Originally Posted by
smoline
I bought a new EZ Racer (LWB) do do a cross-country tour from St Augustine to San Diego (ACA Southern Tier route; east-to-west). Got as far as Austin, TX before the hills finally did me in. I did a lot of training on the 'bent before the tour and traveled 1400 miles to Austin before determining that I couldn't climb the hills on the 'bent. Maybe a different 'bent would do it, but me on that 'bent couldn't.
Sounds like you gave it a good try. What sort of daily mileage were you doing?
I am a low-altitude flat-lander in my early fifties. Not 1400 miles or cross country (yet) for me. But I managed to do a 5-day self-supported tour around Taos, NM and keep up with two 18 year olds,-- them on upright bikes, me on my Tour Easy. There were a number of long and challenging climbs on our route and the alititude ranged from 6000 to ~10,000 feet. Longest daily distance was 50 miles. Average was in low 40s.
I've also done several short tours in hilly southern Oklahoma. No, it's not flat there. My touring companions riding upright bikes, we managed to find a pace that worked for us.
For self-supported touring, I think the climbing differences between upright bikes and recumbents may not be as great as some people think. Not that there's no difference, but the extended climbing techniques on a fully loaded touring bike are much the same whether recumbent or upright. Low gearing and spin, spin, spin.
There are other challenges for bicycle touring than hills. Wind, for instance. A lower profile bike may be a real advantage into a stiff headwind. And for carrying stuff, the underseat/mid-ship racks on some recumbents are hard to beat.
In the end, it is a personal choice, what you like, what's comfortable and works for you.
Jon