Recumbent bikes -- why we wrote the story

They're quirky. There's a good chance they have bad backs. And if they haven't gotten in the way of your road-hogging, belly-fat-inducing car or SUV (are you still driving that thing?), they probably will. They're recumbent cyclists -- and they're here to show us the way. 

Recumbent proselytizer Jonathan Dietch took reporter Janet Cromley along for a spin recently on his tandem. (She learned that 1] recumbent biking is fun and 2] cleaning mud off a video camera is  difficult.) He and other enthusiasts say that unlike road bikes, recumbents stand out. That's true -- as has been the contention that the bikes are gonna take off among a mass audience. (Any time now. Really. The public is ready. Wait and see... ) That possibility is one of the reasons we wrote the story.

With baby boomers hitting middle age and aware of the price of inactivity -- as well as the price of gas, recumbent bikes are a less traditional, more attention-getting way of hitting the road in a healthy way. The machines are easier on the spine, hips, wrists, shoulders and neck than traditional bikes, but no less obsession-inducing for that.

Their owners can be just as gear-focused as their more upright brethren and, with fewer numbers, can even consider themselves more elite in a certain sense. And, if what's holding you back is the desire for bragging rights among your clique, note that though the bikes may look laid back, they can cost plenty. They only start at around $600. The status-conscious (sorry, performance-conscious) can still plunk down thousands.

Speed? Not a problem either.

For a nice introduction to the joys of recumbent cycling, check out the Recumbent Blog. The blog closed recently -- the writer rider has moved on -- but it's still an excellent resource. And then there's RecumBum, which bills itself as "the musings of a recumbent bicycle bum."

So if you've been using the "I can't ride my bike because of my knees" excuse, give it up.

That's the Health section for you -- shooting down those I-can't-exercise-because explanations one feeble excuse at a time. (Our other reason for doing the story.)

-- Tami Dennis

Photo: Carlos Chavez / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Mike]

Great story! I had a recumbent several years ago which I purchased because of serious neck problems and then sold it when my neck got better, and because I still had "hang ups" about not riding a "normal" bike. As I am nearing 60 years, some of my neck (and other) problems are again showing themselves. So, that has me back in Dana's Van Nuys shop kicking tires. There are lots of options such as short or long wheelbase models, two or three wheel models, and even a new entry called crank forward which is somewhere between a standard diamond frame bike and a recumbent. Many choices, but they all have comfortable seating positions and comfortable seats. When was the last time you said that about your bike?

[Mary Arneson]

Wondering about the future of recumbents? Look at Minneapolis, where we had over 100 riders on a 30-mile recumbent group ride three years ago -- and we met a dozen recumbents going the other way! Where NOBODY gawks at recumbents any more, except sometimes our 5-wheeled separable tandem. Where we can encounter over 20 other recumbents on a 20-mile commute, and the number doesn't drop below 5 unless the temperature is also below 5.

It didn't rate more than a hint in the article, but recumbents are ideal for prostate cancer survivers who would rather bike rather than drive to their urology appointments -- or anywhere else.

In the U.S., recumbency is a boomer phenomenon, but it doesn't have to be that way. In the Netherlands, much of the recumbent scene consists of young speed freaks cutting through the killer headwinds on super-aerodynamic low recumbents.

[JB]

Thanks, I'll take a well-fitted upright bike with a cutout gel seat instead. I like being at the right height to look the drivers of SUVs in the eye before they turn right into me.

Being between tailpipe and door height on a recumbent would provide the dual hazards of inhaling pollution and being invisible in stop and go traffic.

Why would I pay more for that?

The future of recumbents? Similar to the future of unicycles. Growing slowly, with a devoted following, but unlikely to become mainstream.

But hey, whatever gets you out of your car and excited about getting around under your own power.

