How often do you get 'the look'?

[FatA**]

I was riding again this afternoon and got a lot of 'looks' -- like no one has ever seen a recumbent
before. Couple young kids scremed out "cool", one woman called out "like your bike", and a guy in
a car spend so much time looking at me as he passed I thought his head was gonna rotate all the
way around!

so, how often do you all get 'the look'?

[Dr. Hellyes]

I am a veritable freak of nature in my town when I'm riding either my Thunderbolt or my Challenge Hurricane. The attention I get is incredible; it's like I'm a celebrity or something ... it's almost always
positive attention but can sometimes be annoying ... like when you're waiting for a car to go by so you
can switch lanes and they're just hanging there in your way gawking at you ... :p

[Floyd]

Yeh, I get the look too, but up to this point have not been 'detained' by the person. Ususlly it is the children saying cool bike or adults asking, when I am stopped, if it is comfortable or harder to balance than a 'regular' bike. Since I have not been annoyed yet I kinda like the attention;brings me out of my shell.

[late]

There is a guy that lives upcountry and has a completely enclosed German recumbent. That always gets the look. We have a fair number of lawn chairs with wheels around here, so I wonder how often they get more attention than any other middle aged guy on 2 wheels.

[gnome]

Probably at least once a week. I often get asked at stop lights and such is it comfortable, how does it climb, is it hard to ride.

Most kids seem to like it.

I don't mind the attention, it's quite nice.:D

[countersTrike]

Yeh, I get the look too,;brings me out of my shell.

That is when I prefer zipping the window up.....

countersTrike

[shaggyc]

I get the "look" now and then. I get the "cool bike" comments and the "Is it comfortable" questions now and then.

[Domromer]

I ride the same route everyday and get the same stares everyday. Entire car loads of people will stare slack jawed! It used to annoy me but now I don't pay much attention.

It's weird too, There is a fair number of bent riders here and the homeless population has a fleet of crazy DIY bents and trailers. You think people would be used to it by now.

One benefit I've noticed is that people are busy staring so I don't get bothered in the way i would on my regular bike, yelling, throwing things out of windows, ect..

[unixpro]

A part of my daily ride takes me through one of the heaviest tourist areas here. I get the look so often in that area I'm pretty sure they think I'm a free tourist attraction. Other than that area, I get it at least once a ride.

[bobbycorno]

Not all that often, but it's kinda cool when people notice. Yesterday on my 300k brevet, had an interesting conversation w/ 4 middle school kids in Sheridan, OR (pop 5000) when I stopped at a local mini mart to refuel. Kinda caught me by surprised, 'coz that seems to be the age when they're at their most obnoxious, but hey, whatever....

Scott P
Bend, OR

[megaman]

On my EZ Sport, I got quite a few "looks". On my trike I get many "looks" and questions every time I ride. I regularly have people trying to ask me questions as I'm riding by. Even had one lady this past week point me out and pretty much yell, "That's the one I was telling you about!" to another lady. Then she blocked me and started asking questions about muscle group useage and the like. That was strange.

[mostlybent]

We have a fair number of lawn chairs with wheels around here.

Would that refer to a scooter for the elderly? We have many here also. However my LWB recumbent has a very comfy seat that looks like a mesh lawn chair also.

As for "the look" yes, every time i take out the recumbent bike, it's a complete novelty, however it's also one of the nicest looking recumbents around, especially with the matching trunk, panniers & fairing.

[gcottay]

Even though we have a numerous other bents around, people still seem to notice and ask all the traditional questions.

Is it comfortable? Yes. It provides great outdoor exercise with lounge chair comfort.

Are the hard to ride? Not after an hour or two in a parking lot. (Rans Rocket) Not at all through they are a bit more work than two wheels. (Trice Q)

Are they expensive? Yes, but not any worse than a good bike. (Yes, a bit of fudge.)

Cool bike! Thank you. They are fun to ride.

[recumbentken]

I get "the look" and comments all of the time. I think the extra attention makes a recumbent a very safe ride in traffic. People notice you. They don't look through you.

[Pupsocket]

A 10 year old boy looked up as I toodled by on the bike path at about 15 mph on my Catrike Trail. He hollered out, "How fast does that go?" All I could think to shout in answer was, "As fast as I want it to!"

[BlazingPedals]

I still get the occasional double-take. But in my mind, 'the look' is something you give to someone right before you put a whuppin' on them.

[bobkat]

Every ride, but then I have one of the few bents in the area!

[Richbiker]

All the time. Lot's of "I like your bike" or "cool bike", or "hey look at that," or "whooooaaaa".

I live in an area where a) it's socially acceptable among some populations to ask how much something costs, and b) there's a huge amount of bike theft. I never answer that question.

Then there's groups of thuggish young males (it's always a group) who feel sexually threatened by my recumbent, so one or more of them always have to yell f****t (another word for "gay"), which would certainly be news to my girlfriend. I once had someone toss trash out of a car window at me (not unusual for a cyclist of any sort).

Rich

[recliner]

I ride the hp velotechnik grasshopper.

I find it funny when younger kids get excited, can't find the right words, and suddenly blurt out something like gibberish. Then the parents who didn't notice me are like "honey, what are you trying to say" and they're like " b b b b icyco !!!"

