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How to Buy a Recumbent Bike for Touring

Imagine sitting back in your most comfortable chair as the mountains and rivers glide by. While your legs move at the effort level of a brisk walk, every muscle above your hips is relaxed, your fingertips occasionally flexing to make a steering correction.

At the end of the day, you experience almost none of the stiffness and soreness that "regular" adventure cyclists suffer.

This is why recumbent cyclists are fiercely loyal to their bikes.

"I enjoy being comfortable. I enjoy being able to see and experience things," said Hans van Naerssen, a Philadelphia-area management consultant. "Touring means just enjoying getting there, in addition to being there. For me, the real defining quality of a recumbent bike can be the comfort. On a normal bicycle, you’re trying to convince yourself that all those hurts don’t exist."

Van Naerssen is an Adventure Cycling Association member, a veteran of numerous long tours over many decades, and owner of single and tandem recumbents since 1996.

"I can ride and see a hawk, because I naturally look up and out. I see the clouds," van Naerssen said. "I see around the corner. I can feel the wind, because I’m sort of upright. That’s part of this experience of getting places and enjoying the moment.

"At the end of the day, even with lots of hills, I’m not sore. I’m able to enjoy the moment. That, to me, is the redeeming feature of a recumbent. It’s so much more comfortable."

Choosing the Right Recumbent

Recumbent touring is a fabulous way to see the scenery. You will see more of it than on an upright bike because your head is naturally in a more upright position.

The days are less stressful because fewer body muscles are tensed all day long. And you have a guaranteed conversation starter whenever you hop into a small cafe.

All that said, picking a bike for recumbent touring offers you far more choices and significant decisions than picking an upright bike. Upright bikes have become so standardized that you find yourself discussing the virtues of millimeter-small changes, but recumbents have dimensions that vary by feet.

Moreover, these big choices show no sign of becoming standardized. The choices have been with us for 20 years now, and no one choice has proven superior in all circumstances. Each choice is the right choice for some riders. So don’t think you can wait until next year to see what the marketplace decides.

The first choice is wheelbase. Recumbents can put the front wheel way out in front of the pedals, resulting in a steady ride, excellent comfort, and lots of places to put panniers and other bags.

These wheelbases are commonly over 60 inches, and in one extreme case (the RANS Stratus XL), 71 inches. Insiders refer to long-wheelbase recumbents as "LWB." Unless, of course, you use a small wheel size to allow you to reduce the wheelbase to 50 inches, in which case you have a compact long wheelbase, or "CLWB."

Or you can put the front wheel behind the pedals, giving you a short wheelbase of around 40 inches, and sometimes less. These bikes are much more maneuverable. Whether they’re sufficiently stable is a matter of personal preference. Say "SWB."

Or you can put the front wheel directly underneath the pedals. You then either raise the pedal spindle to keep the pedals clear of the wheel in sharp turns, or you instruct the rider to manage this occasional interference by thinking ahead (not unlike riding an upright bike with toe clips that overlap the front wheel). These bikes can have good weight distribution and maneuverability, with more stability than pure SWB bikes. "MWB" recumbents, as these are known, have wheelbases in the 40-to-50-inch range.

You’ll note that these dimensions overlap, and a quick visit to your local store is likely to find bikes that contradict these general numbers, or simply fall outside of these categories altogether. That’s the nature of recumbents.

And, if you want to have your cake and eat it too, recumbents from Burley and Vision can be switched from long wheelbase to short wheelbase.

Your wheel diameter can be 16 inches. Or 26 inches. Or anything in between.

Another choice is where to put the handlebars. Most recumbents you see have handlebars in front of the rider, but a charming minority have handlebars below the seat. ("ASS" (above-seat steering) and "BSS" (below-seat steering), respectively)

Aerodynamic Options

Most recumbents can accommodate an aftermarket fairing, the better to make you aerodynamic and protect you from weather. Some have a "body stocking" option, a large spandex thing you use to increase aerodynamics even more.

Recumbent frames can be welded from steel or aluminum (the conventional way of making a bike), extruded from aluminum (as is the enormously successful Bike E), or, for the well-heeled, made from carbon fiber (the 19-pound dual-suspension Lightning R-84) or Titanium (Easy Racers’s TI-Rush).

There are recumbent tandems from makers too numerous to mention; fold-into-a-suitcase recumbents from Bike Friday and Lightning; three-wheel recumbent trikes from a growing legion of manufacturers; and the unique Bilenky View- point tandem, in which the captain rides in back, in an upright position, while the stoker rides in front in recumbent position.

Different recumbents have different seats. I’ve sat on dozens of recumbent seats and never found one I didn’t like, but that doesn’t stop the manufacturers from trying to build even more comfort into their seats, and designs and features vary substantially among the brands.

Mountain Biking Recumbents

And, for those of you who want to ride Adventure Cycling’s rugged Great Divide Mountain Bike Route on a recumbent, the Lightfoot Cycles Ranger is a LWB recumbent mountain bike specifically designed to be good enough over uneven surfaces to do loaded touring on the Great Divide route and similar trails.

Minor Details

On a more prosaic level, recumbents also vary in those minor details that upright bike riders obsess over: gearing, tire width, number of water bottle bosses, and so on. Recumbents vary substantially in the choices they offer for mounting panniers and other accessories.

Hey, is that enough choice for you?

So far, only two major conventional bike companies have dipped their toes in the recumbent market. Trek did, with a reasonable-but-not-fantastic design, and discontinued it after two years, amid trade press reports that many in the company didn’t support a recumbent. More recently, Cannondale has a recumbent with many promising design features. But other than those two, this is a business of little companies.

I don’t know how many recumbent companies there are, and some of the smaller boutique companies straddle the line between hobby and business. Even though you’ll be buying your recumbent from a small firm, many of these companies have proven their staying power and their ability to service a national distribution chain and customer base. 

"There is no right recumbent for touring. There is a right recumbent for you for touring," said Rick Comar, director of marketing for Vision Recumbents. Comar has done 500-plus miles of touring in the Washington State mountains, and he favors his company’s short wheelbase Model 44. Vision Vice President Grant Bower favors the long wheelbase, full suspension Model 54 for his 15,000 miles of touring.

So with Comar’s apt disclaimer in front of us, and knowing that every viewpoint can be argued without malice, let’s explore conventional wisdom.

Most recumbents have a 16-inch or 20-inch wheel in front, and rear wheels ranging from 20-inch to 700C. (There are two different incompatible wheel sizes both called "20-inch," so you’ll often see these guys make a careful reference to the bead seat diameter.)

