| Many bike speed records have been broken by | | | | comfortable for long periods of time it makes |
| recumbent bikes. Recumbent bicycles were | | | | sense that we're likely to bike farther, |
| banned from international racing in the year | | | | right? |
| 1934 and they hadn't seen widespread use | | | | |
| until toward the end 20th century. | | | | A big plus is lower body circulation too. In |
| | | | a recumbent bike our legs are positioned at |
| A recumbent bicycle is a kind of bicycle | | | | nearly the same height as our hearts, thus |
| which places the rider in a seated or supine | | | | reducing hydrostatic pressure and the heart's |
| position and rarely, in a prone position. | | | | job of circulating blood through those areas. |
| | | | |
| Recumbent bikers hold many world speed | | | | Stability |
| records for human powered, non-paced types of | | | | |
| races. Interestingly, tricycles actually fall | | | | Recumbent bikes are much more stable for |
| into the recumbent bike category and for | | | | obvious reasons: with some there are more |
| whatever reason are generally accepted into | | | | wheels! Also, recumbent bikes are situated |
| the main 'upright bike' category. | | | | closer to the ground. |
| | | | |
| Recumbent bikes are typically classified | | | | Variety |
| further by the size of their wheelbase. There | | | | |
| are long wheelbase recumbent bikes (LWB), | | | | When choosing a recumbent bicycle, riders |
| short wheelbase (SWB) recumbent bikes, and | | | | have many more varieties to choose from than |
| (CLWB) compact long wheelbase recumbent | | | | with traditional upright bikes. There are all |
| bikes. | | | | kinds of variations and degrees of |
| | | | uprightness from which to choose. |
| Each of these types of recumbent bikes also | | | | |
| have somewhat different positioning of the | | | | There are some disadvantages as well. For |
| pedals and wheels as compared to the seat. | | | | one, recumbent bikes don't allow riders to |
| With long wheelbase recumbent bikes the | | | | change positions, such as standing on an |
| pedals are located in between the seat and | | | | upright bike while going down a hill. And |
| the front wheel. | | | | you'll have to boost a whole new set of |
| | | | muscles. Recumbent bicycles use different |
| Compact wheelbase recumbent bikes have their | | | | muscle groups to power the bike than do |
| pedals either above the front wheel or very | | | | upright bicycles. |
| close to it. And short wheelbase recumbent | | | | |
| bicycles have their pedals in front of the | | | | Unlike upright bikes, there is a subculture |
| front wheel. | | | | of recumbent builders who design and build |
| | | | home-built recumbent bicycles. Many times |
| Recumbent bikes have several advantages over | | | | these are assembled of parts from other |
| upright or traditional bikes. Some of these | | | | bicycles, particularly mountain bikes. The |
| differences are described below: | | | | frame designs may be as simple as a long |
| | | | steel tube bent into the appropriate shape to |
| Health | | | | hand-built carbon fiber frames. For a good |
| | | | many builders, the engineering of the bikes |
| Recumbent bikes encourage a posture that | | | | is as much of a challenge and fun as riding |
| reduces strain on the body. This makes them | | | | them. |
| great for longer trips. When a bike is | | | | |