tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post5341822187105483276..comments2024-02-27T01:52:06.519-08:00Comments on Kent's Bike Blog: Why Doesn't Everyone Ride Recumbents?Kent Petersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12906603746565831689noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-84746916765714230482022-05-13T07:43:48.869-07:002022-05-13T07:43:48.869-07:00I'm a out of shape, 73 yr old widowed Gramma. ...I'm a out of shape, 73 yr old widowed Gramma. My son bought me a lovely upright bike a week ago for Mother's Day. For the life of me, I could not ride it. With recent surgeries on both knees, and little sense of balance, my knees were screaming in pain while I swerved all over the road. It had been over 30 years since I really rode an upright bike. He returned the bike for a full refund, and I spent a week reading, looking at, and testing out recumbent bikes. Even though there is still knee pain on a recumbent, it is much less than an upright, and my balance issue has been taken care of. I picked up my new recumbent bike yesterday, and took my first ride on it today. I could only ride one block, but, hey, a Gramma has to start somewhere. It's much better than sitting home watching TV. Hopefully tomorrow, my ride will be two blocks. It's baby steps for me. This is all good!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-20313419637433810202019-07-21T02:38:45.524-07:002019-07-21T02:38:45.524-07:00I have written and sorted the list of the recumben...I have written and sorted the list of the recumbent bikes based on my personal experience and user’s experience. While creating the list, I have kept a couple of things in my head. The first one is pricing and the second thing is feature. To get more info about <a href="https://workoutgadget.com/best-recumbent-bikes/" rel="nofollow">best recumbent bikes</a> visit now workout gadget.comJackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05429242193111098067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-72703242048568448642014-04-08T09:43:49.459-07:002014-04-08T09:43:49.459-07:00After riding DF's for most of my life, I start...After riding DF's for most of my life, I started riding recumbent bikes about 10 yrs ago - not when I get back on a DF it feels very weird and uncomfortable. My favorite bike is <a href="http://www.lightningbikes.com/p38/" rel="nofollow">my Lightning Cycles P-38</a><br />it's a stiff frame that can climb steep inclines and regularly wins the RAMM. It fits on bus bike racks and mass transit, and is just a blast to ride.<br />While new 'bents can be expensive,<br />I have bought all mine used - at decent prices, and done the rebuilds myself. <br />'bents aren't for everyone, but I just adore mine...Tomhttp://www.moxon.com/tom/bikes/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-57990814818426378252013-09-15T22:38:09.769-07:002013-09-15T22:38:09.769-07:00Great article! I have two bikes, a "wedgie&q...Great article! I have two bikes, a "wedgie" and a bent. Bent's aren't necessarily for "the rich" as I'm pretty broke. I actually built my bent using cruzbike's conversion kit (around $200) and some good old elbow grease.<br /><br />What I can say is that I can see points on both sides of the argument.<br /><br />But, I'm not one to tell who to ride what :). I love my bent, and I love my wedgie. They are two different modes of bikes. Sometimes I really feel like riding my upright, sometimes I really feel like riding my bent.<br /><br />It's sort of like religion. It's okay to have faith, but it sucks when you try to push it too hard on others.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13326436438079287712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-49332620238078887582012-09-01T20:17:07.489-07:002012-09-01T20:17:07.489-07:00I live in Bemidji, MN and i got a recumbent this y...I live in Bemidji, MN and i got a recumbent this year (a RANS short-wheeled base). I love it and with my back problems, it helps a lot. i think more people should be on Recumbents too.DJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08730517195726977067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-75050443887148612572011-01-29T16:46:49.168-08:002011-01-29T16:46:49.168-08:00Well written and hilarious. Tom Wolfe would be pro...Well written and hilarious. Tom Wolfe would be proud. <br /><br />On a more serious note however, I've recently decided to switch from wedgies to bents. <br /><br />I have come to this decision even though I have yet to actually ride a bent. <br /><br />That's not as crazy at it might sound. <br /><br />That's because I have already decided to stop riding wedgies because of the street conditions where I live. <br /><br />If it turns out I don't like bents after trying them, I won't go back to wedgies. I will stop riding bikes altogether. <br /><br />In other words, I earnestly hope bents will enable me to continue riding bikes. Because if they don't, then for me