Local to Whalley 2 wheel recumbent to try out.

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

Hi all,
Due to too much cycling in my life I’ve ended up with a stricture in the old waterworks.
I’ve been using 3 wheel recumbent trikes and love them. Now it looks like I may have to go back to cycle commuting due to cataracts. But I’m not sure I’d be comfortable in heavy traffic with a very slow moving trike.
I’m thinking a 2 wheel recumbent would be good, but I can’t find any stockists that have demo ones.
So I’m reaching out to see if anyone in Lancashire, hopefully near Whalley, have one that they won’t mind me trying out. Tia.

 

[Maker of Stuff]

Have you considered an electrical assist on your current trike ? I added a Bafang motor to my trike last year and it is no longer slow.

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

I have and I do have one on my wife’s trike. But it’s the width on the very narrow country roads. You get behind me, you’re stuck behind me for 10 miles. We’d normally just pull over if it’s an issues. Can’t really expect to hold up commuting drivers for that long without hassle. At least with an upright recumbent, it’s like getting past a non recumbent bike.

 

[grldtnr]

If the road is narrow country road, it really shouldn't be a commuter route, but motorist will be motorist.
Same can be said about solo recumbents and trike recumbents, if you have bags on a solo recumbent, you are just the same width as trike recumbent, the risk is still the same, a close pass on a solo recumbent or ' Upwrong' is still there ,it isn't any less.
I commend you for being considerate, but at the same token motorist ought to be the same towards you, but we know that is a rare thing.
I don't know your part of the world , except in passing through or how busy it is in your area, I would say just ride, you have the perfect right to be there.
Maybe A. Twiddler of this parish will be along ,he is in Cheshire, that's not Lancashire ,but it's not far away.

What I will say is , different models of recumbents have there own Characteristics, they will all ride differently, none will share riding characteristics the same way Upwrongs do, there are so many differing ways of building them, outwardly you may think one brand would ride much the same as a similar one, but I believe with recumbents, you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find one that suits you.

 

[a.twiddler]

If the road is narrow country road, it really shouldn't be a commuter route, but motorist will be motorist.
Same can be said about solo recumbents and trike recumbents, if you have bags on a solo recumbent, you are just the same width as trike recumbent, the risk is still the same, a close pass on a solo recumbent or ' Upwrong' is still there ,it isn't any less.
I commend you for being considerate, but at the same token motorist ought to be the same towards you, but we know that is a rare thing.
I don't know your part of the world , except in passing through or how busy it is in your area, I would say just ride, you have the perfect right to be there.
Maybe A. Twiddler of this parish will be along ,he is in Cheshire, that's not Lancashire ,but it's not far away.

What I will say is , different models of recumbents have there own Characteristics, they will all ride differently, none will share riding characteristics the same way Upwrongs do, there are so many differing ways of building them, outwardly you may think one brand would ride much the same as a similar one, but I believe with recumbents, you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find one that suits you.

I'm inclined to agree with @grldtnr: the more I find out about recumbent bikes the more I realise how lucky I was to stumble across my LWB Linear. It was adaptable enough to be able to fit me, and to be able to be altered (bodged!) to get it the way I wanted. If you are of average height (which is something I can only dream about) it will be easier, or less hard, to find The One that does the job. I have looked at a few bikes since I started this recumbent lark with a view to finding one that combines the virtues of the Linear with a bit more handiness and transportability but haven't quite got there yet. It's surprisingly versatile. It even does mild off road quite well. For commuting in heavy traffic, it might do the job but it wouldn't be enjoyable on a regular basis. The only thing that I can say is that on any recumbent, with two or three wheels, you will be given loads of room, but you won't be able to nip through gaps in traffic the way you would on an upright bike. It's actually an inch or two wider across the handlebars than my delta trike, as well as being 88" long. Together with under seat steering it wouldn't appeal to everyone. For me, for longer trips especially, it's great.

I'm evaluating a HP Velotechnik Spirit at the moment which has many attributes which might make it a useful urban recumbent -easy to get on and off, easy to get your feet down, over seat steering, etc. There are probably many recumbents out there that would do equally well. I'm no expert, and there are many frogs that remain unkissed.

