Why?

[JDenman]

Me too. No beard either.

[BlazingPedals]

Now let's take it a step further, why not trikes over standard recumbents?
Don't have to unclip at a stop sign
When you get there you are already sitting in your chair
If you hit sand on a corner you don't crash
Uphill start and stop no problem
Offroad no problem
You are at eye level with the dogs that chase you

It's all about compromises and choosing the ones that you're happiest with. Trikes are slower, the rider has to dodge potholes for 3 wheel tracks instead of 2, some people have problems doing deep-knee bends required to get into and out of a tadpole, riding on crowned roads... I could go on but you get the idea. If you like it and you're willing to work through or ignore the downsides, then it's a great platform for you. Same for 2-wheeled recumbents, same for Safety Bikes. Which is why I don't see 'bents ever 'taking over.'

correction: one wheel track with a 2-wheeler.

[Doug5150]

The people I know locally who ride regularly in the warmer months, have no use for a recumbent.

They ride "training-style", in a paceline, out and back 15-25 miles total on the road that has the smoothest widest shoulders in the whole area. They want something short (<30mins) because they do this in the weekday evenings, and the road is pretty boring--a four-lane highway with nothing really to see along it.

If you want to take long multi-hour rides and don't want the discomfort of just sitting on the bicycle to be a limiting factor, then recumbents are a great thing--but if you're not usually on an upright bike long enough to feel pain from riding, then a recumbent seems like an [expensive] solution in search of a problem.

[10 Wheels]

You picked a hot April 10 Wheels. Avg high is 80, low 44, no rain, and the desert oughta be in full bloom. 'Bout as good as it gets.

Did you visit La Loma del Chivo(Hill of the Goat)in Marathon?

Rode passed it, didn't stop.

[JanMM]

The people I know locally who ride regularly in the warmer months, have no use for a recumbent.
They ride "training-style", in a paceline, out and back 15-25 miles total on the road that has the smoothest widest shoulders in the whole area. They want something short (<30mins) because they do this in the weekday evenings, and the road is pretty boring--a four-lane highway with nothing really to see along it.
If you want to take long multi-hour rides and don't want the discomfort of just sitting on the bicycle to be a limiting factor, then recumbents are a great thing--but if you're not usually on an upright bike long enough to feel pain from riding, then a recumbent seems like an [expensive] solution in search of a problem.

I really enjoy the supremely comfortable rides that I experience on both shorter, fast (by my standards) rides and longer, less-fast rides. There are occasionally pacelines involved, although those can be problematic for some 'bents or for some cyclists, both 'bent and upright. Why wouldn't I enjoy a modest flat, smooth, out and back ride? Especially since I can go faster with the same effort, once up to speed, than on an upright.

[rydabent]

When I am on a club ride on my Rans Stratus, I do feel like I am the king of the road. I am rolling along in relaxed comfort on my two wheel Caddy. Most of the rest of the DF riders are rolling along on a Ford Pinto.

And then------------no matter how DF riders claim that with their "proper fit", when we come to a rest stop, it is not me that immediately jumps off my bike and shakes out my hands and start picking at my laundry. Yup those DF riders are really comfy ok!!!

Also what makes riding a bent even a better deal is if we have to ride into a wind for a lot of miles. Even at 73 when on a high wind ride, when we get back I am in a lot better state than DF riders a lot younger than I am.

[Dudelsack]

The people I know locally who ride regularly in the warmer months, have no use for a recumbent.

They ride "training-style", in a paceline, out and back 15-25 miles total on the road that has the smoothest widest shoulders in the whole area. They want something short (<30mins) because they do this in the weekday evenings, and the road is pretty boring--a four-lane highway with nothing really to see along it.

If you want to take long multi-hour rides and don't want the discomfort of just sitting on the bicycle to be a limiting factor, then recumbents are a great thing--but if you're not usually on an upright bike long enough to feel pain from riding, then a recumbent seems like an [expensive] solution in search of a problem.

Bents aren't for every circumstance. They would suck as track bikes. KOM enthusiasts might not care for them. Perhaps they wouldn't be the best for hammering pace lines, although I've seen some YouTube vids that suggest otherwise.

Ride what you like, and like what you ride. That's why we're called the human race.

[gcottay]

Ride what you like, and like what you ride. That's why we're called the human race.

Wise words. As another rider puts it, "The best bike is the bike you will ride."

[WPeabody]

A DF bike is more versatile; you can put it on the rack on the transit bus or walk it along the sidewalk or a footpath to make a shortcut, you can carry it more easily on standard bike racks, its easier to make a u-turn, ride narrow trails, ride through motor vehicle barriers, and it is easier to get it in and out of the house. Those the only things I miss about riding a DF bike, though.

[rydabent]

Engineer here, no beard. Maybe if it is true that a lot of engineers ride bents it says something. Engineers look at things that are no nonsense logical. Bents are that.

[Retro Grouch]

Maybe if it is true that a lot of engineers ride bents it says something.

True, but I think that argument is counter productive. We're trying to persuade more people to ride bents.

[rydabent]

retro

Gee I dont think people hate engineers. I actually get asked for my advise quite often.

[madhouse]

In addition to what roby wrote about children and bents. In my opinion the biggest reason is like a minivan bents are extremely practical, but carry a huge stigma with them. Minivan = frumpy mom... recumbent = old, fat, bearded man... (personally, I'm working on reducing the "areo-belly" but the rest of the stigma fits
) As with all prejudices, not true in all cases, but typically fairly accurate for a large percentage of the population.

Why children wont use bents:

1. Useless in skate parks
2. Can't pop wheelies
3. Can't do stoppies
4. Can't do the run and jump on to get going quickly when playing with friends
5. Can't do the one foot on pedal other off and jump off the bike (and watch it crash in nearby object)
6. Foot pegs would be useless
7. Foot down reflex isn't as simple on bent
8. Getting stuck going uphill would be a PITA for kid
9. Can't see if your friend is riding your handlebars ("safely" in the backyard!!!)
10. Way more componentry for dad to fix
11. Less visibility (harder to look back/around you or even forward near your wheel)
12. Takes more space in the garage


I don't have a bent yet, I hope I can get some sick carbon lowracer in a few years. If the bent can't go faster than my CF DF with less effort, I see no use for it! BTW I think bents are slick as hell and I oogle them whenever I see them. Unfortunately I rarely see any that are built to go fast.