I love my recumbent. I am faster on it than on my wedgie. The truth is, I'm still not very fast.

Twice today I was humiliated by a cyclist on a DF bike. The first time was on my way to work this morning, going *up* the bridge. I really tried to catch him. I didn't even come close.

On the way home a different cyclist passed me, and I began a slight descent just after that. I figured I would catch him there. I was wrong.

It's true, it's the cyclist, not the bike.

I'll be even slower tomorrow. Forecast calling for heavy rain, so I'm riding my wedgie with fenders.

My 'bents make me faster, but they're not magic machines. Speeding me up by 3 or 4 mph still leaves me short of a really strong roadie. Being beaten isn't a humiliation; there's always somebody who's faster.

It is the "motor" on the bike that makes the difference,,,for the most part. Gearing may play a part too but the design of the bike is not a major factor in speed...that is of course taking into consideration same weight, components, ... ...

It is the "motor" on the bike that makes the difference,,,for the most part. Gearing may play a part too but the design of the bike is not a major factor in speed...that is of course taking into consideration same weight, components, ... ...

So you're saying that a 22 pound mountain bike is as fast as a 22 racing bent? I call BS.

Yesterday was my seventh long-distance ride on my recumbent. I learned three factors are necessary to make good time on my recumbent:
(1) Eliminate friction (parts that make noise while pedaling)
(2) Stick to a riding schedule. For me that's six days a week.

(3) Enjoy each ride.

From my perspective, being passed by a rider simply means the he or she was going faster than I. Again, just for me, unless the rider does something stupid or annoying ahead of me, there is exactly zero downside. If more than a few pass, I may ask myself if I am working as hard as I want that day. If a rider is going especially fast, I almost always check to see if his or her cadence is higher than mine. It's all good.

That said, I do like going fast at times, so tend to do some informal interval training on many rides. I often hold a high (for me) speed for a mile or two and then ease off.

Even this sloppy training does pay off. So far, not one single solitary rider on training wheels has smoked me.

I love my recumbent. I am faster on it than on my wedgie. The truth is, I'm still not very fast.

Twice today I was humiliated by a cyclist on a DF bike. The first time was on my way to work this morning, going *up* the bridge. I really tried to catch him. I didn't even come close.

On the way home a different cyclist passed me, and I began a slight descent just after that. I figured I would catch him there. I was wrong.

It's true, it's the cyclist, not the bike.

I'll be even slower tomorrow. Forecast calling for heavy rain, so I'm riding my wedgie with fenders.

Don't worry, I've passed road bikes on my 6-speed cruiser before. No worries. :D Just enjoy the ride.

Wouldnt worry about it. I got passed by a jogger today:)

I'm not worried about it.

I mostly thought it was amusing. I am a much stronger ride than I was four months ago, but I still have a way to go before I'll be happy with my speed. Once I reach that point... I'll still get passed :)

Sometimes I get passed, sometimes I pass. Rides are like that. If I get passed and really feel like it, I'll put the hammer down and try to catch up or at least stop loosing ground to the guy that passed me. I often find that they're riding not one or two MPH faster than I, but more like 5 or 6. This morning, for example, I was doing a nice steady 16 when a guy passed me. I decided to pursue and found that I was even with the guy at 21. Once he turned off, I dropped back to 17-18 and felt good.

I'm not worried about it.

I mostly thought it was amusing. I am a much stronger ride than I was four months ago, but I still have a way to go before I'll be happy with my speed. Once I reach that point... I'll still get passed :)

Very good, grasshopper. You are learning.

SP

The first few rides I went on, I was passed by very few people. And the ones who did pass me had legs like trees. So I didn't feel bad.

Then I decided to scale back on how much I was pushing it -- I'd skipped a few rides because I wasn't up to the effort, and figured that going out and riding slowly is better than not riding at all. I've stuck to that a fair bit, but it also means I get passed fairly often.

Every once in a while I feel like the tortoise and the hare, though, because I'll catch up to the riders who passed me as they're sitting on the side taking a break.

