Recumbent Bicycles are Comfortable and Fast

A recumbent bicycle is a bike where you can sit in a relaxed (usually reclined) position on a comfortable seat. Unlike on a standard bicycle the seat on a recumbent is comfortable at all speeds.

Some recumbents can be faster than conventional bikes because of better aerodynamics. If the pedals are higher than the seat, the legs are in front of the body and the frontal area is smaller resulting in less air resistance. The faster you go the higher is the advantage. You will especially notice this when going downhill. Aerodynamics can be even better with the use of streamlined fairings and wheel covers.

You will need some time to get used to a recumbent bicycle before you will notice any speed advantage. The muscles are used in a different way than on a normal bike and need to be developed. You may also need to change your pedaling technique, especially when going uphill. If you are used to it, hill climbing with a recumbent will be no problem.

There are a lot of different models available. They are built for different purposes like racing, touring, recreational riding and commuting. They may differ in seat height, wheel size, frame materials and type of steering.

Apart from comfort and speed, riding recumbents is a lot of fun. More information about recumbent bikes can be found at the sites linked below.