Originally Posted by
Robert Foster
I thought about getting a bent when I firt got back into cycling. Tried a Semi recumbent Giant Revive. Very comfortable and I would still have it if one of my friend's wife hadn't fallen in love with it when she discovered she could ride it without wrist pain. Still even after getting into a better shape and going to a DF road bike I considered a bent as a N+1. I have seen some of them out on the flat moving at least as fast if not faster than I do on a road bike. But hills are another story and I live in a valley. However if I ever get to the point where a DF is too hard for me to ride I am interested in a Cat Trike. After all you would always have your chair with you even on a hill.
The Revive is comfortable. Very slow, but comfortable. A really nice bike for people who find more traditional designs to be challenging.
As to your comment about seeing some that are faster on flats than road bikes. Given an equivalent engine (rider) most bents will be faster than road bikes on flats. Some will be significantly faster. The aerodynamics are better on many bents. And a bent with a performance-oriented fairing on it, will waste a road bike on flats.