Published: Silent Sports, April 2000 Author: Rolf Garthus Part II: Which Recumbent? The first article of this four part series discussed the advantages of recumbents. This article provides information about the different designs of recumbents to help you find what's best for you. When I started selling recumbents nine years ago, I mistakenly thought there was such a thing as the "best recumbent" for everyone. However, it seemed that every time I thought I had it figured out, the very next person in the door had a compelling reason for needing something different. Some were too short for my "best bike". Others came from an area where the road surfaces begged for suspension. Injuries forced some people to choose another model. Many people spend all their time riding in an urban environment while others ride almost exclusively in rural areas. The moral of the story is different people need different bikes. SWB, LWB or CLWB Short wheelbase bikes (SWB) are usually lighter and have more responsive steering. Most people like the more responsive steering but it can take a bit longer to get used to. Short wheelbase bikes typically have higher cranksets, which position the rider in a more powerful pedaling position as well as a more aerodynamic position. Transporting these bikes on the top or back of your car is as easy as transporting a conventional bike. Short wheelbase bikes may have disadvantages for some people. If you plan on riding soft gravel roads on a regular basis, beware of a SWB with a 16" front wheel. A small front wheel carrying 50% or more of the rider's weight tends to plow, making riding difficult. On soft road surfaces a long wheelbase (LWB) or compact long wheelbase (CLWB) will probably be better. A SWB disadvantage for some is that the rider sits over the front wheel resulting in a higher seat position, which makes it harder for short people to get their feet to the ground. Long wheelbase bikes position the rider between the wheels allowing the rider to sit lower and making it easier for medium to short riders to put their feet solidly on the ground at the stops. Most LWB bikes and CLWB bikes have a crankset that is significantly lower than the seat. The resulting riding position is less intimidating for some riders. The longer frame typically has very forgiving steering providing a good choice for riders who find the SWB steering a bit quirky. LWB bikes allow short riders to ride a bike with larger, more efficient wheels. Long distance touring riders like the fact that front panniers can be mounted to most LWB bikes. Finally, there is no heel overlap of the front wheel on a LWB or a CLWB. LWB bikes also provide a smoother ride on the bumps. However, lack of weight on the front wheel has caused LWB front wheels to skid out during sharp turns. USS versus OSS Over seat steering (OSS) provides a better place for a handlebar-mounted rear view mirror and a computer than under seat steering (USS). A rearview mirror is a necessity since turning around to look backwards while on a recumbent is difficult for most people. Over seat steering also makes it easier to "walk" your bike. It's surprising how often we get off our bikes and want to push them somewhere. Into the garage - down a crowded sidewalk to a favorite coffee shop - into the local bike shop for repair - etc. Under seat steering, on the other hand, is extremely comfortable and much easier to ride than most people think. Getting on and off the bike is also easier since there is no handlebar in your way. You can mount a mirror and a computer to the USS bar but they are slightly harder to use. Steering preference is a personal decision and there is no right or wrong. Try both and discover what you like best. Suspension Several years ago, a design and engineering team from a large conventional bike company flew in from California to test ride recumbents and talk with me about recumbent design. They had the same questions that many have about SWB, LWB, suspension, etc. We all took a different recumbent and went for a ten-mile ride after which we proceeded to exchange bikes with each other. During the exchange process, one of the designers said, "I already know we don't have to make a suspension model". The others agreed. Recumbent seats reduce the pressure per square inch to such a great degree that hitting bumps is simply not the problem that it is on an upright. Keep in mind that they were riding on relatively smooth roads in a rural environment. You may still want suspension if you live in a city with lots of chuckholes. Riders with physical problems may prefer suspension because they experience discomfort from bumps that others don't feel. The downside of suspension is added weight, added expense and greater mechanical complexity. If you're looking for efficiency in a rural environment with reasonably smooth road surfaces I recommend a rigid frame bike. For really rough roads or city riding where efficiency might not be as important suspension can be great. Here, again, you need to test ride both and see what works for you. Wheel Size The essence of bicycling - the thing that brings the thrill - is the efficiency and mechanical advantage that we simply cannot get from walking or running. If you want to experience the essence of biking to its fullest extent choose a lightweight bike with efficient wheels. In my experience, large wheels roll more efficiently than small wheels. Look for a bike with a 26" or 700c rear wheel and a 20" front wheel if at all possible. In addition to rolling better you will have better gearing without the added weight and mechanical complexity of internal hubs and cross drives. There are situations where 20" rear wheel bikes work very well. City riding, with frequent stops and starts is a great place for 20" rear wheels. Also, leisure riders may find smaller wheels suitable for long tours. A Recumbent Rally participant rode all the way from Upper Michigan to Stevens Point, WI on a Rans Tailwind with a 20" rear wheel pulling a B.O.B. trailer and had no complaints. Smaller wheels may be less efficient but that doesn't mean they're unusable. Crank / Bottom Bracket Height On a recumbent an aerodynamic tuck is achieved by placing your feet up in front of your torso. The manufacturer actually builds the amount of "recumbent tuck" into the bike during the design phase. The higher the crankset (relative to the seat height), the more aerodynamic the tuck. Many designers feel that bikes with cranksets on about the same plane as the seat put the rider in a more powerful position for climbing. Higher cranksets do result in a somewhat more radical "recumbent riding position" which can be more difficult at starts and stops. Some people find the high crankset bikes more difficult to balance as well. Seats Seats come in many shapes and sizes and - guess what - so do butts, backs and thighs. The trick is to match your anatomy to the seat that fits you best. Some seats are made with a hard pan base or a slung material base. Some remove easily and some do not. Seats can recline or position you more upright. Remember that the more upright you sit the more pressure there is on your butt which may cause problems on longer rides. If you plan on car topping your bike look for a seat that's easy to take off and put on. Recumbent seats make great bug catchers and ruin gas mileage if left on the bike when transporting your bike on top of your car. Tricycles Okay folks - open your minds. Recumbent trikes aren't like any other trikes you have ever ridden or thought about. We're seeing some very fast, fit riders on trikes. They are also an excellent choice for people who don't want to worry about balance or anyone with impaired balance. All recumbent trikes fall into one of two categories as follows: Tadpole trikes which have two wheels in front and one in back and Delta trikes which have one wheel in front and two in back. If properly designed both tadpole & delta trikes can be very stable and very fast. Trikes do have some possible disadvantages. The addition of one more wheel makes trikes a little heavier and you will always be leaning to one side slightly when riding on crowned roads. Be careful in the turns - you can't lean into them like you can on a two-wheeler. Trikes can be flipped over if turned too sharply at speed. Many ideas about fitting recumbents have been discussed in this article. Beware of using this as a gospel to find your best bike "on paper" without test riding first. Keep an open mind when you go recumbent shopping. Many times something that you thought you would not like turns out to be very appealing after trying it. -Rolf Garthus

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