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You've probably seen them on occasion, those unusual-looking recumbent bikes and trikes. The rider reclines comfortably on either a mesh seat stretched across a tubular metal frame or on a lightly padded seat attached to an ergonomically-formed piece of fiberglass or carbon fiber. The rider's back, fully supported on either type of seat, allows for tremendous leg pressure against the pedals.

A recumbent's bottom bracket is forward of the rider at hip height rather than beneath his or her hips as with an upright bike. To counteract gravity's effect of pulling a recumbent rider's feet off the pedals, most of us use cleats on the soles of our cycling footwear; the cleats then lock into the clipless pedals. "Clipless" refers to the absence of old-fashioned stainless steel or impact plastic cages attached to the pedals, into which we would secure our feet with buckled leather straps. The clipless system allows for quick insertion and produces an audible click to verify that one's feet are locked in. A simple inward or outward twist of the heel actuates the unlocking mechanism.. Clipless systems incorporate a few degrees of "float", which allows the foot some lateral play while pedaling, but not enough to allow accidental unlocking.

Recumbents, or 'bents, are generally available in either two-wheel or trike configurations. Two wheelers will be short wheel base, SWB, compact long wheel base, CLWB, and long wheel base, LWB. The shorter the wheelbase, the greater the maneuverability. The longer the wheelbase, the more comfort for distance touring. Trikes come in either a tadpole design with two wheels forward and one aft, or a delta configuration with one wheel forward and two aft.

The frames of all two and three wheel designs are available in steel, aluminum and carbon fiber. Most are of steel. More expensive and stiffer frames are of aluminum. Carbon fiber is the lightest, strongest and most expensive. Depending on manufacturer, frame material, fit/finish and level of componentry quality, expect to spend as much on a recumbent bike or trike as you would on a good quality road, mountain or hybrid wedgie.

'Bent componentry such as derailleurs, brakes, wheels, pedals and most accessories are off-the-shelf items available at local bike shops or online.

Although recumbents occupy a small niche in the cycling market, their popularity is on the upswing. The baby-boomer is no longer willing to tolerate the discomforts of "wedgie" cycling. (Diamond frames, or upright bikes are also known as wedgies because of their seats' cleaving effect on one's bottom.) Other wedgie discomforts include painful wrists, stiff neck and lower back pain.

Test-ride as many different 'bent models as you can. If possible, talk to 'bent owners. The ones I've met are glad to share their experiences and provide guidance when asked.

Well-attended and highly informative websites are www.bentrideronline.com and www.recumbents.com

Learn more about this author, Tracy Gordon.
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