Zephyr Posted August 16, 2020 Share #1 Posted August 16, 2020 Here is another one about climbing on a recumbent. Having never been on one, I was surprised at how difficult and intimidating it appears to be to learn to ride a recumbent. Buddy appears genuinely stressed at the start 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisL Posted August 16, 2020 Share #2 Posted August 16, 2020 My BIL rode a recumbent and he let me ride it around once. Getting going was a little tricky but once you have some speed they are really fun to ride. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F_in Ray Of Sunshine Posted August 16, 2020 Share #3 Posted August 16, 2020 I found the trick to riding a ‘bent is to stop being afraid of it and lean back into the seat. If you’re sitting upright, they handle like ass. Lean back like you’re supposed to and they work pretty well 30 minutes ago, ChrisL said: they are really fun to ride. When I worked in a bike shop, there was a recumbent trike that someone had ordered and bailed on. It was in the shop forever. One night there was no one in the store and we were bored, so we took it out into the parking lot. I was doing stoppies and bashing the chainrings into the pavement and then slamming the back wheel back down....and giggling like a 12 year old. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ralphie ★ Posted August 16, 2020 Share #4 Posted August 16, 2020 47 minutes ago, F_in Ray Of Sunshine said: When I worked in a bike shop, there was a recumbent trike that someone had ordered and bailed on. It was in the shop forever. One night there was no one in the store and we were bored, so we took it out into the parking lot. I was doing stoppies and bashing the chainrings into the pavement and then slamming the back wheel back down....and giggling like a 12 year old. So THAT is what Kirby rides. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F_in Ray Of Sunshine Posted August 16, 2020 Share #5 Posted August 16, 2020 11 minutes ago, Philander Seabury said: So THAT is what Kirby rides. ...she hasn’t complained about a square rear wheel, has she? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rattlecan ★ Posted August 16, 2020 Share #6 Posted August 16, 2020 My first time on a recumbent would have been funny to anybody watching. It was a short wheelbase with extremely twitchy steering, and it took me most of a 800km road tour to really get comfortable with it. That was a rental unit, and when I decided to buy one, I went with a long wheelbase model with under seat steering. I took to that one right away with zero learning curve, but as shown in this video, my friend had quite a struggle with it when I let him try it. The opening scene is a much younger me (about 20 or so years ago.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ralphie ★ Posted August 16, 2020 Share #7 Posted August 16, 2020 10 minutes ago, Rattlecan said: The opening scene is a much younger me (about 20 or so years ago.) You came across much better than the other guy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rattlecan ★ Posted August 16, 2020 Share #8 Posted August 16, 2020 1 minute ago, Philander Seabury said: You came across much better than the other guy! Yeah, but I had practice. Nobody had a camera on me my first time out. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longjohn ★ Posted August 16, 2020 Share #9 Posted August 16, 2020 They are easy to ride if you have the right beard. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rattlecan ★ Posted August 16, 2020 Share #10 Posted August 16, 2020 Just now, Longjohn said: They are easy to ride if you have the right beard. And an aero belly. Think you might come up short in that department. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ralphie ★ Posted August 16, 2020 Share #11 Posted August 16, 2020 3 minutes ago, Longjohn said: They are easy to ride if you have the right beard. Are they actually easier to ride as far as less effort to go the same speed? It doesn't appear so. They would have a big aerodynamic advantage but what aboot mechanical advantage? I was very interested in them a decade or two ago (yeah. I was MUCH ooo young and had no beard ) and I thought I had read that the conventional diamond frame was much less efficient so that is why bents were prohibited in racing. IBut I can't imagine doing the TdF on a bent! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longjohn ★ Posted August 16, 2020 Share #12 Posted August 16, 2020 Back in the eighties I was working for a guy that had one. He told me I could ride it whenever I wanted. It went fast but it was really too short for me. I test rode a $4,500 trike In my size one time. It was fun but not $4,500 fun 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zephyr Posted August 17, 2020 Author Share #13 Posted August 17, 2020 19 hours ago, Rattlecan said: My first time on a recumbent would have been funny to anybody watching. It was a short wheelbase with extremely twitchy steering, and it took me most of a 800km road tour to really get comfortable with it. That was a rental unit, and when I decided to buy one, I went with a long wheelbase model with under seat steering. I took to that one right away with zero learning curve, but as shown in this video, my friend had quite a struggle with it when I let him try it. The opening scene is a much younger me (about 20 or so years ago.) I like the action packer/ beer cooler attached to the back. Does it come with cup holders? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rattlecan ★ Posted August 17, 2020 Share #14 Posted August 17, 2020 3 hours ago, Zephyr said: I like the action packer/ beer cooler attached to the back. Does it come with cup holders? No, but when I was touring on it. I had a Camelbak bladder in there with a hose over my shoulder. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Razors Edge ★ Posted August 17, 2020 Share #15 Posted August 17, 2020 I find them to be the exception to the "just like riding a bike" concept. And, here's the Strava segment and while it is not a very popular climb (179 unique riders). Jochen did finish just out of the top 10%. Still, almost 40% slower than the seeming "normal" road bike. And damn, that road would also not be very fun to descend in a recumbent. I will say, one of the only times I have been passed by a recumbent was on the pancake flat Seagull Century ride. I think that is a "big" event for recumbents as there are no hills. Perfect for an aerodynamic but fickle bike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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