Should I Buy a Recumbent?

If Guy Chapman doesn't hate motorists, why does he:

- think drivers who make way for emergency vehicles by going through
red lights should be prosecuted;
- support road pricing and proposed VED increases;
- support speed cameras when he's admitted to knowing that they cost
lives;
- support every anti-motorist measure ever suggested or implemented by
this government?

Well? Why? And Guy, have you ever posted as Lou Knee?

(If you don't like these questions, Guy, you've only got yourself to
blame; it is your actions and your actions alone that have caused
them.)

Good question.

A couple of years ago, I was seriously considering it. But, in truth,
they seem just a bit more fuss than they offer in benefits.

I know many people insist that the UCI is responsible for the
more-or-less unchanging shape of the bicycle, but in fact that shape is
already extremely convenient and efficient. It's strong and light, and -
for most people - comfortable.

Daniele

On Sun, 30 Aug 2009 19:07:05 +0100,
(D.M. Procida) wrote:

Good question.
A couple of years ago, I was seriously considering it. But, in truth,
they seem just a bit more fuss than they offer in benefits.

It's really a matter of what floats your boat. I loved commuting on
my recumbent. Yes, it was more faff than my audax bike, but it was
also much more fun, and it reduced my frustration at pushing the wind
back from Henley every day so it gave me more incentive to keep
riding.

I have yet to try it for the commute into Canary Wharf. I suspect it
is not as practical round town as the Brompton is. A trike may be
more practical than a bike, what with all the traffic lights and other
stops.

Guy
--
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk/urc | http://www.nohelmetlaw.org.uk/
"Nullius in Verba" - take no man's word for it.
- attr. Horace, chosen by John Evelyn for the Royal Society

On 30 Aug, 19:57, "Just zis Guy, you know?"
wrote:
On Sun, 30 Aug 2009 19:07:05 +0100,

(D.M. Procida) wrote:
Good question.
A couple of years ago, I was seriously considering it. But, in truth,
they seem just a bit more fuss than they offer in benefits.

It's really a matter of what floats your boat. *I loved commuting on
my recumbent. *Yes, it was more faff than my audax bike, but it was
also much more fun, and it reduced my frustration at pushing the wind
back from Henley every day so it gave me more incentive to keep
riding.

I have yet to try it for the commute into Canary Wharf. *I suspect it
is not as practical round town as the Brompton is. *A trike may be
more practical than a bike, what with all the traffic lights and other
stops.

Yes but you can't get through narrow gaps with a trike, such as those
barriers to cycling you often encounter on off-road cycle routes or
between speed cushions or overtaking on the inside of traffic jams.

I too have wondered about getting a recumbent but I already have five
bikes and I was also considering getting an electric, so there is not
much space left unless I leave them covered up in the garden. The
problem I have with standard bikes is a) getting on and off and b)
having to put my foot down to stay upright. Solved by a recumbent.
However, recumbents tend to be longer or wider or both which might
rule out putting them on trains. All round I too find a Brompton to be
the best compromise for town travel.

Doug.

D.M. Procida wrote:

A couple of years ago, I was seriously considering it. But, in truth,
they seem just a bit more fuss than they offer in benefits.

I wouldn't want one as my /only/ bike. I wouldn't want one if I still
lived in a tenement and had to carry up the stairs (the length just
makes stairs bloody awkward).

I love to have one for recreational touring, as I just enjoy it more. I
get to see where I'm actually going without having to catch all the
available wind or tell myself to look up the whole time, there's no
weight on my arms, it takes luggage much better without affecting the
handling (all the main weight under the rider right between the wheels
just glues you to the road better).

I know many people insist that the UCI is responsible for the
more-or-less unchanging shape of the bicycle, but in fact that shape is
already extremely convenient and efficient. It's strong and light, and -
for most people - comfortable.

I think those words need a qualifying "enough" after them, rather than
an "extremely" before them, but even with that change it's a fair point.

If I was only allowed one bike for everything it would probably be a
Birdy or a Moulton (tried an AM a couple of weeks ago, and even set up a
bit wrong for me with drop bars lower than I like it was just such a joy
to ride, a lovely machine).

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Peter Clinch wrote:

D.M. Procida wrote:

A couple of years ago, I was seriously considering it. But, in truth,
they seem just a bit more fuss than they offer in benefits.

I wouldn't want one as my /only/ bike. I wouldn't want one if I still
lived in a tenement and had to carry up the stairs (the length just
makes stairs bloody awkward).

I love to have one for recreational touring, as I just enjoy it more. I
get to see where I'm actually going without having to catch all the
available wind or tell myself to look up the whole time, there's no
weight on my arms, it takes luggage much better without affecting the
handling (all the main weight under the rider right between the wheels
just glues you to the road better).

I know many people insist that the UCI is responsible for the
more-or-less unchanging shape of the bicycle, but in fact that shape is
already extremely convenient and efficient. It's strong and light, and -
for most people - comfortable.

