i know nothing about bents, can you all educate me about the fastest, most elite brands and models?
thanks

Arguably, the fastest recumbent (unfaired) in the velokraft nocom. Lowarcers in any flavor are the fastest class of bents, which highracers right behind them.

I personally find my m5 tica to be the fastest bike I have ridden over verying terrain. Nocoms rule the flats, but they're a little thougher to climb with.

Plenty of info out there. Why are you looking?

just curious. i'm sure i will get one someday... i was cruising thru the pics thread and saw the nocom and the m5 tica, both pretty sweet. i'd love to try them but the only recumbents sold in my area are the Rans.

just curious. i'm sure i will get one someday... i was cruising thru the pics thread and saw the nocom and the m5 tica, both pretty sweet. i'd love to try them but the only recumbents sold in my area are the Rans.

Yep, exotic recumbents are hard to find in the US. Even American performance bents like Bacchettas and Volaes can be hard to find without traveling. I drove 6 hours to buy a Volae Team in 2003 and had to get Bacchetta to relax their "no mailorder" rule in 2004 to buy an Aero. Now Bacchettas can be mailordered, though, but at the time they couldn't.

When you get to European lowracers like the M5 TiCa, the Velokcrafts, the Optimas and Challenges, things begin to get really dicey though Optimas and Challenges are available depending upon where you live. VKs are available from Bentup Cycles in California and M5s can be had with a little work.

I'd suggest visiting www.recumbents.com for lots of racing info and links. To get involved in the general recumbent scene and to get a lot of info on bents in general, visit www.bentrideronline.com .

Good luck. :)

thanks much! i perused those sites a bit last night... i like the styling of the low racers the most. i guess i will need to start saving my pennies.

thanks much! i perused those sites a bit last night... i like the styling of the low racers the most. i guess i will need to start saving my pennies.
Be sure you know where you're riding before getting one. I'd love a lowracer, but a highracer is better in traffic because you are more visible and maneuverable.

just curious. i'm sure i will get one someday... i was cruising thru the pics thread and saw the nocom and the m5 tica, both pretty sweet. i'd love to try them but the only recumbents sold in my area are the Rans.

I might be wrong about this, my memory isn't what it used to be, but didn't Lance win his final TDF on a RANS Tailwind? You can't go wrong with RANS. :D

I've never found a lowracer to be an issue in any sort of traffic, and find cars give me an even wider berth than normal. If you don't own a lowracer, please don't spout stuff you think you heard from somebody that saw a lowracer once.

Grail, the best thing to do would be to find someone near you who had one, and take it for a little spin. If tyou're ever in the DFW area I can get you a test on at leats 3 different types of lowracers.

I just bought a Rans V3Ti! Compared to any bents I've been on before and compared to the upright carbon fiber bikes ridden by the crowd 20 years younger than me, this bike is FAST!
I'm no racer, though and I haven't any idea how it would perform against highracers or lowracers assuming an equal "engine."

thanks for the offer! be there tomorrow... joke. i building a road bike at the moment but i think my next bike project will be a low or mid racer.

Try www.rotatorrecumbent.com then build your own fairing.

I might be wrong about this, my memory isn't what it used to be, but didn't Lance win his final TDF on a RANS Tailwind? You can't go wrong with RANS. :D

I think you're right.... about your memory. :D

Hmmmmmm.......that's not Lance, it's not the TDF, and that's not a Tailwind................my memory has let me down again........................

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z284/JanMM/bentlemond.jpg

I've never found a lowracer to be an issue in any sort of traffic, and find cars give me an even wider berth than normal. If you don't own a lowracer, please don't spout stuff you think you heard from somebody that saw a lowracer once.

Ditto and +1.

I've never found a lowracer to be an issue in any sort of traffic, and find cars give me an even wider berth than normal. If you don't own a lowracer, please don't spout stuff you think you heard from somebody that saw a lowracer once.

I could ditto here, but... hey, I just did! Proper positioning in the traffic lane will eliminate visibility issues. AKA Don't ride in the Door Prize Zone or the shoulder!

Nice pic of Mr LeMond.

I'll see your LeMond and raise you one Laurent Fignon and one Jan Ulrich (on Barons):

I've never found a lowracer to be an issue in any sort of traffic, and find cars give me an even wider berth than normal. If you don't own a lowracer, please don't spout stuff you think you heard from somebody that saw a lowracer once.

