[Closed] Recumbent bikes and wrists

I had an under seat steering (StreetMachine) and a joystick controlled trike (Windcheetah) back around the turn of the millennium. So it’s a while back now, but pretty sure it was easy enough to ride either one handed for a while at least. No pressure on the wrists from either as far as I can recall but hopefully somebody will be along soon with more recent experience.

Thanks 👍

Sent you a PM - I have one, am based near Nairn next time you are on the mainland you are welcome to try or even buy. Happy to talk through how I found mine (bought for hip problems but now hip is mostly fixed rarely used).

I had a Speedmachine for a little while. It took a few rides to get used to the low speed steering as the front wheel is small, the wheelbase shorter than your mind tells you it is (your feet are way out in front of the front wheel), and the steering very sensitive to inputs. I did get used to it but taking one hand off the handlebars at speed was not something to be done casually as it could result in an unexpected swerve.

Once comfortable with the steering and riding position, which took a while to get zeroed in, there is a lot to recommend it; The view from the seat is fantastic - you look up at the sky not down toward the ground, and the feeling of bombing downhill with your feet forward and your body so low to the ground is truly addictive - it's a sensational feeling.

Going uphill was another matter. You have to push by bracing your body against the seat, rather than having your weight above your legs. It's hard work and slow, although your muscles will adapt to it over time. The reduced wind resistance on the flat and downhill is a bonus though.

Transporting and storing the bike could be a challenge. I was able to fit mine on a roofrack, but it would be very vulnerable on a tow-ball mounted carrier. The size and shape of them also make them difficult to work on.

The Speedmachine was a heavy bike, and the streetmachine looks like it'll weight a bit more too. I also found the movement of the chain through the chain tubes a bit on the noisy side, and it felt like there were more losses in the drive train than with an upright.

Overall the experience has a lot to recommend it but it is significantly different from riding a normal bike and I think to get the best out of it you need to give it time and put in the practice. I strongly recommend trying a few out and getting fitted. There are a lot of different designs and if you don't get on with the seat shape it's not an easy thing to fix. Could you combine a trip to Glasgow and Kinetics with Edinburgh and Laid Back Bikes?

Thanks, some good points there and yeh fitting in both those shops could probably be worked in to a trip down to England when we're allowed to visit family.

The guy above has an older grasshopper that sounds interesting. I've now managed to actually find someone with one locally to try now, if it's in working order (sounds like it's been in deep deep storage). An old 'Ross' recumbent. I might get to loan that this weekend depending on how much TLC it needs.

I think long term it's something I need to seriously consider if I'm to keep riding.

Everything I was going to say has been covered already. I owned a Streetmachine for about ten years. Bought because of a back injury preventing me riding an upright.

You'll end up with a hideous bulge in the muscle just above your knee after you've been riding for a while. It does take a bit of getting used to especially going up hills. You change down a lot of gears very quickly as spinning is the only way to climb. Learn to ride on flats then get some clipless pedals on.

If you decide to buy one, make sure you're highly visible & get a helmet mounted mirror. You can't turn round for a quick peek behind easily. Riding in traffic is also an experience I don't wish to repeat. You can't get a jump start on the cars at the traffic lights like you can on an upright.

Lots of fun. Ben at Kinetics in Glasgow would be a good place to start.

Yeh been looking at Kinetics and reading up a lot and watching some videos. They wouldn't be my first choice for the riding like and other reasons, but looks like needs must.

Been considering it on an off for a few years, but not having my wrist injections for the last year, and getting no suggestion of when from the hospital, is bringing it to a head in many ways never mind riding.

Still waiting for my latest MRI results from December as the consultant wants to meet me, not write, and their VC appointments are snowed under 😔

datetime="2021-04-06T12:24:17+00:00"> datetime="2021-04-06T12:24:17+00:00">Ice Trikes. Marlow is probably a bit far from Shetland.... I tried to put a link in but it doesn't seem to work. Google Saddle Safari and look up the trikes tab.

I've obviously made a pigs ear of the previous post. What I was trying to say is that a recumbent trike might be suitable if you need to spend periods without a hand on the steering. Have a look at Ice Trikes on Saddle Safari's site.

It's very dependent on the particular bike and rider. I have an Optima Orca (a dual 26" design) which can be factory built with under seat steering and over seat steering to preference. I tested both, and went with OSS, found that a bit twitchy and converted from 'praying Hamster' to a more open 'tweener bar' arrangement, which I can happily ride one-handed. I've also found that adjusting the suspension sag and fork length can make a surprisingly large difference to how stable it feels.

The take home message is to try as many types as possible as they all behave so differently. Not easy where you are, unfortunately.

I'd also caution strongly against pushing back into the seat for leverage as mentioned above - that's a recipe for knee injury. Low gear and spin fast is my recommendation. Short cranks also help (I use 155mm and am 6ft tall).

And just because it gives me an excuse to post it, here's mine on the Forest Drive at Cwmcarn:

Cheers all.

I had discounted a trike due to storage transportation mainly. But may be worth reconsidering.

I'd definitely be looking at good low gearing to 'spin to win' as on my current regular bike, and also as I'd be hoping to use it for some form of touring/audax style rides.

Can't get your photo to show on my phone Philo 😔 Edit: see it now. Nice 👍

See how the loan of the old Ross goes (same model as the yellow one common in Google searches). Non-sti shifters bar shifters, canti-brakes and no-rear sus, but at least I'll get an idea for feel assuming I can stay upright 😂

Well I picked up an old 1988 Speed Ross today of someone local for a loan and try out, been sitting in his shed for several years.

It definitely needs some TLC. Many stiff links in the chain and the 6 speed friction shifting is a little random with the current cable, but it works. The gearing is a touch hard for a couple of short sharp hills I've tried it on too.

It also feels pretty good on my wrists, though I've only done about 15km on it.

Took a few attempts to get going,but once I did it was ace.

A little video if you're interested Speed Ross first try

Speed Ross is a great bike and a fine bent introduction. I liked the one I rode. When I totally my wrist I went for a catrike. I switched shifter side and can and did commute one handed. Three wheels makes for easy balance A few years later wrist is better but it’s still a lot of fun.

Cheers TiRed, if you watched the video you'll see the riding one handed, and filming even, was sorted pretty quickly, though only in a carpark.

I've managed some slow speed junctions and turns now and even a slight hill start. The right gear at the time seems pretty critical, which isn't so easy to achieve at times!

Going to see if putting one of my old 10s wheels with wider gear range on is possible today which will be of help here while I have a loan of it, though it might not help the friction shifting lottery!

A trike would be an option, but I do love the flowy nature of two wheels, especially on the bent with the great view, it's like flying 😁

Ah yes, hill starts. I’d forgotten about those 🙂 Cool video. Looks like you were having a lot of fun.

Thanks Roverpig 👍