Originally Posted by
matthew_deaner
Thanks... based in part on all the comments, and in part on dread over spending 14-hours on a low-positioned racing bike, I decided to take the LHT.
I was at Calvin's Challenge and I saw you guys on your Bacchetta recumbents. Man, you guys were fast. I tried riding with your group for a while, but couldn't hold that pace. I ended up drafting off of Danny Chew, Larry Fitz, and a couple of other riders, and generally felt like a loser and a wheelsucker for the short time I was with your group.
I doubt I'll ever own a recumbant though... the drawbacks outweigh the benefits at my current age (30) and type of riding (lots of hills). But maybe I'll change my mind as my body ages...
If I were in your shoes, I would have gone with the racing bike. However, it sounds like the adjustments need to be tweaked. Very minor adjustment problems can cause lots of pain.
The aero advantage of a highracer is huge, so don't feel like a wheelsucker. My highracer is signficantly faster than my racing bike except when I'm on extended climbs. However, don't discount a highracer for climbing. Some of them are quite light (mine's 21 lbs) and with a triple crank (I don't recommend a double unless your hills are relatively short), a slightly wider cassette (I run 12/27, but many people run 11/32), and 650 wheels, you have gears that let you spin where you'd have to stand on a racing bike.
Although bents are associated with older riders, I think they're good for anyone. The problem is that they're expensive so many younger riders can't afford them.