What do roadies think of recumbents?
06-22-15, 02:30 PM
#76
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06-22-15, 07:05 PM
#78
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It's easier that way -- otherwise you'd need a mechanism to balance the braking force and keep everything adjusted perfectly. Besides, brake steer improves your ability to turn in a wide variety of situations. If you want to stop straight, you just apply both brakes evenly.
06-22-15, 07:26 PM
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Recumbants seem super cool to me, due in no small part to how much faster some of them are than an upright. I could see building one up as a commuter to minimize the time and effort needed to get to work on time.
A few days ago I was out on a ride and passed an old guy (with a little beer belly and everything - but no Gandalf beard) on one while slogging up a very long and gradual hill. I passed him about a mile from the top. I said hi, told him his bike was pretty cool and as I was passing, remarked that I'd probably see him again in about 15 minutes. Sure enough, after getting to the top and starting the equally long gradual trip down the other side, there he goes, passing me at at least 30mph.
The rest of the ride I was on was mostly flat, and I did my best to catch back up, but I could only keep him from getting more than 1/4 mile or so ahead. And only then because I probably had 15 years and a lot of fitness as an advantage. If it was my twin on it, forget it. They're just too fast.
A few days ago I was out on a ride and passed an old guy (with a little beer belly and everything - but no Gandalf beard) on one while slogging up a very long and gradual hill. I passed him about a mile from the top. I said hi, told him his bike was pretty cool and as I was passing, remarked that I'd probably see him again in about 15 minutes. Sure enough, after getting to the top and starting the equally long gradual trip down the other side, there he goes, passing me at at least 30mph.
The rest of the ride I was on was mostly flat, and I did my best to catch back up, but I could only keep him from getting more than 1/4 mile or so ahead. And only then because I probably had 15 years and a lot of fitness as an advantage. If it was my twin on it, forget it. They're just too fast.
06-24-15, 10:47 AM
#80
Portland Fred
No rear brake -- you don't need it (though some trikes have a drag brake). I just have cheap levers and discs in front. These things provide more than enough force to throw the rear over the front.
06-24-15, 12:28 PM
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Here's mine. I don't have a aero belly or a beard, though with ~290W FTP I do go pretty fast on the flats (not so fast on the climbs, way too fast on the descents). I've concluded it's faster than an aggressively fit TT bike (Cervelo P5) based on being faster than a local cat 2 (who certainly has a higher FTP than I) over ~4mi rolling distances.
06-24-15, 02:35 PM
#82
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I've ridden a few of various configurations and I don't have a lot against them. I wouldn't buy one, however. You sit too low to the ground to be seen easily. Now, clearly people don't always see regular upright bikes also, but a recumbent seems to add another layer of difficulty when riding in town. If I lived in, or close to the country, it might be a consideration, but I don't see that happening.
06-24-15, 07:52 PM
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I was on my morning ride this am, came upon a very very low recumbent, so I slowed to say hi. See many recumbents where I ride. I said hi, you call that a low rider. Guy said its my lazyboy with wheels, I laughter. The guy had a good sense of humor.