bike riding will be a thing of the past. <br /><br />My reasons are twofold, and have to do with both the streets and the bikes themselves. <br /><br />First the streets. The streets where I live are basically accidents waiting to happen. I recently took two very bad spills, less than half a year apart. Both were due to a loss of front tire traction on the pavement. Both times the front wheel skidded sideways and dumped me on the pavement in a split second. The second spill, which left me with hairline fracture in my scapula, was the last straw. I said, "Never again." <br /><br />Next, the bikes. Wedgies are inherently dangerous for taller riders. The way wedgies are designed, with the pedals/crank/bottom bracket below the seat, forces the taller rider to sit much too high above the ground. In the event of a spill, the consequences of falling from that altitude onto unyielding concrete are no laughing matter. <br /><br />Veteran bent riders have assured me that if I had fallen only a foot or so from the low slung seat of a SWB low racer, it is highly unlikely I would have been hurt so badly. <br /><br />Assuming they are correct, bents are my last hope of remaining a bike rider. If bents don't do the trick, the bikes and I will part ways. <br /><br />This is not ideological zeal. This is painful realism. Three months of physical therapy were undone in a split second. Now I have to go through it all over again. <br /><br />Taller wedgie riders who live in locales where the probability of spills are high due to treacherous street conditions, really need to consider alternatives.Bevinhttp://proporzionedivina.blogspot.com/2011/01/from-wedgies-to-bents.htmlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-7890809341926925072009-09-13T17:29:08.828-07:002009-09-13T17:29:08.828-07:00Doesn't really matter what you ride just as lo...Doesn't really matter what you ride just as long as your riding, enjoyed the post! "Happy Trails, safe biking and Get Bent”Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-73900351864188498042008-12-06T00:09:00.000-08:002008-12-06T00:09:00.000-08:00bachetta has too high a bottom bracket, should be ...bachetta has too high a bottom bracket, should be called a top bracket, my p-38 is super comfortables but is death on hills climbs like a stone, my old trek 2300 is much better in the mountains but even faired it's not all that aerodynamic and though I've done odram (one day ride across michigan (156 mi) on it I doubt that I'd put up with long distance riding on it now. nothing seems right for commuting so i'm back to drivingAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-59940482887344848512008-07-01T10:14:00.000-07:002008-07-01T10:14:00.000-07:00"don't ever go cheap on a recumbent"I don't feel t..."don't ever go cheap on a recumbent"<BR/><BR/>I don't feel this is true since there are thousands of folks riding the Easy-3, a relatively inexpensive trike and pretty long rides also. I plan to get one myself.<BR/><BR/>"good and bad about recumbents"<BR/><BR/>In making the transition you think that but as you get more experience there isn't any bad really. You ride a very low rider trikke but all you would have to do (which you probably have already done) is put one of those flags on it and then, you are as visible as the rest of us (bicycles are basically NOT very visible to cars, especially people with cell phones in their ears).<BR/><BR/>I transitioned myself and ended up after a couple of years, getting rid of all of my upright bicycles because after being in such comfort on the ride, I found I got more and more impatient with things like seat lifts etc that you put up with on uprights and I rode ONLY the comfort bikes... won a mtb one time where you leaned over and decided that definitely was NOT for me. :) Enjoy your bent!<BR/><BR/>SueW<BR/><A HREF="http://suewidemark.com/bent.htm" REL="nofollow"> bents and more bents!</A>Sue Joanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09733810024107526074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-39769987595077326482008-06-30T19:32:00.000-07:002008-06-30T19:32:00.000-07:00Nice read. This spring I purchased a Greenspeed G...Nice read. This spring I purchased a Greenspeed GTO recumbent trike. Different then an upright in so many ways....some good, and some bad in my perspective. <BR/><BR/>Probably the most aggrivating aspect of the recumbent trike is the low profile in tight traffic. This takes some getting used to, but definately not as impossible as some would think. <BR/><BR/>The benefit of moderating days between the upright and the recumbent is your legs get an awsome build/tone to them --- at least mine did. Get some serious practice in on the recumbent first before switching off between the two. <BR/><BR/>Uphills are a challenge until your fully conditioned (get used to very high cadence until you build up leg strength). Going down a hill can be down right scary at first. You smile in head winds.