Recumbent - USS vs. OSS & bike vs. trike

I am ready to give up my DF bike, as I have numbness and shooting nerve pains in my hands, not to mention my sore crotch.

Because the numbness and nerve issues are so severe, will these likely carry-over to a recumbent with over-seat-steering? If so, would I be better-off with under-seat-steering? I know, the only way to really know is to try them out for more than a spin around the bike shop's block. I will when the sub-zero temps and 2 feet of snow leave my locale. In the meantime, however, is there anyone out there who has had a similar dilemma? What did you decide to do and why?

If it turns out that USS is the way to go, would I be just as well-off riding a trike? Predominant uses will be commuting to and from work (moderate traffic with speed limits varying from 25 to 45 mph on roads with adequate shoulders), weekend rides and occasional tours.

Thanks for the advice.

uniquebobc

Hi uniquebobc and welcome to the forum. I too am in search of my first recumbent, also partially due to hand numbness and rear soreness from my "wedgie" bike. I don't know that USS or OSS will make that much difference, but would go with whatever feels best to you. I've been told that the Giro 20 is a good "do it all" bike. Good luck in your search.

Pat

Yeah I am going to go try a few bents on sat! Can't wait.

Going to try a Hase delta trike, a TW bent tadpole, and some lwb bikes too! And some other tadpoles.

I got my first 'bent primarily because of hand pain. The short of the story is that OSS did not aggravate the pain.

The longer version:
I'd just finished a 4-day tour, and the palms of my hands hurt for a solid week afterward. It was near the end of the riding season, so I researched and test rode, and found a nice used V-Rex during the off-season. Sort of like now would be. (I rode several other bents, including a USS Vision, but the V-Rex 'spoke' to me. :) There was no weight on the palms of my hands; instead the natural curl of my fingers was all that was needed to keep my hands on the bars. (Of course I can grab harder, but I don't always need to.) Only after I got the 'Rex did I notice, by its absence, how much discomfort the roadie's saddle caused. I think I went from 3000 in my last year on the road bike to about 200 miles the next year. The year after that, I sold it because I couldn't find a single type of ride where it had any sort of advantage, much less one that was worth the discomfort. Short, long, hilly, flat - the choice was always the recumbent. I still have an upright, but it's a hybrid that's outfitted for snow and sloppy weather, and pretty much gets ridden only in the winter.

BTW, when you mention hand pain to a roadie, the first answer is always to change positions a lot, then 'adjustment,' and finally to work on core body strength. I had spent the previous 2 years fooling with stems, handlebars, etc, all to no avail. And at the time I was coaching springboard diving at high school, and participating myself at the masters level. It would be safe to say that my core strength went off the top of the scale.

I have no problems with DF (diamond frame???). I just wanna try bents, for there alleged speed.

Also for off raoding you can't beat a traditional mtb.

These over bars with your hands high
and others with your hands low and elbows by your sides
I changed mine from hight to low on my SWB as for me this I found most comforable.
On my long recumbent I have under bars and these to I find most comforable.
For each person to find what's best for them
but I can't see how you'd go wrong if your elbows are by your sides and these no waight on your hands or arms.

Uniquebobc,
Try out all different types of 'bents, one will "choose" you! I would hang out at starting places for rides and ask lots of questions, and as a result would get an occasional test ride. With all that being stated, I bought on the 'net, unridden and no recommendations from anybody! I was dragging out the "study" too long and my wife told me to just pull the trigger, get one and ride. If it is not exactly right for me, sell it and get something else. Get something used and inexpensive and ride. You should be warned........recumbentcy is addictive and you will start collecting 'bent bikes/trikes. Oops, disregard that last sentence! ;)
What do I ride? Social bike is a full suspended short wheelbase. Fun bike (usually solo) is a Baron lowracer. Gave away all my DF as I wasn't using them. Wife is not 'bent yet, but close. She gets irritated when we stop for a break to rest the hands, back, crotch, etc. and I sit on my bike waiting to go!

Any bike is not worth a d**n unless you ride it...........................jim

[QUOTE=karterjimm;6046977]Uniquebobc,
I was dragging out the "study" too long and my wife told me to just pull the trigger, get one and ride.

Sounds like my dh, a tried and true DFer. I told him I'd ridden a Giro 20 and Agio but wanted to try this different model too since it was less expensive. He said to quit obsessing and just get something I would want to ride. That said uniquebobc, I've ridden a few but and can't get my mind off the Giro 20, guess it's choosing me. I will do some more testing before I decide though.

Pat

Predominant uses will be commuting to and from work (moderate traffic with speed limits varying from 25 to 45 mph on roads with adequate shoulders), weekend rides and occasional tours.

uniquebobc

If the recumbent is going to be used to commuting mostly, I would recommend something SWB with OSS, the narrower the profile would take up less room on the road, SWB would allow you take public transportation or to fit the bike into a car in case that you need a ride from someone who do not have a bike rack, granted that you know how to take the wheels off of your recumbent.
USS bike would be more difficult to walk with, if you need to push the bike for a few feet to get on/off the sidewalk or in/out of buildings.
I'm all about being compact, small and light.. twitchy handling you could get used to and learn to master on a SWB recumbent, but you will always need bigger storage room for a LWB bike when you're not riding it.

After mtn biking and road riding for 15 years I started commuting on a mtn bike. I live in seattle and the rain started to convince me that commuting on my bikes, which I love, was getting really sucky and miserable made me open my eyes to other options. I test drove a few good 2 wheel recumbents but fell in love with a trike, catrike speed. the reality is let 'the bike will pick you' , just go ride a few and keep an open mind. I now ride in the rain, sleet or snow and never feel neck pain and feel like I could just keep going on every ride.
good luck and let us know what you find