You don't need a lowracer to understand that there are issues in traffic. I own a tadpole which has very similar visibility issues. Visibility is not an issue on the highway with low riding bikes because people see you from a distance as they approach from behind. I agree that people cut you more berth whenever you ride something unusual -- I also get this effect on my trike.

However, when you are in heavy traffic, cars next to you can't see you nearly as well. When you are moving along a line of parked cars, cars entering the road cannot always see you. When someone is passing the car that's tailgating you, they might not realize you're there and pull into the space you're taking. Likewise, cars that you are overtaking don't necessarily see you as readily as they would on a higher riding bike. When someone is tailing you, you can't tell what's behind them (or see much of the next lane over if they're too close).

Just say if any of these things aren't true, because this has definitely been my experience. I'll ride in weather and traffic that few cyclists are willing to work with, but I don't pretend there are no issues.

As you get lower, it becomes easier to get into the blind spot of an SUV, pickup, or other vehicle that rides high up. Because of the way sight lines work, it's harder to make eye contact and establish communication with motorists. Adding a flag significantly increases visibility to motorists, but it is not the same as being a bit higher up.

On the highway, low riding bikes are safe enough. However, I cannot see how anyone could possibly say there's no issue unless the conditions they've ridden in are pretty tame.

I could ditto here, but... hey, I just did! Proper positioning in the traffic lane will eliminate visibility issues.
Lane positioning is critical, but it cannot eliminate visibility issues. When cars get too close to each other, both you and the motorists must operate with obstructed sight lines. The trick is that some motorists might not know you're out there.

That visibility issue is a function of all bikes, and isn't specific to trikes or racers, man. I take the lane or even move over one in some of those situations. Never been a problem.

Fastest overall (with a fairing) may well be a faired-version of the Lightning P-38, namely, the F40 (see picture here: http://www.bicycleman.com/recumbents/lightning/lightning_p38_f40.htm ). Fastest unfaired (on flats) would I suspect be the NoCom, the Optima Baron, M5, Challenge Fujin. Fastest with hills on the route would I guess to be the Lightning P-38 and the Bacchetta Aero

Fastest unfaired (on flats) would I suspect be the NoCom, the Optima Baron, M5, Challenge Fujin. Fastest with hills on the route would I guess to be the Lightning P-38 and the Bacchetta Aero

I've owned a Bacchetta Aero, Fujin SL-II and an Optima Baron. The Aero wasn't close on hills. That's why I sold it.

The trick is that some motorists might not know you're out there.

There are motorists out there who wouldn't see you if you were in an M1 Abrams! It's nothing bike-specific or personal, they're just frigging oblivious.

SP

There are motorists out there who wouldn't see you if you were in an M1 Abrams! It's nothing bike-specific or personal, they're just frigging oblivious.

SP

So true, it is up to you to make your presence known in traffic, no matter what you ride or operate as a vehicle.

Be safe out there and make known of your presence in traffic.

So true, it is up to you to make your presence known in traffic, no matter what you ride or operate as a vehicle.

Be safe out there and make known of your presence in traffic.
It is true that some morons would hit a school bus -- I almost got taken out yesterday by someone who totally spaced and ran a red light at almost 40mph. While riding in heavy traffic, speed is less important to me than maneuverability and my ability to see what's going on. Plus, some bents aren't much fun in stop and go traffic.

Those of you on lowracers, do you use a flag -- I thought they were required when you're beneath a certain height? That was one of the other reasons I got a highracer (that, and I was able to pick up a Seiran SL for the price of a Corsa). I use a flag with my trike, but it offends my aero and weight weenie side.

Those of you on lowracers, do you use a flag -- I thought they were required when you're beneath a certain height? That was one of the other reasons I got a highracer (that, and I was able to pick up a Seiran SL for the price of a Corsa). I use a flag with my trike, but it offends my aero and weight weenie side.

Flag? No.

Warning - Thread HiJack: How is that Seiren working out? I've often thought of selling my Volae and picking up a Seiren.

Flag? No.

Warning - Thread HiJack: How is that Seiren working out? I've often thought of selling my Volae and picking up a Seiren.
I love it. It's beautiful to look at, crazy light, and very fast. DF's don't have a chance against it except going up hills. Handling is decent and it climbs well. It's my favorite bike.

One thing to know about it is that there is frame flex when you are hammering (e.g. leg pressing up a short but steep hill, rapid acceleration). There is a modest amount of pedal steer. Somewhere around 40mph, I stop pedaling on descents because it messes up the ride. It's fun at high speeds on sweeping curves.

