rydabent

While there are many advantages for recumbents usually stated, one is seldom talked about. When going for a ride, the body has so much "onboard" energy stored. Since a bent rider does not have to use a lot of energy holding up his upper body and head, the energy used to do this can be directe to the legs. IMO this is why bent riders usually end up being able to ride further and or faster than a cyclis on a DF.

BlazingPedals

Yes, there are the extraneous energy expenditures that we don't have to suffer. Isometric work doesn't help move you down the road. Another one is what I used to refer to as the 'discomfort factor.' With that, the rider expends energy dealing with the physical discomfort of the upright position: changing hand positions at regular intervals, shaking out numb parts, squirming, standing for no reason but to relieve saddle pressure, etc. Many upright riders don't even realize how much they do it and what it costs. Like the isometric expenditure, it's energy spent but none of it moves the rider down the road.

trestlehed

Interesting article at energybulletin.net

The Velomobile: High-tech bike or low-tech car?

https://www.energybulletin.net/storie...r-low-tech-car

Also, exploring https://www.energybulletin.net/ is advised if you care about our country's (and the world's) impending energy crisis...

JanMM

The selling point for convincing my stoker/wife that we should replace our KHS tandem with a recumbent (a Screamer before next Spring, most likely) is what you've described: We won't have to spend any time or effort towards relieving discomfort. We will just be comfortable and be able to devote our efforts towards pedaling and enjoying the ride. No more coordinated 'butt rest'/stand up breaks - I'll miss that.

BlazingPedals

When I got my first recumbent, I became extremely hard to beat on century rides. My average speed wasn't that impressive, but I never stopped.

goadma

No special gloves, no diaper shorts, I have a carbon fiber road bike collecting dust in my garage. It climbs better than my recumbent, who cares.

yakmurph

The comparatively small frontal area means less wind-chill (more comfort) in these colder months.

spkerer

The view! Being able to look around and up comfortably. I never realized how much I enjoyed that till I went back to my road bike for a bit.

downtube42

Although I've been 'bent for several years, I fail to understand why so many of my recumbent comrades continuously come up with these "advantages". Is there a need to justify riding a recumbent? Ride. Enjoy. Isn't that enough?

merlin55

Sorry, but wrong. Energy used is equal to a force over a distance. Upright riders bodies are are pretty much stationary relative to the bike. Hence little energy used by their upper body. Recimbents have less frontal area, and hence less aerodymamic drag, hence less energy used at the same speed.

EM42

just imagine the comfort in a velomobile you can ride all day everyday without getting sunburn !

Smallwheels

Not Quite. Sitting in a chair takes way less energy than holding up one's upper body with arms. If the arm muscles weren't using energy to hold up the body the rider's face would smack the handlebar.

BlazingPedals

Upright riders are always advised to work on their 'core' muscles. That must be for a reason. Lots of isometrics involved in riding an upright. Isometrics are energy expended for no useful purpose.

Dchiefransom

I showed your post to my legs, and they are still laughing. I think they enjoy seeing me suffer.

countersTrike

No sunburn, but I got a bit of skin cancer on my nose in 6 years VM (+more than a small number of trike years). I couldn't slow that down; but I sure had a blast frying my nose!

goadma

More gears! No crossover effect, less chain wear.

Steamer

You are confusing energy used by the muscles with mechanical work. Holding a 50 lb weight stationary takes plenty of energy (it's isometric exercise silly), even if you don't move it an inch (and therefore do no work - in the strict physics sense of the term).

rydabent

dchief

Your legs dont believe? Maybe if you printed out my thread and wrapped them around your legs and held them in place with a rubber band.

rydabent

Besides routing all your energy to the legs, another thing is the laid back position does not hinder the lungs. Since bent riders arent all hunched over to get an aero advantage, their lungs can work at full capacity.

Someone posted a question about why bent rider talk about and post "advantages" of bents. I say why not. Why not let the cycling world know what bent riders know.

gcottay

+ 17,454! I've even moved from an extremely reclined aerodynamically efficient position to sitting more upright to take full advantage of gawking

rnorris

This and the comfort factor mean that at the end of the day, I can rack up more miles on my recumbent than on my upright bikes- even though it's almost 10 lbs. heavier, which is a lot for this undersized engine.

mymilkexpired

Man... Core muscles, the girls dig'em. between my pimp CF frame and tight abs Im like a rolling pu55y wagon. Dont think a recumb can say / do the same.

Just sayin...

Creakyknees

I will spank any of you freds. Pick a road, date and time.

Touch0Gray

but....but.....isn't riding a recumbent like doing situps**********?

philski

No, work is force times distance. Energy can be expended without displacement (distance). Push against a wall all day and your arms will be sore... and you will be hungry. You expended energy but performed no work.