notes@iuvax.UUCP (04/19/84)
#N:iuvax:4200001:000:122 iuvax!saj Apr 19 00:49:00 1984 Do recumbents really exist? Where? Cost? Pros, Cons? -- Scott Jones ...ihnp4!inuxc!iuvax!saj ...uiucdcs!pur-ee!iuvax!saj
simpers@ucbvax.UUCP (Scott Simpers) (04/22/84)
Yes, recumbents do exist. One of the people I worked with last summer rode one to work daily. I seem to recall that he built it himself, but that it was modeled after one you can buy. It was set up with the steering handles underneath the seat, and the pedals far forward. It was a wierd looking thing. He would ride it down our local clogged highway during rush hour. It must feel good to be going 20 mph when the cars around you are going 5 mph. Scott
rh@mit-eddie.UUCP (Randy Haskins) (04/22/84)
I have an interesting story about recumbents. About 3 years ago, a Mech E. friend of mine (you mean you hang out with non-computer people???) was building a recumbent bike as his thesis. So in and amidst his researches, he was given the name of this somewhat radical guy that was an MIT alum from the 40's or so (this guy drove a Hearse that was beefed up to about 4 tons, and he used it for some crash tests....) who had built a recumbent. The interesting thing about this recumbent, however, was that it was designed to be ridden BACKWARDS!!!! Yes, folks, the steering wheel was the one behind you (I tried riding it the other way, but rear-wheel steering is highly unstable...), and there was a mirror mounted over your head. So the guy brought it over to MIT, and Dan and I tried it out in a nice, wide open courtyard near our dorm. It took a little getting used to. He had an arrangement that reversed the steering (the handle-bars were under you, like "conventional" recumbents), but I found myself leaning the wrong way to begin with. It was pretty fun, though. Of course, I wouldn't ride down the rode only being able to see a little of where I was going and not having my peripheral vision going in the right direction. But if the guy went to market it, it would probably do okay as a novelty item (especially in California :-)). -- Randwulf (Randy Haskins); Path= genrad!mit-eddie!rh
harris@uiuccsb.UUCP (04/25/84)
#R:iuvax:4200001:uiuccsb:16200024:000:440 uiuccsb!harris Apr 25 00:45:00 1984 I rode a recumbent once around a block about two years ago - an Avatar 2000. It was fun, but it was a little tricky to get started from a stand-still. Anyway, something you'd be a little more interested in hearing about: (quite second hand:) They aren't supposed to climb as well as 'standard' bikes - partly psychological, supposedly, since you are always looking up at the hill! Anyone have any real hill-climbing experience with one?
mwm@ea.UUCP (04/27/84)
#R:iuvax:4200001:ea:1300002:000:556 ea!mwm Apr 27 18:40:00 1984 Could all of you who own/have considered buying recumbents please mail me info: 1) Whose did you consider? Attach address and/or phone number, please. 2) What are the prices like? Bottom and top end, if available. 3) If you bought one, what did you think of it? If you didn't, why not? I *will* summarize for the net. If you wish, send me mail and I'll mail you a copy of the summary. I'll try and keep track of posted comments, but... Thanx now, and later, <mike decvax!ucbvax!unisoft!mtxinu!ea!mwm allegra!convex!ctvax!uokvax!ea!mwm
gerryg@laidbak.UUCP (Gerry Gleason) (03/19/86)
The recumbent bicycle has a number of things to recomend it, lower wind resistence, more comfortable riding position, less exposure to head injuries, but there are also a number of drawbacks. The most serious is the lack of visibility; you can't see over most cars, and they can't see you as well. I have experience with a cheap recumbent that a friend and I build (it was called a Hypercycle). It was fun to play around on, but the frame flexed so much that it wasn't very efficient, and the seat back was rigidly attached to the frame, so it directly transmitted bumps to the middle of your back. I would guess that frame flex is a problem on recumbents with the pedals in front on the wheel. I havn't ridden one with the wheel in front, but they have the disadvantage of being difficult to maneuver in and out of your appartment/house etc. Maneuverability on the road is also a problem, the tightest circle we could do on the Hypercycle was almost 20 feet across, and its got to be worse with a longer wheelbase. (compare this to a 5 or 6 foot circle on a normal bike). Don't get me wrong, I think the recumbent has potential, but the standard bicycle has been refined over a long period of time and there are many manufactures. Consequently, a recumbent will cost more than an equivalent upright bicycle, and you will be an experiementer. Someday I'll probably get the bug to experiment and get another recumbent. I'd be interested in hearing of about other recumbent experiences. Gerry