Other than finding a bargain on ebay and taking a chance that it might suit (it worked with the Linear, didn't work with a Dawes Lowrider which I ended up selling), I could have saved a lot of aggravation by making an appointment to visit Kevin at D.TEK in Little Thetford, Cambs on one of his open days and tried several different recumbents. It might involve an overnight stay from Lancs but feedback from others suggests it might be worth it. He contributes to this forum occasionally as @MrMagoo. I hope that he wouldn't mind me putting business contact details here -D.TEK Recumbents 01353 648177 and Email :- dtekhpvs@btconnect.com. You might have to be persistent. He's sometimes hard to get hold of.

Hope that helps.

 

[grldtnr]

I'm inclined to agree with @grldtnr: the more I find out about recumbent bikes the more I realise how lucky I was to stumble across my LWB Linear. It was adaptable enough to be able to fit me, and to be able to be altered (bodged!) to get it the way I wanted. If you are of average height (which is something I can only dream about) it will be easier, or less hard, to find The One that does the job. I have looked at a few bikes since I started this recumbent lark with a view to finding one that combines the virtues of the Linear with a bit more handiness and transportability but haven't quite got there yet. It's surprisingly versatile. It even does mild off road quite well. For commuting in heavy traffic, it might do the job but it wouldn't be enjoyable on a regular basis. The only thing that I can say is that on any recumbent, with two or three wheels, you will be given loads of room, but you won't be able to nip through gaps in traffic the way you would on an upright bike. It's actually an inch or two wider across the handlebars than my delta trike, as well as being 88" long. Together with under seat steering it wouldn't appeal to everyone. For me, for longer trips especially, it's great.

I'm evaluating a HP Velotechnik Spirit at the moment which has many attributes which might make it a useful urban recumbent -easy to get on and off, easy to get your feet down, over seat steering, etc. There are probably many recumbents out there that would do equally well. I'm no expert, and there are many frogs that remain unkissed.

Other than finding a bargain on ebay and taking a chance that it might suit (it worked with the Linear, didn't work with a Dawes Lowrider which I ended up selling), I could have saved a lot of aggravation by making an appointment to visit Kevin at D.TEK in Little Thetford, Cambs on one of his open days and tried several different recumbents. It might involve an overnight stay from Lancs but feedback from others sug street machinegests it might be worth it. He contributes to this forum occasionally as @MrMagoo. I hope that he wouldn't mind me putting business contact details here -D.TEK Recumbents 01353 648177 and Email :- dtekhpvs@btconnect.com. You might have to be persistent. He's sometimes hard to get hold of.

Hope that helps.

Kevin at D.tek is notoriously hard to contact, he prefers phone contact, but far easier to try by e-mail then phone on a given date.
I think the Velotek street machine is a good starter, I nearly bought one, but it had tiller steering, I prefer underneath steering, I prefer my trike even more !
Mid length recumbents are nifty enough, I did try a Bachetta 'stick' which was handy enough , but I was looking for the trike at the time.
bike 'e' with the small wheels were easy to ride but as a serious commuter I have my doubts.
If in Lancashire ,I think there's a dealer in 'odd' bikes in Preston, I can't recall the name off hand , but theres a pointer👉.
I'd say, don't fret about it ,on a recumbent you will be given loads of room, just get out there and ride what you have, if it's regular commute , you will soon build fitness, if you are on a trike, it might be a benefit in risky weather, I ride on some busy roads sometimes i don't recommend it, but i do feel a damn sight safer on the trike, fit a flag, have mirrors on both bar ends, make yourself as conspicuous as possible, you will be given room, you may be cursed at by others, but you will be definitely noticed.

Go for it

 

[Time Waster]

I got my Streetmachine gt (original version in steel) secondhand from a nice guy in Glasgow who I think bought new from Kinetic up there. I bought it in March for a July or August family tour in Brittany, France. So I had only a short time to get the hang of it.