"I don’t like 16-inch wheels, which some recumbents have. I think they should be at least 20 inches. I think it makes a big difference," said Chet Rideout, an Adventure Cycling member with well over 3,000 miles of recumbent touring and 20 years of recumbent riding experience.

Chet, a high school science teacher, currently rides a Vision R 40, in long-wheelbase configuration, and his wife, a RANS Stratus. And the conventional wisdom is indeed that smaller wheels don’t handle bumps as well.

But there are reasons you might want smaller wheels. One reason is to have a folder. Small wheels fit into suitcases easier than large wheels, which is one reason why Bike Friday’s Bike Sat R Day uses 16-inch tires. Another is to gain the benefits of shortening a long wheelbase (excuse me, LWB) bike, as Cannondale did by putting a 16-inch front tire on the dual-suspension Cannondale Recumbent, and bringing its "CLWB" down to 50 inches.

I’ve ridden both these bikes, by the way, and I won’t say I didn’t notice the small wheels, but I thought both bikes were delightful rides. The Sat R Day has the obvious attraction of going with you in a suitcase, and the Cannondale has a very well thought out dual suspension, which goes a long way toward mitigating the drawbacks of small wheels. The choice is yours.

Long wheelbase is the conventional favorite, but there are exceptions.

If any recumbent stands out as the Fender Stratocaster of touring recumbents, it’s the long-wheelbase Easy Racers Tour Easy. That bike’s wheelbase has its roots in the cut-up tandem that was designer Gardner Martin’s first prototype, back in the 1970s.

The conventional wisdom is that long wheelbases mean secure, sedate handling.

Your fellow ACA member Rideout put it this way: "My personal preference is a long wheelbase for touring," Rideout said. "It just seems a little more relaxed, a little more forgiving with the front wheel, as far as hitting differences in the pavement. With a short wheelbase, you have a lot more weight on that front wheel, and it can be kind of twitchy."

If you want to have your cake and eat it too, buy a Vision or Burley that converts.

"At least two of our customers have told me that they commute year-round on the bike as a short wheelbase, and then switch it to long wheelbase for their annual vacation tour," Vision’s Comar said.

How many wheels?

If the stability question of long versus short wheelbase leaves you undecided, you can put this question to rest forever by adding a third wheel. "I believe the greatest advantage of our trikes is stability," said Ian Simms, designer of the Greenspeed recumbent trike. "When you have a loaded bike it can be quite difficult to maintain your balance at low speed up a steep hill, and I found you use a fair amount of energy just keeping it balanced. And restarts on hills are harder."

The Greenspeed is major fun to ride. A friend of mine commutes to work on his, in the Philadelphia suburbs, and it brightens his every morning. You’ll never have to lean it up against a tree to unload the panniers, fall by losing your balance, or lack for a conversation piece. Trikes are indeed a viable option.

Should you buy a Bilenky Viewpoint?

This bike is clearly in a category by itself. Bilenky customers have toured cross country with front and rear panniers, and many Viewpoint devotees will gladly share their insights with you on Bilenky’s web site.

Where to put the handlebars?

Most customers vote for "up where you can see them," but think twice before blindly accepting this advice. I’m partial to below-seat steering (whoops, BSS), which allows both arms to be completely relaxed. As you cruise down the road, steering and balancing require minuscule fingertip muscle effort, and you can easily have one hand free simply resting on your lap. Talk about relaxed!

However, Rideout has a well-documented opinion on why above-seat steering predominates:

"Above seat steering feels more natural," Rideout said. "I run into a certain percentage of people who absolutely can’t master under seat steering. At my high school, almost all my students hop on my [BSS] recumbent and ride right away. Maybe 5 percent can’t ride the under seat steering. I don’t know why. My brother can’t ride one to save his soul. My wife can’t do it. So she rides the RANS Stratus, which is a real nice recumbent."

ASS is more aerodynamic than BSS, because the rider’s arms are within the profile of his/her body. With BSS, the arms are wider than the body. Hence, ASS has been the favorite in fully-faired racers.

I suggest you try BSS before you buy ASS. The recumbent that kick-started the American recumbent movement in 1980, MIT Professor David Gordon Wilson’s Avatar 2000, was LWB-BSS. (See how you get the hang of these acronyms after a while?) The Avatar design became Dick Ryan’s Vanguard and is now Longbikes’s Slipstream 2002. Several other makers also offer BSS.

Foot Height

One of the more interesting questions you face is your foot height in relation to the seat height. The more beginner-friendly bikes tend to have the pedals several inches lower than the seat, and many people will tell you that’s the best setup for touring. The seating position feels natural, and it’s not intimidating to move your feet from the ground to these low pedals when you start and stop.

The contrarian view is that higher pedals give the designer options in designing weight distribution, and that higher pedals allow ride and handling qualities that lower pedals don’t. Also, they add, the higher foot position is easily learned.

Comfort is another reason some advocate a lower foot position.

"Having a high crank spindle, spending too much time with your feet spinning above your seat, affects body comfort," said RANS’s Mark Fischer. (RANS makes models with a variety of crank heights.) "For longer periods of time, the lower crank spindle is a more natural position. For a longer distance, that is more desirable."

If this question intrigues you, take a tape measure to the store. Measure the crank spindle height above the floor, and the seat bottom height above the floor, on every bike you test ride.

These measurements can help you quantify the "seems to be easier to get started on" impression as you do your test riding, so you’ll know if the fifth bike of the day was really different from the first bike, or if it was just that you’d gotten used to the bikes by then. And, of course, you’ll want to take into account how the bikes handle. But no tape measure can help you there.

Pannier Mounting

Many of these bikes take standard front and rear panniers, but there’s more to it than that. Recumbents offer more and better options for how you carry your gear, when compared with upright bikes.

Here’s why: On a "wedgie," as recumbent riders refer to conventional bikes, your rear panniers are almost entirely behind the rear axle, placing that weight outside of the wheelbase of the bike. You have to put the panniers that far back because your flailing heels occupy the space beside the rear wheel in front of the rear axle.

For that reason, I keep telling wedgie riders, you need to put as little weight as possible in those panniers, and put substantial weight in your front panniers. But on a recumbent, your flailing heels are miles away, and you can fill up the space between the seat back and the rear axle with big huge panniers.

"You can have large rear panniers without adversely affecting the handling," said Vision’s Comar.

Indeed, Vision once made a prototype set of panniers designed for this purpose, but never put them into production. Perhaps they’ll be spurred into action by the fact that Lightning offers such panniers, designed to work with Lightning’s bikes. These panniers have the additional advantage of aerodynamics. They add nothing to the bike’s frontal area, and smooth out the contours on the side.

