Recumbent - Women?

I just got my SUN 3x three wheel recumbent bike. I am 59 years old female in Ohio. I have
rails to trails to ride on and am lucky enough to live 1/2 mile from the trail.

Each day I have been out adding more miles to the ride. I am a walker so it has been
easy on the muscles. And the weather has been so perfect here all summer.

Just wonder if any females (empty nesters) are on this forum?

I am trying to talk my husband into buying a bike but not sure if I will ever
get him to buy one. I never could get him to walk with me on the trails .

I enjoy just riding by myself with my ipod at my own speed. Just wondered if any
others are out there to share their experience.

Thanks.
Jerri

I'm 40 and female with a Trice QNT trike with 20" wheels all around.

My husband has a bike, but he only checked to see if it was still in the apartment complex building for the first time this year, yesterday.

He's absolutely supportive of my insane hobby, even when it means waking up at 5 am to take me and the husky out in the countryside to drop us off to find our way home. :thumb: Unless of course, he's trying to get rid of us. :p

I'm not a speed demon, obviously, or I wouldn't take my husky with me on rides. I just go to explore my adopted country (Sweden), and explore scenery. He loves it and gets hysterical if 'his' trike goes out the door without him. In range of where I live I have fields, forests, Viking grave mounds, castles, 17th century manor houses, countless runestones, and so on. Oh! Polite drivers, I have to mention those. :thumb:

I ride a Catrike Road that I purchased last summer. Love it. Wish I could get my husband interested but he is what you might politely call " thrifty" and firmly believes that any bike not sold at Walmart costs way too much. Recently he has gotten more interested in riding, though, and that is a real plus. We are planning to do the Waco Wild West Century ride next week and he actually agreed to do the 50 mile ride. Almost our whole family will participate: our two younger kids are riding but our eldest is away in college. My son and I will both be on trikes.

My husband is a cheapo when it comes to bikes too. I probably will have to go out and
buy it then he might ride it. I don't know.

It just amazes me some women travel across the country on bikes alone. And camp out alone.
Unless I have a gun and know how to use it I couldn't do it. I carry mace now. I worry
about dogs. Never felt uncomfortable on our bike trail so far with strangers passing me.

I do have to go 1/2 mile to the trail from our house. And it is a country road that gets
busy before school and after school is let out. I ride with the traffic but I am worried
cars won't slow down. Do any of you ride against the traffic or is that just too unsafe?
Or illegal?

Thanks for coming forward and letting me know females are out there.
Jerri

My wife also rides a Catrike Road; we always ride together.
And, as far as I know, riding against traffic is indeed illegal. I know it is in TN and MD, places I've had a trike or bike.

Two wheels = bike
Three wheels = trike
It's all cycling
Have fun!

Against traffic is unsafe, very much so, and illegal in all states. Consider a flag on a pole and
several of the bright blinky lights, such as
http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product_10052_10551_1064923_-1_400014_400014_400014
For best results these have to be angled so as to hit the drivers eyes 6-10 car lengths back so give
some thought to how they are mounted. A blinky light pointed at the pavement 50' behind the bike
won't be visible.

Against traffic is unsafe, very much so, and illegal in all states. Consider a flag on a pole and
several of the bright blinky lights, such as
http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product_10052_10551_1064923_-1_400014_400014_400014
For best results these have to be angled so as to hit the drivers eyes 6-10 car lengths back so give
some thought to how they are mounted. A blinky light pointed at the pavement 50' behind the bike
won't be visible.
I went to the web site and can't find the item number. Are you talking about item
40=3956? If not which one do you recommend. Thankyou

JerriAnne, I ride fairly busy streets on almost a daily basis. I have a taillight that I can set for steady or blinking which I use for day and night riding. I also have a safety flag which helps with visibility and an AirZound horn which both alerts cars to my presence and dissuades dogs from chasing me. Dallas is considered a very bike unfriendly place but I've had very few problems. Most drivers give me a greater clearance margin on the trike than they ever did on my bike.

Thankyou for all your advice. I am going to get the tailgate lights. Like I said I am only
worried about 1/4 mile. Then I am on our rail/trail path. Then it is really safe and
a great place to ride. Toledo area has had a couple bike riders killed this year alone.
A couple of them were beaten and died. One was riding at 4:00 a.m. The driver never
stopped. Not sure all the details if the biker had lights or light clothing .

Thanks again
Jerri

I do have to go 1/2 mile to the trail from our house. And it is a country road that gets
busy before school and after school is let out. I ride with the traffic but I am worried
cars won't slow down. Do any of you ride against the traffic or is that just too unsafe?
Or illegal?

