Common sense and logic are starting to take hold
 

If you are not mountain biking, or racing, common sense and logic dictates that a recumbent bike or trike may be the right machine for you. This is especially true for the baby boomer riders that want a good way to exercise. Bents provide exercise without the pain associated with biking. Further bents allow a person to sit upright so the rider can actually see the scenery.

Locally anyway there is a surge in trikes on the bike trails. When I ride my trike, on most every ride I get stopped and asked questions about riding a trike. You dont have to be a rocket scientist to see that a bent may be a very confortable way to bike.

Keep selling!

Take a few deep breaths, and it will pass!

I agree with the reasons why 'bents in general, and trikes especially, are comfortable to ride, but believe the cost of purchasing a 'bent keeps a lot of otherwise interested riders away. Many get (or stick to) less expensive upright bikes, while others just stay away from bikes completely....

Regarding trikes the same can be said for Can Am versus motorcycles, I don't consider them part of the biking family but alternative modes of transportation like a scooter. Handling, speed and driver ability entirely different. A recumbent is closer but I don't consider that true cycling either, jmho.

I don't want to encourage the OP, but while you are absolutely correct, this is something of a chicken-and-egg problem:

People don't buy 'bents because they are expensive. They are expensive because they are made in small batches, because people don't buy them very much.

Rydabent: Just let people ride their bikes. If they decide they want to ride a 'bent, then that's great. If not, that's great, too.

Says the guy with the Ordinary as his avatar....:lol:

Guess "Safety Bikes" aren't "true" cycling either...Darn newfangled contraptions! ;)

cplager

I really dont care what people ride. OTOH I do encourage people to try bents and trikes.

The fact remains that in case of older people such as baby boomers, they see people rolling by on a bike, want to start exercising, and decide to buy a bike. The ave bike shop will steer them to a high priced mountain bike "for comfort". Many being over weight, and perched on a small DF seat will end up riding the bike a dozen times or so and hang it up in the garage. They end up selling their $800 bike 5 years later in their garage sale for $50. I have seen this happen over and over. But--------------if they have bought a trike or a recumbent that is pretty much painless, they would probably still be riding it.

To the people that say a recumbent isnt a "real bike", I say your DF bike is an antique.

See, here's what I don't get. You say that you want to encourage people to try trikes and 'bents. O.k.

It's pretty clear to most of us watching you that you have the exact opposite effect, however. And we've pointed this out before.

Implying or coming out and saying that people are of lesser intelligence for riding DF bikes isn't the way to convince people to try these wonderful devices. It's a great way to get them to not try them.

Pretty much everybody on this forum rides a bike. Good. If they have issues with their current bikes, maybe we can help them find something that will work better for them. Maybe not. But telling people over and over (and over and over) again that they've made an poor choice in their ride isn't winning you any friends and certainly isn't convincing any of these people that they ought to try something new.

Riding my LWB Tour Easy returned my body to a condition where I was strong enough to start riding mountain bikes in the enviroment that mountain bikes are designed to operate in.
Real trail riding, getting off the Mup's and Into true single track demanded strength and skills that I had to work very hard and long for, Two years, btw..
This Intern got me into a physical condition that I thought would be Impossible for me to attain at my age with all the Injuries I had.

Small batches,, small batches,, yeah cplager, I hear ya.. but they are SO worth the cost..

I will never part with my Tour Easy, I want to be buried with it even if It has to be cut up to fit in my box :P

Ok, so I'm a little off in the head. many of those Injuries I mentioned were from motor cross, lots of head Impacts :P

I hear stories similar to this a lot, and I think it's brilliant. A lot of people have trouble riding a DF bike because they aren't in shape. Once they get in shape riding a 'bent, they can ride a DF again. Some people keep riding 'bents, too. Some don't. As long as they're ridin', I'm happy. :)

Not to worry, rydabent. When I'm old and feeble and have no other option, I'll come around and get that recumbent I never wanted.

QFT. You catch more flies with honey than vinegar. :thumb: Take this to heart rydabent.

For the people that dont like me encouraging people to ride bents or trikes, how about this point. When I rode my road bike or mountain bike I was NEVER stopped and asked about my bikes. Now that I ride my bent and trike, I am often stopped and asked where it got it, how much it cost, and is it fun to ride. THIS is where I tell them they should go to the local bent shop and test out both bents and trikes. Why not**********

Please. By all means encourage people to try recumbents. No one is saying otherwise. But your rhetoric often strays into the airspace of "you DF riders are fools". Perhaps you don't realize this.

cyclo

I may be old (77) but I am far from feeble. Riding only in the summer since I am in the snow belt, I ride my bents somewhere between 2 and 3 thousand miles a year.

The thing is I now wish I had decided to buy a bent many years before I did. They are all gain and no pain. Besides that you sit up straight and get to see the scenery you are riding thru. They are great on that account for cycle touring. In fact more and more people are turning to bents for touring for those reasons. Touring setting on a tiny saddle all bent over staring at your front wheel is no way tour.

I think he is right. I have nearly been taken out numerous times this month on the local rail trail by wobbly, 3 wheeled menaces.

Stay strong my friend and avoid the dark side.

Can you post that in the Touring sub-forum to inform them that they are doing it all wrong, and must not be enjoying the experience?

-Bandera

I don't think you encouraging people to ride bents or trikes is the issue ... Trying to convince people who don't want to be convinced on the other hand ... With these people, you are pushing a rope - it just doesn't work...

Here is where you are much more likely to have success. Someone has shown an interest, they may be receptive to the idea of a recumbent. Spend your time with these people, sharing your knowledge & experiences & everyone will be happy. These folks are pulling on the rope to get more information.

Wait for people to pull on the rope & your success rate will improve exponentially.

I hurt my shoulder at work this week. Mountain biking is NOT an option today....

The Tour Easy Is In my truck, I'm fueling up, Headed to Flatwoods to the paved mup......

The ONLY reason I get to ride today and get some decent cardio In is because I have a nice comfortable LWB Recumbent :P

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=447204

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=447205

Yeah dig that seat, It's so comfy I can bring the bent in the house and sit in it while I watch a movie AND BE BETTER OFF than
sitting on the couch :P

Why does there have to be one right answer? Lots of us have both DF and recumbent bikes, and prefer the DF's. You don't hear from us too much because we mostly stay out of this forum.
You like your bent, more power to you. I prefer my DF. I can ride 10 hours and still walk and sit when I am done.

I am riding a 9 year old bike (my newest) and have no plan to replace it any time soon (or maybe ever, given my age). Some people I ride with think I should get a more up to date bike.

As long as I am out there having fun and (hopefully) staying healthy, what more do I need?

I'll recommend a 'bent if someone is asking and I think it makes sense for them. Even in this day and age, some people don't know about them; and how can they make an informed decision if they don't know about all the possibilities? Or just as bad, all they know about bents is some misinformed stereotypes repeated by someone who's never seen one. But if they want an upright, why should I care? It leaves more bents for me! :)

Wobbly 3 wheeled menaces**********?? IMO anyone can ride a trike without "wobbling".

When people ask about my bent, and they do, I simply reply, "Yeah I love it, It's fun to ride but It cannot be compared to a DF bike, It's a whole different animal".

The I ask if they are local and if so I send them to Bicycle outfitters, this shop sits ON the pinellas trail and they have bents to test ride and RENT..
even a few Tadploes..

pineleas trail - Bing

http://bicycleoutfitters.net/