There are other options. Unless you’ll need high ground clearance for off-road touring, you can mount your bags very low on a recumbent bike, to get a low center of gravity and extra-stable handling. Many riders put their bags under the seat, sometimes with cutting-edge racks they modify themselves. The writers at Easy Riders Recumbent Club Magazine do an awesome job of exchanging designs and ideas for carrying gear on recumbents. 

And, of course, recumbents can tow cargo trailers, making panniers irrelevant.

The Importance of Aerodynamics

Fairings, seldom seen on upright bikes, are an important part of the recumbent package, and not just for racing. Although they came out of the recumbent’s racing heritage, they add an important benefit for touring: keeping you warm and dry.

"I like the fairing for longer rides, mostly for weather protection," Vision’s Comar said. "It keeps your feet from getting cold. The bubble goes right around your feet. You don’t need to worry about booties to try to keep your feet warm."

He added that the fairing didn’t overheat him in the summer.

Many riders are charmed by the fairing’s speed.

"The fairing on one of my previous recumbents, an Infinity, would increase my cruising speed by five mph," teacher Rideout said. "My speed in headwinds increases at least that much."

Five is a lot, and not everyone will report such an increase. Still, Fold Gold rider van Naerssen also reported substantial results: "A fairing, according to a couple of studies, doesn’t kick in until you’re going over 12 or 13 mph. At that point, it does make about a five percent difference," van Naerssen said.

"I can keep up a pace of about 22 mph with the fairing for four to five miles. And I’m an ‘old fart.’ I don’t think I can do that without the fairing."

Easy Racers Founder Gardner Martin is particularly enthused about the combination of fairing and body stocking (a spandex cover that meshes with the fairing and you to make an aerodynamic package without the complications of a hard shell).

"This is another kind of touring. People are riding body stocking bikes," Martin said. "It’s almost a whole new level of experience.

"Once people get the fairing, they don’t want to ride without it. The Zzipper fairing adds 10 percent to your speed. They spandex body stocking adds 15 percent, plus weather protection. We have one 50-year-old rider riding 140 miles per day with this combination."

To most of us at that age, 140 miles per day sounds like a death sentence. But many recumbent riders say it’s no big deal. The bikes are simply that much different from wedgies.

The Choice is Yours

I promised you choices. Lots of choices. The recumbent industry has delivered. Try several brands, be patient with yourself as you learn the new riding position, and these rabidly enthusiastic recumbent adventure cyclists will cheerfully welcome you to their ranks.

All kidding aside, Technical Editor John Schubert extends a hearty thank you to all the recumbent fans who called and wrote to help us with this article. Your expertise was downright awesome.

Related Reading

Planning a group bike tour, the gear you need to get started bike touring, adventure cycling with a twig stove.

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USED People Movers Tour Easy Steel Recumbent Bike Large Red 3x8 speed

Product details.

• Size: Large
• Pivot to BB: 34"
• Pivot to Headset: 38.5"
• Head Tube: 19cm
• Steer Tube: 23cm 
• Wheel Size: 700c / 20"
• Speed: 3x8 speed
• Components: Shimano 105/ Deore LX
• Weight: 35 lbs 01 oz 
• Frame: Steel
• Fork: Steel
• Headset: YST Comp 8311N, external
• Stem: Quill stem, alloy
• Handlebar: Alloy, 530mm
• Shifters: Shimano Deore LX, ST-M565
• Brakeset: Shimano Deore LX, BR-M565
• Front Derailleur: Shimano 105, clamp-on
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano Ultegra, RD-6500
• Crankset: Shimano 105, FC-5500, 175mm, 52/42/30T
• Bottom Bracket: Hollowtech I
• Cassette: Shimano HG, 11-30T
• Chain: Shimano IG
• Wheelset: [F] SunRims At18, alloy, 20" [R] Velocity Synergy, alloy, 700c 
• Tires: [F] Kenda Kwest, 20x1.50" [R]Michelin Dynamic Sport, 700x28c 
• Extra: Jando Mountaineering, rear rack
• * Chain/Cassette/Cranks: 7
• * Brake Pads: 10 (brand new)
• * Tires: 9 (new rear tire)
• * Wheels: 7
• * Shifters: 7
• * Cables/Housing: 7

CONDITION DESCRIPTION: USED Recumbent bike is in good shape with some minor surface rust on some of the frame and fork. SIZING: Based on traditional sizing, it could fit someone  5'8" to 6'0" . Please note this is an approximate range and the buyer is responsible for verifying the fit before purchase. WARRANTY: If purchased locally, it comes backed with a 60 day limited mechanical warranty. --- SKU: 210000050429

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HOURS :  WED thru FRI   9:30am - 6pm  SAT 9:30 to 4:00pm   

 call 303-995-3731 .

The Tour Easy is a universally acknowledged benchmark in recumbent bicycle design. It is the flagship bicycle of the Easy Racers line-up and has long set the industry standard for longevity and customer loyalty. It, quite simply, does it all.

Equally capable of taking a rider on an invigorating sprint along local back roads, through a hectic commute to work, or across the country. Tour Easy riders enjoy its surefooted feel, especially on sweeping descents. A high-grade component set from SRAM and Shimano means optimum performance and reliability when you depend on your bike the most. An abundance of accessories and options allows for the creation of a world class recumbent that perfectly suits your needs, whatever they may be.

Easy Racers Tour Easy Classic

Address: 3444 S Broadway

Englewood, CO 80113

Phone: 303-995-3731

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Wednesday 9:30am - 6pm ​​thursday: 9:30am - 6pm friday: 9:30am - 6pm saturday: 9:30am - 4pm closed  sun - mon - tues.

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Easy Racers Inc. Tour Easy EX Older Recumbent Bike

• USER REVIEWS

The Tour EZ is fast as stated, in fact surprisingly fast. It is an easy pedal and fairly easy to get used to. It's very quiet and smooth on the shifts. Braking is positive and appropriately firm. On longer rides it's far more comfortable than leaning on a pair of bars. This is a fun well-built bike and definitely worth the price in quality. The resale value is excellent

As stated by others this is a long frame bike. It simply doesn't do tight turns very well. It takes up a fair amount of space and is not that easy to transport even with the front wheel off. The smaller front wheel "feel" can be "interesting" especially at the speeds it's capable of. This bike and some other recumbents are definitely slower from a dead stop than traditional bikes because of not being able to apply your weight firmly down on the pedals. For that reason I'd not recommend it as a routine city commuter for safety reasons. Definitely test ride in city traffic if you are considering that use.

fast,comfortable,capable, w/good resale value

LONG,(hard to haul & store). You could call it a "slow" climber, but you'll be riding (& training) more than you ever dreamed possible, so you'll be constantly improving!

