Who are they kidding.
#102
Full Member
I'm frequently surprised at how upset some posters get about what other people do.
Within a real wide range, like when it starts to affect other people, I don't care what other people do. Something like what style bicycle a person chooses to ride just doesn't blip my radar. EVEN IF I THOUGHT THEY WERE LYING about being able to ride a DF bike pain free, why would I care? The level of nastyness expressed in this thread is just silly.
Within a real wide range, like when it starts to affect other people, I don't care what other people do. Something like what style bicycle a person chooses to ride just doesn't blip my radar. EVEN IF I THOUGHT THEY WERE LYING about being able to ride a DF bike pain free, why would I care? The level of nastyness expressed in this thread is just silly.
#103
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Oh I wouldn't say that...... I've done 3:36 century in my velomobile and a 4 hour century on the lowracer. No, the lowracer is not really 10 miles per hour faster, but the velomobile almost is.
#104
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When I used to ride my mountain bike everywhere, I was perfectly comfortable on it. This is also relative to experience. With never having any experience riding a recumbent, yes the upright was fine. Would I ride one now after being reclined for over 12 years? Probably not.
#105
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obviously you started ridng bikes late then. Never had a big wheel or crazy wheels? Never drove a go kart as a kid? just sayin, although I do get what you mean.....
#106
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Early on in my recumbent riding years I was so excited about the new form of riding that I would tell lots of df riders the plus's of recumbents. I didn't get into recumbent riding for comfort actually, I was more interested in the potential gain in speed. Now, I could care less if df cyclists switch to recumbents just because I did. I have found that it is also the same old argument about which is better.... ie.... chevy vs ford........... arctic cat vs skidoo vs Polaris vs Yamaha..... bents vs df........ Hey, we all like what we like and there is nothing wrong with that. The problem I have found with recumbents now is that with all the gps websites on the web now..... such as (cough cough ahem.... STRAVA) It seems that recumbents can be too fast for the df crowd to accept. I pretty much on a daily basis on Strava have to clear 20 flagged rides. I guess I get too many koms. other riders think I'm cheating in some form or another or part of ride done in an automobile. Then there is the possibility that df riders don't like being beat on a leaderboard by a bent. Big deal, so I get lots of downhill and flat and rolling hill koms....... You won't see me getting any 8% grade mile long climb koms. Recumbents will never be at the top of a climbing leaderboard. The athlete might be at the top though regardless of what platform. ok, did I stray far enough off the original OPS subject matter?
#107
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Probably not. If he's 61 now he would have been well over the target age group for the Big Wheel when those first became popular in the '70s. But regular tricycles and bicycles were very popular - especially the latter since we didn't have mini-van moms driving us around everywhere.
#108
Senior Member
Early on in my recumbent riding years I was so excited about the new form of riding that I would tell lots of df riders the plus's of recumbents. I didn't get into recumbent riding for comfort actually, I was more interested in the potential gain in speed. Now, I could care less if df cyclists switch to recumbents just because I did. I have found that it is also the same old argument about which is better.... ie.... chevy vs ford........... arctic cat vs skidoo vs Polaris vs Yamaha..... bents vs df........ Hey, we all like what we like and there is nothing wrong with that. The problem I have found with recumbents now is that with all the gps websites on the web now..... such as (cough cough ahem.... STRAVA) It seems that recumbents can be too fast for the df crowd to accept. I pretty much on a daily basis on Strava have to clear 20 flagged rides. I guess I get too many koms. other riders think I'm cheating in some form or another or part of ride done in an automobile. Then there is the possibility that df riders don't like being beat on a leaderboard by a bent. Big deal, so I get lots of downhill and flat and rolling hill koms....... You won't see me getting any 8% grade mile long climb koms. Recumbents will never be at the top of a climbing leaderboard. The athlete might be at the top though regardless of what platform. ok, did I stray far enough off the original OPS subject matter?
#109
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And the velomobile is a crazy streamliner. And your low racer would get spanked in the Appalachian/Catskill/Hudson Highland mountains that comprise my routes. So no.
