recumbent efficiency is greatly overstated and ..... mostly hype?

[jsmithy]

I bought a Tour Easy recumbent after reading all the blogs about how efficient they were (lower wind resistance and all) and after 3000+ miles have found a few things to be true.

1. If you see a hill....don't go near it.
2. If you need to go across town, through town or near a town....don't go there unless you want to add 30% to your commute time.
3. If you enjoy riding with a group, sharing a pace line, sprinting for city signs, riding with no hands, standing, sitting forward on a saddle, sitting back on a saddle, stretching your torso, looking behind you without a mirror.....the list could go on....but you get the point.
4. To be fair, they are very comfortable which should be a concession as people look down at you and say "on your left"
5. Don't talk to me about land speed records, I don't ride like that and neither do you.

Sorry if I hurt the feelings of die hard recumbent lovers but facts are facts. Tissues?

P.S. I do love riding the thing and can't seem to wipe the smile off my face.

Ride whatever you want. What do you care what everybody else does?

[rydabent]

alex

Instead of personal attacks, how about telling me where I am wrong about DF bikes and the UCI.

Todays DF bikes are a slightly warmed over 1885 safety bike. The UCI are pigheaded dictators that DEMAND DF race bikes be built to their whim. In 1934 when they banned bents from racing records, they were in the pocket of the major bike manufacturers and probably still are.

As to my not knowing anything about DF bikes, I rode and repaired my own DF bikes for 60 years. And I still own a mountain bike for off road riding.

But I do think most of the DF riders that put down bents have never ridden one, and totally overlook the comfort and safety of a bent.

[AlexZ]

alex

Instead of personal attacks, how about telling me where I am wrong about DF bikes and the UCI.

Todays DF bikes are a slightly warmed over 1885 safety bike. The UCI are pigheaded dictators that DEMAND DF race bikes be built to their whim. In 1934 when they banned bents from racing records, they were in the pocket of the major bike manufacturers and probably still are.

As to my not knowing anything about DF bikes, I rode and repaired my own DF bikes for 60 years. And I still own a mountain bike for off road riding.

But I do think most of the DF riders that put down bents have never ridden one, and totally overlook the comfort and safety of a bent.

I noticed no personal attacks ?????!!!!
As to your knowing something about DF's in general....I think you are stuck somewhere in the 30's or 40's....DFs are continually changing , I have 5 (not counting the tandem) and they are all as different as my 3 bents (and they are vastly different from each other).
As to the UCI banning recumbents, I wholeheartedly agree with them! I no more want to see road vs. bent races than horse vs. camel or donkey races.........
As to your statement about DF riders that put down bents......Where do you find them? I don't seem to run into them - on the contrary! I find an incessant whinny sound coming from thread after thread of recumbent riders crying about all sorts of slights from others: Whine, cry, they didn't even say HI !!! How will I live now?!

PS, you seem to be more or less my age.....Wake up guy! The world didn't stop in the 30's or 40's it's made incredible progress. Spend some real money on a real bike and enjoy what you have left! I just got back from a 60 mile ride on my DF and it was GREAT (yes it's CF, way under 20# and just reeks of speed and fun) !

PS2, and tomorrow I will probably go out on one of the bents (to give my ass a rest) and enjoy it just as much!

[rydabent]

alex

It still remains that the opinion of a person that has never ridden a bent isnt worth much at all in my book.

I say let a racing cyclist ride any type of bike he or she wants to. If it rolls on 2 wheels and powered by a person let them race what ever they want to. In stage races let them change to the kind of bike that will allow them to ride their fastest. That makes it totally even among the racers.

[AlexZ]

alex

It still remains that the opinion of a person that has never ridden a bent isnt worth much at all in my book.

I say let a racing cyclist ride any type of bike he or she wants to. If it rolls on 2 wheels and powered by a person let them race what ever they want to. In stage races let them change to the kind of bike that will allow them to ride their fastest. That makes it totally even among the racers.

No, actually what it does is make an organized event into a mob-rule disorganized one.......

[rydabent]

Mob rule. Thats like saying if everyone doesnt wear a yellow jersey in a bike race there is mob rule.

[rydabent]

Are bents perfect. In a word no. Sitting upright on my bent seat I find it is harder to fart than when sitting on my mountain bike saddle!!!!!