I think those words need a qualifying "enough" after them, rather than
an "extremely" before them, but even with that change it's a fair point.

If I was only allowed one bike for everything it would probably be a
Birdy or a Moulton (tried an AM a couple of weeks ago, and even set up a
bit wrong for me with drop bars lower than I like it was just such a joy
to ride, a lovely machine).

Pete.

I do keep meaning on going down to have a go, one of the london parks
rents them out I seem to rember.

roger
--
www.rogermerriman.com

On Mon, 31 Aug 2009 17:41:47 +0100
(Roger Merriman) wrote:

Peter Clinch wrote:

If I was only allowed one bike for everything it would probably be a
Birdy or a Moulton (tried an AM a couple of weeks ago, and even set up a
bit wrong for me with drop bars lower than I like it was just such a joy
to ride, a lovely machine).

I do keep meaning on going down to have a go, one of the london parks
rents them out I seem to rember.

Where are you? If it's w1thin reach of Cambridge you are welcome to
try my AM7 and compare it to my Speed Ross SWB 'bent. The older
"F-frame" Moulton is in need of some brazing but I could rustle up
another from a local friend.

Pete is right though, if forced to have only one bike it would be a
Moulton AM or one of recent Pashley APBs.


Today I rode my AM7, a 1939 Sunbeam "Light Tourer" (ex-Denis of Grunty
Fen), a 1940's Peugeot, the Sunbeam again, a 1967 Mercian 5-speed, and
my Moulton home. Ahhh, the joys of helping get a display of historic
bikes to Mildenhall and back....


Mike
--
Mike Causer

Mike Causer wrote:

On Mon, 31 Aug 2009 17:41:47 +0100
(Roger Merriman) wrote:

Peter Clinch wrote:

If I was only allowed one bike for everything it would probably be a
Birdy or a Moulton (tried an AM a couple of weeks ago, and even set up a
bit wrong for me with drop bars lower than I like it was just such a joy
to ride, a lovely machine).

I do keep meaning on going down to have a go, one of the london parks
rents them out I seem to rember.

Where are you? If it's w1thin reach of Cambridge you are welcome to
try my AM7 and compare it to my Speed Ross SWB 'bent. The older
"F-frame" Moulton is in need of some brazing but I could rustle up
another from a local friend.

I'm not really easy reach though cheers for the offer, I'll roll down to
one of the london parks and have a go.

Pete is right though, if forced to have only one bike it would be a
Moulton AM or one of recent Pashley APBs.


Today I rode my AM7, a 1939 Sunbeam "Light Tourer" (ex-Denis of Grunty
Fen), a 1940's Peugeot, the Sunbeam again, a 1967 Mercian 5-speed, and
my Moulton home. Ahhh, the joys of helping get a display of historic
bikes to Mildenhall and back....


Mike

roger
--
www.rogermerriman.com

On Tue, 1 Sep 2009 08:02:34 +0100, (Roger Merriman)
wrote:

Mike Causer wrote:

On Mon, 31 Aug 2009 17:41:47 +0100
(Roger Merriman) wrote:

Peter Clinch wrote:

If I was only allowed one bike for everything it would probably be a
Birdy or a Moulton (tried an AM a couple of weeks ago, and even set up a
bit wrong for me with drop bars lower than I like it was just such a joy
to ride, a lovely machine).

I do keep meaning on going down to have a go, one of the london parks
rents them out I seem to rember.

Where are you? If it's w1thin reach of Cambridge you are welcome to
try my AM7 and compare it to my Speed Ross SWB 'bent. The older
"F-frame" Moulton is in need of some brazing but I could rustle up
another from a local friend.

I'm not really easy reach though cheers for the offer, I'll roll down to
one of the london parks and have a go.

London Recumbents, Dulwich Park is the place to go. They used to have
an offshoot in Battersea Park too, but I don't know if that's still
operating.

I'm in Crawley, so if you can't get to Dulwich, you CHAGM on my Vision
R40 if you want.
--
Tim

In ,
Just zis Guy, you know? tweaked the Babbage-Engine
to tell us:
On Sun, 30 Aug 2009 19:07:05 +0100,
(D.M. Procida) wrote:

Good question.
A couple of years ago, I was seriously considering it. But, in truth,
they seem just a bit more fuss than they offer in benefits.

It's really a matter of what floats your boat. I loved commuting on
my recumbent. Yes, it was more faff than my audax bike, but it was
also much more fun, and it reduced my frustration at pushing the wind
back from Henley every day so it gave me more incentive to keep
riding.

I have yet to try it for the commute into Canary Wharf. I suspect it
is not as practical round town as the Brompton is. A trike may be
more practical than a bike, what with all the traffic lights and other
stops.

They be buggers in heavy traffic, though long ago I used sometimes to do
Kenton - Tower Hill on a Windcheetah.

--
Dave Larrington
http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk
Murdock's Gardening Law: If it's green, the paving isn't
finished yet.