I just rolled over 3,800 miles on The T.E. this week, all since January '99. It is my favorite bike for my 13 mile daily R.T.C. Upright seating is good for night riding, & it is visible in traffic (for a 'bent).There is a huge following for this bike, & it's easy too see why. Staying up on club rides is no problem, something I could never do on my BikeE.I recommend the Rapid fire upgrade over stock grip shift, & the Kool-Back seat outsells the cobra 3 to 1. The fairing is a bit much for a new rider to take, but there's nothing in the upright world that you can bolt on your bike, & get a 25% speed improvement! HAPPY SHOPPING!

Similar Products Used:

Rotator Pursuit,BikeE AT

VERRRRRYYYYY COMFORTABLE!!! You can ride for miles at a fast or slow speed and always remain relaxed.You get to see the nice scenery around while riding.You will always be seen by people because it is so unusual.After riding long distances when you get off the bike it takes only a short time to recover if any time at all.No soreness(unless you over do it the first couple of time)very comfortable seat,arms are relaxed while riding.You FLYYYY down hills.

It will take a little time and riding to get to be pretty fast.Train by spinning up hills and you will get better in no time.You need a lot of space to store one. It really is expensive for a bike,but they seem to have a very good resale value because the classifieds constantly show people wanting to buy one.

This is one great bike. I ride the Bianchi alot but when you get tired you are stuck on top of a bike that hurts after a while.When you get tired on the easy racer you take it easy pedaling while still riding and you don't have to stop.BUUUUTTTTT... it takes a little time to develope god leg muscle to ride this bike well, when you get conditioned to it though boy can you really fly. Also easy racers company is the best in customer service. A screw came broken on my bike and I was quickly sent acouple of new ones. I you do get one subscribe to the easy racers recumbent club it is a rally nice magazine. This bike is very good for people who want to get or stay in shape but don't like the pain that goes with sitting on a upright's thin seat.If you could get a good used one go for it...

I have not totally gone to recumbents I ride mountain bikes and Bianchi Giro road bike.

Very well made, comfortable, fast, elegant. The coolback seat is so comfortable, you may want to roll it into your living room when watching the tube! A very stable ride at all speeds. You can just tell when you take this baby out of the box, that nothing has been overlooked. It even included an instructional video to aid in assembly. Easy Racers takes great pride when they make one of these machines...and it shows! I find the bottom bracket height to be at an optimal position for getting the feet to the ground in traffic stops. In addition, there is a loyal fraternity of Easy Racers followers who are always happy to talk about their experiences. You will get a magazine for the club with your bike.

I don't really consider it a weakness, but, from the standpoint of transporting it, it is big. However, I didn't buy it to transport it, I bought it to transport me, so it is not a problem. I use a hitch-mounted, flat, basket-type carrier that I mounted a fork attachment to. Spin the handlebars backwards, mount it on the carrier, and I only get about 9 inches of my rear wheel sticking out past the back of my full-size van- acceptable.

What can I say...see "strengths" above. It is a great machine! It may cost more than some, but sometimes "you get what you pay for" is accurate.

I had a SWB recumbent, but liked the stable feeling of the Tour Easy- especially while cars are zooming by.

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Recumbent Bike for Touring: Pros and Cons

By: Author Zachary Friedman

Posted on Last updated: August 3, 2024

Categories Bicycle Touring and Bikepacking

Home » Bikes and Cycling » Bicycle Touring and Bikepacking » Recumbent Bike for Touring: Pros and Cons

Recumbent bikes make great touring bikes. They are more comfortable, more aerodynamic, more efficient, and easier on the knees than traditional upright bikes. There are some drawbacks. Recumbent bikes are heavier, less maneuverable, and they don’t climb as well. To help you decide whether or not a recumbent is right for you, this guide lists the advantages and disadvantages of touring on a recumbent bike.

In the second half of this guide , I discuss the different styles of recumbent touring bikes available. I’ll outline under seat vs over seat steering, long wheelbase vs short wheelbase, wheel size, trikes, and more.

Last year, I began experimenting with recumbent bike touring. Mostly for the improved comfort and efficiency. So far, I’ve put in around 3,000 miles on my ‘bent’. In this guide, I’ll share the pros and cons that I experienced . Hopefully, it helps you decide whether or not this style of touring is for you.

What is a Recumbent Bicycle?

A recumbent bicycle sits the rider in a reclining riding position. Basically, you lay back on a large seat with your legs out in front of you while pedaling instead of sitting upright as you would on a standard diamond framed bike. Recumbent bikes are available in two wheel bicycle and three wheel trike designs.

The main reason many riders choose this design is ergonomics. The large seat distributes your body weight across your back and butt instead of your sit bones, arms, and legs. Many riders find the recumbent riding position to be more comfortable and easier on the body. There are also aerodynamic advantages.

