Recumbents need an image makeover
#1
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Recumbents need an image makeover
The reaction, at least in the Midwest, to recumbent trikes is that they are for someone that cannot ride an upright bicycle. Hase is not helping.
The description in the Hase Kettwiesel User's manual is to explain that it is approved in Europe as a medical device and intended use is for humans with neuromuscular disorders, such as CP or MD and are unable to ride standard human bicycle and other indications are for coordination disorders, balance disorders, and restricted movement associated with spasticity, paraplegia, dysmelia, amputations, etc. It is great that Hase has designed so many unique applications for the handicapped.
Why don't they market the fun and comfort to the rest of the population?
The description in the Hase Kettwiesel User's manual is to explain that it is approved in Europe as a medical device and intended use is for humans with neuromuscular disorders, such as CP or MD and are unable to ride standard human bicycle and other indications are for coordination disorders, balance disorders, and restricted movement associated with spasticity, paraplegia, dysmelia, amputations, etc. It is great that Hase has designed so many unique applications for the handicapped.
Why don't they market the fun and comfort to the rest of the population?
#2
el padre
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I live in Kansas and I have not heard that attitude. but this is small town and there are only a couple/several of us who have bents...and we are all 'healthy' riders. Hase is only one in a plethora of bents so I would not worry too much...but that is me.
#3
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I ride my Recumbent and my Mountain bike and my Delta trike and My Harley, I just don't worry about marketing.
Life's too short, the grave awaits us all, So I tend not to spend time on things like that.
Go For A Ride and contemplate this on the tree of woe.
Life's too short, the grave awaits us all, So I tend not to spend time on things like that.
Go For A Ride and contemplate this on the tree of woe.

#4
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As I posted else where trikes are selling really well in Lincoln Ne. The biggest problem I see is all the nay sayers in the biking community. This is especially true of the fully kitted out types that think unless you are riding a $5000 full on racing bike you are not a cyclist. Too much we hear that bents are only for old fat guys with beards. I am old, but not fat and I do not have a beard. I am just an ave guy that enjoys cycling as I think most riders are. I am a full on promoter of recuments. I will stop and answer any questions people have about my bent or trike. I would guess that north of 95% of biking that is done is by other than the snobs. It would be far better if all cyclist worked together to spread the good news of cycling.
#5
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The biggest misconception that I've run into with my trike is that people can't imagine riding any sort of distance on them. When they hear I'm riding the long ride (whatever that may be for the particular charity), and I rode to and from the ride they just seem amazed.
#7
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Baloney!
Public image is what it is and it's ever so slowly evolving. You do what you think is best for you. I'll do what I think is best for me. Whatever others think, eventually a new balanced consensus will evolve.
Public image is what it is and it's ever so slowly evolving. You do what you think is best for you. I'll do what I think is best for me. Whatever others think, eventually a new balanced consensus will evolve.
#8
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If you are passionate about it, why not start closer to home, like right here on BF in the forum teaser? Perhaps you could propose a wording that better exemplifies the bent world and work to have it replace the current text?
"What IS that thing?! Recumbents may be odd looking, but . . ."
"What IS that thing?! Recumbents may be odd looking, but . . ."
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#9
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I guess I think that if all bent riders are willing to stop and give answers to questions people ask, it would help a lot. The more positive we bent riders are, the better the opinion of bents people will have.
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It's the words 'Recumbent' and 'Trike' that feed the bikes for old farts image. I would think using words like, 'Rans V-Rex' or, 'LWB Touring' or 'Low Racer'................ We should Call a Musashi a Musashi Low Racer for starters and never a bent... https://www.recumbents.com/wisil/revi...ke_musashi.htm
Old Fart bike you say ? Look again at this Velokraft:
Old Fart bike you say ? Look again at this Velokraft:
Last edited by osco53; 05-19-13 at 04:06 PM.
#11
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Don't worry, the image that trikes are for old folks is REALLY coming to fruition. As the baby boomers age, trikes are starting to really "move out the door" in the recumbent shop world. If it keeps happening, they will be all over the place.
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If people are so worried about their image, it keeps them off trikes, that is their problem. And it is their loss of fun.
#13
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In some ways, we're our own worst enemy. Not individually; but there are all too many of us who revel in the stereotype image: gray beard, sandals, all too often a bit of 'old man paunch' or worse, being passed by virtually everyone. And if someone complains about back problems, there's always a recumbent rider there to recommend his favorite trike. What are people supposed to think? It's no wonder that one common comment is, "sure, I'd love to get one -- when I'm OLD."
#15
The Recumbent Quant
In some ways, we're our own worst enemy. Not individually; but there are all too many of us who revel in the stereotype image: gray beard, sandals, all too often a bit of 'old man paunch' or worse, being passed by virtually everyone. And if someone complains about back problems, there's always a recumbent rider there to recommend his favorite trike. What are people supposed to think? It's no wonder that one common comment is, "sure, I'd love to get one -- when I'm OLD."
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Hase does market to the rest of the population-I have a Hase Lepus, and fortunately I have no disabilities. It equals the performance of my Scorp FS tadpole ( a wonderful trike) and I prefer the higher seating in traffic. Also, with the differential it goes places that any tadpole trike could only dream of. I've also ridden a Kett, and it is far sportier than many tadpoles I've tried, and with it's better traction, more fun offroad.
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The reaction, at least in the Midwest, to recumbent trikes is that they are for someone that cannot ride an upright bicycle. Hase is not helping.
The description in the Hase Kettwiesel User's manual is to explain that it is approved in Europe as a medical device and intended use is for humans with neuromuscular disorders, such as CP or MD and are unable to ride standard human bicycle and other indications are for coordination disorders, balance disorders, and restricted movement associated with spasticity, paraplegia, dysmelia, amputations, etc. It is great that Hase has designed so many unique applications for the handicapped.
Why don't they market the fun and comfort to the rest of the population?
The description in the Hase Kettwiesel User's manual is to explain that it is approved in Europe as a medical device and intended use is for humans with neuromuscular disorders, such as CP or MD and are unable to ride standard human bicycle and other indications are for coordination disorders, balance disorders, and restricted movement associated with spasticity, paraplegia, dysmelia, amputations, etc. It is great that Hase has designed so many unique applications for the handicapped.
Why don't they market the fun and comfort to the rest of the population?
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The Recumbent Quant
#24
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What I do to promote recumbents and break the stereotypes: I ride everyone else's wheels off! 
Although doing this does get boring after a while, not to mention I tend to run out of bikes...

Although doing this does get boring after a while, not to mention I tend to run out of bikes...
#25
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Around a decade ago, I noticed that whenever 'dad' would come into the LBSuperstore to buy a new titanium flat washer for his Cervelo, the kids inevitably would play on the recumbents. I sent an email to bikeE, noting this and humorously suggesting they purchase advertisements during Samurai Jack on the Cartoon Network. bikeE responded three weeks later by declaring bankruptcy.