A neat contraption
I pulled up behind this vehicle yesterday while running some errands and took a picture because I was so tickled by the design, not to mention jealous over how much easier that would be on my back. In an interesting bit of synchronicity I just came across this article in Wired about bikes that are not usable in the Tour de France… and there’s this model at #6.
Despite what seems like a more pleasant riding experience – and I’m just guessing here since I haven’t tried one – I don’t see a lot of recumbents around. Is that a reflection on their popularity in general, the nature of the riding areas around here, our average demographic or just my head in the sand?
Don,
By your very svelte build, I can tell that you frequent to rails and tails around the DC Metro area, which leads me to believe it is your head in the sand vs. everything else.
Recumbents are relative popular, not as much as traditional bikes mind you, but you’ll find a greater percentage here than say Alabama.
The main drawback to their popularity, IMHO, is their illegality in sporting events which deters the professional bikers and their low seating which makes them less visible in traffic and much harder to jump over curbs or other large obstacles.
Yes, bunny-hopping a recumbent bike is pretty damn hard. Climbing hills on one of these silly machines ain’t too much fun either. Then there’s the danger that someone you know might see you riding one…