Benefits of Recumbent Bikes

• Less pain- Recumbent bikes reduce back, butt, neck, and, wrist pain. The reclined seating position distributes your body weight across your back and butt. This allows you to ride longer without getting a sore rear end or lower back. Many seats offer lumbar support as well. The riding position also takes all of the weight off of your hands, wrists, and elbows. Your arms just rest on the handlebars. This eliminates hand numbness and wrist pain that many cyclists experience. Neck pain is reduced by allowing you to hold your neck in a neutral position rather than tilting your head back.
• Better aerodynamics- Due to the low profile shape and riding position, r ecumbent bikes produce around 15-30% less drag than upright bikes. The reason is that your body cuts through a lot less air while seated in a feet-first horizontal position rather than a vertical position. There is less surface area causing drag. To further improve aerodynamics, you can add a fairing to your recumbent bike.
• Recumbent bikes are more efficient- The improved aerodynamics allow you to cover more ground using less energy than you would on an upright bike. According to the same article linked above, at 20 mph, around 70% of your effort is used to overcome wind resistance. The more aerodynamic you can be, the more energy you can use to propel yourself forward instead of fighting the wind. This aerodynamic efficiency really comes in handy while facing a headwind. The faster you cycle, the more aerodynamics matter.
• More comfortable riding position- The large seat offers plenty of padding and support for your butt and back. Many seats offer lumbar and even neck support. You’re basically sitting in a reclining chair while you ride. You can even adjust the angle of the seat. The riding position takes the weight off your arms. Your neck sits in a more neutral position. You’re not sitting all hunched over like you are on an upright bike. This comfort allows you to ride longer and further without needing to stop and give your body a rest.
• Faster on flat and downhill sections – You’ll really experience a speed increase while descending hills. The low center of gravity and aerodynamics allows recumbents to safely reach speeds of up 40 mph while going downhill. Most upright bikes max out around 30. Currently, the human-powered record is held by a specially designed recumbent bike.
• Recumbent bikes are easier on the knees- Knee pain is a common problem that keeps people off their bikes. Many people with knee problems can still ride recumbents because they are easier on the knees. The reason is that the bike holds all of your body weight. This means your knees have less pressure on them while you ride. Your legs only propel you forward. They don’t hold you up. For example, an elderly neighbor of mine has trouble walking due to arthritis in his knees. He manages to ride his recumbent trike around the neighborhood just fine and claims to experience no pain.
• Can brake faster and harder- Because of the long wheelbase, you don’t have to worry as much about going over the handlebars if you apply your front brake too hard. Pretty much all of the weight is behind the wheel.
• No more saddle sores- The wide padded seat doesn’t rub or dig in like standard bike saddle. This reduces the likelihood of developing blisters and saddle sores.
• More stable- The recumbent riding position puts your body lower to the ground. This lowers the center of gravity which improves stability. Particularly at low speeds. If you ride a 3 wheeled recumbent trike, you pretty much can’t tip over.
• You can cover more ground faster- Due to the aerodynamic advantage and increased comfort, recumbent bikes allow you to travel further and tire out less quickly than you would on a standard bike. Over long distances, the benefits of increased efficiency and comfort add up. For example, maybe you can manage to travel 5-10 miles further per day while touring on a recumbent. Over a one-month bicycle tour, you might cover an additional 200-300 miles more than you would on an upright bike. This allows you to travel further. 
• Less foot swelling and pain- While cycling, your feet tend to swell. The swelling is caused by an increase in blood flow to the foot muscles you’re using. If the swelling gets bad enough, it can restrict movement. It can also put pressure on the tendons and cause discomfort and numbness. Because your feet are raised while pedaling a recumbent, swelling is less common and less severe. The blood can flow out of your legs. The outward pedaling motion may also put less stress on your feet than the traditional up and down motion.
• No pedal strike- Because the bottom bracket is raised above the front wheel on most recumbents, you don’t have to worry about the pedal hitting the ground while leaning into a turn. This allows you to continue pedaling and maintain speed through corners.
• You get a better view- This is one of the best arguments for using a recumbent for touring. While riding, you are seated in a leaned back position with an open and unobstructed view of the world in front of you. You’re looking up and out instead of angled down toward the ground. You don’t have to tilt your neck back to look out in front of you. Imagine being able to comfortably look around and see the sky and birds and natural beauty as you pedal by.
• Recumbents put you in a better position for breathing- The leaned back position allows you to do belly breathing (diaphragmatic breathing). This is an efficient way to move air into your lungs and offers several health benefits over standard chest breathing. You can also breathe deeper on a recumbent because you aren’t hunched over like you are on an upright bike. This allows you to take in more oxygen and continue cycling longer without tiring out.
• Recumbent bikes are great for elderly people or those with certain types of disabilities- Mounting and dismounting a recumbent easier because you don’t have to lift your leg so high to get it over the top tube. The riding position is also easier on the neck and back and is better for posture. Recumbent trikes are particularly popular among older riders because you don’t have to worry about staying balanced. For more info, check out this interesting article about older riders who have switched to recumbent trikes.
• You can adjust the steering ratio- This is only the case with indirect steering recumbents. The steering ratio is the ratio between the movement of the handlebars and the movement of the wheel. For example, you can adjust your steering so a small movement of the handlebars makes a big turn of the wheel. You can also set your steering ratio so a large movement of the handlebars only moves the wheel a bit. This would allow for more precise steering. How you want to adjust your steering depends on your riding style, the terrain, and a number of other factors. This is an adjustment that just isn’t possible on diamond frame bikes.
• You don’t need to wear special clothing- Because recumbent bikes take pressure off of your butt and arms, you can do without padded cycling shorts and padded gloves.
• If you crash, serious injury is less likely- On a recumbent, you sit closer to the ground. If you tip over or come off the bike, you have less distance to fall. This reduces your likelihood of injury. If you crash into something, you hit feet first rather than head first like you would on an upright bike. It’s better to suffer a leg injury than a head or neck injury.
• They’re different- A recumbent bike is a conversation starter. People will approach you to ask you how your bike works, how much it costs, how fast it is, and why you don’t ride a regular bike. People will watch you as you ride by. You’ll make new friends wherever you go. If you enjoy attention, you’ll get it when you ride a recumbent.