The only way I could get miles in was commuting 7 miles each way into lancaster. If I left early or on time I went through Torrisholme lights before traffic built up. If not I was sat in traffic right up the A6. There was no chance of me nipping past cars like a motorbike or a commuter in an upright bike. I often resorted to getting off and pushing it along the pavement until I could get back into traffic and across the junction.

It was not a great commuter, being a touring bike at heart.

Near me now there's an old guy with an eTrike. ICE model I think. Goes all over locally Carnforth to Kendal area I reckon. He said he couldn't do that without a motor on a bent but I think he had only just given up on doing that on an upright bicycle.

I guess if you're close to this neck of the woods you could try my SMGT if you want. It's set up for my 6'5" frame, well more like a bit shorter really, but I reckon it could be made to work for a normal height person. Let me know.

BTW Arnside and Sikcerdale AONB has some hills too. Perhaps a coastal version of the ribble valley for roads and hills? I used to live in Mellor so the RV was my patch for cycling once. Used to ride out to the centre of the UK and back in the morning then perhaps visit Whalley in the afternoon in my school holidays.

 

[oldwheels]

I tried a Linear long WB a long time ago at a shop in Duns just north of the Scottish border. It was immediately easy to cycle and I liked the under seat steering.
I regret not buying one then but I was put off by the small front wheel as I thought there could be difficulty getting tyres since mail order was not so easy in those days.
The cost new at that time was about £800 which I could have afforded and my wife even approved but I let it go to my regret ever since.
Now on 3 wheels as I would probably fall off a two wheeler but I sometimes wonder if it could be easier on a recumbent two wheels and more stable than an upright. There are none handy near where I live to try unfortunately.
Any thoughts on that?

 

[grldtnr]

I tried a Linear long WB a long time ago at a shop in Duns just north of the Scottish border. It was immediately easy to cycle and I liked the under seat steering.
I regret not buying one then but I was put off by the small front wheel as I thought there could be difficulty getting tyres since mail order was not so easy in those days.
The cost new at that time was about £800 which I could have afforded and my wife even approved but I let it go to my regret ever since.
Now on 3 wheels as I would probably fall off a two wheeler but I sometimes wonder if it could be easier on a recumbent two wheels and more stable than an upright. There are none handy near where I live to try unfortunately.
Any thoughts on that?

Where would that be? There are some recumbent dealers about, York I believe.you may find one in the University towns, recumbent dealers are dotted around, but not overly popular.
I:f day keep an eye out on the private sales, eBay, Gumtree and the like, ask to try out. Be churlish of the seller not to let you, but it's understandable.
You may want to try the Netherlands. , especially one of the specialist over there, one or two do hire out, discounting the hire fee should you buy. Plus it's a very good environment to try one.

I am looking to do that myself, I'd like to try a 2 wheeler, a mid racer would be a nice addition to my fleet, tho' I doubt I will be buying any more bikes any time soon ,
Running out of pocket money !

 

[oldwheels]

Where would that be? There are some recumbent dealers about, York I believe.you may find one in the University towns, recumbent dealers are dotted around, but not overly popular.
I:f day keep an eye out on the private sales, eBay, Gumtree and the like, ask to try out. Be churlish of the seller not to let you, but it's understandable.
You may want to try the Netherlands. , especially one of the specialist over there, one or two do hire out, discounting the hire fee should you buy. Plus it's a very good environment to try one.

I am looking to do that myself, I'd like to try a 2 wheeler, a mid racer would be a nice addition to my fleet, tho' I doubt I will be buying any more bikes any time soon ,
Running out of pocket money !

Thanks for the reply.
I live on an offshore Scottish island so not exactly handy for dealers or indeed any sellers.
There is one recumbent bike rider lives near Oban but since I have only seen him when driving past on a busy road I have not been able to make contact yet. I am only in that area about once a month so opportunities are limited.
My trikes I got the ICE HD direct from Kinetics in Glasgow and the other Kettwiessel indirectly through him from a private seller in Yorkshire.
Not sure of his present stock recumbents as I avoid Glasgow nowadays but may have to make the effort when weather improves.
Since I cycle mostly in an area of narrow singletrack roads and also use forest tracks I feel that two wheels may be easier than three.
Balance problems whether real or imagined put me on a trike but I would like to try changing back.

