Originally Posted by
Cyclebum
Just bought myself a Sun Tour Easy LE recumbent for loaded touring. Switching from a df. I'm stoked about it. Haven't found a downside yet, and lots of up side. Just a matter of getting past the social stigma and the $$$s. I'm old and am no longer concerned about such trivia.
Love the continuous panoramic view, the smooth ride with no hand or butt pressure. Now only limited by my energy level and motivation, not by comfort issues. Can't wait to get it loaded up and headed out.
Any experienced bent riders on here? Thoughts, advice?
I've toured with my bents almost exclusively. When I haven't been touring on a bent I've been credit card touring on a c1915 single speed.
The biggest piece of advice is go low. make sure that your gearing is low enough for you to spin up any hills. You can't stand to climb or rest tired legs.
Also if you can fit an underseat rack, do so. and carry the heavy stuff on it.
Take a spare tyre and tube for the front wheel. not everywhere will have ERTO451 20"
tyres available. I'd also put the widest tyre that you can fit on the rear as it carries most of the weight.
Off on my first tour. This recumbent (a Flying Furniture PBP Special) was fun except the seat didn't agree with me: after 50km my legs would go numb.
Second recumbent tour. I would have liked the underseat rack. I found that the RANS seat is the most comfortable one I've tried. It was on this tour that I decided that unsuspended 20" wheels and coarse chip-seal are not a good combination.
Full suspension (almost) made for a very comfortable ride. The seat never quite agreed with me and it was slow and in-effecient to pedal.
I have since gone back to RANS with a Velocity Squared LWB bike. I haven't done any touring with that yet, but have carted a fair weight commuting with some work for at home.