Winter Cycling - No bents?

Asked about a certain kind of recumbent conversion in the bents forum. Got a response with a breezy mention of how they wouldn't want to ride a bent in ice and snow, they'd use an MTB instead.
...Why? I have some hills - they're obnoxious ones, but I can spin up them in low gear (they're waaay too long to come out of the saddle for) and I have roads with snow and ice on them that are pretty well plowed. Is there a -specific- reason why that would kill all recumbents and semi-recumbents as an option?

I guess it would depend a lot on the actual conditions your riding in. I'd think wet and sloppy wouldn't be very enjoyable.

...a breezy mention of how they wouldn't want to ride a bent in ice and snow, they'd use an MTB instead....Why??

'Cuz they don't have a Greenspeed TRIKE! ;) (they actually MAKE a snomotrike! sorry I don't have the link. It's on their site.)

:D

Maybe for ice, ...a KMX Kart trike! (built for sideways!):eek:

:D:D

I've ridden a Lightning Thunderbolt and HPV StreetMachine in winter on hard pack snow, ice, slush, frozen ruts, etc. A bent was my only bike for about 5 years. Bents are great, IMO more comfortable and relaxing than a DF. However riding on snow and ice is not a bent's strong point as one does not have the "body english" with a bent that you have with an upwrong bike. Three winters ago I had a fall at an intersection- slowed up to check for traffic, had a hard time looking over the snow banks, started into the intersection when I saw a small car coming into the intersection from the right. Hit the brakes, put my foot down and i hit an ice spot- took quite a spill wrenched my shoulder pinched a nerve. Got over it ok, started looking for good snow/ice tires. At the time could not find a decent (like W106s) snow tire in my front wheel size- 406. Finally I got snow some snow tires that were attached to a new Surly CrossCheck- that has been my winter and rough road ride since. Recently I noticed Schwalbe has listed a tire I think they call Marathon Winter in 406 - if I were going to ride my bent in the winter I would put that on the front. That would improve front traction, but would not solve needed body language for riding on slippery roads.

Yeah, i don't ride in winter without nokians. The bent setup I was looking at would be able to take them (26" tires, since it's a conversion of a suspension DF MTB). I ride on high traffic highways with wide shoulders (and, alas, rumble strips).

I ride mine, the only thing I don't like is that crashing through piles of snow left by snowplowsas it tends to mess up my fender alignment sometimes when the mudflap catches on the way down, but that would be due to the fender not the recumbent. I don't see that a recumbent would be out of the question.

Asked about a certain kind of recumbent conversion in the bents forum. Got a response with a breezy mention of how they wouldn't want to ride a bent in ice and snow, they'd use an MTB instead.
...Why? I have some hills - they're obnoxious ones, but I can spin up them in low gear (they're waaay too long to come out of the saddle for) and I have roads with snow and ice on them that are pretty well plowed. Is there a -specific- reason why that would kill all recumbents and semi-recumbents as an option?


I use a trike for my winter riding in nasty weather. Ice is no problem and I stay dry (to a point) and warm.

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s219/lowracervk2/TRIKES_0521.jpg

thought I should post a couple pics with some snow actually outside.
I climb into the bike from the backside. The rear end pivots up on the windshield and roof connection.



http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s219/lowracervk2/trikepics024.jpg

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s219/lowracervk2/trikepics021.jpg

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s219/lowracervk2/trikepics023.jpg

I was going to question the color, but that's made out of some form of construction insulation, yes?

'Cuz they don't have a Greenspeed TRIKE! ;) (they actually MAKE a snomotrike! sorry I don't have the link. It's on their site.)

:D

Maybe for ice, ...a KMX Kart trike! (built for sideways!):eek:

:D:D

Can't find it? Can you track it down and post a link please?

I was going to question the color, but that's made out of some form of construction insulation, yes?


