Add a mid drive power assist kit to a recumbent with a small 48V 20ah battery pack using the assist only to keep up with the fastest upright rider in the pack when climbing hills and the recumbent will rule for 100 miles or more. Since age has crept in, I've had to resort to treachery. lol
eZee offers 19Ah as default on most of their bikes, and have better features compared to similar priced bicycles. They also have 28Ah and 34Ah upgrade options. Very popular here in Auckland, New Zealand. On most of their bikes since they have existed since 2001, they have used the same battery and mounting formfactor. So very backwards compatible.
I've ridden bents for over a decade and I've seen some very strong bent riders who get smoked by equally fast road bike riders on steep climbs. And just like the video shows, bents scream downhill. Bent riders are faster downhill, in headwind, and crosswind due to better aerodynamics. Bents eat up road bikes in ultra events like 24 hour TT's and multi-day events because you can ride all day with little fatigue from riding position or saddle. Bents can hold their own in rolling hills like the video shows by 'seesawing' back and forth with screaming descents and crawling climbs. So yes, bents can't climb. That's why many, if not most performance bents have triple chain rings. So what? You'll never see me on anything but a bent!
There are 'bent riders who smoke the prostrate riders up or down hills, some videos like that here on youtube. I've since moved on into recumbent trikes, these bikes are more fun than sex! Down hill they smoke regular 'bents. Its why I got one, some kind on a trike screamed past me as we were both going down hill, I tried like hell to catch him and never could. I gotta get ONE OF THOSE, and so I did ;-)
a recumbent trike is slower than a normal recumbent as it has 3 wheels and is heavier. a good lowrider bent like a raptobike is the fastest (non faired) human powered machine and likely faster than even a tt bike. however even a racing trike such as catrike 700 is unlikely to be faster than a normal good road bike with similar rider. i fully agree that some recumben riders are equal to good roadies uphill and recumbents would also generally be as good uphill IF they were the same weight, and IF the road cyclist cant cheat by standing up. overall, id say the raptobikes are superior to all diamond frames on anything but very hilly terrain where aero is not a factor, and trikes CAN be nearly the equal to road bikes, but are generally the most disadvantaged of the 3 types, with BIG disadvantages againts lowrider bents like the raptobike lowrider.
Since my last comments, I sold my recumbent Burley Hepcat and got a Catrike recumbent tricycle. The reason I did was 2 summers ago I was riding my Hepcat home from the farm roads I love to cruise on and this KID on a recumbent trike passed me on a downhill section like I was standing still! I thought, oh ha ha, I'll catch his ass on the uphill section and man was I ever wrong, he kept speeding up the hill and was lost to sight. I only saw him again when he turned around to go home and then he made this U turn on a freaking DIME! So, I had the opportunity to try out a first class road trike, when it arrived on the truck in a giant cardboard box, already set up to ride, except for boom adjustment, it was instant LOVE first 20 feet of road travel. I road that thing all summer long, everywhere. I put a car horn on it which saved my butt many times, and ultrabright annoying headlight and tail lights. To my astonishment my uphill speed gained about 4-5 MPH, and hills I dreaded became relatively easy to accomplish and my downhill speeds, with total stability just blew me away. The wheels are all 20 inches and the bike is super low to the ground so much less wind resistance. Super comfortable, I never have to unclip my bike shoes at stop signs anymore either. Am wishing I had done this years ago, but always thought they were just too weird, but these days are rapidly becoming very popular with young and old (like me).
+Michael McGill I got the Catrike Road, it has rear suspension which smoothes out the roads some. Trikes are incredibly fun to ride, wish I had discovered them years ago.
Nice! Thanks :) The only thing that bothers me about doing road trips on a trike is being so low to the ground it seems difficult to view scenery, like seeing over bushes and road guard rails.
I had a trike that I rode for several years while working away from home in a small community. I enjoyed it and rode it constantly. Use to pedal up to the top of the pass and roar back down the grade. My retirement plans were to ride it from the Oregon coast home to Montana. I had it hooked up to a Bob style trailer and panniers on the rear. But as I moved my temporary house hold belonging back to Montana along the Trans America route it was rather obvious that many of the road stretches were more sketchy for a trike than I wanted to chance my life on, e.g. the hundred mile stretch between Kooskia, ID and Lolo, MT. I took a regular bike instead. When I got back to MT I just couldn't fathom riding the roads from our home into town, Bozeman. As much as I liked the trike, I personally prefer the narrow and high visibility of my Surly Disc Trucker.
