Hello,
I am relatively new to road biking. I am interested in commuting to work (20 mi each way) and recreational riding with my family and friends. No interest in racing (at least not at this time).
I bought my road bike a couple of months back, and have been riding it since. I am happy with it, but I find the posture a bit unnatural for daily use. I am somewhat fit, and I have gotten a bike fitting (and am following their instructions).
I have been investigating going to a recumbent bike as my main bike. They *seem* a lot more natural and comfortable... Then again, perceptions can be deceiving.
The purpose of this post is to ask for your expertise in answering/guiding me in the following questions:
(1) Would a recumbent be a reasonable choice for my intended use and location?
- ~20 miles to and from work, hopefully every day (
http://ridewithgps.com/trips/1813403)
- don't intend to race
- looking for a relaxed ride that I can sustain day after day, while increasing fitness of course
- I *do* live in a hilly area. In particular, sustained slopes like this one
http://ridewithgps.com/segments/Silver-Crk-Valley-Rd are common (I mean, this is hilly and difficult for me to climb on my upright bike at the moment. I do it, but I am winded at the top. It is probably a joke for most of you, but remember, I am a newbie :-)
(2) Assuming the answer to (1) is "yes", what type of recumbent would be most appropriate?
- LWB or SWB?
- FWD or RWD?
- Any specific brands or models?
Thanks in advance for your guidance,
Luis
PS: I will be test riding a Bacchetta Giro 20 next week