Better on a Bent
 

50+ years as active bicyclist. In my fifties switched to recumbent but held onto one DF - my 1950's Rudge Sports which has a Brooks B-66 that is about as comfortable as it gets perched upon a DF bike. I enjoying wrenching all types of bikes, but for personal riding it's recumbent or the occasional short ride on the perch of the Brooks saddle. My only regret is that I didn't get bent much earlier in my cycling life :thumb:

1+

Someone on here told me early 'best not to evangelize' about the wonders of bent riding. So I stopped, other than subtle hints every now and then directed at a rare DF poster. You can lead a horse.......It's mostly the 'image' thing with DFers.

Some DF riders would rather give up the sport than to be seen on a recumbent. I think they all believe that getting a recumbent will make them old, fat, and bearded (not to mention geeky; ) and worst of all, they'll have to walk up every hill and be the butt of all the jokes they used to tell about 'bent riders.

I just want people to ride what makes them happy. If you're happy riding a DF (or a riding both DF and bents), then that's what you should do.

On the other subforums, I will pop an occasional if after trying different saddles, you still have the pain, maybe it's time to consider the darkside comments in here and there. But I always start with the "ride what makes you smile".

Because of the lack of pain recumbents and trikes almost have to be the bikes of the future. In some areas such as singletrack of course a DF mountain bike will be needed.

Now if only we could get the totally backward thinking international biking community to come into the 21st cent, things might change. Hell is would be progress if they came forward to the 20th cent!!!!!

Fine. Let 'em quit. I intend to keep on riding ('bent AND df) 'til they carry me out feet first.

SP
OC, OR

Ya mean, riding a recumbent? :)

I hung my nice mountain bike on the wall about 8 years ago, Biking with neck and wrist and crotch pain was no longer fun.

A year later my wife and I wanderd In a bike shop and there was this EZ-3 sx Delta trike and my wife gave it a test ride.
We took It home with us.
The shop owner told me to come back In two weeks,,I did, I test rode, I took home an EZ-1sx, I WAS RIDING AGAIN !!!!

Now My Easy Racer Tour Easy LE has taken me to the next level. When the day comes I no longer want to ride a two wheeler
I will buy a Tadpole trike,,I may go on and get me one,,they are so cool to ride...

I would not be on a human powerd bike if it were not for the Bents.....

I love it when I'm out on the "Mup's" and DF riders stop for a water break and get off and stretch and rub their rear ends,
while I just sit on my bent and take a drink and a breather In complete comfort.

Its a shame so many are afraid to be different, so many feel they must fit in..

I agree with this. There are probably a lot of DF riders who would be much better off on a bent.

But, you can't tell an alcoholic that they need to stop drinking. They need to figure it out on their own. It's the same thing with riding 'bents. If somebody is complaining about being comfortable, plant a few seeds.

We just don't want to turn this into a religion. Yes, I like 'bents much better than upright bikes. But as far as I'm concerned, the goal is to get as many people off of their @$$ and outside exercising. I don't care too much how they do it.

Cheers,
Charles

Note that I'm not really trying to say that riding a diamond frame is like being a drunk... :D

I completely flipped for recumbent trikes the first time I test rode one after a back injury kept me off bikes for over 5 years. Back mostly better now, I toy with the idea of getting a nice DF road bike. Then reality kicks in. I tour where I ride down dirt roads with rocks the size of pigeon eggs and ruts. I plow through snow and do icecapades when the snow packs down and freezes. Add the neck and various other discomforts of a road bike with all the things I couldn't do on it and I see that the DF would only spend a lot of time hanging in my in-laws garage.

After 6 years, my trike gave me another reason to love it. A downpour started while on tour. I popped up an umbrella, took my shoes and socks off, settled back to read a book while waiting for the rain to stop. The nasty looks I got from other people on two wheels who were slogging through the rain with no place to sit out of it. :P

Oh yeah I think DF's will always be better In some area's like a crowded city or on any off road trail that is more rustic than a smooth path.

In the city the CLWB bent would do fine IF the front wheel was out front, bottom bracket lower than the seat.
Like the EZ-1 that I often rode in these conditions. It did fine.

A SWB with the feet and crank sticking out over and above the front wheel, with all the pedestrians,,not so good IMO.
Clipping in,,,LOL yeah tell me that works, go on :)

A LWB on city streets n sidewalks and people all about,,not fair to the pedestrians unless the rider is extra considerate.
A Long Bike,,,,is,,,,a,,,,long bike. I also ride my 67 inch wheel base Tour Easy into tight places, It takes
a bit more patience when In close proximity with pedestrians.

Off road,,I'm sorry but I always needed to 'Stand up' on the peddals for balance and hopping rocks n such. Bents would need IMO
to stay on the level one trails.

aenlaasu

Good point. When I ride to local bike races and other outdoor happenings I ride my trike. That way I have my own comfortable seat with drink holder right there with you. You can even throw some snacks in your trunk pack and save some money too. Sure is better than setting on the hard ground.

On BROL, there are several people who ride their bikes off road and after watching their videos, I have to say, do amazingly well on very tough terrain. But, yes, I think that this is easier to do on an upright bike.

I've ridden my Cruzbike Sofrider in very crowded places (e.g., Tour de Bronx). You do want to take more care because of the crank position, but it's definitely manageable.

I have dual sided pedals, so I don't have to clip in if I don't want to. But except on the busiest of streets, I still find it useful to do that.

I tow both trailers and trail-a-bikes with my Sofrider. I've ridden on not-so-great trails. So far, I haven't found any place that I'd take a road bike that I wouldn't take it. The only problem I have is starting on really steep hills, particularly if the ground is wet.

People who ride DF bikes are really pretty weird.

Charles I appreciate your attitude and agree that whatever bike one chooses to ride the important thing is riding the bike. When I'm around DF riders, which are most of the riders in my local bike club, I don't bring-up the benefits of recumbents unless someone asks why I ride one, and even then I prefer to give my answers out of earshot of others lest someone think I'm being arrogant or something. I remember on a club ride once when I rode a Merlin Extralight with Dura Ace and Zipp wheelset and a carbon fiber frame rider said to me without a trace of humor "Titanium is for old guys." That sure put a chill in the air.

I never get wise cracks about my Recumbent, too bad cause I like the banter.

Some people are just d!ck$, can't do anything about that. ('Cept maybe beat 'em with a frame pump ;) )

My suburban/urban commute tool of choice is "A SWB with the feet and crank sticking out over and above the front wheel..." Not a problem. SPD clipless pedals not a problem either.

dudelsack

I dont know about weird, but they sure do walk funny!!!!:)

I've never heard that one before. It must be a NEW RULE.

"Titanium is for old guys."


What a geek.

Yeah we know that :D

But I bet they all think we are attention Junkies :)

#1 - Ride whatever you want

#2 - Have fun

This is all anyone needs to know.

Amen.

I also agree with ride what makes you happy...
my "lounge chair on wheels" makes me happy.