Drawbacks of Recumbent Bikes

• Recumbent bikes are less maneuverable- Due to the length, recumbent bikes have a large turning radius. They can’t handle as sharp of turns as upright bikes. This makes them a bit cumbersome for navigating through tight spaces. You also can’t pull up on the front wheel to ride up curbs. The steering also feels a bit less precise. For these reasons, recumbent bikes aren’t ideal for stop-and-go city riding or riding technical trails.
• More expensive- Recumbent bikes are a niche product. They are produced in much smaller numbers than mass-production upright bikes. Because of this, manufacturers can’t take advantage of economies of scale. This means it costs more per unit to produce recumbent bikes. When compared to an upright bike, a recumbent with comparable components might cost 40% more. If you’re on a tight budget, you can get much more for your money if you stick with upright bikes. The used recumbent market is pretty limited as well.
• Heavier- Touring recumbents tend to have a long wheelbase. Recumbent trikes are also popular for touring. These designs are much larger than upright bikes. They use more materials to build. This adds a considerable amount of weight. An average recumbent touring bike weighs around 20 kilos (about 44 pounds). Most touring bicycles, on the other hand, weigh around 12-15 kilos (about 26-33 pounds). More compact and lighter recumbents are also available but they aren’t ideal for long-distance touring.
• Some recumbent bikes have proprietary parts- For the most part, recumbent bikes use standard parts. This includes the drivetrain, brakes, wheels, and all wearable parts. There are some proprietary parts that you’ll have to buy from the manufacturer if they fail. For many recumbent bikes, this includes the seat, steering parts, and racks. If these fail while you’re touring through a remote region or developing country, you may have trouble making repairs or finding replacements. In some cases, you might have parts shipped to you or return home to repair your bike if something fails.
• Bad for climbing hills- While riding a recumbent, you can’t stand up and use your body weight to turn the crank like you can on an upright bike. This means you can’t use different muscle groups as you tire out. You can’t easily grab the bars for more leverage either. The fact that recumbent bikes are heavier means you have more mass to move to the top of the hill as well. This takes more energy. Another problem is psychological. Due to the recumbent riding position, you can always see the top of the hill. This can feel intimidating on long climbs. Most riders find climbing slower and more tiring on recumbent bikes. The best solution is to gear down and slowly climb at a high cadence. You will also improve as you train your muscles for the new riding position.
• Butt numbness ‘recumbutt’- Some riders experience butt pain or numbness while riding a recumbent. This is usually caused by a lack of circulation or too much pressure being placed on the butt. This problem is more common on recumbent bikes because you can’t stand up to give you butt a break like you can on upright bikes. The best way to alleviate ‘recumbutt’ is to recline the seat further to move weight from your butt to your back. You could also try a firmer seat. Soft seats seem to make the problem worse.
• More expensive to maintain- For the most part, recumbent bike maintenance is the same as a diamond frame bike. Having said that, there are a few parts that cost more. For example, when you need to replace your chain, you’ll need around 2 1/3 standard sized bike chains because recumbent chains are significantly longer. When you need a new seat, you’re probably looking at spending $100-$200 depending on the model and your preferences. If you ride a recumbent trike, you’ll also have a third wheel to maintain and buy tires for.
• More mechanically complex- This depends on the design of your recumbent. The most complex part is often the steering system on indirect steering recumbents. Because the handlebars are not connected directly to the fork, the bike uses some kind of linkage and tie rod to turn the wheel(s). This is common on under seat steering recumbents. This also has to be done on some over seat steering recumbents so the chain doesn’t interfere with the steering. This design adds mechanical complexity. There are more parts that could fail and that you have to maintain. Some linkages are designed better than others.
• There is a learning curve to riding a recumbent- When you first start riding a recumbent, you’ll probably be pretty wobbly for the first couple of hours. For the first couple of weeks, you might not feel completely comfortable starting and stopping or using clipless pedals. For a few months, you might not feel comfortable group riding or tackling any kind of technical riding where precision is required. After a year or so of regularly riding a recumbent, you’ll feel as confident as you did on an upright bike. Of course, everyone is different. Some people can hop on a recumbent and feel confident after a few laps around a parking lot. Some people just can’t get the hang it.
• Less visible to drivers- Because recumbents sit lower to the ground, they are harder for drivers to spot. If drivers can’t see you as well, they are more likely to hit you. On the other hand, drivers may be more likely to notice you because of the uniqueness of recumbents. They don’t look like every other bike on the road. In my research, I was unable to find any statistics indicating whether or not recumbent riders get hit by cars more often than upright bike riders. For added safety, many recumbent riders choose to install a flag that sticks up from their bike. Lights can also help you be seen if you’re worried about visibility.
• Shifting is more important- While riding a recumbent, you usually need to pedal at a slightly higher cadence than you do on an upright bike. This is particularly important when you’re starting from a stop or riding at very low speeds. The higher cadence helps to keep you balanced and prevents you from tipping over. Starting to pedal on a recumbent while in a high gear is nearly impossible. Particularly if you’re on a hill. This means you have to gear down every time you stop. For this reason, internal gear hubs pair excellently with recumbent bikes because you can shift them while you’re stopped. For more info, check out my derailleur vs internal gear hub pros and cons list.
• More difficult to and expensive transport- Due to the geometry, recumbent bikes are generally longer and heavier than upright bikes. This includes short wheelbase recumbents. The large size and extra weight makes them more difficult to transport. You probably can’t fit a recumbent in a normal-sized car. A long wheelbase recumbent might not fit in a standard bike spot on a bus or train. If you’re flying with your bike to your touring destination, you might not be able to fit your recumbent in a standard-sized bike box. Seats, in particular, don’t pack well. This means you’ll end up being charged oversized luggage fees more often. These fees add up fast if you want to travel with your recumbent often.
• You can’t look behind you or over cars in front of you while riding- Due to the riding position, you can’t easily turn your neck and shoulders to see what’s behind you on a recumbent. A cycling mirror helps greatly with this. It’s good to be able to see if a car is passing too close so you can move over or bail if you have to. Another aspect of your visibility that you lose when switching to a recumbent is the ability to look over cars in front of you. You’re just sitting too low.
• Shoulder stiffness- Some riders experience shoulder stiffness while learning to ride a recumbent. The reason is that you tend to keep your shoulders tense while learning to ride. This problem usually goes away as you get used to recumbent riding and become more relaxed.
• You’re more exposed to the elements- You’ll need good rain gear while riding a recumbent in wet weather. The riding position puts your head facing slightly upward. This means your helmet won’t keep the rain out of your eyes. Your legs are also more exposed so you’ll need a good pair of rain pants that seals around the ankles to keep your legs dry. Your rain gear must also be comfortable to use in the recumbent position. The sun is also a concern. You’ll want to cover up or use plenty of sunblock on your arms, face, and legs. They are all more exposed in the recumbent position.
• Recumbent bikes attract attention- While you’re touring on your recumbent, people will stare at you and stop to ask you questions. People might even take out their phones to snap pictures of you. Occasionally, someone might ask to sit on your bike or take it for a test ride. Almost all of these encounters are friendly. People are just curious about your rig. Unfortunately, this gets annoying sometimes. Particularly if you’re not the kind of person who likes to attract a lot of attention.
• Recumbent bikes have a stigma- Many cyclists associate recumbent bikes with older riders. They are just kind of uncool and eccentric. Some hardcore cycling purists might not consider recumbents to be real bikes.

Recumbent Touring Bike Styles and Designs

When it comes to choosing a recumbent bike for touring, you have a wide range of designs to choose from. Major design differences include long and short wheelbase, under seat and over seat steering, wheel size, as well as indirect and direct steering, Recumbent trikes are another popular option. In this section, I’ll outline some of the most common categories of recumbent bikes and outline a few benefits and drawbacks of each.

For more info, check out my complete guide to the different types of recumbent bikes.

Long Wheelbase Vs Short Wheelbase Recumbents

All recumbents are divided into these two categories. Long wheelbase recumbents have the front wheel in front of the crank. Short wheelbase recumbents have the front wheel behind the crank. 

Pros and Cons of Long Wheelbase Recumbents

Long wheelbase recumbents are more stable. They don’t pitch or twitch much when turning. This makes them better for touring. Long wheelbase recumbents can stop faster because all of the weight sits behind the front wheel. They also have a more efficient chain line. The front wheel doesn’t get in the way of the chain when turning because it sits in front of the crank. The chain runs directly.

