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-   -   Are recumbants better for you (https://www.bikeforums.net/recumbent/412290-recumbants-better-you.html)

chico1st 04-28-08 10:51 AM

Are recumbants better for you
 
i have heard that recumbants a nice and comfy but are they also better for you to ride? For instance are they better for your hands and back?

BlazingPedals 04-28-08 11:56 AM

Recumbents take all the strain off not only your butt bones but your entire upper body. That makes them awful for getting an upper body workout, but very nice for comfort.

JanMM 04-28-08 11:56 AM

I've been 'bent for a couple of years and am noticeably smarter and better looking. Plus, I don't have to shake my hands/wrists while I ride, to maintain peripheral nervous system function.

defjack 04-28-08 02:07 PM

I cant ride an upright more than 5 miles without getting wrist pain,neck pain. I do 50-60 miles on my Cruzbike Silvio and still feel great at the finish. Jack

Trsnrtr 04-28-08 02:31 PM


Originally Posted by JanMM (Post 6598491)
I've been 'bent for a couple of years and am noticeably smarter and better looking.

You, too? I thought it was just me, but obviously, it's the bent!

twahl 04-28-08 02:36 PM

Don't forget younger.

It is inherently a more ergonomic design. Think about it, you are using your legs for propulsion, why should the upper body suffer? Machines evolve just like animals, except machines require human intervention to do it so it can be faster evolution if there's profit in it, or slower evolution if there are rules against it.

I'm tired of being jealous of my wife's bent, so I'm getting one.

unixpro 04-28-08 03:51 PM

I did a century on an upright last year and could hardly move after.

I did a century on my bent this year and could have gone dancing after, if I hadn't regressed into a 9-year old. A cute and highly intelligent 9-year old, though.

fthrud 04-28-08 05:51 PM

My two little fingers no longer tingle (ulnar nerve) and the 'roids are in complete remission. Nuff said.

Allister 04-28-08 08:21 PM

They're better for your self esteem too. Everyone smiles and waves at you, or at least smiles and points.

Northwestrider 04-28-08 09:59 PM

All bikes are great of course, however for my longer rides I prefer my bent, for many of the above listed reasons.

gcottay 04-29-08 11:56 AM

Bents are better for me I ride them so much further and more often.

cat0020 04-29-08 01:17 PM

As a person who has pedaled over 40,000 miles on regualr bikes and 2000 miles on recumbents, I will answer your question: recumbents are better for you. It didn't take me long to realize the advantage of a recumbent over regular bike.

Pupsocket 04-29-08 07:17 PM


Originally Posted by cat0020 (Post 6605853)
It didn't take me long to realize the advantage of a recumbent over regular bike.

Sounds like it took you 40,000 miles. ;)

Bents haven't made me better looking. On the contrary, they've made me ugly as a stick. Fortunately, all those people keep smiling and waving at me.

Jeff Wills 04-29-08 09:17 PM

This is me:
http://home.comcast.net/~jeff_wills/jeff-big.jpg
This is my wife:
http://home.comcast.net/~jeff_wills/diane-big.jpg

We've covered maybe 20,000 miles on recumbents, with an equal history on uprights before that. We've been married for 16 years, all of that while riding recumbents. (In fact, we had Tim Brummer, the builder of our original Lightnings, at our wedding.)

I dunno... to paraphrase Chico Escuela: recumbents been berry, berry good to me!

tim24k 04-29-08 10:37 PM


Originally Posted by chico1st (Post 6598138)
i have heard that recumbants a nice and comfy but are they also better for you to ride? For instance are they better for your hands and back?

YES!

Mr. Markets 04-29-08 11:14 PM


Originally Posted by Jeff Wills (Post 6608714)
This is me:
http://home.comcast.net/~jeff_wills/jeff-big.jpg
This is my wife:
http://home.comcast.net/~jeff_wills/diane-big.jpg

We've covered maybe 20,000 miles on recumbents, with an equal history on uprights before that. We've been married for 16 years, all of that while riding recumbents. (In fact, we had Tim Brummer, the builder of our original Lightnings, at our wedding.)

I dunno... to paraphrase Chico Escuela: recumbents been berry, berry good to me!

well, one thing for sure, you definitely married 'up' in the world! :D

Jeff Wills 04-29-08 11:46 PM


Originally Posted by FatA** (Post 6609392)
well, one thing for sure, you definitely married 'up' in the world! :D

Yep- besides being a 5-foot-10 blonde, she's got a Master's in Computer Science. (Current job: release manager for a beverage distribution software company. It's beer software!)

I am profoundly blessed.

GreenGrasshoppr 04-30-08 04:54 AM

Q: "Are recumbents better for you?"

A: Recumbents are better for me!

bobkat 04-30-08 02:17 PM

Yes. Much better! No comparison......

radioflier 05-01-08 06:22 PM

They're a god-save for my riding! For the past few years my neck, shoulders, and hands have been giving me trouble while riding my upright, a little more each year. Last year I couldn't ride for more than 10 minutes without my arms starting to go numb. Good old arthritus setting in! Mid-summer I bought a Sun EZ-SPORT long wheel base recumbent and once again all is right with the world! No pain - just some tiredness in the legs as I build up those 'recumbent necessary muscles'. I highly recommend you test ride a few for yourself!

Nova5 05-01-08 06:28 PM


Originally Posted by Allister (Post 6601742)
They're better for your self esteem too. Everyone smiles and waves at you, or at least smiles and points.

No... their laughing at the Soon-To-Be-Roadkill. they might be nice.. but damn your low to the ground and have to be extra paranoid of cagers.

twahl 05-01-08 07:54 PM


Originally Posted by Nova5 (Post 6621432)
No... their laughing at the Soon-To-Be-Roadkill. they might be nice.. but damn your low to the ground and have to be extra paranoid of cagers.

If they're laughing at you, it means they have noticed you. If they have noticed you, it's an indication that you are less likely to be roadkill. Use just a little bit of logic when making assertions.

Nycycle 05-01-08 08:01 PM

Revolvers? Semi-Auto's? Never rode one????

Nova5 05-01-08 08:05 PM


Originally Posted by twahl (Post 6621867)
If they're laughing at you, it means they have noticed you. If they have noticed you, it's an indication that you are less likely to be roadkill. Use just a little bit of logic when making assertions.

This assumes the one laughing is the one driving. not neccessarily so. use a bit yourself.

Nycycle 05-01-08 08:15 PM

Can they go,,,,like fast?


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