Maelochs

A bike is a two-wheeled mechanical conveyance ... on this forum, usually human-powered. A recumbent is ... technically ... a bike. (but not really.)

Some recumbents are trikes .... but they get a pass because we folk who ride real bicycles are generous souls.

JanMM

This is a bike. (Really):

Maelochs

There is a guy I see downtown sometimes riding a super-stretch low-rider trike ... he is almost lying down while riding. It is like the ultimate comfort-cruiser recumbent.

Classtime 

What is a DF?

Part of my commute is on a dark green bike path. Yesterday, I'm heading south and a guy on a recumbent is heading north in darkish colored clothing. I didn't see him until I was close to passing him. The flag was useless and there is no way a car will see him when he is on the road. Be careful out there.

steelbikeguy

DF is shorthand for a diamond frame bike.
Not a common term for most folks, but an essential reference point when discussing recumbents.


Steve in Peoria

BikeArkansas

On November 1, 2017 I was forced, due to a lingering neck injury, to go completely recumbent trike. Still have all but one of my DF bikes. My brother bought my most expensive DF for peanuts, but that is Ok, I got him on trailer a few years ago.

I find the trike a trade-off on safety. The stability of the trike (Catrike 700) eliminates possible crashes for this older rider. That is off-set by the visibility problems. I do not feel less or more safe, just in different ways.

BlazingPedals

I prefer the term, "Upright," or maybe "Safety Bike" (the design's official name) because "DF" might be misinterpreted as something else, which would be considered derogatory.

Maelochs

So you feel that safety is best achieved with an erect bike? And see no possibilities for derogatory interpretations there?

I'd say you have to be a special kind of oversensitive to be able to interpret any two random letters in a negative way. I don't even want to ask what your sick mind came up with regarding the letters "D" and "F". (Just kidding, to make a point.) ....

People who know what they are talking about won't be confused ... those who don't will ask. This is a proven fact.

You just proved it.

I want to use this space to dispel the rumor that bents were invented to thin out the aging herd ...

Hoopdriver

DF = Dorsal Fin.

Hah! just posted to see if I get censored.

WNCGoater

I see one older guy around town. Always looks angry & unhappy and I only see him on the busiest 4 lane at the busiest intersection in town. Always literally elbowing his way among the traffic, big pickups and 18 wheelers. Double left turning lanes lined up with traffic and he's right in the middle of it all...with his head 3 feet off the ground. Every time I see him it's ME that puckers up. Scares me to death every time. I don't ride my (real) bikes in that area.

On the other hand, if there was a sufficiently long MUP around here, I'd have to try one because they look like great fun to me!

David Bierbaum

You know, now I'm wondering, do they make recumbent full-suspension mountain bikes? or gravel/CX recumbents?

"Hurries off to Google."

Okay, looking at the Revolution Defiance trike and Vision R-50, I can now say "yes, they do indeed make those." They even seem to make a recumbent folding fat-tire trike...

Maelochs

I'd think a bent would be really hard off-road because you couldn't really shift your weight much. leg-power would be 100 percent of success or failure to clear obstacles, and a trike would obviously need a very wide trail. Some of the small ridge-top routes i try to ride wouldn't fit a trike. A gravel-trike on the other hand ....

Trsnrtr

Yes. Check out Azub both at their site or on youtube. They're made in CZ but sold at the Hostel Shoppe in Wisconsin.

BlazingPedals

The R-50 has been out of production for a loooong time. If you're willing to go back that far, many Trek R-200s were upgraded to full suspension; and with its dual-20" wheels, many bmx tires would fit.

David Bierbaum

Heh. Blame Google. Those were at the top of links for non-trike recumbents of that type.

rydabent

Define "real bicycles".

Maelochs

Dude, if you continue to take my posts seriously I am going to have to get you Baker-Acted.

rydabent

Instead of saying "real bikes" why not just say 1890 antiques.

BlazingPedals

Just this year I was turned down to do a Gran Fondo. Why? Because 'REAL BIKES' can't see me, according to the organizer. The guy who invited me to be in his team, works for the beneficiary organization and rides with me regularly. But the organizer is an old-school USCF/USAC ex-racer who, all on his own, decided I wasn't safe and therefore wasn't allowed in. After an unknown amount of pressure from the organization, he relented slightly and will now allow bents -- IF the rider wears bright clothes and uses a flag. Too little, too late. I'm still not doing it, although I will wish my group well.

That's pretty typical. I'm forever being asked why I don't ride a 'real bike' or being told I should ride one. So, the 'real bikes' comment isn't a joke, it's a sore point; and putting an emoticon at the end of the post doesn't change that. My sense of humor is as good as anybody's, but sometimes a joke falls flat because it's not funny. Especially after the five hundredth repeat.

Maelochs

yeah ... more proof that bent riders need to relax .....

Dudelsack 

This is what I want in my obit: "He died doing what he loved best...standing in the middle of the road arguing about how recumbent bikes really are real bikes".

Dudelsack 

Yeah. All you morons are too easily offended.

WNCGoater

You mean like vvv this vvv ?

No one can respond to genuine inquiry and recommend any type of shorts, shoes, saddles, pedals, physiological disorder, aches, pains, joint issues, frame size, fitting, sleep apnea, PMS, prostate problems, pepperoni vs mushroom pizza, or the situation in Croatia without being told what idiots we are for riding antiquated torture machines and how, "if only you had a brain..."

Oh wait, almost forgot to add...

Still would like to try one sometime, just not on a road.