Two wheels or three???
 

I am a daily (20 miles) commuter with a route that includes city and trails. I currently ride a converted Gary Fisher hardtail DF for the commute and an REI roadbike for weekend fun.

However, I want to add a recumbent to the stable and if possible would like this to replace my mountain for the daily commute.

I am looking at either an HP Velotechnik Streetmachine or the Scorpion trike. I have ridden both and loved them both.

Can anyone advise whether two wheels are better than three (or visa versa)?

My main concern about the Streetmachine are...

1. Difficult hill starts in traffic
2. Wobbles up hills in traffic
3. Not great on trails??

My main concerns about the Scorpion trike are

1. Low slung....therefore difficult to see traffic activity
2. Wide in traffic
3. Difficult to transport (on the car)

Can anyone help me break this deadlock? Advice from seasoned bent riders would be very much appreciated.

Thanks

The first two bicycle concerns would be fixed by putting some miles on the 'bent.
Two wheels are lighter and simpler and help you maintain your balance skills.
My bike commuting has been almost entirely recumbent for 2.5 years, first on a RANS Tailwind and now on a RANS V-Rex. My route is flat.

My route is not flat. I do about 1400 ft of climbing on my commute, if I take the short route it is 700 ft of climbing. The trike will be slower, trikes are great and I love mine but I prefer my 2 wheels for speed.

Road space is a non-issue on the trike, people will give you tons of room. It also tracks straight as an arrow since you don't have to balance. So when you want to maintain a line, you will have no problems. It makes a difference in certain traffic/hilly conditions.

The trike can handle off-road and gravel/ice/snow much better, if you face those conditions regularly I would go with the trike. Otherwise go for the streetmachine.

The streetmachine is a nice vehicle, it fits in most bus bike racks, it has suspension and is a great ride. It can handle crappy road conditions well depending on your tire choices. If you have it outfitted with reasonable tires you will be able to do most things you want on it.

The starting/stopping and going up hills issue is easily handled by experience. There is a learning curve on recumbents. Additionally you want to make sure your suspension is the right tension for your weight to prevent uphill pogo. Both are fine rides.

thanks guys...I must say I am leaning towards the Streetmachine. I think the "grin" was widest when I test rode that.

djwid...which of your bikes do you find you use more often on your commute? Is your commute in traffic?

1 & 2 will most likely become non-issues after you've put some more miles on the bike. I live in San Francisco, and as you may have heard we have hills here ;) The block up to my house is a 20% grade!

3) I'm not quite sure what you mean - trail = multi-use path, or trail = non-paved track? If you mean a MUP, I don't see any problem. If you mean a non-paved trail then a two-wheel bent may not be ideal. I find my bike squirms around on soft surfaces like sand. Packed dirt/gravel are fine, no problem. I have an Actionbent Tidalwave with Schwalbe Big Apple tires on. With your suspension and tires with more aggressive tread you might find the Street Machine could handle tougher conditions.

It sounds like you're able to test ride the bike - could you do more test riding in the conditions you are concerned about?

I have used all three for more than a years worth of commutes on each, except the Corsa which is the newest and my current commuter. My commute does involve traffic along at least one arterial road. I have modified my commute to take a pedestrian bridge over I405 though as I don't like drivers behaviors near on-ramps and off-ramps. I did the same when I commuted with my Fuji Cross.

Regarding being seen, I am comfortable on my lowest and highest bikes equally, but I am a bit of a VC rider in that respect and if I think I need to take the lane, I will. I use my voice, bell and sometimes an airzound to get attention if I feel I am not being seen.

(I know you didn't ask me, but I'm trying to avoid work ;) )

I confess - I ride my vintage Raleigh most often on my commute, though I do have phases where I ride the bent every day. The main reason is my commute is really short, barely 3 miles. For that distance, my upright bike is just less hassle - I can wear a suit, or whatever I'm wearing for work that day. I can just sling my leg over and go. The front basket holds anything from a briefcase, to a laptop, to 20 lb of groceries on the way home. With the bent, I prefer to wear cycling shoes, a helmet, a bright jacket for visibility. I don't mind that on longer rides, but it just feels like hassle for a 15 minute ride. Now, when I worked in Mountain View it was a different matter - for a 40 mile ride it's the bent every time! Unless it's the Birdy.. Ah, spoiled for choice :)

It depends on the weather in your side of the world. Where I live it snows all winter pretty much. I kick myself every fall for not getting a trike, a trike would extend my riding season to nearly 12 months. If it rarely snows in the winter I would go with the SWB bike for sure. Lighter, probably faster and easier to transport and store.

Thanks for the input guys.

Decision made! I am going with the Streetmachine. I figure the only way to really know is to jump in and live with it for a while.

Excited!

You just might end up getting the trike, too. I have a bike and a trike. Each is so much fun in its own way.

I agree with Hank - I got a 'bent, and followed it up with a 'bent trike soon afterwards. It's a bit like tea and coffee - both are brown cloured hot drinks that essentially do exactly the same job, but they're actually totally different and some days you want one, some days you want the other.

OK...job done!

I am the proud new owner of a shiny silver Streetmachine!

Thanks for all your input. I fear that Hank is right though....that Scorpion (or the similar Ice which was also fab) might creep onto the already overburdened shopping list in 2009. Just too much fun!

Way to go! That wasn't much hesitation!
How come no pictures yet?