 

[grldtnr]

Ah ,yes the Highlands & Islands is a tad remote, but the upside , percieved to be good cycling , in so much of little traffic.
I thought there was z recumbent dealer in Edinburgh, but I a m probably wrong!
Just getting to a recumbent dealer is problemactic, even normal shopping is an excursion for you, but I reckon a trip to the Netherlandsay be very fruitfull.
Given your local terre, I don't think forest roads present that much of a problem for a trike, but I guess it depends how foresty those firetracks are, I dontvhave much og a probkem going off road with my trike, even loaded,as shown in my meme.

 

[Scoosh]

I thought there was z recumbent dealer in Edinburgh, ...

Indeed there is – the friendly and very helpful Dave Gardiner at Laid Back Bikes.
Highly recommended by everyone who has had dealings with him.

He's doing a lot of cargo bikes too these days.

 

[grldtnr]

Indeed there is – the friendly and very helpful Dave Gardiner at Laid Back Bikes.
Highly recommended by everyone who has had dealings with him.

He's doing a lot of cargo bikes too these days.

I believe he is an agent for Azub, the brand I ended up with. Azub ,actually build their own frames, rather than outsource from the far east. They also try to source as many European parts as possible.
Something I took onboard, rather than the likes of ICE & HP Velo, they only assemble., i'd rather biy a hand built then assembled bike.

 

[oldwheels]

Ah ,yes the Highlands & Islands is a tad remote, but the upside , percieved to be good cycling , in so much of little traffic.
I thought there was z recumbent dealer in Edinburgh, but I a m probably wrong!
Just getting to a recumbent dealer is problemactic, even normal shopping is an excursion for you, but I reckon a trip to the Netherlandsay be very fruitfull.
Given your local terre, I don't think forest roads present that much of a problem for a trike, but I guess it depends how foresty those firetracks are, I dontvhave much og a probkem going off road with my trike, even loaded,as shown in my meme.

There is indeed a dealer in Edinburgh but that is less accessible to me nowadays than Glasgow. Some people seem to have problems dealing with Kinetics in Glasgow but I have always found him helpful.

Do not be misled by the perceived traffic volume. The roads around here are getting to the stage particularly in summer where I hesitate to take the trike out. It all depends on where you live of course and what you see as quiet in comparison is different from my idea of quiet.
I find that visits to the Oban area are easier than on the island for the trike. As I mentioned earlier there is a recumbent rider lives in Dunbeg near Oban but I have not been able to track him down so far.
Forest roads vary and some have recently been upgraded but the surface is designed for 44tonne trucks and are real boneshakers for a trike even with full suspension as my Kettwiessel has.

 

[Time Waster]

There is indeed a dealer in Edinburgh but that is less accessible to me nowadays than Glasgow. Some people seem to have problems dealing with Kinetics in Glasgow but I have always found him helpful.

Do not be misled by the perceived traffic volume. The roads around here are getting to the stage particularly in summer where I hesitate to take the trike out. It all depends on where you live of course and what you see as quiet in comparison is different from my idea of quiet.
I find that visits to the Oban area are easier than on the island for the trike. As I mentioned earlier there is a recumbent rider lives in Dunbeg near Oban but I have not been able to track him down so far.
Forest roads vary and some have recently been upgraded but the surface is designed for 44tonne trucks and are real boneshakers for a trike even with full suspension as my Kettwiessel has.

We found Mull to be busy. Two adults one 3.5 year old on a bike seat touring and camping. Going from the main ferry straight up to Tobermory (Balamory) was a nightmare at times. When the ferry came in to the halfway point to T the roads became sketchy with very dodgy drivers behaving like maniacs. A lot of big, new pickups when we were there too. Not nice being overtaken the way they did it.

I think the islands often have one or two main, connecting roads and a few minor ones. You end up having to use the main roads but the traffic isn't that quiet. Certainly quieter on mainland where you can often choose alternative routes. Just our experience.