Yeah, its that 1/4" dow corning foam board used for underlayment under aluminium or vinyl siding. I bought some spraypaint plastic primer to first paint it white then whatever other color I wanted other than pink, but just haven' t gotten around to yet. So far there hasn't been very many people that has even seen my contraption. Not many out exercising in the brutal conditions I've been riding in. One day had 23degreeF temp and 30mph wind gusts. I rode 33 miles that day.

A coworker has a Trice (recumbent trike). He had plans to ride it this winter and while I don't know why specifically he hasn't much I would think seeing over snow banks would be a problem. The other thing for me, at least psychologically, is that streets aren't often plowed the full width for quite a while after a snow storm and trikes take up more room.

Finally, my commute is a mix of trails, mups, and streets. Sometimes getting off/on the mup to/from the street requires navigating a narrow pass through a snow bank. It's not always easy on a mountain bike, let alone a recumbent.

I primarily do my riding on the weekends at a metropark that has mup paths and a nice road system with very little traffic. I don't commute to work. I'm a service tech so have to drive a van all day. I've got a loop in my subdivision that Ive been doing after work. Again, not much traffic and so far the snowbanks haven't been an issue this winter. not much snow to speak of. It snows and lasts a few days then melts.

Yeah, its that 1/4" dow corning foam board used for underlayment under aluminium or vinyl siding. I bought some spraypaint plastic primer to first paint it white then whatever other color I wanted other than pink, but just haven' t gotten around to yet. So far there hasn't been very many people that has even seen my contraption. Not many out exercising in the brutal conditions I've been riding in. One day had 23degreeF temp and 30mph wind gusts. I rode 33 miles that day.

Make sure the paint you use does not have acetone, it will eat foam.

I ride my trike in the winter. I have it outfitted with a front fairing and a studded Nokian tire in the rear. It does quite well, I feel totally safe thanks to the added stability of three wheels. I also make sure to run lots of lights so drivers can see me.

Make sure the paint you use does not have acetone, it will eat foam.

I'd think covering it with some nice shiny aluminum tape would be more productive, would attract driver attention better.

I ride my Rans Rocket with fenders and Schwalbe Marathon Winters in ice and snow. I set it up for riding on Lake Champlain, see "icebiking" in recumbent forum. My thinking is, less wind resistance. It is true, though, that the bent position doesn't allow body english, but if the technical section is short or on a descent, one can sit up and even unclip one's cleats and be ready to react with 'body english.'

I think trikes with larger wheels (20"+) are great for the winter.

I rode over some ice and slush with a lowrider, trike, and a more upright swb uss.

With the lowrider, you are sure to fall, the slack swb, not so much, and the trike, you can't fall...

But I am not a bent rider so I don't have the skills other "recumbulators" might have on ice.

Asked about a certain kind of recumbent conversion in the bents forum. Got a response with a breezy mention of how they wouldn't want to ride a bent in ice and snow, they'd use an MTB instead.
...Why? I have some hills - they're obnoxious ones, but I can spin up them in low gear (they're waaay too long to come out of the saddle for) and I have roads with snow and ice on them that are pretty well plowed. Is there a -specific- reason why that would kill all recumbents and semi-recumbents as an option?

It seems to me that in regards to just the bike the recumbent would be safer since you are closer to the ground and if you slide and fall you are less likely to have as serious injury. This is discounting speed related injuries.
However, there is the real issue of cars in slick conditions which are probably the greater risk factor. You might be more likely to go under a car if hit being closer to the ground and are perhaps somewhat less visible to drivers.

The three wheel recumbent would probably be better on smooth slick surfaces than a standard bike but in slush or deeper snow would probably get bogged down easier due to the extra wheel pushing material and creating more resistance to forward momentum.

Two wheel recumbents tend to be a little lighter on the front wheel. This might cause the bike to wash out easier on slippery surfaces. I would not attempt snow or ice on my SWB.

BTW - Lowracer1 - Mega cool cover.