Some people just start laughing which is fine, gets me laughing as well.

One funny one was a father and young son biking by, the kid was like "gee dad that's a STRANGE bike", and the father was like "yes it is son, yes it is ... STRANGE." in a sort of serious dark, and disapproving tone. ha ha ha guess I'm a freak with no back pain.

they also say "lying down on the job eh?" "don't fall asleep" "woah" "cooool I want one" "yo dog that bike is DOPE" "how much does that cost" "is it easy to ride" and other such witty remarks.

I didn't originally anticipate the strong social aspect to owning a recumbent, but after getting used to it I must say it's fun and puts me in a good mood. I feel like I'm doing some level of community service by merely showing people that an alternative style of bike exists which is more ergonomically sound than the norm. There are probably a number of people who can't ride upright bikes and might be able to ride recumbent.

[BeerBiker]

I barely pay attention, anymore, but the roadies I ride with take notice. I ride a Cruzbike Silvio, so it's different looking than most "ordinary" recumbents and I have heard a few people correctly point out that, "Hey! That bike is front wheel drive!" That's kind of cool.

The thing I like about standing out like we do is; motorists tend to give you a wide berth. I've come to the conclusion, after several years riding recumbents, that they either think we are handicapped, or just want a better look at us, or both. I'm OK with that. I'd rather be seen and thought a freak than to get hit.

Mark

[Floyd]

I'd rather be seen and thought a freak than to get hit.
+1 Bents are slowly...ever so slowly, gaining recognition. I aways wonder what would be the course of history if the "bike experts" back in the 30's would have allowed bents in their races.

[gruffydd]

Lance would've won his 7 tours on a bent, I'm thinking.:)

[Linus_S]

My bike gets more looks than a $150,000 sports car. Reason being it is a recumbent with an electric assist and a big fairing up front. Usually the looks come from driver who I pass when they are stuck in traffic. Sometimes people voice that they like the bike, and I respond with a wave and a short beep of the air-zounder horn.

[SingleSpeeDemon]

I was recently passed by a gentleman driving a Aston Martin Vanquish...he slowed down to take a long look. I'd like to think it was envy that made him do that.

[charly17201]

The look? The usual.... cool bike, hey mister, what's that.... etc.

The strangest/scariest 'look' was when a guy was passing me going the other way in a car. He let go of the steering wheel and pivoted in the seat as I went by. Glad he wasn't following ME.

[FatA**]

I was recently passed by a gentleman driving a Aston Martin Vanquish...he slowed down to take a long look. I'd like to think it was envy that made him do that.


:roflmao:

[charly17201]

so, how often do you all get 'the look'?

Today it was about 50 or so...... I've gotten to where I have started staring back :D Actually had some pretty girls wave at me too...... heart attack time for my old bones.

[FatA**]

are you sure they're looking at the bike? :roflmao:

[charly17201]

are you sure they're looking at the bike? :roflmao:

hmmm..... I don't really have the 'bent 'look'. Small belly, no beard. But then again, I sure as heck ain't THAT ugly :rolleyes: And hey, it was pretty girls - like 20 years younger than me so I'm sure they weren't staring cause I'm good looking. I am the only 'bent rider in the city that I know of.

[rollerdavem]

I get "looks" that range from amazement to awe to outright stink eye every time I go out of the house.

This goes double if I have the audacity to appear in a public place around respectable folk, lol.

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn208/rollerdavem/River%20Ride/DSCF6539.jpg
Nothing to brag about, I AM a 450 lb man on a trike with a carry permit.

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn208/rollerdavem/Lightfoot%20Trike/Detail_006-1.jpg
A heavily-armed beach ball on wheels if you will.

Who wouldn't look a bit?

It's kinda funny looking!

RD

[FatA**]

i assume you make sure you are not violating 'concealed' laws with that 'holster'... :D

[Dr. Derailleur]

Yeah--you may want to start rocking a fanny pack for your Beretta. I always carry holstered--it's the law here in Ohio. Then again, you may have a holster deeper in your pocket. Nice trike brother.

[rollerdavem]

i assume you make sure you are not violating 'concealed' laws with that 'holster'...

You are quite correct, MN law does not require concealment. Being very big, I have trouble with belts, or I'd be using one of my obligatory big box of holsters.

Yeah--you may want to start rocking a fanny pack for your Beretta. I always carry holstered--it's the law here in Ohio. Then again, you may have a holster deeper in your pocket.

Funny you should mention it, I got one for father's day! I've never had the Beretta fall out of my pocket, but it hasn't felt exactly secure either. The new fanny pack holster will need a longer strap to fit me, but thats trivial.

Nice trike brother.

THANK YOU! I fear I have let my bike sit a bit, I am going to have to kick myself in the butt.

RD

[livin4eternity]

Funniest thing I heard was from a toddler when he saw my brother and I (both on bents). He asked his mom, "Why do they do it like that?"

[lowracer1]

I can't go anywhere on the nocom without people totally dropping what they are doing to stare at me go by.

[gcottay]

Looks, often. On familiar routess waves and smiles are also common. And here too the kids are the most vocal.