[P McGee]

If anybody is interested in getting more recumbent info, check out BentriderOnline. It's a great resource for information and the forums there are the best way to get your questions answered.

http://www.bentrideronline.com/

[S McElhiney]

JB, you might want to try some. Aside from lowracers, most recumbents put your head right at the same height as the driver of your average car. I ride a Rans Tailwind with a fairing in front and an Aerotrunk on the seat back. It gives me much better speed and weather protection up here in Washington in the winter, cuts through the wind better than my italian road bike, and is more comfortable. WIth the Aerotrunk in hi-vis green, my lighting, and an airhorn if the cars still don't get it, I'm VERY visible to anyone around me. When it got to cold and wet up here for my fenderless road bike, I got the recumbent and put 1400 miles on it between November and February. If it's raining out, it's the bike for me... I stay pretty dry behind the fairing and windchill is not an issue like on a road bike, want to warm up... go faster. I still ride my road bike (1985 Ciocc steel lugged 12 speed) and love it, but the recumbent is a completely different experience... and different bents fill different niches. I want a trike next... low, fast and fun... plus no falling down when you hit something slick (black ice here in winter).

[Jonathan Dietch]

Nice article. It was fun to work with Janet and Carlos on making it happen. Originally, this was supposed to be about bicycling along the Los Angeles River. The recumbent angle was a surprise development. But it's very topical since these can enable would-be cyclists who are otherwise constrained, to get out there and ride in comfort. I still ride a regular road bike too, which I prefer when riding in a group. I’m not a recumbent evangelist, but an ambassador. I still feel the same way about it as many non-recumbent cyclists, but then I lie back and go for a nice ride anyway. It seldom fails to bring a smile to my face either. If you hit my web page link you’ll see other videos I made while riding recumbents which give a better perspective of what it’s like from the rider’s vantage point.
Cheers, Jonathan

[Ian M. Camera]

People forget the risks in their "comfortable" choice when they contemplate something new. I can't even count how many times I've had the "too low to be safe" conversation with regular cyclists that have forgotten two major concerns:
1) Many auto-bike crashes happen because the (regular) bike was *seen* but not *noticed* and 2) they don't even consider the fact that their bikes are perfectly design to dump them on their faces in a crash. The risk of skull and spine injury on a regular bike makes me quite nervous when I get on one.

I achieve great eye contact with drivers of autos from the seat of my recumbent, which is the best (if imperfect) protection from being cut off or crashed into. Always consider the risks of your current choice when look at another choice :-)

[Eric Rosenberg]

Great Story! I'm a recumbent bike commuter here in Washington. DC, a very bike-friendly town. My commute is 6-1/2 miles each way (downhill going in, uphill going home), from the edge of the city into the downtown business district.

I love being at the same eye level as drivers -- I can look them, pedestrians and those waiting for buses and taxis right in the eye. They're not intimidated by be and I'm not by them! Having an air horn helps, as does *not* dressing or riding like Lance Armstrong.

And yes, in the tourist season (now!), I get photographed a lot. Makes me laugh, and once made caused a semi-crash (I fell over, actually).

I haven't seen a lot of us on my commute, but we are around. And enjoying ourselves!

[Jim Clark]

great article. for all the need to know info on bents, call Victor at the Bicycle Workshop in Snata Monica. 1638 Ocean Park Blvd. Victor has been putting riders into all types of recumbents for decades. the trike is a bit slower (except on downhills where speeding laws can be broken very easily) than a traditional bike but the two wheel bents tend to be faster on the flats. all bents are a bit slower going up hill but then again, nothing goes uphill very fast so who cares. another benefit, for people with heart issues, a bent seems to result in a lower heart rate than a traditional bike(in my case by about 15-20 beats per minute). I'm sure the med comm. can give us a list of reasons why, but in the end this only results in fatigue setting in much later than earlier, legs can last longer on a bent and when you are done with a 200 to 300 mile ride the legs are the ony thing tired. go try one, most bent dealers are more than willing to give you a test ride beyond the normal "take it down the block" routine.

[John Cleary]

Bad knees drove me from power walking to cycling seven months ago. Test riding upright cycles brought back the realities of numbness and wrist and neck pain. So off I went to Bent Up Cycles and bought a Catrike Expedition tricycle. Sure, it was expensive but, I can ride it every day in comfort.

