Recumbent - My laugh for the day

While slowly picking my way past a crowd down by the lakeshore today on
my Volae Tour, a young lad about 5 or 6 years old pointed at my bike and
started laughing almost uncontrolably. Pointing at me and the bike he managed
to blurt out "Mom, look at that weird bike!" then back to his laughter. As I rode
by grinning I could hear her explain to her young son "That is called a Recumbent
bicycle and they're really nice bikes.".

Just felt like sharing....:)

I get that from adults when they see my trike. Except very few even know what it's called.

I get that from adults when they see my trike. Except very few even know what it's called.

The first week I had my Catrike Trail, two different people referred to it as a "Contraption". I guess the folks here in Okeechobee don't know what to call it either.

Tractor Tom in Okeechobee, FL

"That's a unique mechanism," was the verdict I got from a homeless guy on my route this morning. "How many people would it take to make it go?"

I was a little confused about the question, since I was riding at the time, with no sign of a co-pilot. I answered with some non-sequitur like, "Yeah, it's a lot of fun to ride." Not till he was a quarter mile back did it suddenly hit me, "Hey! I think that guy just insulted my climbing speed!"

I invariably get the following reactions:

From kids 5-15: "Oh, wow! What a cool bike!!!!"

From seniors: "That looks really different - how comfortable is that?"

From 20-30 yo hardbodies: "Dude, I hope they shoot me before I get so bad I have to ride one of those things!" (To which I respond: "Call me, I'd like to help you out on that!")

Yeah, my neighbors kids do that too, laugh uncontrollably when I ride by on my recumbent, and I laugh with them. But almost every kid I pass on our rails-to-trails bike path gives a big smile and says something like "wow, look at that neat bike mom/dad!" Kids seem to really appreciate the bike. I also commute to work through some of Boston's Hoods, and I get so many wonderful comments along the lines of "Hey Man, that's a really cool bike!" I think people who are out of the "mainstream", relate to me and my recumbent because we clearly look "out of the mainstream." Which suits me just fine.

I get the most hysterical laughter from people in the first mile or two when I take my husky with me. He's so hyped at getting out for a run that he'll rip me along at a full out run. So, there goes a weird looking, low to the ground trike with a heavy set woman on it and a gray and white husky dragging her along almost uncontrollably. I had someone fall into the hedge they were laughing so hard once.

Thankfully, the dog settles down after those first couple miles, or I'd never get any exercise with him along.

While commuting home last week on my recumbent, I had a group of teenagers ask me to stop. They thought the bike was cool, and wanted to look at it. I even let one of them sit on it, but didn't trust him enough to ride it without falling over.

The only negative comments I get about the bike are from one woman I see along my commute. She has obvious mental issues, so I just smile and wave.

So far 4 co-workers have tried my bike and 2 more have sat on it. The praise for the bike and the fun factor is universal. I've met two LBS salesmen who've looked at me like I had 3 heads when I mentioned what I was buying was for a 'bent.

The WTF looks from drivers and pedestrians are still amusing.

I get the most hysterical laughter from people in the first mile or two when I take my husky with me. He's so hyped at getting out for a run that he'll rip me along at a full out run. So, there goes a weird looking, low to the ground trike with a heavy set woman on it and a gray and white husky dragging her along almost uncontrollably. I had someone fall into the hedge they were laughing so hard once.

Thankfully, the dog settles down after those first couple miles, or I'd never get any exercise with him along.

Hmm... It's a good thing you have a trike. I can't imagine my dogs pulling me without serious injury. :eek:

Hmm... It's a good thing you have a trike. I can't imagine my dogs pulling me without serious injury. :eek:

Yeah, I'll admit. Getting through the first couple intersections without him hauling me out into traffic is always a challenge. Thankfully my drum breaks work great. :twitchy:

I get the most hysterical laughter from people in the first mile or two when I take my husky with me. He's so hyped at getting out for a run that he'll rip me along at a full out run. So, there goes a weird looking, low to the ground trike with a heavy set woman on it and a gray and white husky dragging her along almost uncontrollably. I had someone fall into the hedge they were laughing so hard once.

Thankfully, the dog settles down after those first couple miles, or I'd never get any exercise with him along.

The next time gas prices go through the roof, one of your local television stations would likely jump at the chance to send a crew. <G>

2 wks ago I was on a club ride w/ about 28 Western Wheelers. It was a mixed group speed wise and being new to big group rides, it took me awhile to figure out that all the people in front, who eventually pulled away, were the fast riders. I caught up w/ them about 1/2 way through the route and a little later we stopped to let the rest of the group catch up. I parked my Giro 20TT on one side and since it is lower than the "other" bikes, at least one person did not see it and in response to "are we all hear", she said, "wasn't there a recumbent w/ us?" Someone else chimed in that I was here and I got to say "There you go expecting the recumbent to be last". A 1/2 dozen people laughed out loud and one said to me "especially on the downhills". They will all learn eventually!

