Why are recumbents so rare when they are more comfortable and faster on the roads.?

Answer 1

How wrong the last person is? just look at my sources I've rode 'bents for a long time I wouldn't ride any thing else. Yes they do make less than 50,000 of them a year but well worth the extra $$ any time. Just look at these sites I listed even you Mr Dumbent. read your facts.

Answer 2

Well first off hogie0101 Nobody calls them "re-DUMB-ants" only the people that know nothing about recumbents. They are a very comfortable ride and have more adjustable positions than that thing you call a bicycle,oh and not all of us have a big gut, that's an observation and a slur from you DF riders that are more interested in seeing who can spend the most money on there bikes and dress so you can at least look the part.

To answer Daryl question,The reason they are so rare ( IMO ) is because there is not as many dealers out there and there are not as many made each yr as with a DF and because of people like Hogie ( not being insulting ) that don't understand the concept of the bike, but I can say over the past 4 or 5 yrs they have gained in popularity. I believe you will find that bents are made with a lot more care than bicycles.

As far as speed, the record is held by a recumbent and as far as speed most recumbents on the road today are faster than bicycles and I would agree,it does have alot to do with aerodynamics.

Visibility, Bents are not harder to see than a bike and we all don't run orange flags, only low-riders and trikes run flags because there only 3 to 5 inches off the ground. While on the subject of Visibility I run 700c wheels on my strada so my height is basically the same as a DF.

Stability, and Functionality I agree they can be alittle awkward at first, but I guess you were never that way when you learned to ride a bike for the first time, again not trying to be insulting. As far as the Functionality aspect, you know not of what you talk of because they're more efficient mechanically than most bicycles on the market today. ( again not trying to be insulting ) Oh and by the way I own Five Recumbents.

Answer 3

Several years ago, I strongly considered a recumbent--and definitely wanted one--but purchased a "regular bike" because:

* My desired rucumbent was far too expensive. I test rode a cheap one ($500), and it was far too twitchy. Plus, I wanted a fairing (windshield), and an overall better model. More than $2000 is too much for me.

* There was a lack of local bike shop support in my area. At the time, I lived in the Philadelphia, PA suburbs which is densely populated, so I found this surprising.

* I wanted to go on very long tours with it, and I was concerned about finding proper maintenance outlets along the way as well as touring gear that would fit the recumbent.

Answer 4

Sadly, Hogie is at least partially correct. Recumbents carry a huge stigma in the cycling community.
However, it is certainly true that they are generally more efficient an comfortable. I like to ride them when I have the chance, but I've got a couple of ideas on why they aren't more popular.
1. They are hard to display at your local bike shops. They are so large that they don't fit in typical displays, and most shops do not have repair stands that can accomodate their awkward frames. If they aren't on your local bike shop's floor to test ride or even see, they aren't going to be on the road.
2. Going along with #1, bike shop owners know that most recumbent buyers are very particular. It is extremely difficult to stock expensive bikes for discriminating buyers. Shop owners run the risk of being caught with a large conversation piece on their floors.
3. They are hard to transport. You either have to have an enormous vehicle or a clever adaptation to your bike rack.
4. Because of the stigma, they are not welcome on many traditional group rides. Upright riders think they are unstable and unpredictable, and they offer poor drafts. There is also a major difference between the speeds up and downhill.
5. The Lance Armstrong Effect. A ton of people who get into the sport want to be the next Lance. Recumbents are not allowed in non-recumbent races.
Just my thoughts- I know they are technically better bikes, but it is hard to get around the items above.

Answer 5

Recumbents are no more or less dork than the rest of the cycling world. That's just an ignorant asnwer. I think recumbents are quite as popular as upright bikes because they tend to be quite expensive, and they can be a pain to store. There are very few recumbents here in NYC because no one has a place to store them. Recumbents are just a niche market, so less manufacturers make them, so they are less available to potential buyers. I don't own a recumbent, but I've had a chnace to ride them quite a few times, and they're a lot of fun. I think you'll find many people who've had to give up 'standard' cycling because of back ro balance problems find recumbents a g-dsend. Cycling is just dorky, even my wife rips on me when I'm in my roadue gear, and te whole world rips on me when I'm riding my BMX at the skattepark because I'm 6'1".

Answer 6

Comfort and speed are relative things. While it's difficult to keep up with a good 'bent rider on the flats, I easily pass them on climbs and anytime a descent involves turning.

Maneuverability and light weight are not a recumbent's strong points.

Answer 7

Don't mean to hurt any feelings but they are called "re-DUMB-ants" by many cyclists. Most of us think people who ride them look like a dork, sorry, honestly.

Comfort? what sweaty *** with no position changes available, no way. Unless you have a big gut and no core muscles, then you might as well sloth on the couch.

They "can" be faster but usually not and especially if you go up any sort of hill, way to heavy. The only advantage some redumbants have is aerodynamics, note some.

Most, not all, people who ride them are not very fit so usually they are much slower.

Visibility, they are harder for cars to see since they are lower to the ground, unless you have a big dorky orange flag.

Stability, I have see more crash in awkward places than i have every seen regular road bikes.

Functionality, most bike parts (shifter, chains, wheels, brakes) are not designed specifically for redumbants. Even the best redumbants still don't shift as well as a mid to low level road bike. All those long cable runs, funky pulleys and extra long chains bring nothing but problems. (I have worked on many brands they all suck) All of that makes them less efficient in mechanical terms.

I know I have offended may of you but there is a reason the regular bicycle is the most efficient machine man has ever invented.

Answer 8

yeah I am shocked someone would actually say to other cyclists that they looked like dorks. Come on man, unless your some ***** weekend 5 miler you have been seen in dorky spandax with a space age alien helment on. Wow I wasted too much time of my life reading that guys post...and am continuing on by replying. Oh well I'm at work anyhow.

Answer 9

Cost more than a regular bike. Not sold in your typical bike store. They are like Soccer in a Baseball & Football country.

Answer 10

not a lot of demand in my area (SW Missouri), but we do have a local store that carries them.