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Same rider, same hilly course, no physical limitations that make it difficult to ride one bike or the other, and the large majority of the time the trike is gonna be slower than the so called DF. Not hating, just enjoying the Rydabent shenanigans, but the truth is the truth.
#112
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Same rider, same hilly course, no physical limitations that make it difficult to ride one bike or the other, and the large majority of the time the trike is gonna be slower than the so called DF. Not hating, just enjoying the Rydabent shenanigans, but the truth is the truth.
#114
Senior Member
BTW, 'DF' stands for "diamond frame" because the general geometry is defined by a double triangle in a (very approximate) diamond shape. I'd rather call them "uprights" or by their official name, "Safety Bikes." That way nobody takes offense for mis-interpreting the initials.
#115
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Try it - you might like it.
#116
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In mountains where you're either going up or down all the time, you're probably right about beating the velo. Once the momentum is gone, the fact that it's 70 pounds comes to the forefront. But your claim was that the lowracer would "get spanked." It might depend on who tries. I'm sure you could eventually find a champion who could do it.
BTW, 'DF' stands for "diamond frame" because the general geometry is defined by a double triangle in a (very approximate) diamond shape. I'd rather call them "uprights" or by their official name, "Safety Bikes." That way nobody takes offense for mis-interpreting the initials.
BTW, 'DF' stands for "diamond frame" because the general geometry is defined by a double triangle in a (very approximate) diamond shape. I'd rather call them "uprights" or by their official name, "Safety Bikes." That way nobody takes offense for mis-interpreting the initials.
#117
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I never got into bent riding in around 2003 because I had health problems that prohibited my riding a DF. I got into them because I test rode a few and thought they were fun to ride.
At the time I had a mountain bike and a road bike, both of which I enjoyed riding as well.
I rode and owned quite a few recumbents, including trikes and crank forwards (semi recumbents). I kind of went nutso trying out so many but I was having a blast doing it and at the time prices were pretty reasonable compared to what they are today.
I agree that the prices are outrageous and have gotten even more so over the last few years. They are putting themselves out of business, IMO.
Anyway, I came to realize that I like riding the crank forwards and the trikes the most. I also continued to ride a hybrid bike and a mountain bike, but not for longer distances like I would on the CF or trike.
I did find a saddle that once I adjusted kept me pretty comfortable on the DFs and I have to say that there is something awfully sweet about riding a light weight, nimble road bike at high speed. It is almost a sensation of "floating" and I did not have major pain while doing so because I'd stop and rest when my butt or arms got tired.
In contrast riding the trike was fun, yet I think it made me lazy as all I wanted to do was cruise along and stop frequently! For me, riding the trike was addictive, but led to a loss of fitness and riding skills overall.
The SWB, LWB, CLWB bents were comfortable for sitting during long rides for sure, but I never felt natural peddling with my feet up in the air. Closest to a natural feeling sitting position were the CLWB and LWB bents, which is basically what the crank forward bikes' seating mimic.
I do like sitting up and being able to see around while riding my bike and I've done that on some DFs as well.
Bikes like the RANS crank forwards or the Townies or others in this category are really my favorite because they sort of blend the "best of both worlds", DF and bent. They are compact, comfortable, and the seating position feels natural to me.
Still, I probably will one day again add a particular "comfort" road bike to my stable if I find one for sale. I just love the feel of that light frame, the rush of the wheels at speed, and the sense of almost "running" while positioned on a saddle that works (for me a certain one which shall remain nameless!).
Yeah, I like that.
I have no desire to own another recumbent, except maybe a trike for toodling around, but they have pretty much priced themselves out of my budget. If I found a used one I might be able to swing it, but that particular comfort road bike that I mentioned earlier can be obtained on my budget and that is the way I will likely go with that spare cash when it becomes available.
It's all good. Ride what you like!
At the time I had a mountain bike and a road bike, both of which I enjoyed riding as well.
I rode and owned quite a few recumbents, including trikes and crank forwards (semi recumbents). I kind of went nutso trying out so many but I was having a blast doing it and at the time prices were pretty reasonable compared to what they are today.
