This article first appeared in the September 1999 issue of Kentuckiana Health Fitness.  Like the article titled "The Best Bike," elsewhere on this site, it was written by the editor of this web site.

While cycling has long been famous for its exercise value, many people find the position on most bicycles an awkward one, with the threat of cramping and stiffness, or at the very least, saddle sores.

Most bicycles, that is. Enter recumbent bicycles. If you don’t know what one is, picture a lounge chair on two wheels. You may have seen one, and didn’t know what to call it. Did you get a good look at the rider’s face? I’d bet he or she was smiling. They’re fun!

There are many reasons why people choose recumbent bikes. The biggest reason for many is comfort. Simply put, there is no bicycle that is more comfortable. When riding a recumbent (often shortened to "bent"), the rider sits in a seat: relaxed, body supported, with the head and neck in a position that allows safe and pleasurable vision. Saddle sores are but a distant memory, even without padded shorts. The neck and chest are open and relaxed, promoting freer breathing. The rider’s shoulders and arms are relaxed, and the fingers are never numb from pressing on the handlebars.

Then there are medical reasons. The improved weight distribution alleviates problems worsened by a typical bicycle. Some men turn to recumbents to alleviate problems ranging from prostate enlargement to "male numbness" and impotence related to cycling. I am told that women also find bents more comfortable for analogous reasons. People of both sexes choose recumbents so that they can ride without aches from arthritic shoulders, arms, or neck joints. If one has balance problems and cannot ride a "regular" bike, a recumbent tricycle is an option.

Speed is another reason that folks try recumbents. All of the human-powered speed records are held by recumbent or recumbent-like designs, including the winner of the DuPont Prize for the first human-powered machine to break sixty-five MPH without external aerodynamic aid (like a car to draft behind). With their lower center of gravity, the bikes are confidence inspiring at speed. There is no fear of an end-over spill, as with conventional bikes. I often use the analogy that it feels like I’m on my own roller coaster, but that I get to determine where the rails go. Not everyone will go fast (or want to) though, especially at first. Muscle use is a bit different on a bent, and it takes time to build up one’s pace.

Recumbents are conversation pieces. This can be good or bad, depending on your mood. People will want to talk to you, and ask you all sorts of questions about the bike. Sometimes it’s hard to answer politely in a few quick words at a traffic light. Sometimes the questions aren’t so politely put. One thing is certain: people will notice you, and remember you. This can be a very good thing on the road, as motorists often give recumbent riders more room than they give riders of conventional bikes when they pass.

Are there any drawbacks? Well, there are a few. The biggest for many is transporting the bike. Most of the bike racks on the market are clearly intended for conventional bikes rather than recumbents. One solution is to use a tandem-size roof rack. Another is the "Draftmaster ™" or similar rack that holds the bike vertically behind the car. Yet another is a utility trailer with fork clamps, like Bike Tights or Traps. Cost is about the same as for a good roof system from the local Yakima or Thule supplier, and one can haul all sorts of things when the bike is at home.

Another drawback is cost. At this time, recumbents are such a small segment of the market that few of the big companies make them. There are MANY small companies making a few high-quality bikes each, instead of five or six companies making tens or hundreds of thousands of bikes each. In other words, economies of scale are working against recumbent makers, so the prices are higher. That will change soon, though. More affordable bikes are reaching the market, and it is certain that the typical price will come down as production increases to meet demand over the next several years.