Originally Posted by
Autobus
I'm have a fixed gear and a road bike that I'm very fond of, but I have never tried a recumbent.
I'm looking for speed and I think I'd like one of those long wheelbase dandies with the under-the-seat steering.
If I average 18 mph for a 100 mile century, would I be alot faster, assuming the course is pretty flat on a recumbent?
I am trying to accumulate real-world data on this question...It turns out it is difficult to do, at least in my case where the comparison is between a carbon fiber road bike and a high racer. I think the best way to answer this question is to use this bicycle speed and power calculator:
http://www.noping.net/english/
My experience is consistent with the results of this calculator. So, if you have an upright racing bike with your hands on the drops and can produce 200 watts then your speed is estimated at 19.8 mph. A highracer estimates out at 21.6 mph. So a high racer recumbent might be about 10% faster than an upright DF racer for the same 200 watt rider on the flats.
A low racer with above seat steering estimates at 23.4 mph.