Explained...Recumbent Bicycles: Faster And More Relaxing

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