for 5 years. But hiking didn't control weight like biking, so I began to research recumbents. Less than a month later, I had one. An EZ Sport AX. It took two seasons to get it completely dialed in, but now it's just comfort, comfort and more comfort. bk

Saw a bent...
Thought.. now that looks comfortable... I want one
Got one and I was right... is very very
Made one that was even better
Made another one and even better...
So yes I'm hooked
But I still ride my other upright bikes...
But been a layed back person the bent wins every time for long rides/trips

I liked the fact I could build my own.
They are different. I like that.
Heard how comfortable they were. Its true! Now I ride long distances.
Wife and I bought trikes for touring. Told they were great. Found them ideal.

And did I say...They are FUN!!

Wow! Two reasons actually:

1.) I've always thought that a LWB recumbent looked cool and have
wanted to get one for quite some time now.

2.) More importantly, my body is starting to suffer on DF's. I rode 64
miles on the day after Labor Day and had to stop only because of
saddle discomfort, wrist/hand pain and neck pain. I'm sure the
saddle discomfort was due to insufficient time in the saddle, but the
wrists and neck aren't gonna get any younger. I've put 140 miles
on the bent in four days and the only limitations are going to be
my legs, heart and lungs.

I'm looking forward to a comfortable and fun season next year. Though
it's only a week old, I believe the 'bent will prove to be a very good ride
for this less than agile body.

I hadn't ridden any bike for over 50 years, then had a couple of back surgeries and a stroke during the last one. Still didn't ride, but then blew a couple more discs higher up than the fusion and ended up in a wheelchair again. Got talked into trying a bent by my brother in law. Happened to see one at a year end sale, so bought the thing on impulse. At that time I had just graduated from a wheelchair, to walker, to cane and had a very weak left knee.
Long story, but found that I liked it, then a few months later I loved it! Now about 6000 miles later I almost broke a 6 hour century this last weekend, and would have easily done so had it not been for a high mid morning/afternoon wind.
I ride roads, MUP's and limestone rails to trails all the time. Bents are NOT mountain bikes, though! If I could ride an upright bike without being 90% paralyzed with pain the next day I would sure get a mountain bike in a big hurry, but that's not to be.....so I accept it!
When I started riding, I agreed with people who said bents were poor climbers! Heck I even had trouble biking over an interstate approach! But over the last year or so I'm changing that view a lot. They are DIFFERENT climbers, but once you get your bent muscles in shape and learn how to ride them, the relatively small amount you lose on only the longer and steeper hills you easily get back on the flats and downhills, so it's a wash. More than a wash as you arrive at the end of a century at least as fast as your DF companions (often most younger and in better shape than you, should be in better shape anyway!) and at the end of the day have far fewer aches and pains than your buddies. Bents are about comfort, upright head positions watching the world going by while the uprights bike along an truly miss a lot. "Did you see the beautiful Trumpeter Swans and three cygnets on the pond between X and Y?" - - "What swans??!!"
I just laughed sitting in the hot tub at the end of last Saturday's century with my upright buddies listening to their aches and pains, from legs, butt, back, neck, median nerve squishing for 7 hours, etc.. thinking of the Trumpeters and the Piliated woodpecker I stopped to watch that no one else saw! But they are stubborn - none will try a bent yet, preferring ultralight carbon fiber bikes with bodies tuned from twice weekly 'spinning classes' versus an old 64 year old (oldest in the group by 12 - 22 years!) post stroke guy with a weak left leg on a 38 pound bent! Ha! I never do 'spinning classes' because all they have are uncomfortable torturing upright bike machines! Hah! Seriously they need a few recumbent machines, although if they did a lot of DF riding people would probably fight over them! I always shake my head wondering how bikers put up with it when I approach an upright biker from behind prior to passing them, how they can ever be comfortable sitting on a little chunk of leather not much bigger than a fence post that's wiggling aqn jiggling from side to side, vigorously massaging your touch hole and prostate and other unmentionables!?! Freud would have a field day! Just kidding you upright guys, and gals...but even with thick padded biking shorts that seriously looks awfully uncomfortable to an old fart like me! And they sure complain about it after long rides in the hot tubs....Always lots of discussion of what saddle to try next!
But seriously why I like bents - my old blue bent (at least it's not white!) has been the single most effective therapeutic medical device for my back (and I've tried EVERYTHING!) that has quite possible saved my life, or at least my enjoyment of life...........so.........I don't just like that old bent, I love the thing!
Bents are slow?? On centuries and long touring rides, if anything, when I have a good day I spend quite a bit of time waiting for my upright buddies, as I said, all 10 - 25 years younger. I not bragging, but I got so far ahead last weekend in the wind at the 70 mile mark, that I actually pulled over onto a grassy spot along the road and had a 10 minute power nap till they caught up. And these riding buddies are all very experienced fit bikers all on carbon fiber bikes, except for one gal on a lightweight aluminum one. (Also, my wife, whom I love dearly and who is in super shape running marathons and doing spin classes all the time, has a carbon TREK, but like all road bikers, won't put a rack on it (or kick stand, etc) as I adds a few 'grams' and looks 'nerdy' and insists on starting a century or other long ride with too many heavy clothes on, so 30 miles down the way I 'inherit' some more pounds of weight for my bag to carry the rest of the ride, putting the net weight of my bike WELL over 40+ pounds. I'm convinced weight isn't very important with bents) And had so stop several times on the last 15 miles so we could all finish together. So now I've concluded that most of the negative stuff you see and read about bents is largely hogwash, promulgated by people who have never tried them and parrot along silly 'internet truths' that 'they say', etc.
I sometimes think that in some ways I was lucky to have my health problems so I discovered by accident the many advantages and few disadvantages of bents or I probably would be riding uprights, too. Or worse still, continuing to be a couch potato and not riding anything!
I've been seriously looking at a 21 pound Rans V3 to replace my old 38+ pound steel bent. But so far am not convinced that halving the weight would make enough difference to justify the extra cash.. And, besides, that bike would be ...omigod....WHITE!

