Biking Getting ’bent for the fun of it Are recumbent bicycles a passing fad or the wave of the future? By Tim Landon IT LOOKS A bit like a reclining chair with spokes. We’ve all seen a recumbent bicycle by now, but these comfortable and efficient mechanical wonders continue to languish in obscurity. Are you intrigued by the relaxed and aerodynamic riding position that gives recumbent bikes their name? Or, perhaps you’ve gone one step further and considered joining the growing numbers of recumbent enthusiasts. If you’re yearning for some pragmatic information to help you decide if a recumbent is right for you, here’s the scoop from a cyclist who enjoys both uprights and recumbents.
Recumbent bicycles (or ’bents) have been around nearly as long as the bicycle itself. Early experimenters found that recumbents could be comfortably ridden for long periods of time, and noted performance advantages under certain conditions. Riders on unfaired ’bents competed successfully with upright riders, while fully faired (streamlined) recumbents shattered speed records by a wide margin. In 1934, amidst a flurry of press and controversy, the UCI banned recumbents from competing with uprights. Recumbent design stagnated until the 1970s, when interest in the potential of HPVs (human-powered vehicles) as alternative transportation was reborn. Today, highly sophisticated HPVs built by scientists, artisans and aerospace engineers (and piloted by elite cyclists) are attaining speeds of 130 km/h! There are several good reasons to ride recumbents, and there are both advantages and disadvantages compared with their upright cousins. Comfort, especially over the long haul, can be far superior on the ’bent. Experienced riders are well aware of this, and a few disparagingly refer to upright bikes as “wedgies” for reasons that become obvious when a typical racing saddle is compared with a recumbent seat. And, the comfort factor goes far beyond the nether regions. Hands and wrists are pain-free at the end of a long ride and tingling fingers are but a memory. On a ’bent, the rider’s weight is supported by the relatively greater
expanse of the derriere and lower back, instead of the feet, crotch and hands. Neck pain is also alleviated because the head tilts slightly back, providing the added bonus of a superior view of the whole sky up front. For these reasons, recumbents make great commuters and superb touring rigs. Many riders, having savoured the pleasures of touring on a ’bent, would never go back. Recumbents have the potential to be very fast and efficient machines, depending upon design, the rider’s fitness level and the terrain. Recumbents can be very fast on flat or rolling roads and perform well in headwinds due to their aerodynamic superiority. A ’bent rider usually presents less frontal area and “pushes” less air, and the difference becomes even more pronounced as speeds increase. So, a rider will often have a slightly higher average cruising speed on a ’bent with less effort than an upright bike requires. Fairings are popular accessories because they further improve aerodynamics and overall performance, even though they add weight. Fairings also offer significant protection from the elements, and tailboxes or full streamliner kits are also worthwhile options to consider. In hilly terrain, however, the pendulum swings back to giving the advantage to conventional bikes. In the mountains, upright riders have the option of shifting up a gear, standing on the pedals, and using body weight to quickly power up. Recumbent riders have no such option. Once the pressure on the knees reaches a certain point, they can only gear down and spin. Body weight on the downstroke doesn’t work when the pedals are way out front, although some riders can generate additional force by pressing harder into their seat backs or pulling on the handlebars. Training for a smooth spin and higher cadence does improve climbing ability.
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