Overview
- The first recumbents came on the bike scene in the mid-1800's.
- Recumbent bikes, as we know them today, have been around for more
than 60 years.
- Recumbent refers to the seating position - riders
sit upright in a chair-shaped seat with the pedals in front.
- Best
suited for road cycling and touring.
- A decade ago only a few thousand
recumbent bikes per year were sold. Now manufacturers are selling
50,000 to 60,000 recumbents a year.
- Tend to cost more than the standard
upright bikes because they are manufactured in much smaller numbers.
- Good recumbents start at $500 to $600 but, as with high-performance
upright bikes, the price can go significantly higher.
Recumbent Styles
Recumbents offer a variety of configurations to accommodate
rider preferences. There are bikes with long or short wheelbases, over-seat
steering or under-seat steering, suspension frames or rigid frames,
small rear wheels or large rear wheels, tricycle versions and tandems.
- Short-wheelbase bikes are usually lighter, have more responsive steering
and are easier to transport.
- Long-wheelbase bikes offer a softer ride and have more manageable
steering.
Benefits of Riding a Recumbent Bicycle
- Upright posture allows the diaphragm to expand freely for improved
breathing.
- The wide seat and chair back takes weight off the wrists and distributes
weight evenly over the rider's back, lumbar region and buttocks.
- Improved
all-round vision. Riders can comfortably take in the sights from
an upright position, rather than having to hyper-extend their neck.
- As reported on the ABC-TV newsmagazine, "20/20", riding
standard bicycles can cause penile numbness and possible impotence.
Recumbents don't place pressure on sensitive body parts or the perineal
nerve .
- Very beneficial to cyclists with back or knee problems, who would
otherwise need to restrict or stop cycling altogether.
- Recumbents are
safer. On an upright bike when you fall, you tend to go head first
onto the pavement. On a recumbent, you're leaning back so if you
fall, you escape with a few scrapes on your lower extremities. There's
less risk of head injury because rider is less likely to end up diving
over the handlebars in a sudden stop as often happens on an upright
bike.
- The recumbent position allows the rider to be much more aerodynamic.
Less energy is spent overcoming wind resistance resulting in a more
enjoyable ride.
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