dcrowell

I love my recumbent. I am faster on it than on my wedgie. The truth is, I'm still not very fast.

Twice today I was humiliated by a cyclist on a DF bike. The first time was on my way to work this morning, going *up* the bridge. I really tried to catch him. I didn't even come close.

On the way home a different cyclist passed me, and I began a slight descent just after that. I figured I would catch him there. I was wrong.

It's true, it's the cyclist, not the bike.

I'll be even slower tomorrow. Forecast calling for heavy rain, so I'm riding my wedgie with fenders.

BlazingPedals

My 'bents make me faster, but they're not magic machines. Speeding me up by 3 or 4 mph still leaves me short of a really strong roadie. Being beaten isn't a humiliation; there's always somebody who's faster.

Floyd

It is the "motor" on the bike that makes the difference,,,for the most part. Gearing may play a part too but the design of the bike is not a major factor in speed...that is of course taking into consideration same weight, components, ... ...

BlazingPedals

So you're saying that a 22 pound mountain bike is as fast as a 22 racing bent? I call BS.

LWB_guy

Yesterday was my seventh long-distance ride on my recumbent. I learned three factors are necessary to make good time on my recumbent:
(1) Eliminate friction (parts that make noise while pedaling)
(2) Stick to a riding schedule. For me that's six days a week.

(3) Enjoy each ride.

gcottay

From my perspective, being passed by a rider simply means the he or she was going faster than I. Again, just for me, unless the rider does something stupid or annoying ahead of me, there is exactly zero downside. If more than a few pass, I may ask myself if I am working as hard as I want that day. If a rider is going especially fast, I almost always check to see if his or her cadence is higher than mine. It's all good.

That said, I do like going fast at times, so tend to do some informal interval training on many rides. I often hold a high (for me) speed for a mile or two and then ease off.

Even this sloppy training does pay off. So far, not one single solitary rider on training wheels has smoked me.

Motman320

Don't worry, I've passed road bikes on my 6-speed cruiser before. No worries. Just enjoy the ride.

Myqul

Wouldnt worry about it. I got passed by a jogger today

dcrowell

I'm not worried about it.

I mostly thought it was amusing. I am a much stronger ride than I was four months ago, but I still have a way to go before I'll be happy with my speed. Once I reach that point... I'll still get passed

unixpro

Sometimes I get passed, sometimes I pass. Rides are like that. If I get passed and really feel like it, I'll put the hammer down and try to catch up or at least stop loosing ground to the guy that passed me. I often find that they're riding not one or two MPH faster than I, but more like 5 or 6. This morning, for example, I was doing a nice steady 16 when a guy passed me. I decided to pursue and found that I was even with the guy at 21. Once he turned off, I dropped back to 17-18 and felt good.

bobbycorno

Very good, grasshopper. You are learning.

SP

nkuvu

The first few rides I went on, I was passed by very few people. And the ones who did pass me had legs like trees. So I didn't feel bad.

Then I decided to scale back on how much I was pushing it -- I'd skipped a few rides because I wasn't up to the effort, and figured that going out and riding slowly is better than not riding at all. I've stuck to that a fair bit, but it also means I get passed fairly often.

Every once in a while I feel like the tortoise and the hare, though, because I'll catch up to the riders who passed me as they're sitting on the side taking a break.

recumelectric

Some old guy on an old beater passed me the other day. As he rode by, he complimented my bike. I said, "Yeah, and you're still beating me." We both laughed. Then he said, "See ya later!" and took off.

I still find that it is easier to go a little faster and longer on the bent than on my Beach Cruiser. That's enough for me right now. ...Sad part is that some folks will still be able to pass me even after I install a motor, since it's limited to 20 mph.

Sometimes, that's just the way it goes.

GreenGrasshoppr

I always try to look like I'm not training/racing

BlazingPedals

I've learned from often-exasperated roadies that even when I'm working my @$$ off, it looks like I'm loafing. That's the body language that the position produces!

Myqul

Thats definately the way forward - in every sense of the word

STEEKER

I have a Hurricane which I can really crank up and I sit behind alot of the roadies no problem at all , I also have a trike which has touring gears and I can and pass most peeps commuting out there on it , give it time and build those bent legs and maybe try a lower sitting position and ride MORE ,love hills and one day the MAGIC will happen , ( there are alway's other riders faster than you out there ) now if I can ever get my hands on one of these bikes I'll be soooooo happy https://www.challenge-recumbents.com/...n&selectie=nme https://www.challenge-recumbents.com/...electie=jester

nkuvu

I ride a rolling lawn chair. It doesn't surprise me at all when people think I'm just puttering around.

STEEKER

I finally beat a super steep nasty hill for the first time yesterday where I live , and it felt GOOOOOOD

kilen

I'm currently riding a Rans Rocket and commuting 20 miles daily for work, plus extra for enjoyment and errands. Sometimes I pass, more often I'm passed.

I rode my Klein wedgie one day last week and I think I was a slight bit faster, but wow did I notice the increased tension in my neck and shoulder blades! I also realized that I didn't notice what was going on around me as much - wildlife, sunrise, etc. Recumbents have way more benefits than just speed.

Doug

bicyclridr4life

WAIT!!! You mean if I get a recumbent, I am NOT going to get that speeding ticket I want on the main drag in town??? I thought a recumbent made you go 3 x faster than on an upright! DARN!!!

BlazingPedals

You could go faster, but certainly not on a Rocket. And probably not 3x either.

dougfoot

This past June I rode in Lebanon Oregon's Strawberry Century and passed many "roadies" along the route. I completed the ride in 6 hours and pulled one guy for 75 miles - he was impressed with what could be done on a trike!
I ride almost every day, either outside or on a trainer. The trainer allows me to focus on technique (smooth pedal strokes, cadence, limiting boom flex). I also track my rides - knowing where you have been will help in pointing you in the right direction.
Another training tip: Want to ride faster? Then ride faster...
Doug
https://www.crazytrike.com

Allister

Ssshh. Don't spread it around.

bicyclridr4life

So what bike or recumbent do I need? Speed limit on the main drag in town is 35, so I will need to go at least 40 to 45 to get my ticket? I presume a EZ-3 is not going to let me get a ticket