Recumbent Bike Benefits

Recumbent bikes have become more popular lately. This is not strange, a recumbent bike has a number of advantages. Here is an overview of the main benefits of recumbent bikes.

Benefits of Recumbent Bikes

A recumbent exercise bike is more comfortable to ride than the standard upright bicycle. Instead of sitting on a narrow saddle, you have a seat you actually sit in. A recumbent bike also put less strain on your shoulders and neck. This makes recumbent bikes really good for longer rides.

• For people who are overweight or have neck and shoulder problems, a recumbent bike is the perfect solution. It is also easier to look around you in a recumbent riding position.
• A recumbent bike is more aerodynamic than the standard upright bike. This does not necessarily mean that a recumbent bike is faster than an upright bike but less effort is required to cycle fast.

Disadvantages of Recumbent Bikes

Of course, recumbent bike also have some disadvantages. One problem in traffic is that a recumbent bike is more difficult to spot and you and since your eyes are lower you have trouble seeing the traffic.

Quite clearly, a standard upright bike is both easier for drivers to spot and the bike rider has much better visibility of the traffic around him. On the other hand, the lower body position also means that a fall is less dangerous than from an upright bike.

Additionally, the feet-first position decreases the risk of head injuries when colliding with objects in the direction of travel.

Another problem is balance, the lower center of gravity makes it more difficult to keep your balance. This is especially a problem at low speeds. Starting is often difficult to get used to. One solution is the recumbent tricycle. But once you are used to a recumbent bike, keeping your balance is not a problem.

It is also more difficult to maneuver a recumbent bike, especially at low speed. Since the front wheel is generally small, curbs are also a problem.

Sometimes you hear about a lot of other drawbacks with recumbent bikes but most of them are just myths. Recumbent bikes are not really more difficult to ride but it takes some time to get used to the new position, especially starting is often difficult to get used to in the beginning. But once you are used to the new position, it is easy to ride a recumbent bike.

Note that when riding a recumbent bike, you are using some new muscles so before your muscles have got used to the workload you may have trouble with longer rides. This is a common problem for people who are used to long rides on upright bikes. In the beginning, longer rides will be exhausting on recumbent bikes. But once your muscles are used to the new work, recumbent bikes will be more comfortable than upright bikes.

Does Recumbent Bike lacks in Mountains?

A lot of people think that recumbent bikes can’t handle hills. But that is not true. Yes, you have to use lower gear than on an upright bike but you will get up the hills. And downhill a recumbent bike is faster thanks to its aerodynamic advantage.

Recumbent bikes attract much more attention than standard bikes. Depending on your personality, this can be an advantage or a disadvantage. Due to the smaller volumes, recumbent bikes are a little bit more expensive than upright bikes.