Recumbent - Once you've gone 'bent' have you ever gone back?

I commute an go on long rides on my bent. I have a DF that I ride when I race and during the weeks while I am training for that race. After the race is over - back on the bent.

It would be very interesting if those of you who still use DF bikes had said what recumbent you were comparing to the DF bikes - there are several comments which mention where DFs are better than recumbents, but without knowing what sort of recumbent you are comparing it to, it's difficult to know where the recumbent is lacking, or could be improved on.

I have three recumbents: a V-Rex, a Baron, and a Nocom. My upright is a Trek 7500 hybrid. I got the hybrid specifically for commuting, although since I've moved I no longer commute by bicycle. The Trek as fenders, lights, and knobby tires. I still keep it because it's better for rain, winter, and dark. It's also better for riding around the farm.

Never! My wife rides my last df - she's happy, I'm happy. She likes to 'go fast', I like to smell the roses and enjoy the view (which is way better on a recumbent trike). A big plus is that it takes a major effort or serious overserving to fall off my Scorp.

I tell people that I am smelling the roses -- the roses smell better when you're going faster (the bow wave compresses the smell,) and I get to see more roses, too.

I go back and forth from upright to recumbent.

I commute on my old Trek mountain bike. I would rather commute on any of my recumbents but security at work is a major issue. I can easily replace my Mt. Bike from sources such as CraigsList any day of the week for pennies on the dollar. It took me a long time to find my recumbents (two of them I bought used) and they cost way more dollars than a hard tail mt. bike.

I am starting to commute on the day shift with my SWB Volae but I'm nervous while it sits out at the bike rack. I also own a Sun EZ Sport, a Sun EZ Tandem, a Sun X-1 (my wifes) and an Easy Racer Tour Easy.

Other than that I can give you no realistic valuefication of one style bike over another. I own dozens of bikes. Tandems, Trikes, racers, Road Bikes, Mt. Bikes, Vintage bikes and Recumbents. I ride which ever bike I'm in the mood for on any given day. They are all fun, they all serve a purpose and I'll probably not be parting with any of them any time soon.

Jay Leno chose to fill his garage with cars, I chose bikes. My hobby is way cheaper than his. :)

Nope, I've never gone back even if I could ride an upright bike without pain. The exception would be for off road mountain biking. I'm thinking of trying a crank forward bike sor unserious off roading and maybe steeper gravel surfaced rails to trails type roads.

I'm with you "pinoybenter" but I only have three bents, BikeFriday NWT, Cannondale Road bike, Trek 9800, Bontrager MTB. You cannot have to many bikes, just a place too small to store them. I like bents for the longer rides, road bikes are lite and lively, MTB bikes just fun. I seem to get a better work out with the road bike.
Ken

greetings all,
I have been lurking around here and was considering about getting a recumbent, maybe a trike. I was searching through different brands and found a company called American Cruiser (http://www.americruiser.com/index.htm) . Their machines look kinda interesting. Has anybody dealt with them or bought any of their machines? I've left a message with them requesting more info on a fast and stripped down model. They seem to make models to carry loads in.

I'm looking to get either a new road bike or recumbent this year wih my income tax return. My budget won't be going over $2000. so I may be limited to a used recumbent or new road bike.
Ernest

I've never seen one in real life, but from the specs it's pretty low-end. 55 pounds is incredibly heavy, and it lists its components as being made by Mongoose and Pacific Cycles, both of which specialize in low-end bikes (target audience is upper-level bikes at dept stores.) It might be good for riding around the block, on the rail-trail, or relatively short rides with the Spousal Unit. It will come off very poorly if it's compared to even a low-end road bike from a shop, though. For under $2000, you should be able to find a nice used trike, and there's even a new one or two in that price range. Check out offerings from Actionbent and Catrike, and start watching the 'for-sale' forum at bentrideronline.com.

Thanks for that advice. I guess the unusualness of it attracted me. The guy from American Cruiser hasn't got back with me yet. I did more searching here and found the Actionbent trike (http://www.actionbent.com/TWTRIKE.html) you mentioned. Now that looks more like it! And the price is right too.
Ernest


I've never seen one in real life, but from the specs it's pretty low-end. 55 pounds is incredibly heavy, and it lists its components as being made by Mongoose and Pacific Cycles, both of which specialize in low-end bikes (target audience is upper-level bikes at dept stores.) It might be good for riding around the block, on the rail-trail, or relatively short rides with the Spousal Unit. It will come off very poorly if it's compared to even a low-end road bike from a shop, though. For under $2000, you should be able to find a nice used trike, and there's even a new one or two in that price range. Check out offerings from Actionbent and Catrike, and start watching the 'for-sale' forum at bentrideronline.com.

I got my Catrike because I no longer have the balance for a DF, or any BIcycle. It may yet improve some, but I'm pretty sure I'd stay bent.

Just took my son's Diamondback Hybrid for a spin. He was complaining about some disc brake and shifting issues.

It was fun and fast! I could enjoy that again. My backside was very aware of the seat change though. Even after just 20 minutes or so. Still may have to take it out for a longer ride sometime.

I bought a Rans V-rex about 4 years ago to supplement (not replace) my DF bike. Since then my mileage has been split about 50/50 -- the upright for mostly around town, the bent for longer out-in-the-country rides. Last year I replaced my old upright with a Giant FCR-1. It and the V-Rex are a great complementary pair -- I wouldn't want to give up either one.

Lee

I haven't been on a DF bike since I got my bent. Mainly because I don't have any other bike right now. Like V-Rex, I think a relaxed geo framed bike is a great asset to bents. I plan on getting a comfy or hybrid for those quick trips, but since I'm being "forced" to do them on the bent I don't think its going to be anytime soon!

Jerry

I can't put the bent on a bus. That pretty much seals it for me. If I will need the bus I take the DF.

I gave away my old steel-frame touring bike about a year after I bought my Tour Easy. I still loved the DF bike, but it served pretty much the same purpose as the 'bent, so I never ended up riding it, and I wanted it in the hands of someone who would use it.

Since then, I've bought DF bikes that do things that my 'bent can't -- a mountain bike and a folder. I ride the Tour Easy far more than the two DFs put together, but they're both essential when I need 'em.

I still ride both.As some have said the DF feels better when around a lot of traffic.And I do some trail riding that the bend would not be good on.LWB and soft sand not a good combo plus 1.50 road tires.
I tried 1.95`s on it but the vote is still out on what I am going to leave on it.