Thanks for coming forward and letting me know females are out there.
Jerri
Hi Jerri,
I'm 35 and female and ride a Bacchetta Giro 26 high racer. I've taken it on two week-long loaded camping tours so far (with my boyfriend, on a DF bike).

I recommend getting a Take-a-look mirror. You can attach it to sunglasses (or a mirror). That way you can see that traffic is slowing or moving over to pass. It will make you more comfortable.

Tanya

I am now riding with the traffic. I did go out and buy two blinking lights that are for cars or trucks.
All I need them is for the 1/2 mile to get to our trail (rails/trails). I still have to get the flag. OH, I
also bought the mirror for the end of the handle bars and love it.
The weather here has changed to the 40s and 50s. It is cold . I hate the heat but this is getting
too cold. I did go out Sat. still in the upper 50s and sunny. But today it isn't warm enough for me.
Makes me mad our fall should be in the 60s. Darn.

Thanks for the advice you all wrote me. And I hope more will come on here and write what you do.
I like to hear from the women because this sport seems to be mostly men. I see women on the trail
but the % are men. And it isn't my husband. Darn.

Jerri

Did you ride the 50 miles? Just wonder if how it went.
Jerri





I ride a Catrike Road that I purchased last summer. Love it. Wish I could get my husband interested but he is what you might politely call " thrifty" and firmly believes that any bike not sold at Walmart costs way too much. Recently he has gotten more interested in riding, though, and that is a real plus. We are planning to do the Waco Wild West Century ride next week and he actually agreed to do the 50 mile ride. Almost our whole family will participate: our two younger kids are riding but our eldest is away in college. My son and I will both be on trikes.

Hi JerriAnn, I just wanted to let you know that there is a women's forum that you are eligible to gain access to after posting for a month. Send a PM to Siu Blue Wind (administrator) to get access.

If you are that scared of cars, it might help your confidence to take a Road I course, offered occasionally by the League of American Bicyclists (http://www.bikeleague.org/).

Did you ride the 50 miles? Just wonder if how it went.
Jerri

Yes, we did do the 50. It was a beautiful day for riding. Sunny with mild temperatures (upper 70's to low 80's). The ride went very well for the first 30 miles or so, then my son started to have some problems with hills. His little trike is not geared for the rolling terrain in the last 15 miles of the course. We stopped at about mile 35 and he was convinced that he couldn't finish. I suggested we trade trikes. He finished the ride with a huge smile while I slogged along feeling like I was gonna die. I couldn't extend his boom out far enough for my legs and my knees were VERY sore by the time I finished. It was worth it, though, to see him finish what he started.
My husband and daughter both rode their df's. Our daughter left us at the start and we didn't see her again the rest of the day. My husband waited for us at the second rest stop and, seeing that my son was going to need the extra encouragement, rode along with us the rest of the day. He did remark, after 30 miles, that hemorrhoids might be an improvement over the way he was feeling.
It was a great day and the only downside is that now, my son doesn't want to give my trike back. Looks like I'll be buying him a better ride as soon as I can save the money. :lol:

Hi JerriAnn, I just wanted to let you know that there is a women's forum that you are eligible to gain access to after posting for a month. Send a PM to Siu Blue Wind (administrator) to get access.

There's a WOMEN"S forum? Wow, I had no idea.

I don't ride a trike, but I ride a mountain bike. I got the mountain bike while still living in the D.C. area because I didn't feel comfortable riding the roads and my road bike didn't perform very well on the trails I rode (I've since retired to the northern US Rockies--a 2.2 million acre national forest west of Glacier National Park, actually). My mountain bike is a woman's bike. I think trikes look interesting but I don't know if I'd get one since I'm not certain how well cars see them. If I get a second bike, it's more likely to be a cargo bike.

I've been riding my bike everyday since adding an electric assist kit this summer. I found the hills where I presently lived played havoc with my knees. Now I don't worry about getting out in the forest (although during winter I probably won't ride the unimproved forest roads since they're isolated). Here's a picture of my bike on one of those forest roads. http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL442/7447283/14154973/374226839.jpg

What a beautiful part of the country you live in. Sure different from the all the traffic you had to fight in D.C. every day. We have been to both places. I am not sure I would want to live in either place. One is too busy and the other is too quiet. When you have to drive miles to see a person I don't know.

But I am enjoying my Sun 3x trike. I really want to keep exercising in one way or another. And I am a walker as well. Could lose a couple pounds and I have never smoked . I don't know if I could do the
50 mile ride but Ohio has one coming up in the spring. I am thinking about it. Will see what the winter
months will do with my muscles. LOL I do go to the local Y and exercise.

