Unfit wants advice for bent riding

[Me68gan]

hi there
I am seriously thinking of buying a trike recumbent.
well, in fact, also my partner & son plus we want to possibly tour Europe on them.
I really want to do it ......
But I have some concerns.
I am 46 and overweight (80ish kg).
I am unfit (hence weak legs) & my feet aren't in the best shape (one arthritic big toe metatarsal & possible plantar fasciitis). After Walking 5-10 km my feet really hurt.

1: Is it impossible to take up bent riding from this state of physical decline?
2: Has anyone else done so starting from a similar 'unfit' point?
3: I am curious to find out from you how long/difficult it was for you to build up fitness and distances you were able to cover?
4: any suggestions with respect to the feet?


Thanks in advance.

 

[ufkacbln]

Anything is possible.

My wife had many similar issues, and we settled on an "E-trike"

Allows support when you need it

 

[Ganymede]

Hi there and welcome to the forum!

You need a slightly different set of muscles for riding a recumbent (or "'bent"). I don't ride a trike - just a 2-wheeler semi-'bent - having always ridden normal hybrid-style bikes, and the main shock was not being able to stand up on the pedals, so you can't get out of the saddle going uphill. However, it occurs to me that although this means you need a bit more "push" from the core and the legs going uphill, it does mean that you do not have your weight on your feet, which might help with the foot problems.

You don't say where you are, but there are a few places around where you can go and have a try and get some excellent advice - there's a place in Bristol, one in Ely and one in Lambs' Conduit Street in London (Bikefix). I think one in Glasgow too. I'm sure some people will be along to this thread to advise (although it's a fine weekend - they might all be out! - so try again on Monday!).

There's also people like this: http://www.wheelsforwellbeing.org.uk/ who know a lot about getting round physical problems - there's some useful links here: http://www.ctc.org.uk/ride/inclusive-cycling (it's quite geared towards people who are actually disabled but lots of useful stuff) - these people in the SW help all ranges of ability: http://www.betterbybike.info/allabilities - have a google and you will find more I'm sure.

The reason I like my 'bent is because I have a lot of trouble with tension and pain in my shoulders and neck, due to a hereditary positioning of the bones and probably previous bad posture.

Use the "search" function at the top right to rummage round this forum, there are many threads on this sort of thing and you will see which members know most!

 

[jack smith]

Overweight.. Wish i was 80 odd kilo lol! How tall are you for that to be classed as overweight?

 

[ufkacbln]

London Recumbents are another option.

They have an advantage of being in Dulwich Park which allows a safe environment to try and assess a trike.

They also have a much deeper knowledge of adaptations and modifications

All in all I found it a far more rewarding experience

When I bough the Kettwiesel I spent about two hours putting it through its paces and discussing options with Oliver

 

[Me68gan]

Overweight.. Wish i was 80 odd kilo lol! How tall are you for that to be classed as overweight?

5 ft 5

 

[Me68gan]

Thank you
That's very helpful .....I try to look around those sites.

Where are we......right now we're travelling Israel but will be landing somewhere in Europe or the UK at the end of Jan.
Not sure where yet though......we are on a world trip

 

[jack smith]

I guess im 5,11 and 95 still wouldnt put yourself down as overweight though

 

[Me68gan]

I guess im 5,11 and 95 still wouldnt put yourself down as overweight though

Thanks but I am..... Weight affects my feet when walking mainly coz I have high arches and the weight is too much pressure on the balls of feet & heels....if that makes sense.
I am worried that the pressure of pushing on recumbent pedals will also be too much for my feet.
I guess I was hoping to find out that the opposite was true before I take the big leap & buy one.

Also a bit worried about lack of leg strength but I guess this builds up

 

[Ganymede]

5 ft 5

I guess im 5,11 and 95 still wouldnt put yourself down as overweight though

I think it's about personal perception - also you can be heavy if you have a lot of muscle. Me68gan, you might find you don't lose much weight to begin with but you will be converting fat to muscle, so it's not only about weight. It's also about how comfortable you feel at whatever weight you are, and how fit you feel. You can be a bit overweight and feel fit, and you can be a good weight but really unhealthy. And it can be different for men and women too, I think.

 

[steveindenmark]

Here is a big tip.

Try before you buy. Recumbent trikes are not cheap and not everyone gets along with recumbents.

 

[Ganymede]

Calling @mickle - he knows a bit about this sorta thing I think...

 

[mickle]

Yo! I'll respond properly when I'm at a keyboard instead of this piddly phone.

 

[mickle]

hi there
I am seriously thinking of buying a trike recumbent.
well, in fact, also my partner & son plus we want to possibly tour Europe on them.
I really want to do it ......
But I have some concerns.
I am 46 and overweight (80ish kg).
I am unfit (hence weak legs) & my feet aren't in the best shape (one arthritic big toe metatarsal & possible plantar fasciitis). After Walking 5-10 km my feet really hurt.

1: Is it impossible to take up bent riding from this state of physical decline?
2: Has anyone else done so starting from a similar 'unfit' point?
3: I am curious to find out from you how long/difficult it was for you to build up fitness and distances you were able to cover?
4: any suggestions with respect to the feet?


Thanks in advance.

Hello, I am employed as an expert in such matters.

1: Is it impossible to take up bent riding from this state of physical decline?
Nope! Far from it.
2: Has anyone else done so starting from a similar 'unfit' point?
Yup! Absolutely.
3: I am curious to find out from you how long/difficult it was for you to build up fitness and distances you were able to cover?
It's difficult to put an accurate number on it but it's widely accepted that after about three weeks of regular cycling people notice a marked improvement in their physical fitness. Obviously the more you do the greater the fitness improvement - and it's worth remembering during those first few hundred miles that, even if it feels totally knackering to begin with, your body is responding to the extra demands being placed upon it. You are getting fitter even if it doesn't feel like it at first.
4: any suggestions with respect to the feet?
Get to grips with how the gears work so that you can shift with confidence. This will allow you to learn to 'spin' ie: use low gears / pedal faster - doing so will substantially reduce the pressure which is transferred through your feet to the pedals. As well as reducing the load on your joints and bones spinning has many other benefits, including the promotion good cardiovascular fitness and a reduction of load on the transmission. Spinning makes changing gear easier and quicker.
Use a set of pedals which works best with your chosen footwear. Dedicated cycling shoes are narrow and stiff and they could help to reduce the pain in your feet. Touring/leisure shoes (can be used with clip-in pedals or without - but whether to clip in or not is a whole other conversation) can be walked in fairly comfortably. A decent shop will allow you to try some different pedal styles until you find a pair you get on with.
The degree of 'recumbentness' of your chosen trike may have a bearing on which pedals you choose.


We just became a HASE dealer and sold our first one of these:

Very posh indeed - we also offer cheaper makes and models and even, occasionally, used ones.