Considering a Recumbent

[ufkacbln]

I've never ridden one

Yet you have sufficient knowledge and experience to inform us that recumbents are dangerous and discourage others by posting this:

This defensive reaction always pervades discussion about recumbents. Yes, if you're knocked off in traffic by a driver who didn't see you, it's his/her fault. But it will still hurt!

My post is simply an observation from over 25 years experience with recumbents from the early models through low racers, tadpoles and delta trikes LWB and SWB tourers and at present own a fleet of 6.... feel free to use your vast and superior experience and knowledge to dismiss reality

 

[3narf]

Defensive with a capital D

Methinks thou dost protest too much.

 

[ufkacbln]

So that ends the thread then, no-one should ride a recumbent because someone with no experience feels they are too dangerous?

 

[Simpleton]

Meh, recumbents are uber cool and the visibility issues are non existent.

 

[NFC]

I've never ridden one but I'd love to have a go, especially around your area.

BTW I was born in Newbie! My dad was Annan Athletic's star centre forward in the mid '60s!

I live in Annan and am involved with Annan Athletic FC - probably obvious from the profile photograph We are currently top of the Scottish Second Division. It is an exceptionally small world. I ride through Newbie frequently because the Sustrans Route goes that way.

 

[ufkacbln]

I live in Annan and am involved with Annan Athletic FC - probably obvious from the profile photograph We are currently top of the Scottish Second Division. It is an exceptionally small world. I ride through Newbie frequently because the Sustrans Route goes that way.

I rode through Annan on the Street Machine some years ago

 

[NFC]

I rode through Annan on the Street Machine some years ago

They still talk about it!!

 

[ufkacbln]

They still talk about it!!

There were a few bowing down and muttering phrases like .... It moves but it has no legs...

 

[Pikey]

Just gone recumbent.

Think it's the best cycling thing I've ever done.

And not meaning to jinx myself, I actually feel a whole lot safer on my bent trike than on my df's. I've been treated with nothing but respect and positivity by drivers on each ride on her.

Do it, you won't regret it.

 

[Spoked Wheels]

So that ends the thread then, no-one should ride a recumbent because someone with no experience feels they are too dangerous?

I think maybe you misunderstood the post. I think the poster was not reffering to visibility while riding a recumbent but for other people to see a recumbent.

I ride quite a lot on Bournemouth promenade and I sometimes see recumbent at a distance that it's hard to identify what it is. I mean, at the same distance I'd would identify a bike. This is much worse in poor visibility conditions.

Now, they do look comfy and I'd love to have a go but then I think that the feeling I get when I stop at a traffic light, on my bike and next to a lorry or bus..... wondering if the driver can see me.... moving forward as much as possible so the driver can see me.... trying to make eye contact,etc. Maybe on a recumbent that feeling would be even worse and also with smaller vehicles too.

You did come across a little defensive on one of your posts above and it reminded me when people get so defensive about dogs "dangerous dogs don't exist, only dangerous dogs keepers"

 

[ufkacbln]

I think maybe you misunderstood the post. I think the poster was not reffering to visibility while riding a recumbent but for other people to see a recumbent.

I ride quite a lot on Bournemouth promenade and I sometimes see recumbent at a distance that it's hard to identify what it is. I mean, at the same distance I'd would identify a bike. This is much worse in poor visibility conditions.

Now, they do look comfy and I'd love to have a go but then I think that the feeling I get when I stop at a traffic light, on my bike and next to a lorry or bus..... wondering if the driver can see me.... moving forward as much as possible so the driver can see me.... trying to make eye contact,etc. Maybe on a recumbent that feeling would be even worse and also with smaller vehicles too.

You did come across a little defensive on one of your posts above and it reminded me when people get so defensive about dogs "dangerous dogs don't exist, only dangerous dogs keepers"

The orignal post was:

Almost ran one over as I reversed off my drive way. Very poor visibility imho, even with flag poles attached!

Unequivocally about the visibility of recumbents

 

[Spoked Wheels]

The orignal post was:


Unequivocally about the visibility of recumbents

Yes, he could have worded that better but I think you would agree that he meant to say recumbents are difficult to see

 

[ufkacbln]

Yes, he could have worded that better but I think you would agree that he meant to say recumbents are difficult to see

....... Which they aren't

It is interesting that people who haven't ridden one think they are difficult to see whilst those with experience find that they are MORE visible, you get more room and have less issues

Then dismissing the reality as " defensive" simply because the reality differs from your own ill informed conjecture is really rather sad

 

[Spoked Wheels]

....... Which they aren't

It is interesting that people who haven't ridden one think they are difficult to see whilst those with experience find that they are MORE visible, you get more room and have less issues

Then dismissing the reality as " defensive" simply because the reality differs from your own ill informed conjecture is really rather sad

In other words I need to ride one to be able to judge whether they are easy or hard to see.... sorry but you are being silly. I don't need to drive a bus to say those things can be spotted a mile away.

The "defensive" word was used because the way you reacted to @grellboy post, an over reaction in my view.

Let's put this to an end now, we are going off topic. You are entitle to think what you like but don't tell us we cannot judge how difficult recumbents are to see if we haven't ridden one.

 

[steveindenmark]

I never had problems not seeing me when I had my recumbents. In fact you feel safer than riding a DF as drivers do see you and leave you lots of space. Maybe you cease to be a cyclist in the eyes of motorists and just become a bit accentric.