Recumbent Bikes
Recumbent Bikes • History of Recumbent Bicycles • About Us
A recumbent bike is a bicycle that the rider propels from a seated
position. The rider's back is supported and the rider's legs extend
forward to pedals that are roughly the same height as the seat.
Steering is either above the seat or under the seat. Above the seat
steering uses a handlebar located in front of the rider; under seat
steering uses a handlebar located underneath the seat. Recumbent
bicycles are categorized according to their wheelbase length: long
(LWB), short (SWB), and compact long (CLWB). Recumbent tricycles
are similar, except that they have three wheels instead of two. The
delta variety has two rear wheels whereas the tadpole has two front
wheels. An additional type of recumbent is the handcycle, which
is pedaled by the arms instead of the legs.
Many recumbent riders consider their bikes to be safer than standard
upright bicycles due to better braking performance, lower center of
gravity, and feet-forward riding position. The seating position also
reduces strain on the upper extremities and the gluteus, making it more
suitable for long rides and touring. There are also usually better
aerodynamics with a recumbent bicycle. This can be aided with an
accessory called a fairing, which reduces wind drag and can be added to
the front or rear of the bike. Recumbent bicycles are also generally
faster on flat ground than upright bicycles, and forward visibility is good.
The disadvantages of a recumbent bicycle include the fact that it needs
a much heavier seat to support the weight of the body, it requires long
chainlines, and the choice of tires is limited. There is also not
much variation in seating position during the ride, and it is much harder
to balance on non-paved surfaces. Additionally, certain phenomena
known to happen with recumbents have been given their own name.
"Leg suck" occurs when a foot touches the ground and the bike continues
to run forward, causing ligament damage. Clipless pedals are advised
to avoid this situation. "Recumbent butt" occurs because the gluteal
muscles have to work harder while being compressed. This can be
ameliorated by adjusting seat and pedal positions. Recumbents are
larger than conventional bicycles, so they are more awkward to transport
and store. Recumbent bicycles also happen to be more expensive,
typically costing between 10 percent and 25 percent more than comparable
upright bikes.
- Angletech offers custom-fit recumbent bicycle and tricycle designs.
- Bacchetta features an innovative series of performance-oriented recumbents that are designed to fit into all walks of cycling life.
- Challenge Ligfietsen is a Dutch manufacturer of handmade recumbent bicycles.
- Rans offers a full line of recumbent bikes and accessories for a broad spectrum of riders.
- EasyRacers is a designer and manufacturer of cutting edge recumbent bicycles.
- Greenspeed is an Australian designer and manufacturer of recumbent trikes.
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