Going RecumbentWhile there are many variations on recumbent design, all recumbents (or ‘bents) have a full seat rather than a saddle, and place the cyclist in a position much like a reclining chair, laid back, with their feet up in front of them. Such a comfortable riding position is about more than luxury, of course. As discussed in the Cycling Ergonomics section, an uncomfortable cycle is not likely to be used as much. But the next question is, what kind of recumbent? While there are a bewildering variety of recumbent designs, at Ergo Cycle we carry two main varieties- two-wheeled bicycles, and three-wheeled tricycles. Below I outline the key advantages and considerations of each:
Bicycle 1. SPEED! – While there are fast trikes and slow bikes, in general, recumbent bikes are faster than trikes. Why? A major factor is weight, as an equivalent trike will be heavier than a bike. In addition, two wheels rather than three means less rolling resistance- fewer hubs generating less friction, and less rubber in contact with the road. Having said all of this, a fast rider will still be fast on a trike, and a slow rider will still be slow on a bike- the difference in speed is relatively modest. However, while the difference is modest, many people do prioritize small gains in speed when looking at cycles. 2. Ability to lean the cycle into turns – A two-wheeled vehicle such as a bike can lean the whole vehicle into a turn, allowing turns to happen faster and/or more sharply. While leaning into a turn on a trike can help compensate for lateral forces which can lift the inner wheel, the fact that most trikes do not lean means they cannot turn as fast and/or sharply. 3. Narrow – We do not mention this to advocate “threading” traffic on the right hand side, but there are times when having a more narrow cycle is convenient. In particular, this is useful if one encounters crowded bike racks regularly. Tricycle 1. Practicality – A trike might be slightly slower than an equivalent bike, but it really shines in terms of practicality. A bicycle’s natural state is falling over. As a parent trying to run errands, the fact that I can load up my groceries either into panniers or a cargo trailer and take care of my child without having to worry about the bike falling over is a major advantage. 2. Stability – a. Hill climbing – While it is true that, all things being equal, a bike will be faster than a trike on hills, trikes have their own advantages for climbing. All bicycles, once the force of gravity is strong enough, whether because of a steep hill or a heavy trailer, or both, will start to wobble and weave at low speeds. No matter how fast or slow you pedal your trike, it will always be able to track a perfectly straight line. And if one becomes tired, on a trike you can just set the brake, lean back, and relax. b. Relaxing – While my personal inclination is to ride fast whether I am on a trike or a bike, the stability of a trike makes it easier to just sit back and relax. And because the recumbent riding position has the rider in a “heads up” position, it is nice to slow down and take a look at the scenery. No more staring at the front wheel on long rides! c. While this is a small pleasure, if one uses a clipless pedal retention system (highly recommended!), there is no need to unclip when one stops. Just stop pedaling and brake, and then start pedaling again when you are ready to go. 3. Safety – a. Deep grooves in the pavement parallel to the cycle’s direction of travel, whether they are rail tracks, gaps between the end of the sidewalk and the beginning of the road, or just cracks in the pavement, can easily grab a wheel of a bicycle and result in a crash. On a trike, if a groove grabs a wheel, this is not a problem. You just keep riding like normal, the wheel will pop out of the groove, and the other two wheels will keep you balanced and in control. b. While hitting ice or loose gravel might cause a trike to momentarily loose traction, unlike a bike, a trike is unlikely to fall over, and the cyclist will not lose their balance. 4. The go-carts of the cycling world- easy and fun to ride! – While recumbent bicycles sometimes have a bit of a learning curve in terms of balance, which is slightly different from a normal bike, the stability of a trike makes it easy to just hop on and go. It is worth noting, however, that like go-carts, and indeed cars, trikes do not lean into turns, which means that there are strong lateral forces on the trike in a turn. Turning too fast and too sharply can cause the inner wheel to lift, and turning more rapidly and more sharply can cause the whole trike to roll. This is not easy to do, but it is certainly possible.
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