My wife was so impressed we bought another one and are now a two trike family. We ride regularly with other "bents" in L.A. and Ventura Counties. For us, this purchase has been nothing short of fantastic.

[Thomas Barone]

Great article, thanks to Jonathan, and Janet i too am a recumbent rider for 10 years now. I find the recumbent bike platform to be very " user friendly" and manage to ride in excess of 7,000 miles each season. The weather here in Buffalo, N.Y. can be challenging but i manage to ride all year long.
Retirement is a wonderful oppertunity to enjoy the recumbent scene, your article was a very enjoyable read!

[Mick O]

One thing bugs me -- regarding the question of recumbent bikes being harder to see, the logic is something like this.

1. Recumbent bikes are going to experience strong growth
2. Visibility is not a problem because of their novelty - it's all about getting noticed.

Ignoring for a moment that whether or not I can see something has anything to do with now unique it is -- maybe it is or not -- my conclusion is that if they do experience growth, the novelty will wear off.And without the novelty factor they seem -- based purely on physical aspect -- to be much much harder to see for other vehicles.

I have a feeling if I ever can't hack it on my upright bike.. my biking days may just be over.

[Paul Worden]

The alleviation of male health and prostate problems is a major benefit of recumbents - apart from their comfort and safety. I can't tolerate a standard road bike saddle for long, so I ride 'bents.

Don't let neck/back/knee/hip/prostate or other problems stop you riding - there's a recumbent design suitable for most conditions and bike riders live longer and happier lives than non riders.

My P-38 is superbly comfortable, as fast or faster than standard road bikes, I sit at near normal bicycle height and in the event of a fall I'm less likely to be injured. For Sunday fun I ride a semi lowracer and for short town trips a standard bike with a Selle SMP cutout saddle. As the man said "Love what you ride and ride what you love."

Not all recumbents are fast but the fastest will tear strips off road bikes. Any cyclist that doesn't lust after the Velokraft NoCom or Fujin SL is probably dead. I love all bikes but I love my recumbents most. Just remind me of the price of gas again ;)

[Elrey]

More on "being seen." I am in my 14th year of non-motorized transportation, over 130,000 miles, most in Orange County.

What is the purpose of "being seen?" If it's for safety reasons, then the proposition is backwards. Check the papers and you will see that drivers "did not see" that semi, that school bus, that train-a-coming. In my experience, being seen by drunk drivers increases the chance of getting hit because they home in on what is that they are focused on. No, what you need it to be able to see all around you and use your situational awareness to keep out of situations where not being seen would matter.

The other part of the "being seen" argument that is non-logical is that the ability to be seen by being tall vs. being short only matters in close encounters. I'm not riding downtown or in crazy lawless traffic, and most of the other vehicles that I encounter first have hundreds of feet to recognize my vehicle and adapt to it. The most danger is not from being seen, but from drivers with the mistaken belief that only motor vehicles are allowed on the roads and drivers without the necessary skills, which are not well vetted in California. Mistaken because of Rumford v. Berkeley, 1989 California Supreme Court.

That said, I still try to make my ride the most visible possible. All of my commuting bikes (/trikes) feature bright lights, which I run during the day. Additionally, I added a velomobile http://www.lobosolo.com/velo/versatile/Nr42/VersatileNr42-01.jpg to the fleet in 2005 for it's road presence.

Elrey, Orange County, California, USA

[Bob Rodine]

Back problems that developed about 8 years ago have me looking seriously at a recumbent. However, after a few moments of serious consideration I think back to the day about 12 years ago when a car ran a boulevard stop at the foot of a freeway offramp and t-boned my bike. Fortunately the driver had her bumper perfectly alligned with the end of my pedal, and while my bike cost $900 to repair, I didn't have a scratch. Had I been on a recumbent it would have been my hip or shoulder that took the hit and I would be lucky to be able to write this.

So do I suck it up, and give it a shot?