Recumbent help!!

[Trickieshep]

In March I bought my first proper road bike after many years MTBing.
To be honest I could not believe how much more I got for my effort. In May both my son and I went to watch the TT races in the Isle of Man where we averaged 60 miles a day for our 5 day stay.
Since then my son has been trying to convince me to have a go at the End to End in May next year.
Now here is my problem, after about 30 miles I start to suffer with numb palms and fingers, aching wrists and a painful lower back.

After reading all manner of articles on recumbents I am considering a change. But I have a number of concerns.
1. Safety - I live/cycle in a rather busy area and am wary about sitting at hubcap level.
2. Terrain - We live in a valley so where ever I go from home I have some serious climbs to face, am I going to be snails pacing up hill.
3. Cost - By heck! these recumbents are expensive. Is their a secret web site where second hand bikes are sold?
4. Comfort - If i do decide to have a go at the End to End, we will be aiming at an average 120 miles a day. Is a recumbent something I will be able to manage that sort of mileage on without feeling crippled.

 

[ufkacbln]

In March I bought my first proper road bike after many years MTBing.
To be honest I could not believe how much more I got for my effort. In May both my son and I went to watch the TT races in the Isle of Man where we averaged 60 miles a day for our 5 day stay.
Since then my son has been trying to convince me to have a go at the End to End in May next year.
Now here is my problem, after about 30 miles I start to suffer with numb palms and fingers, aching wrists and a painful lower back.

After reading all manner of articles on recumbents I am considering a change. But I have a number of concerns.
1. Safety - I live/cycle in a rather busy area and am wary about sitting at hubcap level.

This is a myth, there is no safety isue, recumbents are as visible as other bikes, and anecdotal evidence is that you get more room form other vehicles

2. Terrain - We live in a valley so where ever I go from home I have some serious climbs to face, am I going to be snails pacing up hill.

... and faster going down.

It is an acquired skill, but a low gear will get you up with no issues

3. Cost - By heck! these recumbents are expensive. Is their a secret web site where second hand bikes are sold?

A number of sites including here, EBay, Velovision, BHPC and others

As to price, equate it with a high spec limited production mountain bike or road bike and it is not all that different

4. Comfort - If i do decide to have a go at the End to End, we will be aiming at an average 120 miles a day. Is a recumbent something I will be able to manage that sort of mileage on without feeling crippled.

NO saddle soreness, no neck, back or arm strain .... far more manageable.

Legs though are legs and will suffer the same as on an ordinary bike

 

[cyberknight]

Have you considered a bike fit session before going recumbant ?
It might be a £100 or so depending on what and where but it could potentially sort out underlying issues with bike fit/ body issues and be cheaper than a new bike.
The symptoms all sound to me like you have your bars either to low or to far forward or to higher a saddle but there are many variants to it so best get checked properly.

 

[Trickieshep]

Thanks for the replies.

I had a bike fit when I bought my road bike, after 52 yrs I think it is more wear and tear.

 

[Ganymede]

I bought a recumbent to get round neck and shoulder issues. It is SO comfy to ride, but it does take work uphill. You get used to it and my muscles have built in response. I do ride a hybrid as well and I've found there are some hills which have defeated me which I could get up on the hybrid but they are quite extreme gradients.

Riding a 'bent is to be an object of curiosity - you actually get noticed a lot more and you get a lot of friendly interest. I should say, mine is more of a semi-'bent - less low down. It's an HPVeloteknik Spirit http://www.hpvelotechnik.com/produkte/spirit/index_e.html so it's not a REAL 'bent!

 

[cyberknight]

Thanks for the replies.

I had a bike fit when I bought my road bike, after 52 yrs I think it is more wear and tear.

Club ride leader for steady group was 70 a few weeks ago , was your fit a retul fit ?
As you say it could be wear and tear ( im 46 and still ok ) so a recumbant could be the way to go , or try a more upright position 1st ?
EDIT
If i had the money and the space i would go recumbent tomorrow as i think their cool

 

[Tigerbiten]

If you can get down to Little Thetford ( near Ely) then get in contact with Kevin at D-Tek.
You can spend a morning trying out a variety of recumbents.

 

[Ganymede]

If you can get down to Little Thetford ( near Ely) then get in contact with Kevin at D-Tek.
You can spend a morning trying out a variety of recumbents.

I quite fancy that myself. I've never tried out the sportier ones and mine is hard to manhandle around - eg getting it up over the bridge at the station is hell because it's heavy but also wiggles in different places from a normal bike. That's the main reservation I have about it, but my bike's 10 years old and I think there must be better ones about - I mean the current Spirit (in my link) looks better than the old model I have.

 

[classic33]

I've ridden mine into & through Manchester City Centre with no problems, with regards being seen or at "hubcap height".
You will get noticed, no worries on that side of things.
I've done a few transpennine trips on it with few worries. It will be slower going uphill. But as pointed out, quicker down.

Downside I suppose you don't get to see as much over hedges in open country.

 

[byegad]

Yes. Low is safe as drivers are not familiar with recumbents so give them a very wide berth. How many times in a trip through a town do you get waved out of junctions by motorists? I get this every time I ride through one of our local towns.

Cost.
DTek in Cambridgeshire do hire and sales and always have large stocks of used 'bents. Well worth contacting Kevin who owns it although he's often on the road delivering or picking up second hand or new 'bents so it may take a while to contact him to arrange a visit. His prices are realistic.

Hills. As most recumbents are a little heavier than equivalent DFs you will need a wider range of gearing to get up big hills and you will climb that bit slower. For me this is more than made up for by the comfort and speed into a wind and also down hill! All three of my trikes have now hit or exceeded 50mph down one of our local hills. I did own a recumbent bike and that exceeded 50mph too!

Hope this helps.

 

[ufkacbln]

... and don't forget to budget for a toothbrush

Recumbent riders (especially on trikes) sepend so much time grinning they need to remove the flies from their teeth more often then upright riders