Well, it all started with this.

http://bikerodnkustom2.homestead.com/files/groundhuggerRQRs.jpg

I saw it in Popular Mechanics in the '60s and thought it was the coolest bicycle I ever saw.

Next came the First International Human Powered Speed Championship held at Irwindale Raceway which I was privileged to attend. The covered recumbents were clearly the fastest. And this event turned out to be seminal in development of recumbents.

So I always really wanted one, but they were just so expensive.

But then finally my 16 year marriage ended, and I spent a couple of years going car-free and paying off debts. When I succeeded, I told myself, that I would buy a recumbent to celebrate.

There were other reasons as well. I was beginning to suspect that all the pressure of the bike saddle was a bit too much in that area and having a negative effect on other functions. I wanted to increase my mileage, but the pressure there seemed to limit the benefit.

Now that I'm getting used to it, I find that I also like it because it feels like a very small and nimble sports car going down hill. Riding into the wind is much easier than with a standard bike. I can look around much more as my head is not hung down staring at the road. I really do get a better view of the wild life. Just yesterday a vulture and I stared at each other as I passed by him while he was sitting in a tree. When climbing hills I look at the sky, and the countryside around me. And having all the torque of climbing localized in my legs frees my hands so I can take a drink from my camelbak.

I always had hand and butt issues, for as long as I can remember. Minor at the beginning, so it was a long time until I admitted there was a problem. With advancing age, thought, the problems got worse, and no amount of adjustments seemed to help. Finally, at the ripe old age of 40, I decided enough was enough. I rode enough to DESERVE a bike that didn't hurt, so I shopped around and got my first recumbent. I've still got a hybrid which I use in the winter and in bad weather - short trips only - but the upright road bike got sold long ago and will never be replaced. Like many recumbent converts, I only wish I'd done it 20 years earlier.