For me, it's all about personal preference. I ride an upright and a recumbent trike. The trike is much more comfortable all around, slows down a lot going up hills, is plenty fast on the flats and downhills. The upright is road bike style with a straight handlebar and modified seat. I had to go with a special seat that has no horn to keep from wrecking my man parts. The upright is still uncomfortable on long rides.......no way even my "improved" version is gonna match the trike for comfort. So, why do I even ride the upright? I am more of a hiker than a biker. With the upright, I can see the scenery similar to the way I see it while walking. And, unlike most folks, I like to get off and walk the upright on steep hills. I can't do that with my trike. Anyway, as you can see, I have the best of both worlds.
Front wheel drive recumbents with "moving bottom bracket" (straight short chain) can help fill the gap between upright bikes and recumbents, cause less power gets lost along the transmission. Also, angles between torso and legs are relevant and can change the balance between climbing performance and aerodynamics; there isn't one only way to ride in recumbent position, but the average speed usually is better (just like you pointed out in the video)
Hi BTRflorida - I really think this is a great video which well demonstrates the power, efficiency and weak point of a tadpole trike. An electric assist would be the ultimate combination. This video has got me pumped up for a trike. Thank you for your presentation.
A few things to consider: 1 - You can never stand on your pedals 2 - You have at least 50% increased rolling resistance 3 - Breathing on a recumbent is not as efficient - due to not being able to stand up 4 - Although lower to the ground, your width profile is twice that of a roadie It's all about mass momentum. If you are fit and road a trike then a road bike, you would find that you would smoke the roadies all day long. Nice bell! Bing....
i agree. watch 'why old people ride trikes'. yes, there is clearly no speed advantage at all. the catrike is not overtaking those roadies like a missile
The bottom line is ride 50 miles then try to have sex. Recumbent riders will steal your wife every time, while the upwrong riders will be chugging Viagra energy drinks ;-)
@Gaj most mindless homo sap meat package survival machine sperm receptacles like the little car wankers best. peacocking the ability to ruthlessly raid the finite, but ultimately lethal fossil fuel cookie jar for short term advantage suggests endless further dopamine squirts, and might facilitate her procreation in the megacancer. very few women would forsake immediate gluttonous advantage for a suitor displaying such meagre genetic traits as zero energy transport virtue.
Why did you burn out in the flats? It would be a better test if you were with them instead of expending your energy foolishly. You would die on the hill anyways being so nutty man!
I used to do long, hilly group rides on mine and I'd find I would be overtaken on long drags by upright riders I could normally keep ahead of. But for rolling terrain still faster as you get the aero whooshing effect at the start of the rise - in fact, that was the point at which I'd usually overtake people. Could get up 1:5 and even 1:4 hills no problem.
If I was riding uphill on my recumbent and a 12 pound racing bike was offered as a trade to switch over to and the diamond frame guy got on my bent , he would be at the top of the hill before me . I am not fast on hills regardless of what I ride. Some bents and riders are far faster than others and yes they have more endurance , energy , and training than I do. Some of the really expensive carbon bikes on the hilly north shore of Vancouver are ridden by wannabe racer types and they are passed by people on old 30 pound hybrids . It depends on the rider not the machine.
Do you think a 20" wheel in the front would affect this ride differently? Rans has another bike with a 20 in the front that I think would be a better tourer maybe, but probably not as good a racer. May take hills minisculy better because of the angle, not sure.