While slowly picking my way past a crowd down by the lakeshore today on
my Volae Tour, a young lad about 5 or 6 years old pointed at my bike and
started laughing almost uncontrolably. Pointing at me and the bike he managed
to blurt out "Mom, look at that weird bike!" then back to his laughter. As I rode
by grinning I could hear her explain to her young son "That is called a Recumbent
bicycle and they're really nice bikes.".

Just felt like sharing....:)

I used to ride my homebuilt recumbent, a few years ago and the underseat steering handle bars were fairly short.

Several times I had people call out, "Where's your handlebars".

When I first got my trike I had someone I know pull over to the curb and ask out the window in all seriousness "did you make that?" (an orange Catrike Speed). I said "yes, I did." The husband of the questioner now has a 2 wheel recumbent, purchased for him at a yard sale by his back doctor.

I mostly ride in adjacent/interconnecting neighborhoods and I often pass houses with moms and kids out in the front yards. Most of the time the kids ignore me, but the moms don't! They usually respond with a big smile and say "cool bike" or "is that as comfortable as it looks?". Makes this 62 year old's day! Remember, you're never too old to have a happy childhood! :thumb:

It is not unusual to get varied comments while ridding a Bent. I was on my Trike the other day and a couple stopped to look at it. "Nice" they said "Where did you get it" next comment " When we are "Older" we might want to get one of those........What makes this so funny was that well this couple was lets say "upper" middle aged and my Trike was a Catrike 700 with a 27 deg seat angle which equals very low. My visual at that moment was either one of them being able to set in it........:thumb:

I get all the usual comments, but the other day I was returning to my trike which had been tethered in the town centre while I was shopping, and I heard a man say to his wife, "Look at that bike -it's fallen to pieces. Oh no, it hasn't." I then engaged him in polite conversation about how well suits my needs and the couple left a bit wiser than they previously were.

then you picked up the pieces and rode away............. I enjoy the comments I get while riding. Good to know people are thinking about recreation, exercize, and just enjoying outside and nature.

Last year, I rode a homebuilt bent with underseat steering. Alongside the road, somebody asked me where my handlebars were. I yelled "I'm holding them." when I was actually thinking "They're in my hands, dumb-ass! Where'd ya think they were - at home in the garage?"

I got one of those "Cool bike" comments from one of a couple of kids standing over there bikes along side the street today. A couple of wks ago I got into a conversation w/ a DF rider at a rest stop and he said it looked like I was sitting on a lawn chair. The guy behind him recognized the comfort advantage. I agree about the uniqueness factor for bents. One of the fringe benefits.
Mark

Was riding through a small town with a couple buddies, me on my V-Rex they on their DF bikes. A kid yelled "that's a stupid looking bike". I turned to my buddy and said "that kid doesn't like your bike". He laughed so hard he nearly lost it.

Alongside the road, somebody asked me where my handlebars were. I yelled "I'm holding them."That's when you're supposed to yell "Help me, I can't steer!" :-)

"A kid yelled 'that's a stupid looking bike'"- Future roadie.

I invariably get the following reactions:

From kids 5-15: "Oh, wow! What a cool bike!!!!"

From seniors: "That looks really different - how comfortable is that?"

From 20-30 yo hardbodies: "Dude, I hope they shoot me before I get so bad I have to ride one of those things!" (To which I respond: "Call me, I'd like to help you out on that!")

I get the exact same thing from the same age groups, except the 20-30 age group of hardbodies are far too cool to acknowledge me most of the time. I find it interesting that bicyclists, which one would think to be a liberal crowd(?) are so conservative when it comes to the bikes they ride. If it doesn't look a certain way, they won't even consider it. The really young ones though, are so exposed to a variety of bikes now, (as opposed to the same old Schwinns we saw over and over as kids) that they can appreciate a good design.

"A kid yelled 'that's a stupid looking bike'"- Future roadie.
More likely a future couch potato driving an SUV.

I get that from adults when they see my trike. Except very few even know what it's called.

Most often, I hear folks refer to mine as a 'reclining' bike.

Last year, I rode a homebuilt bent with underseat steering. Alongside the road, somebody asked me where my handlebars were. I yelled "I'm holding them." when I was actually thinking "They're in my hands, dumb-ass! Where'd ya think they were - at home in the garage?"

Man, I would have responded with "Handlebars! I knew they forgot to install something!"

:lol:

My all time favorite was when the 300 lb plus "lady" in the grocery store parking lot responded to her young son's question, "Mommy, What kind of bike is that?", pointing to my Tour Easy. "That's a lazy man's bike!!

I invariably get the following reactions:

From kids 5-15: "Oh, wow! What a cool bike!!!!"

From seniors: "That looks really different - how comfortable is that?"

From 20-30 yo hardbodies: "Dude, I hope they shoot me before I get so bad I have to ride one of those things!" (To which I respond: "Call me, I'd like to help you out on that!")

Love this post:thumb: When we can out ride them they will be more interested. Keep riding.
Mark