by Scott Thayer

Created on: July 05, 2008

I used to think that bike riding in particular was hard, painful work - at last back when I still riding a mountain bike - every time I went out, I came back hot, sweaty, exhausted, and in a lot of pain - and thinking every time, is this worth it?

Them came along my discovery of the recumbent bike, although you basically end up learning how to ride a bike all over again - you soon realize that bike riding is no longer work, is no longer tiring, is no longer painful - and a lot of fun.

When you are on a regular bike, you have one thing in mind - getting from where you came from to where you are going so you can get off the bike but on a recumbent, you have one thing in mind, enjoying the scenery - I tend go the long way to places, so I can get a bit more exercise, or because I just am not ready stop riding - being in a recumbent lets you relax a lot more - and when you are relaxed doing something, it is a lot more enjoyable.

I also have a lot of back problems (Scoliosis), and have a steel rod in my back and my spine fused together - and that nice big seat is sure nice on the back - since you are basically sitting in a reclined position, you are almost like sitting in from of you TV in a recliner with your feet up - online instead of watching he world do by on TV, and are watching it in real life - which is much more enjoyable - and when you get tired, you simply find a signpost or a tree to lean up against, and you can just sit their on your bike, and take your self a little nap!

Although riding a recumbent, will allow you to relaxation some people need to get some good exercise, it also give the ability to push yourself, and zip on the down the road as fast as you want - on a flat ground and going downhill, a recumbent is faster than a regularly bike - although they are not a good as going uphill - I can acreage right around 15-20 MPH on my recumbent riding around town, although I had it up to right at 50 - that was going down a long, step hill about 3 miles long - man, I will never to that again.

Regular bike, you riding position pretty much keep your feet below you - in that position, if you start to fall, you can put your feet down, and save yourself, or at least minimize your injuries. One recumbent,when you fall, your feet are out in front of you, and before you can even think about putting your feet down, you are already on the ground - because you are so close, and going faster a regular bike, when you crash - you crash hard.

Of all he bike accecories out their, two of them stand out being essential for a recumbent rider - 1 would be the helmet for obvious reason, the other would be a helmet mounted mirror - when you sitting back in that seat, you just glance behind you to check for upcoming vehicles, you actually have to sit up a bit, and turn - which throws off your balance, and you crash. A helmet mounted mirror lets you see what is behind you without even having to move your head.

Recumbents are also just fun to ride, many place offer rentals of recumbents, try one out - you will never want to go back to a regular bike.

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