Some old guy on an old beater passed me the other day. As he rode by, he complimented my bike. I said, "Yeah, and you're still beating me." We both laughed. Then he said, "See ya later!" and took off.

I still find that it is easier to go a little faster and longer on the bent than on my Beach Cruiser. That's enough for me right now. ...Sad part is that some folks will still be able to pass me even after I install a motor, since it's limited to 20 mph.

Sometimes, that's just the way it goes.

I always try to look like I'm not training/racing

I always try to look like I'm not training/racing

I've learned from often-exasperated roadies that even when I'm working my @$$ off, it looks like I'm loafing. That's the body language that the position produces!

I've learned from often-exasperated roadies that even when I'm working my @$$ off, it looks like I'm loafing. That's the body language that the position produces!

Thats definately the way forward - in every sense of the word

I have a Hurricane which I can really crank up and I sit behind alot of the roadies no problem at all , I also have a trike which has touring gears and I can and pass most peeps commuting out there on it , give it time and build those bent legs and maybe try a lower sitting position and ride MORE ,love hills and one day the MAGIC will happen , ( there are alway's other riders faster than you out there ) now if I can ever get my hands on one of these bikes I'll be soooooo happy http://www.challenge-recumbents.com/html/index.php?taal=en&selectie=nme http://www.challenge-recumbents.com/html/index.php?taal=en&selectie=jester

I've learned from often-exasperated roadies that even when I'm working my @$$ off, it looks like I'm loafing. That's the body language that the position produces!
I ride a rolling lawn chair. It doesn't surprise me at all when people think I'm just puttering around.

I finally beat a super steep nasty hill for the first time yesterday where I live , and it felt GOOOOOOD

I'm currently riding a Rans Rocket and commuting 20 miles daily for work, plus extra for enjoyment and errands. Sometimes I pass, more often I'm passed.

I rode my Klein wedgie one day last week and I think I was a slight bit faster, but wow did I notice the increased tension in my neck and shoulder blades! I also realized that I didn't notice what was going on around me as much - wildlife, sunrise, etc. Recumbents have way more benefits than just speed.

Doug

WAIT!!! You mean if I get a recumbent, I am NOT going to get that speeding ticket I want on the main drag in town??? I thought a recumbent made you go 3 x faster than on an upright! DARN!!!

WAIT!!! You mean if I get a recumbent, I am NOT going to get that speeding ticket I want on the main drag in town??? I thought a recumbent made you go 3 x faster than on an upright! DARN!!!

You could go faster, but certainly not on a Rocket. And probably not 3x either.

This past June I rode in Lebanon Oregon's Strawberry Century and passed many "roadies" along the route. I completed the ride in 6 hours and pulled one guy for 75 miles - he was impressed with what could be done on a trike!
I ride almost every day, either outside or on a trainer. The trainer allows me to focus on technique (smooth pedal strokes, cadence, limiting boom flex). I also track my rides - knowing where you have been will help in pointing you in the right direction.
Another training tip: Want to ride faster? Then ride faster...
Doug
http://www.crazytrike.com

WAIT!!! You mean if I get a recumbent, I am NOT going to get that speeding ticket I want on the main drag in town??? I thought a recumbent made you go 3 x faster than on an upright! DARN!!!

Ssshh. Don't spread it around.

You could go faster, but certainly not on a Rocket. And probably not 3x either.

So what bike or recumbent do I need? Speed limit on the main drag in town is 35, so I will need to go at least 40 to 45 to get my ticket? I presume a EZ-3 is not going to let me get a ticket

So what bike or recumbent do I need? Speed limit on the main drag in town is 35, so I will need to go at least 40 to 45 to get my ticket? I presume a EZ-3 is not going to let me get a ticket

Something like this would help...

