so, i’m about half way thru a nice little two-hourer today, little tailwind making it sweet. Come to a T in the road, see a guy on a recumbent about 200 yards or so to the left, headed same way i’m turning. i swing right out, get back up to speed, and he’s right there! I think no way, grab a gear and he still hangs and then when traffic permits pulls right up alongside easily. He goes ahead and turns in other direction at next intersection, but what’s the deal ? Just not used to that… Couple of unique things about it; the pedals, etc. were way up high, and the wheels looked full size, rather than smaller.
Somebody tell what’s up with all this ? Just not used to being shut down by a recumbent !
If they aren’t being ridden by professors with Corduroy jackets, just about any average cyclist should be able to pass you on a recumbent. I tried to google a wattage comparison, but nothing came up. Last time I saw one, the recumbent easily won. Recumbents are just more Aero. I don’t know how they compare to a proper TT bike, but I’m guessing the recumbent still wins.
Around here you don’t get passed by recumbents. They aren’t gret uphill. Great downhill and on flats, but there’s way too many climbs here. I pass them all the time.
The trail that I quite frequently ride on has many variations of the recumbant, my favorite are the ones in full aero skins, either the tent looking version or the milk carton (plastic) version. I don’t seem to have a problem passing them, as they are typically ridden by the patches on the jacket type. A newer occurrence that is a little trouble for me is the cattrike. I have started to see a few more of them around, usually in pairs. They are about two bicycles wide and take up one whole side of the trail. Don’t get me wrong, I am thrilled that more people are out being active on a multiuse trail that is a gem in our area. I just get a little aggravated by folks who don’t understand proper trail etiquette, whether they are roadies, people out walking their dogs, families out for a once in a year ride, or tri geeks. About the only folks who consistently show a complete understanding of the trail are the horse folks.
I am not sure who this is, but it appears to be the prototypical rider of this machine. This may be me in another 20 or so years. Until then, I will continue to ridicule and make fun of these folks. Although, about 80 miles into a ride, the seat they are sitting on looks a hell of a lot more comfy than mine.
Even though one of my friends told me to kill him if he ever started riding a recumbent, I secretly want to try one. They look like they would be fun in a sort of Go-Kart way. Maybe If I put on a fake beard and jacket with the patches on the elbows…
I had a similar experience the first time it happened to me (it’s really flat and windy where I live), so don’t compare yourself to the old dude riding bent.
The “bent” has an incredible aero advantage.
There’s one guy who rides with a stealth cover over his bent… leaving the only his head and part of his neck protruding from the stealth zip-up cover… this guy smokes entire groups of cyclists (15-20, Cat 2-4)!
PS: It’s damn-near impossible to get a draft off those guys, but it’s great speed work if you can hang for a few miles!
We used to have a guy on a recumbent come out with our roadie group. He didn’t actually ride with the group but either sat back behind us or went to the front of us. Those things are fast. He had no trouble hanging with the roadies even though he wasn’t part of the draft. The only exception was on hills. As another poster mentioned, they don’t climb that well as they’re quite a bit heavier.
Not only do they have an aero advantage going for them, I have also heard that you can push harder on the pedals than you can on a regular bike. It has something to do with the ability to push against a rigid back support that allows for more leverage than just standing on the pedals and pulling up with your arms on the bars.
that’s what made this one different from others i’d seen, the way the “bottom bracket” was elevated, it really looked like you could get leverage into the stroke…
Even though one of my friends told me to kill him if he ever started riding a recumbent, I secretly want to try one. They look like they would be fun in a sort of Go-Kart way. Maybe If I put on a fake beard and jacket with the patches on the elbows…
Kinda like riding a moped.
Don’t get me started on mopeds, scooters, and segways. Moped is now the must have for the hipster too lazy to pedal. The Segway is perfect for people too lazy to walk. … and scooters lose out to that much faster, more enjoyable, and much cooler mode of transport … the motorcycle.