<BR/><BR/>Probably the single biggest reason a lot of folks don't have them is the cost and it's unfortunate.<BR/><BR/>Don't ever go cheap on a recubment - especially a trike version. You can seriously hurt yourself on a cheap recumbent (and there are a lot out there). If you can't afford to lay down 2.5-5k USD, then stick with the upright. Do a lot of research into what your buying.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-823884875047020502008-03-21T10:07:00.000-07:002008-03-21T10:07:00.000-07:00Because of recumbents I have been able to ride 100...Because of recumbents I have been able to ride 100+ mi rides, but I still enjoy my mountain bike on off road. As far as a "wedgie" bike, I had to stop riding them due to too much pain.<BR/><BR/>One common thing I notice is kids (even teenagers!) think bents are cool while adults (read...closed minded) think your weird.<BR/><BR/>Great Article...<BR/><BR/>TMLAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-42672770200026078372008-03-17T12:18:00.000-07:002008-03-17T12:18:00.000-07:00I have ridden DF's of all kinds for many years. Be...I have ridden DF's of all kinds for many years. Being lucky enough to have a lot of time off (I do shift work), I typically commute to work and ride a total of around 200 miles a week. After many miles spent cursing my sore butt, numb hands, and too many sleepless nights spent nursing a sore neck, I bought a 'bent for myself this last Christmas. I love it! I still commute to work, and although there was a learning curve, I find that riding in the urban setting to be as easy as riding a DF bike. I also find that my own visibility is better, as I'm in a more upright position, and I feel that others notice me for being different. I ride an EZ Sport (purchased at Coventry Cycle Works in Portland, who are wonderful to work with!), and find that it is a great all around bike. This summer, I plan to ride the Pacific coast on the old girl, and have no doubt that she'll get me down the road in style and much anticipated comfort. I have not had a single issue with soreness / numbness of any kind on this bike, and I find that pulling hills of any grade is only slightly more difficult than on a DF (after some training for those 'bent muscles), and the downhills are awsome! Keep up the great work on this blog, please. You can count on the fact that I will be a regular reader. Take care. DavidDaylyryderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14337733392639648158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-54787236125656756242008-03-13T11:29:00.000-07:002008-03-13T11:29:00.000-07:00John,Congrats on your 'bent. You wrote:**But I ha...John,<BR/>Congrats on your 'bent. You wrote:<BR/><BR/>**But I have to say, I don't want to get on the weggie now, I have more fun and feel much better during and after the ride on the bent. I don't know if I will ever go back.**<BR/><BR/>Several of us have BEEN THERE DONE THAT! I even bought myself a cruiser bike I'd wanted for years and yet, ended up giving it away because although it was comfortable for an upright, it didn't compare to my 'bents. I know you will have a lot of fun and probably ride as many miles or more on the bent!<BR/><BR/>Happy riding,<BR/> SueSue Joanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09733810024107526074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-16654629487766693642008-03-12T22:31:00.000-07:002008-03-12T22:31:00.000-07:00Wonderful article, I am 34 and an avid rider. I ha...Wonderful article, I am 34 and an avid rider. I have been riding to work everyday except in ice or snow now for 2 years. I was riding a descent quality road bike build light and fast. Yes I can sprint real well on it and keep up with traffic too. I put on 3000 + miles a year. I live in Tacoma so the rain does sometimes suck but its better than driving.<BR/><BR/>About comfort... well short rides were not bad, but long rides would have my neck, elbows, wrists and back aching. 4 hours on a bike will do begin to hurt, but 8 was just miserable. My ass was not so bad, Imean I am in the saddle nearly every day so it was well suited to the seat. I actually moved away from really padded seats to nearly not padded very early as I found them to be more comfortable after a couple months. But the discomfort of the horrible position was what made me start to look. mind you this is after about 6000 miles on my road bike.<BR/><BR/>So, after much looking I recently bought a bent 2 wheeler with 650's front and back. Wanted to be seen as to not be hit (done that, it sucks) so wanted to still be fairly tall and not have to carry extra gear for different size tires. But I have to say, I don't want to get on the weggie now, I have more fun and feel much better during and after the ride on the bent. I don't know if I will ever go back. I am currently shopping for a trike for my wife. But I may try it out too. Hills are a little harder but they are getting easier. I have a very steep set on the way home everyday so it wont be a problem for long. Flats are cool, man can I fly. I look forward to some long rides to build up some endurance in my legs in the new position.Stoneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07349952968157029977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-21533087475355651882008-01-28T10:21:00.000-08:002008-01-28T10:21:00.000-08:00I rode a Raleigh Sports 3-speed when I was recover...I rode a Raleigh Sports 3-speed when I was recovering from my broken collarbone.