Recumbent - Does anyone ride their bent year around in inclimate weather?

If so, what's it like? What do you wear? What are the limitations of doing so?

no wayyy would I take my Bent out on the salt roads , I did 25+ years of winter riding on DF bikes,, you can wear the same cloths as you would on a DF bike

I haven't had mine that long. But, since it arrived on Feb 23rd, I've only driven my car 3 times. I wear my regular clothes and the only problem I've had so far is my toes getting cold.

I ride my bent all year round, but we don't salt the roads here. I have found that I tend to get wetter when riding the bent, but if I had decent waterproofs I wouldn't.

I have found my Rocket to be slightly sketchy on slippery surfaces. Part of that is the stock Primo Comets aren't brilliant in the wet and the other part is that just due to riding a bent rather than a DF and not pressing down on the bike.

Ride your bent whenever you like, just make sure that you have full mudguards and good waterproofs and wear warm socks.

Oh, sorry... I did just get some wool socks - that should help my toes. And I have a Carhartt baklava which I also wear for work that does very nicely down in the low 20s and riding. I just need to find something for next winter since I wear glasses and the steam from my breath is always fogging them.

If so, what's it like? What do you wear? What are the limitations of doing so?

Wet, cold and windy. Lots of wool. I won't ride on snow & ice (it's not that I can't handle the conditions, it's all those folks driving the family battering ram while talking on the phone that concern me).

Scott P
Bend, OR

RANS VRex
RANS Force 5

I ride my bent all year round, but we don't salt the roads here. I have found that I tend to get wetter when riding the bent, but if I had decent waterproofs I wouldn't.

I have found my Rocket to be slightly sketchy on slippery surfaces. Part of that is the stock Primo Comets aren't brilliant in the wet and the other part is that just due to riding a bent rather than a DF and not pressing down on the bike.

Ride your bent whenever you like, just make sure that you have full mudguards and good waterproofs and wear warm socks.

+1

Wet, cold, sleet and Ice my trike beats its way. I have a fairing so my clothes are basically what ever keeps me warm and dry, nothing super high tech outside of my gloves. good luck

I ride all year long, but as mentioned above, I also do not ride on snow or ice. I will wear a full face mask when the temp gets much below about 40 F. When it's raining I'll wear just one long sleeve shirt plus a wind breaker as I know I'll be wet no matter what I do. Just in case I flat, I carry a dry shirt. My hands tend to get cold so in addition to warm gloves I cover them with a wind resistant shell. My feet are kept dry as possible with a small neoprene covering. The biggest problem for me when it rains, is seeing through my clear set of glasses, but I seem to manage. Now this is important :-) some of my most fun rides have been when it is pouring rain.

I ride all year long, but as mentioned above, I also do not ride on snow or ice. I will wear a full face mask when the temp gets much below about 40 F. When it's raining I'll wear just one long sleeve shirt plus a wind breaker as I know I'll be wet no matter what I do. Just in case I flat, I carry a dry shirt. My hands tend to get cold so in addition to warm gloves I cover them with a wind resistant shell. My feet are kept dry as possible with a small neoprene covering. The biggest problem for me when it rains, is seeing through my clear set of glasses, but I seem to manage. Now this is important :-) some of my most fun rides have been when it is pouring rain.

As long as I'm not cold, I don't mind being wet. I didn't mention previously that I do still have my 'old' Hind GorTex suit from years ago with my DF. These days they're funky looking, but the gortex does still work well. I was only concerned when I first used them because the back of the tights and the jacket don't have gortex. But, they still work great on the 'bent.

I'll take my velokit out in anything.

However, if I'm exposed to the elements, I prefer a DF because you don't get so much water dumped on your chest and the handling is more secure.

Year round riding in inclimate weather? I do. Not bad here in the NW really. I use Thorlo CoolMax socks
http://www.thorlo.com/socks/hiking-socks/crew/55.php
and a Novara Stratos Bike Jacket
http://www.rei.com/product/724360?vcat=REI_SSHP_CYCLING_TOC
for the most part.

The limitations is black ice! I try not to ride then.

Ciao,
Timothy

If so, what's it like? What do you wear? What are the limitations of doing so?

17deg (f) this morning, dry and clear. Therma-fleece tights, wool boot sox under my "normal" cycling shoes, synthetic base layer shirt, light long sleeve wool jersey, Sporthill SP3 XC ski top, light windbreaker, heavy gloves, fleece cap and helmet of course. Just right.

Scott P
Bend, OR

"There is no such thing as bad weather, only inadequate clothing."
- Old Norwegian proverb

Saturday was nicer than most we've had, so I took advantage and did home miles to the club ride.

I made it about 200 feet with my V-Rex, then slipped on ice in my driveway and fell on my @ss.

I'm another from the PNW (Seattle) area who rides except in snow. That means, for the most part, wind and rain from October through at least the end of March. I commute 14 miles each way.

I have a rain suit that I got from J&G Cyclewear that I use with a complete SmartWool base layer (shirt, tights, and socks), along with some shoe covers from Mountain Equipment Co-Op in Canada. I also wear a skullcap and gauntlet-style gloves. Once I get warmed up (after a mile or so), I'm pretty good.

This week the weather isn't calling for rain, so I've switched to my sweats over my SmartWool. If the temps get above 60 on the ride home, I'll drop the SmartWool and just wear the sweats. This morning it was 35 when I left the house and is expected to top out at about 50.

The worst the weather gets here is torrential rain, mainly in the warmer months. I like my bent in the rain. My feet stay much drier.

Rode to work in inclement weather this morning: Lower 30's, clear skies, no wind. Oops! That's not inclement, is it?
Never ridden the Tailwind in ice or snow. I avoid thunderstorms but have ridden in the rain. Try not to.

I ride year 'round. I usually just "layer-up" and, sometimes, find myself peeling off layers even in sub-zero weather. I don't wear anything special. By that I mean I don't spend hundreds on soe of the crap that often over-priced or "the IN thing" currently available at the bike shop. Most of what I wear is standard winter gear for Nebraska. Here's a photos that I took when it was 16 below zero......

Here's a photos that I took when it was 16 below zero......Do you use studded tyres in the winter?

--J

Do you use studded tyres in the winter?

--J

Nope. No studs on these tires. I simply change from the thin tread to knobby ones for the winter. Gets me around just fine. Even on the ice.

I just rode through my second winter on my trusty trike. For the winter, it's equipped with a front fairing a a studded rear tire. The fairing keeps freezing rain off my feet (I hate having wet feet) and the cold wind chill off my body (a 50-60km/h wind at -15C is killer!). The studded tire helps me maintain traction on ice and snow.

I wear MTB cycling shoes, jeans, a warm sweater, a waterproof shell, ski gloves, a half-face mask and a helmet with the vents covered. If this combo isn't warm enough, then I take the bus.

What's it like? On most days, it's just like the summer but with more clothes and chilled extremities. When it gets bad, it's brutal. Low visibility, soaked and muddy clothes, aching lungs and tired muscles.

The only limitation is your own personal willpower (and leg strength, I guess). If it's not safe to ride, it's not safe to drive and you should stay home on days like that.