[ezbikin]

Really?
Switched over to recumbents in 1998 after a 50-mile spring ride on my road-tired mountain bike. Was a hurtin' puppy when I got home. Folks ask this 64-year-old if my V2 is faster than a road bike (only downhill), easier to climb hills (a big deal for some here in NH, if I cared!), hard to learn to ride, etc. But, for me, the big question is comfort, and for me that makes the only issue when will my legs get tired.
Incidentally, some have expressed concern that they can't see behind them as well on a "bent. I like OSS because I can mount a Mirrycle mirror on each side of the handlebar, and they are right in my line of sight, don't even have to turn my head to see what's behind me. Takes some practice, but as a retired TT driver, I can't emphasize enough how this improves your safety situation! I'll support anyone's right to ride whatever they want.

[rydabent]

Our local bike club had its heatstroke 100 today. While riding at a rest stop I was questioned in detail about my bent. The route was quite hilly and the guy probably working on heresay was asking about my bent on the hills. Im 73 and held my own with the majority of riders, passing many. The guy asking about bents had stopped to help a lady with a flat tire. He got ahead since I spent a longer time at the sag stop. I think he was surprised to see me when I stopped to help. He told me now he is going to have to look into bents. This is just one example how word of mouth and heresay clouded what the guy thot he knew about bents.

[digitalmouse]

"1. If you see a hill....don't go near it."

Bah! If you train for it, use proper gearing and spinning techniques, develop the different leg muscles for 'bent riding, you can climb just as fast on a bent as a DF, or nearly so. I know personally several riders in Denmark, Sweden, Germany, and Holland who regularly pace (or in some cases even out-pace) DF riders on their 'bents - uphill, downhill, or on the flats. One of them uses a trike too! So it can be done, *if* that is your goal. Otherwise, don't avoid the hill - just gear down to something comfortable and least strenuous, and spin! You'll get up the hill just fine.


"2. If you need to go across town, through town or near a town....don't go there unless you want to add 30% to your commute time."

This is certainly not something that is a problem strictly with 'bents - any class of cycling can change your commuting, either positive or negative. You just have to learn better routes, brush up on the road-rules for your area (maybe you have the right to ride in the middle of the road to be safer), develop your red-light timing, and so on.

I cycle almost *daily* through Copenhagen - and not just on the main cycle roads - to get back-n-forth to work (6km one way on average), shopping, or what-ever I need to do. My commute time is at least 30% *quicker* when going with my recumbent trike, than with a car or even public transport (which is very good here). I adjust my route based on known traffic patterns and light timings, depending on the time of my commute. I'm pretty efficient now after a couple of years of this.


"3. If you enjoy riding with a group, sharing a pace line, sprinting for city signs, riding with no hands, standing, sitting forward on a saddle, sitting back on a saddle, stretching your torso, looking behind you without a mirror.....the list could go on....but you get the point."

Not really, as I have no trouble riding in a group, sharing a pace line, sprinting for signs, sitting forward, or sliding down, or stretching my body. Riding with no hands and no mirrors just invites accidents - although I have done both on my trike(s). Still waiting to see the point.


"4. To be fair, they are very comfortable which should be a concession as people look down at you and say "on your left" "

I'm more often saying "on your left" as I'm typically faster during my commute than anyone else on the roads through town, other than the cycle couriers or weekend-warrior team-DF riders. Once a week when I'm doing my ride out to the Leitra velomobile shop (25 km one way), I'll get passed by a few of the DF racers in training, but only just - they are not flying away from me. And I usually see them in my mirrors *long* before they need to shout out to me. And I'm still more comfortable. It's not a concession at all.


"5. Don't talk to me about land speed records, I don't ride like that and neither do you."

You certainly can't speak for me. I *do* ride like that (meaning going as fast as possible) *sometimes* but more for the thrill and enjoyment of going fast. I don't do it regularly, due to asthma from a long-time allergy to lawn grass. I am not planning on breaking any records, but being able to consistently cycle comfortably at 30-35 kph (18-21 mph) for long periods is something that I enjoy regularly. This is something that DFs just do not provide - at least for my butt, especially for the long 1000+ km tours that I do each year in April/May across northern and eastern Europe.


- Want to go fast? get a DF racer
- Want to go fast *and* be comfy? get a recumbent - but give your muscles time to adjust until you are as good as you were in an upright
- Want to go faster *and* be comfy *and* cycle all-year-'round in almost any weather? get a velomobile
- Want to carry heavy cargo? get a cargo-bike/trike/quad
- Want to carry people? get a cycle-taxi
- Want to travel with a cycle on trains/planes? get a folding bike/trike
- Want to go offroad? get a mountain-bike or a full-suspension recumbent trike.
- Want to sweat less with any of the above? add an electric-assist for hills and quicker starts.