15 years ago, I had neck surgery to repair a herniated disc, and since then I could not hold my head in the position required for a DF for more than a few minutes. Over a year ago, I decide to start getting healthy again, and began intense cardio and weight training workouts. Last June, I really longed to do some cardio outside. I don't care to run at my age, so biking was the best alternative. I had seen various types of bents tooling down the Pacific Coast Highway near where I live, and that intrigued me.

I took the leap at the end of June and haven't looked back. The comfort was unbelievable. I remember when I rode a DF, anything over 30 miles was a real pain in the butt, hands, and neck, even though I had been riding for several years. Now, my routine ride is over 30 miles. Yesterday, I did 76 miles, and felt great after the ride.

As for 'bents being slower, I think that's just a matter of conditioning. During the entire ride yesterday, I was passed by 3 people - two of them in their 20's riding fancy carbon bikes, and one guy a couple years younger than I am (he was 57) who had raced for 10 years. He couldn't believe how fast I could go, considering that I weight 220 lbs. and my bike, fully loaded, weighs around 45 lbs.

And on days like yesterday, the day after a rain, when the air is crisp and clear, there is nothing like riding on a 'bent. Instead of being hunched over looking at the pavement, your natural position is enjoying the grand vistas before you.

You guys are starting to push me to the edge of the dark side....I can almost see a 'bent in my near future...

I've probably answered this question 6-10 times on BF, but here's the condensed version:

1982-April 2003: Accumulated 120,000+ miles on uprights including 9 years of racing as a Cat 2, sneered at bents and spit on the ground when I saw one. :)

May 2003: Had advanced prostate cancer which necessitated a radical prostatectomy with a lot of margin removal and loss of some peripheral bits and pieces. Doc says bent is OK and can go back to uprights later. Bought first bent.

July 2003: Doc says uprights are OK to ride. Too late. Previous bent hater finds out that contrary to popular belief that there are some fast lightweight bents out there, that bents can climb, and that young racers can't keep up. Former bent hater is converted and hooked.

to present: Now have over 30,000 miles on bents. Own three high-performance bents and ain't going back. :)

Got passed by a white 'bent today that was passing it's self, I think.

If I ever do get a 'bent, it will have a short wheelbase, above-seat steering, and a relatively high seating position.

If I ever do get a 'bent, it will have a short wheelbase, above-seat steering, and a relatively high seating position.

I'm sorry, my bike is not for sale. You'll have to get your own ;)

http://www.pointhappy.com/gcf/BacchettaSm.jpg

Well, it all started with this.

http://bikerodnkustom2.homestead.com/files/groundhuggerRQRs.jpg

I saw it in Popular Mechanics in the '60s and thought it was the coolest bicycle I ever saw.

Next came the First International Human Powered Speed Championship held at Irwindale Raceway which I was privileged to attend. The covered recumbents were clearly the fastest. And this event turned out to be seminal in development of recumbents.

So I always really wanted one, but they were just so expensive.

But then finally my 16 year marriage ended, and I spent a couple of years going car-free and paying off debts. When I succeeded, I told myself, that I would buy a recumbent to celebrate.

There were other reasons as well. I was beginning to suspect that all the pressure of the bike saddle was a bit too much in that area and having a negative effect on other functions. I wanted to increase my mileage, but the pressure there seemed to limit the benefit.

Now that I'm getting used to it, I find that I also like it because it feels like a very small and nimble sports car going down hill. Riding into the wind is much easier than with a standard bike. I can look around much more as my head is not hung down staring at the road. I really do get a better view of the wild life. Just yesterday a vulture and I stared at each other as I passed by him while he was sitting in a tree. When climbing hills I look at the sky, and the countryside around me. And having all the torque of climbing localized in my legs frees my hands so I can take a drink from my camelbak.


I find something about this bike very attractive,

You guys are starting to push me to the edge of the dark side....I can almost see a 'bent in my near future...