I ride a "quasi-lowracer" daily in heavy traffic. I've had a lot of people tell me my flag was the only
thing that kept them from pulling out dead in front of me like out of a driveway or parking lot. There
are too many jackasses behind the wheel where I live ... I might get another flag too ... :D
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/DSCF0799.JPG

so whats the story with fwd bents?

I've owned a Bacchetta Aero, Fujin SL-II and an Optima Baron. The Aero wasn't close on hills. That's why I sold it.


Yup. The aero is a snail on the hills, but nice and comfy the whole way - that's for sure. I've also earned a p-38 and it's respectable for sure, but I blow it away with the M5 every time.

What *has* surprised me is how fast the v-rex is up hills! I've been riding my wife's and did a lot of climbing (~10k feet) this past weekend, and it really flies nice and easy up those suckers!

Never use a flag and never will. It looks stupid and I don't think it works unless you use it to hang a blinkie from - though that's just my opinion. I find a blinkie on the back of my helmet works great though.

Never use a flag and never will. It looks stupid and I don't think it works unless you use it to hang a blinkie from - though that's just my opinion. I find a blinkie on the back of my helmet works great though.

Well I could argue that helmets look stupid too ... but I won't. I'd rather look stupid alive than look
cool dead ...:D:

I've never found a lowracer to be an issue in any sort of traffic, and find cars give me an even wider berth than normal. If you don't own a lowracer, please don't spout stuff you think you heard from somebody that saw a lowracer once.


I will second what aikigreg said. I commute daily on my lowracer and have no problem being able to see, or be seen. Now that doesn't mean all the drivers will behave the same way where others ride, and I also ride with a full awareness that I am lower to the ground and need to pay more attention to visibility issues from both points of view. That being said, I have very few issues I need to dodge, and the strange profile from all directions seems to catch people's attention much better and faster than when I rode an upright.

While the NoComs, and other lowracers are nice bikes, if they are a little out of your price range, don't be afraid to build a lowracer. They can be every bit as fast with the right rider on it.

http://fleettrikes.com/raptor%2074%20dual%20discs%20and%20box.jpg

so whats the story with fwd bents?

I ride a Cruzbike Sofrider V1, modified with rear wheel covers and a 30-42-52 triple (front rings).
My brother in law, a very experienced cyclist, rides a carbon composite Wilier race bike, outfitted with a very exclusive gruppo.

We rode together on my local roads recently....

The DF bike climbed better than mine. He's a better climber, has a lighter bike and has much more
experience under his belt.
His bike accelerates quicker than mine.

In all other respects (road performance), my FWD recumbent was superior.

Overall, we're a good match.

My average speed is usually somewhere between 16 and 17.2MPH.

Objectively, the only drawback -or compromise- to the FWD design, as implemented in the Cruzbike,
is a lack of drive wheel (front wheel) traction going up steep grades/steep hills.
This can be partially offset with technique:
-using a higher gear;
-adjusting the front tire inflation;
-Body-english: leaning forwards.
Personally this affects me only when cycling on loose surfaces, off road.

At a local century ride on roads with traffic I was never once run over by any motor vehicle or one that pulled up along my side at a stop sign. So much for the theory that lowracers are dangerous and can not be seen. Been riding ultra lows 7 years on streets and highways with traffic and never mowed down by any vehicle who can supposedly "not see me".

It was a fun day riding an ultra low and passing every highracer in sight including numerous pacelines with matching outfits, tri riders on aerobars, Rans and GRRs with bubble fairings and some tandems. No flag needed to screw up aerodynamics when passing countless slow moving objects on 2 wheels

nice. what were you riding?^

Gee, I wonder what bike a NoCom Rider would ride? ;)

It was a fun day riding an ultra low and passing every highracer in sight including numerous pacelines with matching outfits, tri riders on aerobars, Rans and GRRs with bubble fairings and some tandems. No flag needed to screw up aerodynamics when passing countless slow moving objects on 2 wheels

I did the same thing yesterday except that I went South towards St. Louis to ride. Had a nice leisurely Sunday solo 50 miles and never got run over or passed. Passed everything else, though. :)

for Grail29er: I was riding a VK2

Never use a flag and never will. It looks stupid and I don't think it works unless you use it to hang a blinkie from - though that's just my opinion. I find a blinkie on the back of my helmet works great though.
I have wondered about this exact issue. Reports I get from the road is that if I'm on my trike in daylight, a flag improves my visibility significantly more than my NR universal taillight (easily visible in broad daylight from a distance and probably the best taillight out there aside from the Dinotte) aimed at drivers' eyes. This is not what I wanted to hear, but that's what reports are consistently telling me.

