Introduction to Recumbents

[kmehrzad]

Bent rider here. I've owned and sold a variety in the past but two wks ago I bought a used Trident TWIG and am enjoying the ride from a bent angle again. Here's a photo of my Wasabi green TWIG.

[lauraelmore1033]

Very elegant looking bike. Looks like you don't get so much of that SWB feet-higher-than-your-head feeling on hills(which totally freaks me out).
As you can see, this thread is hoppin'.

[kmehrzad]

Very elegant looking bike. Looks like you don't get so much of that SWB feet-higher-than-your-head feeling on hills(which totally freaks me out).
As you can see, this thread is hoppin'.

LOL, yeah it's really a popular thread. Thanks for the compliment on the bike. It isn't that feet-above-your-head type of set up so I can quickly and easily put down when need be. I've owned a Bacchetta Giro in the past which I believe was higher. I feel that the TWIG and I are 'one' with regard to ride set up so am very comfortable on it. Since I've taken this photo of the bike, I've tweaked it even more, pulling the handlebars back a bit and just some fine tuning here and there.

I've ordered a Click Stand for my bike and am anxious to give it a try.

[smilingcat]

Very nice bike. Are you planning to put any sort of front fairing? Just asking because lot do. And is it easier climbing compared to other recumbent?

Besides the regular bikes I own, I have a recumbent trike. It's a dog!! heavy and slow.

[kmehrzad]

Thank you, Smilingcat. I was thinking about a fairing the other day as the wind was blowing against me on my ride. Really need to see where a fairing might attach to the bike and if a Bacchetta Giro fairing would work on the Trident. I've owned a Tour Easy before and had a nice, large fairing for that bent.
I live in Charleston, SC and we have no hills as compared to VA, where I used to live. I'd like to take the TWIG with me on a visit to VA sometime and see how she handles the hills. I imagine she'd do well.
A trike is one bent I've never owned, had friends with trikes but never myself. My love for bents began with a Bike E, then I moved on to a Tour Easy but the handlebar set up caused my hands to numb on long rides. I think after one ride some of my fingers felt numb for days. Sold that bike then got a Ryan Vanguard for a song, she was a classic. Then I bought a Linear LWB, again for a song. I really enjoyed the underseat steering set up, it was such a comfortable position. I then purchased a used Bacchetta Giro and enjoyed that for a time. Sold it to buy a Brompton folding bike, which I've since sold. In January 2016, I was just checking Craigslist for recumbents in my area and someone had the TWIG for sale; decided to look into it and came home with a folding recumbent.

Kathy

Very nice bike. Are you planning to put any sort of front fairing? Just asking because lot do. And is it easier climbing compared to other recumbent?

Besides the regular bikes I own, I have a recumbent trike. It's a dog!! heavy and slow.

[emily_in_nc]

Kathy,

Do you ever have problems with "recumbent butt"? Years ago, I had a Tour Easy (with a fairing!) and really enjoyed it, but I got wicked recumbent butt (really a fatigued feeling that is hard to define) on longer rides. It was also heavy (38 lbs, I believe!) and tough on hills for a small gal, so I ultimately traded it in and went back to an upright. Sometimes I do think of giving a recumbent a try again, though; they sure are fun, especially on the flats!

[kmehrzad]

Kathy,

Do you ever have problems with "recumbent butt"? Years ago, I had a Tour Easy (with a fairing!) and really enjoyed it, but I got wicked recumbent butt (really a fatigued feeling that is hard to define) on longer rides. It was also heavy (38 lbs, I believe!) and tough on hills for a small gal, so I ultimately traded it in and went back to an upright. Sometimes I do think of giving a recumbent a try again, though; they sure are fun, especially on the flats!

Emily,

I believe the Tour Easy did give me recumbent butt as well as numb hands/fingers. It's all in the positioning of the handlebars and seat, really. I don't like to be too reclined on my bents yet when you're too upright that's when you have the pressure on the butt. Gotta find the fine line that works best for you. I really LOVED the underseat steering position where my hands were relaxed by my side. On my current bent, the TWIG's steering tube pulls back to a rather comfortable position so that I'm not reaching, however, I haven't tried riding long distances with this bike yet. I need to find a nice, paved trail where I feel safe riding. The feeling of safe riding isn't what I've experienced on Charleston, SC roads or I just haven't found them yet.

Find a nice bike shop that specializes in bents them give them a try. I like Bikes at Vienna in Vienna, VA; Tim, the owner, knows his stuff and they have so many options to try.

Where are you living now? I remember years ago you were in NC then you moved to Costa Rica(?), I think?

Kathy