<BR/><BR/>Worked like a charm and was still faster than the bus and cheaper, too.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for yet another well-considered report, Ken.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-51973358162247396642008-01-27T15:18:00.000-08:002008-01-27T15:18:00.000-08:00Hi Kent..GREAT GREAT story and was just something ...Hi Kent..<BR/><BR/>GREAT GREAT story and was just something I've been talking about with friends. Fun stuff.<BR/><BR/>I'm with what Rich Pinto, an owner of the Bacchetta ( mentioned a bit eh) company who says: "Ride what you like. Like what you ride."<BR/><BR/>As you said, if you're comfortable on a DF there is no reason to reason to switch, unless you want to try something different just for the fun of it.<BR/><BR/>As a slow rider who does brevets I wish I could ride a DF on long distances in hilly terrain. I know from practical experience that I can climb faster on a DF. In Shanghai I ride a MTB and a Bike Friday for short rides. Folks talk about weight, but I "believe" I can feel more muscle groups working uphill on my DF's.<BR/><BR/>As I'm oft to paraphrase:<BR/><BR/>You can't please all the people all the time.<BR/><BR/>You might please some of the people some of the time.<BR/><BR/>And there there are those that no matter what you say, show them or do are going to bi*** and complain.<BR/><BR/>Thanks again not only for a fun, entertaining, but thankfully an informative read.<BR/><BR/>Tailwinds<BR/><BR/>P.S. Sadly when I'm back in Shanghai I can't see any of these blogs, so I'm blog overloading for a few days!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-51482458940245069532008-01-26T01:02:00.000-08:002008-01-26T01:02:00.000-08:00CF-bike riders occupy an enviable middle position,...CF-bike riders occupy an enviable middle position, literally and figuratively! Also they understand fully the advantages and disadvantages of both bike breeds :-)<BR/><BR/>I'm an occasional CF-rider myself ;-)Wijnandthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07343783872023362815noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-64273396034698524182008-01-22T13:24:00.000-08:002008-01-22T13:24:00.000-08:00THere are good reasons to ride both I suppose, but...THere are good reasons to ride both I suppose, but I have found that the 'bent is more comfortable and safer for bike commuting. It is a shame that riders can't seem to co-exist. I am sure there are races where DF riders come in first and 'bent riders come in first. Could be the rider! I don't act like I am above my counterparts because I ride 'bents, but it does get annoying that some of them feel that a 'bent is not a real bike.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-8082033850203782622008-01-22T13:10:00.000-08:002008-01-22T13:10:00.000-08:00Kent, I think you touched a nerve!I'd like to see ...Kent, I think you touched a nerve!<BR/><BR/>I'd like to see someone race the Great Divide on a 'bent. ;)jim ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02161517903295268167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-92138717221574996702008-01-22T12:33:00.000-08:002008-01-22T12:33:00.000-08:00Great article.Recumbent cyclists with highracers a...Great article.<BR/><BR/>Recumbent cyclists with highracers are the worst bent evangelist on the planet. One tried to convert me at water stop during a century.<BR/><BR/>I passed him climbing the hills and saw him riding to the parking lot an hour after I finished the ride.<BR/><BR/>So much for bent evangelism and what bike is the best.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-91525618055226628232008-01-22T10:39:00.000-08:002008-01-22T10:39:00.000-08:00Well you see dad, it's because of the corporations...Well you see dad, it's because of the corporations manufacturing the upright bikes. These corporations...they sit in their corporation buildings, being all corporation-y. "The Man" is trying to stifle the revolution against conventional wedgiedom. That seems to me to be the obvious reason.<BR/><BR/>Fight the power!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-71779737644684510702008-01-22T03:54:00.000-08:002008-01-22T03:54:00.000-08:00As my stable consists of four upright bikes and on...As my stable consists of four upright bikes and one recumbent--and I ride all of them pretty much equally--I get to converse with both crowds. It is a wonder that there must be two crowds, but that is human nature for you.