There is a cycle made for just about every conceivable need. You just have to decide what that need is, and go for it! If your current ride is *not* working out, then re-evaluate your needs, and either adjust the cycle to your needs or exchange it for another that does what *you* want - within your capabilities, of course.

To make assumptions based on short-term/limited experience and apply it to the class of recumbents (or their riders - who are more varied than the number of 'bents out in the world) is just plain silly and counter-productive. In the end it really comes down to what *you* like to ride, based on your capabilities and needs. Don't assume anything else sucks.

[AlexZ]

"and they huffed and they puffed....." How did that fairy-tale go?!

[rydabent]

Well----------with his last post I think that Alex has fulfilled all the requirements to be labled a troll. He just seems to want to be arguemenative. He really is not adding anything to the thread.

[AlexZ]

Of course! Anyone who disagrees with the "clear and obvious superiority" of bents and their proponents are trolls.......Even if they are seasoned bent riders themselves.
On the other hand remarks about "fartability" should be taken seriously.......yeah,right.....

The rydabent contribution: "Are bents perfect. In a word no. Sitting upright on my bent seat I find it is harder to fart than when sitting on my mountain bike saddle!!!!"

[gcottay]

Well----------with his last post I think that Alex has fulfilled all the requirements to be labled a troll. He just seems to want to be arguemenative. He really is not adding anything to the thread.

Alas, the same could be said of you in this thread, sir.

Why not just agree that the best bike is the one a person will ride, ride, ride and be done with it?

[`Orum]

1. If you see a hill....don't go near it.
...
Sorry if I hurt the feelings of die hard recumbent lovers but facts are facts.

Let's not confuse fact with opinion. That is the domain of politics.

I love, love, love hills, both down and up. My 'bent might be heavier than most of my DFs, but it has a triple, so steep hills are no problem. The only thing I don't like about hills is when they make you stop at the bottom .

[scarabeoguy]

Blazing P. , You have a good attitude both here and on BROL. I like that, but you will have to admit that as of late you are in the minority. Lately BROL has become a DF bashing site with a little useful information occasionally filtering through.

You are right..... Now inhabited by mostly older "Rover" types who are mostly bitter. It is sad because it was once a very informative site.

[15rms]

Alexz not being able to fart could explain your unclear thinking. It must really smell between your ears.

[AlexZ]

Alexz not being able to fart could explain your unclear thinking. It must really smell between your ears.

Sounds like you would do well on BROL....Your kind of people is all that's left there.....

[k7baixo]

Sounds like you would do well on BROL....Your kind of people is all that's left there.....

You are right..... Now inhabited by mostly older "Rover" types who are mostly bitter. It is sad because it was once a very informative site.

Sounds like you guys are cherry-picking the low hanging fruit on BROL - there's still plenty of nice qualified riders there who offer good advice and try to shut down those who bang on DF's. Several just completed PBP and Dana from Bentup finished the Big Wild Ride in Alaska - their comments are excellent as are the majority of the rest. Helpful folks - some df-bangers & I don't mind trying to shut them down.

I kind of ended a thread where one of the guys was complaining about a DF - to me it sounded like short man's disease. Here's my post - no one said anything after this one.

I loved my last couple of DF's - a Salsa Fargo and before that, a Mercian King of Mercia tourer. Now, I ride a recumbent - and love it! At the end of the day, I don't care what you ride - I'm about as friendly as they come and enjoy all friendly riders.

[JanMM]

This thread is about due (K7baixo's post would end things on a good note):

LaVerniaTxCR337RoadClosedSign0308BG.jpg

[gcottay]

This thread is about due (K7baixo's post would end things on a good note):

LaVerniaTxCR337RoadClosedSign0308BG.jpg

Yes.

[AlexZ]

Indeed....

[rydabent]

alex

Fairy tales???? May I assume that you buy fully into the fairy tale that "proper fit" totally eliminates all pain associated with riding a DF?

[BlazingPedals]

It behooves all of us to remember this:

ALL designs have their own sets of strengths and weaknesses. As individuals, we're all empowered to choose between the various compromises to find the best fit for our preferences; but that doesn't mean it's the best fit for someone else's riding situation.

If you really like your 'bents, please be a good ambassador and refrain from insulting those who choose differently.

[gcottay]

It behooves all of us to remember this:

ALL designs have their own sets of strengths and weaknesses. As individuals, we're all empowered to choose between the various compromises to find the best fit for our preferences; but that doesn't mean it's the best fit for someone else's riding situation.

If you really like your 'bents, please be a good ambassador and refrain from insulting those who choose differently.

Yes, this.