dekindy

The reaction, at least in the Midwest, to recumbent trikes is that they are for someone that cannot ride an upright bicycle. Hase is not helping.

The description in the Hase Kettwiesel User's manual is to explain that it is approved in Europe as a medical device and intended use is for humans with neuromuscular disorders, such as CP or MD and are unable to ride standard human bicycle and other indications are for coordination disorders, balance disorders, and restricted movement associated with spasticity, paraplegia, dysmelia, amputations, etc. It is great that Hase has designed so many unique applications for the handicapped.

Why don't they market the fun and comfort to the rest of the population?

Floyd

I live in Kansas and I have not heard that attitude. but this is small town and there are only a couple/several of us who have bents...and we are all 'healthy' riders. Hase is only one in a plethora of bents so I would not worry too much...but that is me.

osco53

I ride my Recumbent and my Mountain bike and my Delta trike and My Harley, I just don't worry about marketing.

Life's too short, the grave awaits us all, So I tend not to spend time on things like that.

Go For A Ride and contemplate this on the tree of woe.

rydabent

As I posted else where trikes are selling really well in Lincoln Ne. The biggest problem I see is all the nay sayers in the biking community. This is especially true of the fully kitted out types that think unless you are riding a $5000 full on racing bike you are not a cyclist. Too much we hear that bents are only for old fat guys with beards. I am old, but not fat and I do not have a beard. I am just an ave guy that enjoys cycling as I think most riders are. I am a full on promoter of recuments. I will stop and answer any questions people have about my bent or trike. I would guess that north of 95% of biking that is done is by other than the snobs. It would be far better if all cyclist worked together to spread the good news of cycling.

MikeWMass

This is not going to help you, and may be off topic, but I would suggest that the attitude is that they are for someone who cannot ride a 2 wheeled bicycle (I realize that is redundant). I think a 2 wheel 'bent is harder to balance than a DF.

chandltp

The biggest misconception that I've run into with my trike is that people can't imagine riding any sort of distance on them. When they hear I'm riding the long ride (whatever that may be for the particular charity), and I rode to and from the ride they just seem amazed.

Retro Grouch 

Baloney!

Public image is what it is and it's ever so slowly evolving. You do what you think is best for you. I'll do what I think is best for me. Whatever others think, eventually a new balanced consensus will evolve.

Wilbur Bud

If you are passionate about it, why not start closer to home, like right here on BF in the forum teaser? Perhaps you could propose a wording that better exemplifies the bent world and work to have it replace the current text?

"What IS that thing?! Recumbents may be odd looking, but . . ."

rydabent

I guess I think that if all bent riders are willing to stop and give answers to questions people ask, it would help a lot. The more positive we bent riders are, the better the opinion of bents people will have.

osco53

It's the words 'Recumbent' and 'Trike' that feed the bikes for old farts image. I would think using words like, 'Rans V-Rex' or, 'LWB Touring' or 'Low Racer'................ We should Call a Musashi a Musashi Low Racer for starters and never a bent... https://www.recumbents.com/wisil/revi...ke_musashi.htm

Old Fart bike you say ? Look again at this Velokraft:

Dchiefransom

Don't worry, the image that trikes are for old folks is REALLY coming to fruition. As the baby boomers age, trikes are starting to really "move out the door" in the recumbent shop world. If it keeps happening, they will be all over the place.

rydabent

If people are so worried about their image, it keeps them off trikes, that is their problem. And it is their loss of fun.

BlazingPedals

In some ways, we're our own worst enemy. Not individually; but there are all too many of us who revel in the stereotype image: gray beard, sandals, all too often a bit of 'old man paunch' or worse, being passed by virtually everyone. And if someone complains about back problems, there's always a recumbent rider there to recommend his favorite trike. What are people supposed to think? It's no wonder that one common comment is, "sure, I'd love to get one -- when I'm OLD."

osco53

Kinda like Roadies who wear all the logo stuff tryin to look like the sponsored paid riders... speed addicts many are. Its all good.

cplager

I think it's really simple. Just keep riding with the smile on your face. That pretty much tells people everything they need to know. Nothing we're going to do is make recumbent bikes just simply take off. Trying too hard to market them will just have the opposite effect.

10 Wheels

Join a parade and promote trikes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmbPvfw2eEA

delcrossv

You just need to market lowracers to speed - crazed teens

rydabent

delcrossv

And that wouldnt hurt either!!!

klpmann

Hase does market to the rest of the population-I have a Hase Lepus, and fortunately I have no disabilities. It equals the performance of my Scorp FS tadpole ( a wonderful trike) and I prefer the higher seating in traffic. Also, with the differential it goes places that any tadpole trike could only dream of. I've also ridden a Kett, and it is far sportier than many tadpoles I've tried, and with it's better traction, more fun offroad.

no1mad 

Maybe there are those out there that have figured out a way to get a tax break on their 'mobility aid'? Not saying it happens, but if it does and you revamp the image, then you potentially could make it harder for it to be a tax write off for those who wouldn't be able to afford one otherwise.

10 Wheels

Just have fun and don't worry about the world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IOAZBOwguo

cplager

You want to give recumbents a makeover? Just keep doing this. The smiles become infectious and good things follow...

Retro Grouch 

So now you tell me.

I'm wondering how and if it's too late to get my health insurance to pay for our Kettweisels.

BlazingPedals

What I do to promote recumbents and break the stereotypes: I ride everyone else's wheels off!


Although doing this does get boring after a while, not to mention I tend to run out of bikes...

tcs

Around a decade ago, I noticed that whenever 'dad' would come into the LBSuperstore to buy a new titanium flat washer for his Cervelo, the kids inevitably would play on the recumbents. I sent an email to bikeE, noting this and humorously suggesting they purchase advertisements during Samurai Jack on the Cartoon Network. bikeE responded three weeks later by declaring bankruptcy.