My dear chap, the comparison is entirely valid as it relates as much to tyre dimension, wheelbase, seat height, frontal area and ride height as it does to any mechanical power source.
It is a matter of the proponents of one mechanical solution feeling they ought to be able to use their machinery of choice in a competition run by the proponents of another.
And I take it you are jesting in your last point... Of course there is such a thing as a proper bicycle. I ride one. I believe Bradley, Cadel, Andre, Thor and Fabian ride them too.
I hope your wish for every major manufacturer to build and sell recumbents comes to be. It is a good and noble wish. I might even buy one myself.
Meanwhile the Tour, the Giro, the Vuelta and sundry other races will continue to be ridden on proper bicycles.
i wathced that thing a while ago. funny. and i did fly over the bars before when the carrier bag i was holding got sucked into my front wheel. lucky it was uphill and landed on my arms and knees.
