From: bgahl@scuba.EBay.Sun.COM (Robert Gahl SunSoft DPT Software Engineer)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.misc
Subject: Re: Cycling Gives Me A Neck Ache -- Recommendations??
Date: 27 Aug 1992 20:28:03 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems Federal, Milpitas, CA.
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: scuba.eng.sun.com

In article <9224009.6989@mulga.cs.mu.OZ.AU>, fraser@munta.cs.mu.OZ.AU (Fraser Wilson) writes:
|> 
|> While a recumbent is a lovely way to ride, they're not so good at climbing,
|> they're rather pricey and if you want to do any racing, you pretty much
|> have to have a standard bike.  Does anyone know of organised recumbent
|> races?  What about recumbent races in Oz?

Well, there is some theory the non-recumbent riders out there should be
aware of.

1) In the "recumbent" position, you are able to deliver more power to the
   pedals (because of back support) than a "diamond-frame" rider does
   sitting down. So, as long as the diamond-frame rider sits down, the
   recumbent rider sits higher on the power curve (so to speak). This is
   what I've been told. Having just returned from RAGBRAI, I note that
   I passed my fair share of riders going up hills. When the hill gets
   really bad, then a good granny is a must. However, I don't think I
   qualify for the Tour de France yet, so there's no hurry. The diamond-
   frame rider's backup is standing-up "on the pedals." Again, in my
   riding, about 1 in 5 knows how to do this, but even the 1 in 5 I
   usually ride with can't hold it forever, so as they may pass me going
   up the hill, I usually catch them in the flat or on the downside.
   Of course, your mileage may vary, as may your riding partners.

2) As for price, they cost no more than a good mountain bike would cost.
   An Infinity can go for as little as $600. If you want to get exotic,
   then you can spend more money. You want to add killer components, you
   can spend even more money. For the record, my Ryan Vanguard cost $1k
   with medium range Suntour components (which I traded out for Shimano
   DX/XT stuff which, of course, drove the price WAY up). There are
   SWB (short wheel base) recumbents that can get a bit pricey, but
   then, so do mountain bikes, like Bontrager (probably sp).

3) I saw a notice in rec.bicycles quite some time ago that the USCF
   was allowing recumbents in their races. I can't vouch for the
   authenticity of this claim, but simply that I saw it about a
   year ago. They'd be great in time trials, and if you are looking
   for a great draft, get behind one (if you are on a diamond-frame).

4) Lastly, as I understand it, the land-speed record on a bike is
   held by a recumbent (40ish mph). 60 mph has been attained in a
   fully covered recumbent (IMAX video called SPEED shows this).

So, bottom line is, for me, that recumbents are quite comfortable
(I suffered from the same problem as the person who started this
thread originally) and I am actually 3 mph faster on them than I
was on my diamond-frame, even though I gained 6 lbs in raw bicycle
weight (Univega was 21# and Ryan is 27#).

I commute about 50 miles a day (25 to and from work), putting around
200+ miles/week on the bike, weather permitting (and it usually does
out here in the Bay Area). I haven't had any recurrence of my back
problems, and at RAGBRAI, I put 590 miles in. Most of the diamond-
frame owners I knew would arrive at the campsite, park their bike,
and look for the shuttle into town. I, on the other hand, stopped
at the campsite, rode my bike to a shower, rode my bike to dinner,
and then rode my bike back to the campsite. When the ride was done,
the only tired part of my body was my legs and knees. My rump and
shoulders showed no signs of having been over 590 miles. Had I done
this on a diamond-frame, they'd have carted me off in an ambulance.

Now, with all these accolades, there are some drawbacks to a
recumbent. First is that because the center of gravity is so much
lower, things happen in a big hurry, especially falls. Most diamond-
frame riders I know have a moment or two of "I'm gonna crash!" before
they hit. Recumbent riders dust themselves off asking "What am I doing
on the pavement?" Most recumbent falls, luckily, are on your rear,
but I still wear a helmet.

Visibility behind you takes some REAL getting use to. I wouldn't
ride my bike without a rear-view mirror of some sort. I have finally
mastered the ability to look over my left shoulder without turning
the bike into traffic as I do so. That took some practice. Looking
behind yourself on a diamond-frame is definately easier.

Coasting speed is a bit higher than a diamond-frame. I don't usually
move slower than 4-5 MPH. On my diamond-frame, I could easily do
3 MPH without trouble. So, unless you regularly do high-wire acts,
I wouldn't suggest a track-stand on a recumbent ;-)

Lastly, because most of us have spent most of our lives on a diamond-
frame, there are areas of transition that need practice, and don't
come naturally. I specifically mean emergency manuvers, such as quick
turns, emergency stops, etc.. What use to work on a diamond-frame does
not necessarily work on a recumbent. The good news is most people are
able to take to the bike in 10 ft or so, even after lots of thoughts
about how they are going to fall the moment they get on it.

This is not directed specifically at Fraser, although his is the
message I'm following up to.
---
Bob Gahl KD6KMX Bicycle Mobile|ARPA/INTERNET: bgahl@scuba.Eng.Sun.COM
SunSoft DPT Software Engineer |UUCP:  ...[about anywhere]!sun!bgahl
"Howling at the moon until you've had your fill. All you loose is one
 arm and a hundred dollar bill. Coyote Love." -- Joe Walsh