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x248/cyclaholic_album/nocomside.jpg

along with legs like this guy.....
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x248/cyclaholic_album/bodybuilder.jpg

After reading this, I have concluded that I am just slow as molasses. I averaged around 8 mph tonight. I think it was all those stop signs slowing me down. :rolleyes:

I currently ride a Giant Revive(looking forward to getting a true recumbent next year)and the beast is probably 35-40 lbs. I am 295 lbs. I can still hit 15-25mph on flats fairly easy depending on head winds. Hills just flat out suck and I rarely get over 12mph. My fastest so far is 31.3 mph. Not a demon, but beats the heck out of walking, gas prices, and wedgies. I've passed a few roadies on my Revive too...and have been passed...badly...what matter is are you getting from A to B and are you having fun?

I just bought an EZ 1 three days ago. Hadn't even ridden a bike in 15 years! I'm havin' a BLAST with this thing. All I need is to develop a holder for an umbrella drink and I'm all set! So I see here that people are worried about speed?! I'm outside, fresh air, exersize, having FUN. I don't worry about a durn thing!!! ENJOY THE RIDE!!

P.S. My neighbor calls it a sissy bike, I'm cool with that! :roflmao2:

So what bike or recumbent do I need? Speed limit on the main drag in town is 35, so I will need to go at least 40 to 45 to get my ticket? I presume a EZ-3 is not going to let me get a ticket

Try riding nude ...... getting tickets will be No Problem :lol:

I hate it when people much younger and in better shape pass me as though I was standing still, typically muttering demeaning comments

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y30/CraigVM62/biker-dude2.jpg

So what I'm looking at is the Bacchetta Giro 26, possibly a RANS F5. I currently have a hybrid commuter that weighs a ton and does not respond (start from a stop or accelerate) very quickly, especially when I have it loaded down with my work baggage (I should just leave a lot of that stuff at work - the lock, my shoes, etc.).

I have a hilly commute, 6.5 miles each way. The Giro 26 weighs 31 pounds - does this start off slowly too? (My hybrid, a Novara Forza, weighs 29 pounds stripped down. It now has fenders, rack, panniers, lock, etc.) How are these (Giros and recumbents in general) on hills?

I suppose I should open this up in a separate thread, but while we're here...

This is just me, but if I were doing a 6.5 mile hilly commute I would stick with the upright, or at most use the recumbent as a fair-weather-only ride. IMHO the hybrid would be better in rain, snow, and hills. The Giro is not going to leap off the starting line; in fact it will probably be less responsive than the hybrid.

This is just me, but if I were doing a 6.5 mile hilly commute I would stick with the upright, or at most use the recumbent as a fair-weather-only ride. IMHO the hybrid would be better in rain, snow, and hills. The Giro is not going to leap off the starting line; in fact it will probably be less responsive than the hybrid.

I have to agree. My cheap hybrid is way more responsive than my recumbent. However, I commute on the recumbent (33 mile round-trip) for the comfort. My recumbent weighs 32 lbs (as delivered, I've added to it since then)

Hills are harder on a recumbent, but you can adjust.

I always try to look like I'm not training/racing

Pretend to be knitting while riding :D

Look again at the F5. I think it's 5 lbs. lighter than the Giro 26. I had a Giro 26, very nice bike and if you need anything the company who makes it has great customer service.

I have to agree. My cheap hybrid is way more responsive than my recumbent. However, I commute on the recumbent (33 mile round-trip) for the comfort. My recumbent weighs 32 lbs (as delivered, I've added to it since then)

Hills are harder on a recumbent, but you can adjust.

What are you up to these days? I'm sure you're getting faster all the time.

I had a "fast" day on the way into work earlier this week. I managed an average of 16.5 mph. However, I took a hilly route (and 3 mile longer) on the way home yesterday and only averaged 12 mph.

I had almost forgotten about my small chainring, but there were hills on this route theat required it.

I'm not much faster, but endurance is better.

I've been riding recumbents for years and have become accustomed to being passed by DF's. This made it all the sweeter when I got my Flevo back to back tandem and started passing DF's instead. There's nothing else like it.