| A recumbent is a bicycle which has an altered | | | | choice for your next bike purchase. |
| appearance compared to what most people know | | | | The disadvantages of a recumbent are that they |
| as a bicycle. The overall body frame is slung lower | | | | are not massively produced and sold at discount |
| than traditional style bicycles, with the seat set | | | | stores. Rather they are a specialty bicycle that |
| toward the back of the bike. Steering for the | | | | must be fitted to the rider. Some models are |
| recumbent bicycle can differ with the | | | | made for people of a certain height, so |
| manufacturer, but is usually set either right above | | | | adjustments in length and wheel sizes may need |
| the seat, or directly below it. | | | | to be made. Of course, the type of recumbent |
| With the steering above the seat, the recumbent | | | | you get could be determined by health factors |
| bicycle rather resembles a laid back chopper style | | | | such as obesity and circulation problems. People |
| bike. The under the seat steering recumbent | | | | who are overweight or have circulation problems |
| bicycles have the handles right below the bottom | | | | would need to go for the long wheel base |
| of the rider. To access the steering, the rider | | | | recumbent bicycle. |
| needs only relax the arms and grasp the handle | | | | Because recumbents are not massively produced, |
| bars. The under the seat steering takes just a bit | | | | and differ in production materials they tend to run |
| to get used to, but once you've ridden a short | | | | much higher in price than regular bikes. Depending |
| distance it feels quite relaxing. | | | | on the type and manufacturing materials, |
| Some of the advantages of the recumbent | | | | recumbent bicycles run from $500 to $2000. |
| bicycle is that with the seat positioned as it is, the | | | | Of course if you're looking to get something really |
| rider gets to use the back of the seat to push | | | | out of the mainstream, you can also get a |
| against is need be, giving the legs more thrusting | | | | recumbent tricycle. There are two models, the |
| power. The overall positioning of the rider's body | | | | tadpole and the delta. One has two wheels |
| is also much more relaxing than traditional bicycles, | | | | positioned in the front, (tadpole) and the other |
| as it is in a reclined state. Recumbents also sport | | | | model has two wheels in the rear (delta). These |
| a seat which is much wider than regular bikes, and | | | | tricycles tend to remain much more stable at |
| seem more like a posh office chair than bike seat. | | | | higher speeds than their two wheeled |
| Add the fact that the recumbent bicycle causes | | | | counterparts. Recumbent tricycles are usually |
| very little stress on the legs, arms and lower | | | | slower than two wheeled recumbents. |
| back and you can see why it could be a nice | | | | . |