The main drawback to long wheelbase recumbents is that maneuverability is more difficult due to the length of the bike. The turning radius is larger. They are also more cumbersome and harder to transport. For example, you can’t fit a 70-inch long wheelbase recumbent into a small vehicle or pack it in a standard-sized bike box for a flight. This limits your transportation options while touring. The oversized luggage fees can add up as well.

Pros and Cons of Short Wheelbase Recumbents

Short wheelbase recumbents are more maneuverable due to the shorter length. They are also smaller and easier to transport. At around 40 inches, they will fit in most vehicles. You can pack them in standard sized bike boxes for flights. This opens up your transport options while touring. Short wheelbase recumbents also balance the weight of the bike more evenly over both wheels. This improves traction on the front wheel.

The main drawback to the short wheelbase design is the complicated drive chain. Because the front wheel sits behind the crank, it can hit the chain when turning. There are several solutions to this. Most cause friction which results in reduced efficiency.

Under Seat Steering Vs Over Seat Steering Recumbent

Under seat steering recumbents have the handlebars mounted below the seat with the handles sitting to the sides of the rider. Over seat steering recumbents have the handlebars mounted out in front of the rider, over the lap.

Pros and Cons of Under Seat Steering

The main benefit of under seat steering is comfort. While riding, your arms rest down by your sides where they naturally tend to rest. For this reason, under seat steering recumbents are preferable for touring. Under seat steering also allows for better visibility because the handlebars are out of your line of sight. The handlebar location also makes the bike easier to mount and dismount because you don’t have to move your leg around the handlebar. The cockpit is open.

There are a few drawbacks to under seat steering. First, it is less aerodynamic because your arms rest out to your sides which widens your profile, causing drag. Next, they are more mechanically complex. Under seat steering recumbents are usually indirect drive. This adds to the cost. There are also more parts to maintain. The learning curve is also a bit steeper.

Pros and Cons of Over Seat Steering

Over seat steering recumbents, on the other hand, offer better aerodynamics because your arms stretch out in front of you. This gives you a more narrow profile which reduces drag. They are also cheaper and easier to maintain because the steering system is less complex. It works with with a standard headset, stem, and handlebars just like an upright bike. Over seat steering recumbents also allow you to mount accessories on the handlebars in front of you. Many riders find them easier to learn to ride as well.

The main drawback to over seat steering is comfort. Many riders find it tiring to hold their arms up in front of them. This isn’t ideal for touring when you’ll be spending many hours in the saddle. Visibility can also be worse because the bars sit in your line of site. Mounting and unmounting can also be harder because the handlebars sit between your legs.

Direct Vs Indirect Steering Recumbent

Direct steering recumbents work just like standard upright bikes. The handlebars attach directly to the fork with a headset and stem. This is common over seat steering recumbents.

Indirect steering recumbents use some type of linkage between the handlebars and fork to turn the wheel. Usually a tie rod. When you move the handlebars, they pivot somewhere in the middle of the bike and push or pull a rod that moves the fork. This system is common on under seat steering recumbents.

Pros and Cons of Direct Steering

The main benefit of direct steering design is the simplicity. There are fewer moving parts. This makes direct steering recumbents cheaper, lighter, and easier to repair and maintain. Many riders also find the steering to be more precise and responsive.

The main drawback is that you will feel more vibrations and bumps. This happens because the shocks from the road can travel directly from the tires to your hands. There is no linkage to absorb shocks. These bikes can also feel a bit more twitchy at speed because there is no steering damper.

Pros and Cons of Indirect Steering

The main benefit indirect steering is that the steering ratio is often adjustable. This means you can change the rate that the wheel turns in relation to the handlebars. You’ll also feel fewer shocks and vibrations in your hands with indirect steering because the handlebars aren’t connected directly to the front wheel. The rods absorb some shocks. Many riders find the ergonomics better as well.

The drawback to indirect steering is the added complexity of the design. Indirect steering recumbents have more parts. This makes the bikes more expensive, heavier, and harder to maintain and repair. Some riders find indirect steering to make the bike feel a bit less connected from the road. The steering can feel less precise and responsive.

Recumbent Touring Bike Wheel Size

Recumbent bikes are available in wheel sizes from 16” all the way to 700c. Often times the front and rear wheel are different sizes. The wheel sizes can affect your acceleration, top speed, ride quality, and more.

The biggest benefit of having large wheels is that they roll over obstacles more easily. When you hit a pothole or piece of debris with 700c wheels, you’ll just roll over it due to the large circumference. You won’t get hung up or bounce around too much. This makes large wheels better for off-road touring.

The main benefit of smaller wheels is strength. Due to the smaller diameter, the spokes are shorter. This allows you to carry more weight. Smaller wheels do require a bit more frequent maintenance because they make more revolutions to cover the same distance as larger wheels. You’ll have to replace tires and grease hubs more often. Small wheels are preferable for on-road touring.

For more info on different wheel sizes, check out my guides:

• 700c Vs 26 inch bicycle wheels
• 16 inch Vs 20 inch bicycle wheels

Carrying Luggage on a Recumbent Touring Bike

When choosing a recumbent bike for touring, you’ll want to make sure it offers a way to carry your luggage. Due to the design, your luggage options and capacities are often a bit limited. Your options are either panniers or a bike trailer. Bikepacking bags generally aren’t compatible.

Most recumbent bikes include some type of racks that allow you to mount standard touring panniers. Generally, the rear panniers mount to a rack behind the seat. The front panniers mount on the sides of the bike. The racks are usually proprietary or welded onto the frame. You generally can’t use standard bicycle racks.

Many recumbent bicycle tourists choose to use a bike cargo trailer instead of or in addition to panniers. This is a good option if your bike isn’t compatible with panniers or if you want to carry a large volume of gear. Rear axle mounted trailers can mount to most recumbent bikes.

For more info, check out my guide to the different types of bike cargo trailers. 

Recumbent Trikes

Another popular category of recumbent bikes is three-wheeled recumbent trikes. The benefit of a trike is the increased stability. You don’t have to worry about tipping over while stopped or traveling at low speeds. For this reason, trikes are an excellent choice for older tourers or those with certain disabilities.

The main drawback to trikes is the efficiency. The third wheel adds rolling resistance which slows you down. Trikes also have a wider design which causes more drag. The extra wheel adds weight as well. You’ll burn more energy and won’t be able to cover as many miles per day. Trikes also require more maintenance. After all, you have an extra wheel to true, buy tires for, grease, etc.

Recumbent trikes come in two flavors. Tadpole trikes have two wheels in the front that steer and one wheel in the back that drives the bike. Delta trikes have one wheel in the front that steers and two wheels in the back. On most delta trikes, only one rear wheel drives the bike. Some models are two-wheel drive.