<BR/><BR/>But my main point is this: regular riders have become to expect bent riders to be arrogant evangelists. However, I would imagine that arrogant evangelists are born, not made. It is only when they live, they find subjects on which to practice this characteristic. Anything new, odd, marginal, which has some positive aspect to focus on and some negative aspect to ignore will do. Thus some proportion of this population find bents and proceed to cause them a bad name.<BR/><BR/>I don't really care that they give recumbent bikes a bad name, though. They are just pieces of metal and will not get offended. What occasionally gets under my skin is that they cause the perception that all recumbent riders are like them, and people start to expect me to be an arrogant evangelist just because I've been seen riding a bent. This is a mischaracterization of my nature.<BR/><BR/>I don't care if other people live their lives in a way I wouldn't. They probably would not live their lives in a way I do. Being different is part of life. Attempting to force uniformity, even in the relatively benign way (compared to show of force) of speech acts is also a part of life, but not a part which I much like. What the social situation between cyclist subgroups amounts to is a faceless accusation of me doing something which I take a stand against. It is sometimes hard to swallow.<BR/><BR/>Thankfully no one who actually gets to know me sees me just as a participant of a group. The silly categorization is mainly an artifact of long-distance communication.<BR/><BR/>Life is not a zero-sum game. Kent has always understood that if you are pro-something, you don't necessarily need to be anti-something else. He is not anti-car just because he is pro-cycling. He is not anti-recumbent just because he is pro-diamond frame (despite this present blog entry, he really is not). Let him be an example of human dignity bettering senseless false dichotomies.Teemu Kalvashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14431473047953729950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-44947705101741710912008-01-22T03:14:00.000-08:002008-01-22T03:14:00.000-08:00you made many good points. Bicycling is a fringe a...you made many good points. Bicycling is a fringe acitivity for the most part. I only know a handful of people that ride consistently,and they are fitness hobbyists, like me. Most bicycles are sitting in garages and on the rare occasion ridden around the "development". That's it. That's the ride. <BR/>There are the racers, that ride in packs/clubs on the weekends, another micro-minority.<BR/> I lean toward the Rivendell philosophy that these groups have made it even harder for average folks to ride. Most don't want to get all dressed up like that just to get on a bicycle, but that idea has crept into the popular notion of what cycling is.<BR/> I do think a short wheelbase such as a BikeE or EZ1 would be a fine commuter/all purpose bike, that would fit where most bikes currently fit. They are not too low, either. But I have to admit, that for whatever reason, people aren't buying bents. <BR/> But for me, it was the natural evolution of my road bike fitness habit. . it is a hobby for me, and I do agree that for the most part bikes like this are a hobby for those with good incomes. Still way cheaper than golf, I'll remind you!!<BR/> I'm glad I was introduced to recumbents. They are comfortable and fun. When I ride my TE I feel like I am ten years old, out playing.Alan Mushnickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17837201900668583427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-71503116133680246472008-01-22T02:59:00.000-08:002008-01-22T02:59:00.000-08:00I bought a recumbent bike when I was working as a ...I bought a recumbent bike when I was working as a security guard making $9 an hour, so I certainly don't think of bents as toys for the rich or an unconquerable hill financially. <BR/><BR/>Walk into any LBS and you will find racks and racks of bicycles costing more than $1000. I paid $275 for a BikeE in great condition when I saw it for sale on Craigslist. Compared to the price of a GOOD upright, they're actually rather competitive.<BR/><BR/>I love my bent for all the same reasons SueW wrote about. That said, I did eventually buy an old Fuji Gran Tourer that I use when I need to go downtown. It's less conspicuous and a lot easier to deal with on public transit.Nick Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06348018081509803793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18676999.post-55981855428279605942008-01-21T21:52:00.000-08:002008-01-21T21:52:00.000-08:00lol. Precious story! Thank you for sharing an am...lol. Precious story! Thank you for sharing an amalgamation of past conversations. BTW, one of the two recumbent riders in your photo recently commented that he would ride wedgie it it were fixed.Peter McKayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15189205673386577586noreply@blogger.com