Jerri






I don't ride a trike, but I ride a mountain bike. I got the mountain bike while still living in the D.C. area because I didn't feel comfortable riding the roads and my road bike didn't perform very well on the trails I rode (I've since retired to the northern US Rockies--a 2.2 million acre national forest west of Glacier National Park, actually). My mountain bike is a woman's bike. I think trikes look interesting but I don't know if I'd get one since I'm not certain how well cars see them. If I get a second bike, it's more likely to be a cargo bike.

I've been riding my bike everyday since adding an electric assist kit this summer. I found the hills where I presently lived played havoc with my knees. Now I don't worry about getting out in the forest (although during winter I probably won't ride the unimproved forest roads since they're isolated). Here's a picture of my bike on one of those forest roads. http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL442/7447283/14154973/374226839.jpg

I'm almost 40 and ride my bike mostly for getting to and from work and for errands. My husband rides a DF and occasionally we "commute" together (we're lucky enough to only work about a mile apart). I keep trying to convince him a tandem recumbent would be awesome.

We aren't into long rides, usually capping out on 8-10 miles out to breakfast or shopping. and he's a summer biker while I'm a winter winter (we're in California, I'm using the term "winter" loosely here).

But I love my bike and the ride to work is short (4 miles) and enough time to get my head on straight while heading home.

Jerri, I understand your fears and concerns. On the other hand, I also know that it's possible to ride for miles and miles without a problem. You should read my friend Sylvia's tale: http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/myrtle . She just keeps going, and going, and going...

Thanks for sending the reports your friend wrote up. I haven't gotten through it all but
will.

It is amazing any woman would go alone any where now a days with all the creeps out there. I would be taking a class in self defense and be carrying a gun. Dogs alone
scare me. And camping isn't even something I like to do. Hotel rooms with showers
would be my choice of over night stays. LOL

[QUOTE=JerriAnn;9967275]Thanks for sending the reports your friend wrote up. I haven't gotten through it all but
will.

It is amazing any woman would go alone any where now a days with all the creeps out there. I would be taking a class in self defense and be carrying a gun. Dogs alone
scare me. And camping isn't even something I like to do. Hotel rooms with showers
would be my choice of over night stays. I am not too sure I could travel that long without some
one being with me also.

JerriAnn: I noticed your concern about personal safety. I'm a 31-year-old woman who rides in one of the toughest sections of Massachusetts. (North of Boston in Lynn, Salem, Revere, enough said.) Most of the time I ride alone because I prefer going at my own pace or I'm commuting.

I have shot handguns in competiton since I was a teenager. I have a class A license to carry in my state and I do carry a 9mm handgun most of the time while riding. I don't carry going into work because my hospital (I'm a nurse) has a no-gun policy. For those times I tape a large K-Bar marine knife to the underside of my drop bars. It gets lost under there amongst the cables and GPS. If somebody wants a piece of me, I'm going to get a piece of them.

I honestly think a woman who is armed gives off a dangerous vibe that thugs can feel. I've never had any trouble in 10 years of riding with a weapon. There will be many people on this forum, and in life in general, who will react negatively to your choice (if you make it) of going armed. Ignore these people. It's your life. Get some training if you don't already have familiarity with guns and carry on your rides. It will make you feel more comfortable if being alone bothers you. And being scared is not anything to be ashamed of. We are the weaker sex, or we were the weaker sex until Sam Colt came along.

[QUOTE=JerriAnn;9967275]Thanks for sending the reports your friend wrote up. I haven't gotten through it all but
will.

It is amazing any woman would go alone any where now a days with all the creeps out there. I would be taking a class in self defense and be carrying a gun. Dogs alone
scare me. And camping isn't even something I like to do. Hotel rooms with showers
would be my choice of over night stays. I am not too sure I could travel that long without some
one being with me also.

You could also look into carrying pepper spray. If there are any bears in Ohio, I'd carry some bear grade pepper spray. The dog spray is the lowest concentrated pepper spray. The stuff for use on humans is stronger, and the stuff for bears is the strongest. If you are taking classes for carrying a firearm you should be able to bring up the pepper spray and get good answers from the instructor. Some states require a permit to carry it. Find out. Bear spray can cause serious damage to humans, and should be very effective. You just have to watch wind direction.

JerriAnn, my roommate in college once stopped a burglar who broke into the kitchen pantry where she was hiding with a can of foaming hornet and wasp spray. He was hospitalized for several days. Cops in here town gave her a certificate for bravery. She was 12 years old at the time. This happened in Upstate New York.

You're only as helpless as you want to be.

