Neck....again. Sigh

[Catrin]

If you're thinking about a 'bent, I'd definitely run it by your doctor first. You can't use your arms and legs as suspension like you do on an upright bike - meaning all the road shocks are transmitted through your spine - and it's exacerbated by the fact that they can't see the road well enough to avoid potholes and rough spots. 'Bent riders I know are pretty miserable on less-than-perfect roads.

As far as being seen, when I'm in the hooks but not a deep tuck on my Synapse, my head is level with my friend's on his Bachetta. I think the main difference as far as conspicuity is on an upright bike you use your clothes, on a 'bent you have to use the seat and/or any luggage.

Something to think about though.

Thanks Oakleaf, that is very interesting. I don't know that I really want one, there is just something about that riding position that doesn't look fun to me - but of course that doesn't mean much. I didn't realize that about how the road shocks are transmitted, but that makes sense. Something to consider for sure, and as I said, if I DO decide to try it, it won't be this year. My little 20-40 minute rides in the park are certainly far less expensive...if short. I just need to determine if those short rides are doing me more damage than I know, given the consequences that follow most of those rides.

[smilingcat]

car drivers say that they didn't see you on a recumbent.

Standard question we (recumbent, trike, and velo rider) ask the driver is can they see the marking on the pavement. Answer is almost always yes. 'bends" are much higher off the pavement than the marking. I have a very colorful gaudy flag, streamer attached to a 6 foot pole. If you can't see it from a mile away, something is wrong with your eye. Velomobile is fully faired and almost always have suspension on all three wheels. They are normally painted in obnoxiously bright color. Some have flourescent flames painted on the side. Others have made it look like Jaws (shark) with added fins.

There are many trikes equipped with suspension on all three wheels. Many bends have rear suspension. On a long wheel base bends (front wheel is beyond your feet) the shock from the bump do not transfer all that much to your seat. Some even have springs in the seat beside the shocks for the rear wheel. Seat position is usually set back to about 40-50degrees from flat and your back rest is suspended so again less shock. Mine has a neck rest so my shoulder and neck is relaxed. Even on a rough road, my trike does not chatter my teeth or cause my glasses to slide down. And my trike has single suspension for the rear. I picked up a used one for $500 and had it shipped from Tx for about $80.00. It's an entry level because I wanted to see what it was like. Being seen is not a problem. I can also easily carry two or three full grocery bags. No worry about balance.

So your visibility isn't all that different than a regular bike. If you yahoo it and go around the corner way too fast, you can tip them over to the side.

[Catrin]

Very interesting Smilingcat! Very interesting. How hard is it to transport your trike? I didn't know they come with suspensions.

[smilingcat]

My trike is like a MAC truck. It's designed to handle a 400 pound person easily. So the frame is built extra heavy duty... It is also very long unlike a typical trike. Mine has to be broken down in order to fit in a car. All three wheels are 406 or 20" in diameter. If I want to go anywhere, I have to use my partner's pkup to haul my trike around. And its so heavy that I can't just lift it into the truck.

Terratrike, Catrike, ICE and Greenspeed will be much easier to fit in a car such as my Prius. Fold down the back seat in your car and you may have to take off the back wheel and fold down the back rest of the trike... really not much more than a regular bike. Check out their web site and watch some youtube videos. And don't be shocked by the price tag. You can find a lightly used trike for much cheaper price.

I think someone has a rack to transport a trike as well. here it is http://www.hitchrider.com/trikes.htm as an example. This is if you don't want to put your trike inside your car.

There may be a recumbent shop near you so search for it and go take a look.

[Fredwina]

Have you tried riding a trike? They are a blast,

[Blueberry]

Have you tried riding a trike? They are a blast,

This is SO true! DH and I test rode them a few years. They are like little go-carts! We would own them except we already have a lot of bikes, and have no where to store them that is convenient. Plus, we know we'll be moving (potentially to somewhere a lot smaller depending on if/where I get in med school and then (hopefully) where I match for residency) - too much uncertainty for now. But I will have one one day!

[Catrin]

This is SO true! DH and I test rode them a few years. They are like little go-carts! We would own them except we already have a lot of bikes, and have no where to store them that is convenient. Plus, we know we'll be moving (potentially to somewhere a lot smaller depending on if/where I get in med school and then (hopefully) where I match for residency) - too much uncertainty for now. But I will have one one day!

I must admit that this becomes more interesting the more I hear and look at pictures. Unsure how realistic it would be with my car and an upstairs apartment, but it is worth of lengthy consideration. For now, my budget won't allow anything like this, even at a good price. My goal for 2014 is to finally develop an emergency fund, and I am afraid that buying a new bike isn't the way to get there. Perhaps, however, in 2015...

[Catrin]

Is there some sort of physical therapist/bike fitter or coach you could go to to work on your position and posture? Like how to align and pull up while on a bike? Kind of suspicious if there are other things that don't affect. Being locked into a position on a bike can exacerbate small things.

I don't mean bike fit. I'm thinking about how you align your spine. Maybe?

Done this, several times The problem is that there are so MANY things going on with both my cervical spine and shoulders, multiple nerve entrapments, etc. I've been told an even more upright riding position will likely solve it, but frankly, my fitter tells me that would require the kind of changes that might affect handling. It isn't that other things don't cause problems, I just don't DO those other things

It is quite possible that I need a PT/Fitter with a different skills set and experience, but that isn't available in central Indiana.

[OakLeaf]

that isn't available in central Indiana.

Sounds to me like Wahine needs to go on a nationwide tour to advertise her new business.

[Dogmama]

Sorry to hear about your neck from another neck sufferer. I still ride, albeit not the long distances that I used to do.

BUT - like you said - we're in MUCH better shape than most people our age and younger!

[Catrin]

Sorry to hear about your neck from another neck sufferer. I still ride, albeit not the long distances that I used to do.

BUT - like you said - we're in MUCH better shape than most people our age and younger!

Good for you Dogmama! I am glad that you are still riding. I will see how things go this spring, but if I am still limited to 20 minute rides with neurological consequences, I will hang up my helmet. I don't want to do that, but there are so many other things that I CAN do without the same level of after-effects. I've seen everyone local that I can see with the qualifications to help me with proper bike fit/positioning. I wish Wahine or Knotted lived here, if anyone could help me on this it would be them