I agree that the prices are outrageous and have gotten even more so over the last few years. They are putting themselves out of business, IMO.
Anyway, I came to realize that I like riding the crank forwards and the trikes the most. I also continued to ride a hybrid bike and a mountain bike, but not for longer distances like I would on the CF or trike.
I did find a saddle that once I adjusted kept me pretty comfortable on the DFs and I have to say that there is something awfully sweet about riding a light weight, nimble road bike at high speed. It is almost a sensation of "floating" and I did not have major pain while doing so because I'd stop and rest when my butt or arms got tired.
In contrast riding the trike was fun, yet I think it made me lazy as all I wanted to do was cruise along and stop frequently! For me, riding the trike was addictive, but led to a loss of fitness and riding skills overall.
The SWB, LWB, CLWB bents were comfortable for sitting during long rides for sure, but I never felt natural peddling with my feet up in the air. Closest to a natural feeling sitting position were the CLWB and LWB bents, which is basically what the crank forward bikes' seating mimic.
I do like sitting up and being able to see around while riding my bike and I've done that on some DFs as well.
Bikes like the RANS crank forwards or the Townies or others in this category are really my favorite because they sort of blend the "best of both worlds", DF and bent. They are compact, comfortable, and the seating position feels natural to me.
Still, I probably will one day again add a particular "comfort" road bike to my stable if I find one for sale. I just love the feel of that light frame, the rush of the wheels at speed, and the sense of almost "running" while positioned on a saddle that works (for me a certain one which shall remain nameless!).
Yeah, I like that.
I have no desire to own another recumbent, except maybe a trike for toodling around, but they have pretty much priced themselves out of my budget. If I found a used one I might be able to swing it, but that particular comfort road bike that I mentioned earlier can be obtained on my budget and that is the way I will likely go with that spare cash when it becomes available.
It's all good. Ride what you like!
Last edited by ChiliDog; 08-10-14 at 10:53 AM.
#118
The Recumbent Quant
I am not saying a "champion" couldn't do it faster than my slow ass. I am saying same person, same conditions, no physical limitations is almost always gonna be faster on the RB (real bicycle). And I think you just mostly agreed. So I should probably shut my cake gobbler.
#119
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"Of course, provided I get to pick the road."
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#121
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I didn't pass too many velomobiles on the very hilly Paris-Brest-Paris route unless the riders were asleep by the side of the road. A batch of them passed me. One of them was up on two wheels going around a downhill corner, I was concerned for that rider but he made it ok. I guess that's the perfect hilly course for a velomobile, if you keep your speed up then you can go fairly far up the next hill. They put their towns and intersections at the top of the hill, not the bottom of the hill like is so common in the U.S.
#122
Senior Member
I am not saying a "champion" couldn't do it faster than my slow ass. I am saying same person, same conditions, no physical limitations is almost always gonna be faster on the RB (real bicycle). And I think you just mostly agreed. So I should probably shut my cake gobbler.
#123
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Not in the mountains. Listen, bikes are bikes. They are all great in different ways. As are skateboards, roller skates, motorcycles, hang gliders, a nice pair of hiking boots, firearms, tandoms, sail boats, kayaks, speedboats, lamborghinis, horses, experimental airplanes, parachutes, a good grill, smoker, range, cast iron skillet, etc etc etc. I remain confused why certain members of the recumbent tribe think it is important that they be considered to be equally fast or faster than a so called diamond frame up hill. Enjoy your bike. Revel in the fact that on your average TT course you will fly. Thank God that it allows you to ride if physical issues prevent you from riding a Trek (even though I hear Trek makes good bikes). Thinks it's cool just for a change of pace or because it attracts attention. Whatever. Different stroke and horses for courses.
#124
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I remain confused why certain members of the recumbent tribe think it is important that they be considered to be equally fast or faster than a so called diamond frame up hill
2. Because certain "safety bike" riders refuse to believe #1 , despite evidence to the contrary.