Road reports have led me to conclude that even bright taillights do not help much except in low light or darkness. Utility of flags also depends on riding and traffic conditions.

i know nothing about bents, can you all educate me about the fastest, most elite brands and models?
thanks

Test ride:recum:, test ride:recum:, and test ride :recum:.

Out of curiosity, do any of you on this forum actually race on a recumbent? I race in a few time trials on my Challenge Fujin SL II and I have never seen another bent? I probably look way out of place among all of the high bling TT bikes but I don't care much, I just ride my own race.

So anybody else race? Time trials or other competition?

I've done a couple of races, although I don't consider myself a racer. A few HPRA events and one 100-mile road race. Above-average finishes, but nothing special.

I've done a 100 mile UMCA event on a Baron. I got 1st in the Mens, 100 Mile, 50+, Recumbent category.

I think there were 2-3 of us. :D

Seriously, I'm considering doing some racing. I raced for 9 years in the '80s. Of course, I'm a little older, now. ;)

The biggest problem that I have is that I don't want to travel 3 hours one way for 20-30 miles worth of racing. I'd rather stay home and ride with my peeps to breakfast.

Besides BP, Aikigreg and NoCom Racer from this thread race, also.

Lastly, some of the Chicago guys race regularly. They're not too shabby either considering one of them has a couple world records on a bent.

I race everything I can conceiveably get to that allow me in. I briefly held some records at the texas time trials in the 500 mile race, have have raced bunches of HPVA stuff as well as calvin's. I hold a few gold medals from the times I was allowed to do local TTs.

I've done a 100 mile UMCA event on a Baron. I got 1st in the Mens, 100 Mile, 50+, Recumbent category.

Seriously, I'm considering doing some racing. I raced for 9 years in the '80s. Of course, I'm a little older, now. ;)



Hey Bubba,
I'm in your age group. Lets make plans for the Metamora Gravel & Road Rash 100 mile race this August. Get some kevlar shorts to go with your lowboy jersey :) You will need 'em at Metamora.

Hey Bubba,
I'm in your age group. Lets make plans for the Metamora Gravel & Road Rash 100 mile race this August. Get some kevlar shorts to go with your lowboy jersey :) You will need 'em at Metamora.

I was just up there last Saturday riding around. The chip seal didn't look too bad after having been plowed all Winter, but they have all Summer to put down some more. :D

I think the Metamora thing is the same weekend as the Hostel Shoppe Rally which I'm going to. (Pheww! Dodged another bullet!) I might change my mind and stay here. You never know.

Thanks mates for the replies. I will have to check into some of the HPRA events, never been around those. I have never heard of any around here (Colorado). It would be great to see some more bent racing in this area. So far the ACA sponsored Boulder time trials have let race. (Although one race official let me know that my bike was illegal)
The Metamora race sounds interesting, but with $4 per gallon petrol, I don't think I will go.

So far the ACA sponsored Boulder time trials have let race. (Although one race official let me know that my bike was illegal)

The ACA apparently uses the OLD USCF rules, which require a bike to be less than 2 meters long and 29.5 inches wide. Lightning Bikes sells (sold?) a shortened version of the M-5 lowracer which fit the rules, but after Tim Brummer cleaned up at a few races, they changed the rules. Now the USCF rules state that recumbents cannot be raced unless a separate recumbent class is provided for them. Since none of the organizers ever wanted recumbents around anyway, the easy way to "lock us out" is to not provide the recumbent class.

There are other race-capable recumbents which fit within the old USCF definition, too. However, if you got one and actually won something, all they'd have to do is adopt the current USCF rules to disallow you again. Bottom line is, your best bets for racing opportunities is to find some organizers that'll let you in anyway (but don't have the temerity to win!) or find some sympathetic independent organizers. I don't think there's much HPRA presence in the mountain states, so you could possibly become an organizer, too.

Why do people race bents? What's the point?

^^why do people race at all, whats the point?

---because they can... just like sailboats and other one design sports, lots of different models to put head to head.

Why do people race bents? What's the point?

I could ask the same question about people racing on upright bikes, and the answers would be the same.