Dark side? As they say in the commercial; "Zoom, Zoom".

http://www.velokraft.com/-vk2.htm

http://www.velokraft.com/-nc.htm

http://www.ransbikes.com/ITR57.htm

http://www.lightningbikes.com/r84.htm

Why do I ride a recumbent you ask....

1) I like the comfort. :eek: don’t want to have to ride a zillions miles to get comfortable on a bike.

2) People really like to talk to me about the bike especially kids sitting at stop lights.

3) The car seem to give me more room on the streets. I think the reason why is they think I’m handy capped or mentally ******** ;)

I purchased my bent out of concerns for pain in my back and hands, most notably my thumbs. After buying it, I made a number of tweaks to my hybrid, which helped a lot. So I only put about 80 miles on my bent in the first 10 months of ownership.

Finally over the past 3-4 weeks I've gotten back to the bent and tweaked the seat position, seat back angle, and handlebar angle. These have improved the ride considerably. So over this past weekend, I put 30 miles on it. Definitely don't have my bent legs yet, the muscles along the top of my thighs were protesting, but it was much more fun and comfortable than before. I do need to spend more time on it, as the ride is still a bit squirrelly for me.

The most positive benefit to me is the decreased pain in my thumbs. I have significant tendonitis in one (which may well now be arthritis) and it can be quite painful on rides. In short rides on drop bar bikes, the pain has been so intense within 10 minutes that I had to get off of the bike. On my longer hybrid rides, where I've spent 3-4 hours in the saddle, it is sometimes very painful. I take ibuprofen and even have a small tube of Ultra Ben-gay in my saddlebag.

However when I ride the bent, the thumb pain is minimized. About what I get from driving a car (which on a long trip can also be bad). It's really great to not have to deal with that pain while on a ride.

The other benefit is the fantastic view while riding. Riding through a scenic area on the bent is wonderful. And that is very meaningful to me. I get exercise and the experience is a lot of fun.

So I'm planning on giving the bent a lot of attention over the next few weeks. Plan to spend 4 days along the Wisconsin 4 Trails system and may take only the bent.

Originally Posted by Artkansas Well, it all started with this.



I saw it in Popular Mechanics in the '60s and thought it was the coolest bicycle I ever saw.

Artkansas...this is the way I started too. I saw this "Groundhugger" in the magazine and thought how cool, so I took a piece of manure spreader frame and the front of a girls bike and made my version. It is heavier than a bad marriage but I still have it for nostalgic reasons.
And so the influences to make me purchase a recumbent are obvious....i hope.
peace

I couldn't ride my MTB any more without a lot of back pain, so it stopped being fun. The recumbent made it enjoyable again, and I discovered the view is a lot nicer from a lazy position *grin*.

http://www.the-buckeye.org/sun.jpg

Originally Posted by Artkansas Well, it all started with this.



I saw it in Popular Mechanics in the '60s and thought it was the coolest bicycle I ever saw.

Artkansas...this is the way I started too. I saw this "Groundhugger" in the magazine and thought how cool, so I took a piece of manure spreader frame and the front of a girls bike and made my version. It is heavier than a bad marriage but I still have it for nostalgic reasons.
And so the influences to make me purchase a recumbent are obvious....i hope.
peace


Yeah, and now I'd love to make the Groundhugger XR2 (http://www.rqriley.com/xr2.htm).

http://www.liegeradinfo.de/hug_xr2.jpg

:D But I dream.

I'd love to build that XR2 also - does it come in a tadpole version? *grin*

"Groundhugger"
Yeah I want one tooooo
Dream on...

I have some tubing [ ] rectangle shape that I think I can use for the main frame...just have not taken the time to give it a go. ANd the articulated steering knuckle is my other hold back. On my "original" I just let the handlebars swing from side to side. This thread has gotten me interested again in wanting to do it. peace

I ride a 'bent so that children will point at me and shout "look at that bike!".
Plus, I got tired of fruitlessly searching for the perfect gel gloves.

