Recumbent Bicycles

Disadvantages Of A Recumbent Bike

The recumbent is generally more expensive than a regular bike.

The weight of a recumbent is – again generally – heavier than that of a diamond shape bicycle.

It has a heavier seat, more tubing and triple the amount of chain!

Without the ability to stand up on the pedals many people find the recumbent much slower and cycling more difficult on hill climbs – (however, still achievable, especially with an electric recumbent.) To get low enough gears to circumvent this problem, most recumbents are fitted out with triple chain-rings.

The regular recumbent bicycle isn’t designed to do stunt or trick work. It can handle moderate off-road riding but extreme riding is inadvisable and unsafe … You will need to buy a mountain / 4WD recumbent for off-roading.

For urban cycling, the LowRacer is not the best choice, because of the dire combination of chaotic traffic and reduced visibility.

Parts can be more expensive because, unlike regular bikes, recumbent bicycles aren’t currently mass produced and need to be custom built. This may change if the ‘big’ bike companies decide to start mass producing recumbents under their brand names … Cannondale and a few others have already tried to test the waters without commercial success. Maybe if any are finally successful, the prices may start to drop … fingers crossed.

It will take a regular bike rider quite a while – even up to 12 months – to re-achieve the speeds that they are used to reaching on their diamond frame bike. The reason for this is that riding a recumbent bicycle involves using different muscle groups and these (previously under-utilized) muscles need to be built up and strengthened with training.

Sitting lower on some can mean that the rider faces more issues with blind corners.

Recumbents are less suited for city riding and the starts and stops of heavy traffic except for perhaps the CLWB.

In Summary…

• Limited Visibility in Traffic: The recumbent riding position can reduce the visibility of the rider to other road users, particularly in heavy traffic. This may make it more challenging for motorists and pedestrians to see the rider, potentially increasing the risk of accidents.
• Maneuverability: Recumbent bicycles, especially long-wheelbase models, may have slightly reduced maneuverability compared to traditional upright bicycles. This can make tight turns and navigating through crowded spaces more challenging.
• Climbing Hills: Climbing steep hills can be more demanding on a recumbent bicycle compared to an upright bicycle. The reclined position may limit the rider’s ability to generate as much power during uphill climbs, requiring more effort to conquer inclines.
• Cost: Recumbent bicycles, particularly high-quality models, can be more expensive than comparable upright bicycles. The specialized design and components often contribute to a higher price point.
• Storage and Transportation: The unique design of recumbent bicycles can make them bulkier and less straightforward to store or transport, especially if they do not have a folding feature.
• Learning Curve: Transitioning from an upright bicycle to a recumbent can require an adjustment period. Balancing and handling may feel different initially, and some riders may need time to feel fully comfortable on a recumbent.
• Limited Availability: Recumbent bicycles are not as common as upright bicycles, which means there may be fewer options available at local bike shops. Finding a specific model or brand might require more extensive searching or purchasing online.