If you are that scared of cars, it might help your confidence to take a Road I course, offered occasionally by the League of American Bicyclists (http://www.bikeleague.org/).I strongly concur. Many women find it an empowering experience. Then they drag their men along to the next class - a refresher for her, and enlightening for him if he's willing to learn ;)

While you're waiting for the next class in your area, you can learn a lot by reading Street Smarts (http://bikexprt.com/streetsmarts).

My husband is a cheapo when it comes to bikes too. I probably will have to go out and
buy it then he might ride it. I don't know.

It just amazes me some women travel across the country on bikes alone. And camp out alone.
Unless I have a gun and know how to use it I couldn't do it. I carry mace now. I worry
about dogs. Never felt uncomfortable on our bike trail so far with strangers passing me.

I do have to go 1/2 mile to the trail from our house. And it is a country road that gets
busy before school and after school is let out. I ride with the traffic but I am worried
cars won't slow down. Do any of you ride against the traffic or is that just too unsafe?
Or illegal?

Thanks for coming forward and letting me know females are out there.
Jerri

Jerri,

You would really benefit by taking one of the Smart Cycling courses offered by League of American Bicyclists instructors. They will teach you what you need to know to ride the road confidently and safely, and integrate your vehicle with automobiles and trucks on the road.

Go to their website (http://www.bikeleague.org) to find an instructor near you, and contact them for course information.

Back to the original topic... I just bought a Performer HR a couple of weeks ago. So far I've been riding with a friend of mine out in the countryside. My BF does ride but he doesn't have a lot of time right now, anyway he doesn't mind me being away all day on my bike, which is cool. I used to ride my "normal" bike a lot (cyclocamping, commuting, long distance) and the main reason why I came to getting a recumbent is that in France, the 'bent crowd is much nicer to women, much less macho than the "normal" bike crowd. Also, I know a lot of couples who both ride bents (much more than upright bikes). That might have to do with the fact that the fastest female HPV athlete in the world is our own Barbara Buatois, many times world champion and who collected an impressive series of records this year (for example 75.458 mph in Battle Mountain in september)!

I think recumbent riders in the U.S. tend to be more laid-back (in more ways than one) too. That's great if you're not into competition. But I've lost count of how many upright riders think all 'bents are slow and look down their noses at us because they've never seen a faster rider on one. In fact, didn't we have a few of those in a recent thread?

For those of you who ride your trikes on the road, do you feel cars see you? I'm considering getting a longtail bike next year but have added a trike to the list of possible candidates now that TerraCycle has brought out an Xtracycle kit for recumbents. The one thing that has always worried me about recumbents, especially trikes, is how low they sit. Also, if you ride in a more rural area, do you have problems with wild life seeing you? I'm always on the look out for wild life here, they out number the humans, and can dart out in front of you in an instant.

The lowracer in my avatar puts me right down there with the lowest of the tadpole trikes, and I've never had a problem with either cars or wildlife seeing me. Besides, I could go right under a deer. A lot of trikers seem to have a height inferiority complex, so they use flags. I note that lots of uprights get hit because the drivers didn't see them, so height apparently doesn't matter as much as being where they are looking.

I have found that vehicular traffic gives me more room on my trike than they ever did on my bike. Instead of squeezing past me in my lane they will slow down and pull way over to pass me. I also use a flag, not because I have a "height inferiority complex" but because it is the practical thing to do. I don't race so I'm not concerned about wind resistance. The flag is important when I am stopped in traffic, in between cars. It is easy for motorists to forget a smaller vehicle, be it trike, bike or even motorcycle, in that situation. It also helps make me more noticeable to vehicles in parking lots, where cars are likely to be backing out with large blind spots. However, I must point out that the only serious close calls I've had on my trike were two cases of drivers who were not paying attention. They wouldn't have seen me if I had been a Hummer, much less a trike. One was my own neighbor who came right down the street at me (driving on the WRONG side) while looking at himself in his rear-view mirror. In addition, I have an AirZound horn. The horn is amazingly loud and can startle a driver who is otherwise occupied on their cell phone. It also serves the dual purpose of discouraging animals that get too close. Living in an urban environment, I don't have as much of a problem with wildlife as I do roaming dogs but I haven't found one yet that didn't run from my horn.

I have seen the recommendation for a flag on a pole above. Well, I did some informal experiments on my Rans Stratus, and found that when I hoisted an American flag on the pole, verses the smaller orange triangle flag, that motorists passed me about a foot further away on average. I have mentioned this on the Advocacy and Safety forum, but thought you'd like to see it too. It may well be better in cities such as Dallas than here in Beaverton, Oregon too (regional differences). You can get a good, small American flag for your bike at a Harley motorcycle shop; the others tend to get frayed in about six months of riding.

John