Well, it all started with this.

http://bikerodnkustom2.homestead.com/files/groundhuggerRQRs.jpg

I saw it in Popular Mechanics in the '60s and thought it was the coolest bicycle I ever saw.


Bike? You mean there's a bike in that picture? :D

Do you find riding a bent on roads to be any more dangerous than upright bikes?

Don't....and, (barring any physical ailments/injuries that make it a necessity) Won't.

Do you find riding a bent on roads to be any more dangerous than upright bikes?


Same roads, same cars, same danger.

I've already answered why I bought a bent; however, I started thinking about the comfort advantages. It's a little harder to climb hills, so does anyone have any data comparing calories burned on bents and wedgies?

A longer ride for me is over 35-40 mi. On a wedgie, at those distances I have discomfort in my hands, shoulders and neck--I won't even talk about the soft tissue numbness and seat issues. When I ride my GRR, I have no discomfort, just tired legs. I even sit on the bike when I take a snack break. Because my bent muscles are not up to snuff yet, 35-40 miles in the hilley terrain where I live is about my limit, however; this distance is growing at a tremendous rate.

Think I may have a Moots Compact and a Bike Friday Pocket Crusoe going on ebay before long.:eek: The GRR meets every situation I've presented except traveling in something other than my personal vehicle.

I've already answered why I bought a bent; however, I started thinking about the comfort advantages. It's a little harder to climb hills, so does anyone have any data comparing calories burned on bents and wedgies?

.

This has come up before on BROL, and the consensus is that 'bent riders don't use as many muscle groups as upright riders. I rode only my 'bent for about two months after I got it, then rode the Trek on a club ride. On the way to the coffee shop I realized how hard I was working my upper body just going less than two miles.

This reminds me of a discussion on another forum about which kind of ellipitical machine burns more calories - the kind with arms, or the kind where your arms rest on the side. The answer is that calories burned is a function of how hard you are working. You can burn just as many calories on one kind of elliptical as another.

The same goes for 'bents vs. DF's. You can burn just as many calories on a bent as you can running, or on an elliptical machine. It all depends on how hard you're working.

Most of us can max out our aerobic capacity using only our legs, so using arms and core muscles too doesn't do anything more than use oxygen that could otherwise be going to your legs. So the short answer is, the Calorie burn is the same for the same exertion level. (But with the bent more % of the Calories are going to the pedals.)

Most of us can max out our aerobic capacity using only our legs, so using arms and core muscles too doesn't do anything more than use oxygen that could otherwise be going to your legs. So the short answer is, the Calorie burn is the same for the same exertion level. (But with the bent more % of the Calories are going to the pedals.)

As usual, BP, your succinct and accurate posts preclude me from making a clumsy reply. Thanks!

Most of us can max out our aerobic capacity using only our legs, so using arms and core muscles too doesn't do anything more than use oxygen that could otherwise be going to your legs.

I don't think so...

Exercise that incorporates both upper and lower body generally burns more calories per hour than lower body alone (e.g., rowing, cross country skiing, etc.).

I don't think so...

Exercise that incorporates both upper and lower body generally burns more calories per hour than lower body alone (e.g., rowing, cross country skiing, etc.).

Do you have anything to support that?

If that were true, then the ultimate exercise would be running while you were pressing 25 lb. dumbbells over your head.

Basically, once your heart rate approaches 95% of max, it really doesn't matter what form of exercise you're doing -- you're operating at maximum caloric output. If you incorporated your upper body, you wouldn't magically go to 96%; instead, your lower body would slow down a bit to incorporate the extra oxygen need.

If I'm in the gym, I can actually output more calories by NOT involving my upper body, simply because that tends to slow things down, and I can get into a higher "cadence groove" using just my lower body. But that has everything to do with what you're comfortable with and virtually nothing to do with which intrinsically burns more calories.

You guys are starting to push me to the edge of the dark side....I can almost see a 'bent in my near future...



ok, maybe this will push you over the edge.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91Uichk7kso


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBV7-h6sIyo