Final Thoughts

After researching for this article and test riding a few different recumbent bikes, I’m surprised that they aren’t more popular. The unpopularity could be because recumbents were banned by the UCI (Union Cyclist International) in 1934. They just don’t get the exposure that upright bikes get from racing.

Whatever the case, the comfort can’t be beat. Even if you’re in excellent shape, riding an upright bike gets pretty uncomfortable after a while. In many conditions, recumbents outperform upright bikes due to the aerodynamic advantage. There are a lot of good reasons to choose a recumbent.

Having said all of this, I probably won’t be switching to a recumbent for my main touring bike. The main reason is the way they look. I don’t want the added attention. Another problem is the off-road performance. I wouldn’t feel comfortable riding any technical trails on a recumbent. Maybe I just need more experience.

Do you tour with a recumbent bike? Share your experience and tips in the comments below!

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More from Where The Road Forks

• Types of Recumbent Bikes
• The Ideal Bicycle Touring Tool Kit and Spare Parts List
• Electronic Vs Mechanical Shifting

Zachary Friedman is an accomplished travel writer and professional blogger. Since 2011, he has traveled to 66 countries and 6 continents. He founded ‘Where The Road Forks’ in 2017 to provide readers with information and insights based on his travel and outdoor recreation experience and expertise. Zachary is also an avid cyclist and hiker. Living as a digital nomad, Zachary balances his professional life with his passions for hiking, camping, cycling, and worldwide exploration. For a deeper dive into his journey and background, visit the About page. For inquiries and collaborations, please reach out through the Contact page. You can also follow him on Facebook.

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Monday 8th of May 2023

Great article! I tour on a recumbent and love it. I prefer LWB and Compact LWB designs. I am building a carbon fiber one with a frame coupling to hopefully get a great travel bike.

Larry Smith

Saturday 1st of October 2022

I did two ( shortish) tours it’s summer on my Lightfoot World Traveler (LWB). I’ve had it for 15 years but finally got some time with retirement. The first tour (250 miles over 5 days) went fine. The second, 450 miles from Butte to Yellowstone and back was 9 days and my Achilles are just starting to feel better after a week. I developed tendinitis in both feet. My legs were not full extended and I’m not sure I can move my cleats back much.

If this keeps up I may have to abandon the ‘bent for long rides and just use the mtn bike.

Ideas? Thanks, Larry

wheretheroadforks

Sunday 2nd of October 2022

I'm not really sure. It may be worth getting a professional fitting. There could be some minor adjustment that would solve the problem.

John Schinnerer

Sunday 19th of June 2022

One item I can address - under recumbent cons, you write "Less visible to drivers - Because recumbents sit lower to the ground, they are harder for drivers to spot." You also do say that you were not able to find actual research on this, which I appreciate. I have read and heard this assumption soooo many times, as though it were a fact.

In fact, the opposite is true, according to at least one significant study. I can't cite it exactly as I have lost the reference, I found it decades ago when I started riding recumbent. I think it was a Stanford University study - they did a whole bunch of bicycle, including recumbent, research many decades ago. The short version is, they found that people on recumbent bikes were MORE easily 'seen' by drivers than people on wedgie bikes.

Some details: The study looked at how drivers recognize what's on the street around them. That includes pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, probably pets and other animals, etc. The research indicated that seeing a person's HEAD was a primary factor in a driver recognizing the object quickly and correctly as a person (and responding appropriately in terms of safety). The heads of us 'bent riders are often at a similar elevation to people in cars - or lower, these days, with so many tall SUVs and trucks on the road. And our bodies are in a similar sitting position. Meanwhile the heads of wedgie riders are up high, comparatively, especially for the vast majority, non-racers who sit more upright rather than hunched over. So a motorist is more readily able to see the head of a 'bent rider than a wedgie rider and thus quicker to identify the object as a person in traffic.

Besides that - as a mostly recumbent rider, thanks for your perspectives here. It's rare that someone not a 'bent enthusiast is relatively even-handed with an evaluation like this.

I will add: The comfort factor is major for me, and occasional temporary numb butt is much less an issue over time and age than stiff neck and/or back, sore wrists and/or elbows and/or shoulders, and the butt discomfort that comes from a wedgie seat (even a darn good Terry one). Proper gearing and cadence takes care of pretty much all issues with hills and the like. I find long wheelbase 'bents LESS stable and harder to ride - the physics reason is that one's body is closer to the ground and thus the lever-distance to make balance corrections is shorter, and thus 'twitchier'. I also don't see them as preferable for touring, for that reason as well as their size and weight and maneuverability challenges. Of course my bias is based on owning two short wheelbase recumbents, one above seat steering, one below, and having toured on the above seat steering one very happily.

An issue to be aware of with short wheelbase (SWB) 'bents is that typically over 50% of rider weight is on the front wheel. On a wedgie bike one learns to emphasize the rear brake, to avoid 'over the handlebars' risks. On an SWB 'bent, braking hard with the rear can cause a rear wheel skid, due to the different weight distribution. Typically the front brake is primary on an SWB. That's for riding unloaded - with a touring load behind the seat the effect is reduced and the rear brake can be used more aggressively.

Wednesday 23rd of February 2022

I like your article pretty spot on, 7 years now on road with a 2 wheel recombinant AZUB bike large rear wheel 26 20 inch front.. have 10+ years touring on regular bike. But true as we get older comfortably out weighs speed..besides now I live off my bike it's my home..!to me worsy down fall is the attention it draws but lucky for me I travel some times with my friend that has trike so they focus more on him than me.. a nice break 😆..! I went from top stearing to lower as end of day ..recombinant is more about comfortably..as to mountains I find no problems yeah slower but in the hymlans atommus Tibetan reagon found younger bikers on normal touring bikes did not reach top of 5000m climbs that much faster than I did .. given age difference between the younger ones think recombinant get a very bad wrap when comes to mountains, and if on trike 😆 they can stop anywhere or time on mountains with out issues 😀..http://fietser.home.blog

Nice looking setup. I imagine it does draw quite a bit of attention in some parts of the world. Sounds like you've had an incredible adventure.

tallbikeman

Saturday 28th of August 2021

Good article. I ride a Ryan Vanguard which is an older take on a long wheelbase, underseat steering, touring recumbent. Excellent bicycle. Recumbent butt is a problem but you had the right answer to that issue. I ride diamond frame bikes also but the recumbent is the long distance comfort champion.

Saturday 11th of September 2021

I agree, for long rides, it's hard to beat the comfort of a recumbent.

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This started as a Sun recumbent seat, we have modified the bracket to make it fit a tour easy LE.  

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