I had a lighting once, I hated the 20 inch wheel. I got a 24 inch fork and put 24 inch wheel on it and it handle better. I would stick to a long wheel base with the larger sized wheels (both same size) Rans has a model like that
SOME recumbents can't climb, in my opinion. The P-38 has a reputation for climbing and although it climbed well, I'd get dropped on longer hills of 8% or more. On an alloy Metaphysic High Racer I got dropped but not by much. On my M5 CHR I don't get dropped.On my tadpole trikes I always got dropped - actually dropped was an understatement. Totally left behind would be a better description. The flex on trikes is 20mm or more on my diy testing method which I've applied to all my 'bents. P-38 2mm Tadpoles 20-25mm Optima Orca 10mm Optima Raptor Carbon 12mm Cruzbike Silvio, Vendetta 0mm (but handlebar flex applies to FWD MBB) M5 CHR 2mm (but the rest of the frame and seat mount are very stiff.) It is my firm belief that you can't climb efficiently on a flexing frame and I don't think it's a coincidence that I can rate the efficiency of the recumbents I've owned by their crank tube flex. You also need to take into consideration seat flex or seat cushion flex and handlebar stiffness. I'm too old to be a guide to how well the M5 can climb as I always ride with DF riders 10 years younger or more. I can't beat the best climber in our group in a fair fight, but I don't need to gap him by much prior to the climb to equal or beat him on climbs of a mile or less. No one near my age can beat me. The nearest is an ex pro, but he's taller and heavier. Also bear in mind that my M5 with tailbox, tools and a coat is 3 to 5 kg heavier than the DF bikes. So given my age, asthma and extra weight I can categorically say that for the same rider weight and power, the M5 would simply kill them climbing. The climbing issue is only there if I'm being polite and riding with the group, which is frustrating because they are so slow relative to the M5. On the flat it's just faster. On any descent it just runs away. on a 1/2 km 6% descent the M5 is 10 kph faster and on a longer descent it hits 72 kph while the DFs reach 55. In mixed terrain, the best recumbents just outpace the DFs even when they paceline. Recumbents are just a different more comfortable, faster way to ride a bike but they're also not the best choice for the Sunday peloton.
After 30 years on traditional road bikes and mountain bikes, I eventually had to convert to recumbent if were to continue to ride. No hand pressure, no sore but, no neck strain, no lower back pain. Wish I had made the switch earlier. And yes... whith group rides I am fast on flats, and really fast on descents but pay for it on the climbs.
At the end of the ride...as everyone else is walking off the pain in their butt....the recumbent guy is asking if anyone wants to ride down the street to get some ice cream. :-)
There's a warped idea from some roadies: if you are slow up hills the rider must be struggling. Must be a real fear about hills. Bents simply have to gear down. It is quite easy going up hills. And slow. All 'bents are not the same. Road bikes have practically no rolling resistance and the fast riders seem to carry only an energy bar and a water bottle. If all you want to do is race or ride fast don't buy a 'bent unless your the guy in this video. But I can't imagine multi-day touring, sitting on a fence post ever again. Bent riding may be a 70% mental adjustment from an upright bike. If all your friends have road bikes, you need to ride with another group. You can't compare the two. Like comparing horses with motorcycles.
I've ridden 'bents for 30 years now, great way to go. Now, I've switched to 'bent trikes and I am actually faster and can go up hills much faster as well. The stability of a trike is just wonderful, no more unclipping at stop signs, just laid back BLISS.
@@SDPickups the vid 'why old people ride trikes' shows clearly that trikes, or at least racing ones like the catrike 700, do have significant speed advantage over upright bikes. its almost night and day difference. theres no arguing when you have a 25 degree seat incline letting the air flow easily over your body
I just bought a recumbent. There's some different muscles getting worked and my shins get sore. I'll split my time on my bikes. Recumbents get lots of looks in the neighborhood. Mostly WTF remarks as i go by.
In most countries, stop signs are yield signs. Cyclists who roll over stop signs are only putting themselves in danger, nobody else, and very little danger at that.
***** Yeah, a cyclist only hurts himself because 200 pounds of cyclist and bike, blowing through a stop sign at 35mph, won't hurt a motorcyclist who has the right of way. Right? Riiiiiight?
I read yours, Chasing, and you're an idiot who hasn't ridden a bike in five years, ever since you turned 12 and became too cool to be seen riding a bike. If you'd like to stand in front of me while I'm approaching an intersection on my bike, you're a fool. Wear a helmet, and prepare to get whiplashed.
I live in Saskatoon Saskatchewan Canada. This small city would be the perfect place to commute on bicycle to work. Nice rolling hills with lots of flats. Unfortunately it is next to impossible to ride with the next to nill cycling infrastructure. Even taking my grandkids for a ride in residential areas is proving to be quite challenging. I watched this video because I like all the different types of ways to ride a bicycle. I especially enjoy homebuilt bikes
if i lived in canada id worry more about accidentally falling into a massive tar sands chemical waste pool. you know those things made so you can carry driving your massive suvs and pretend your massive overshoot populations are legitimate
Hi, i have found over my many years of cycling to go into the climb at a high cadence (95 - 100 now, when i was younger 100+) then as you climb keep down shifting trying to keep high cadence as long as possible. hope this helps
I vouch for this technique. I used to use slow cadence's and try to keep up momentum. It does work and it is faster or short climbs but I get exhausted quickly since it's basically like sprinting uphill in order to conserve momentum. I've recently switched from mountain biking to road cycling and Downshifting early has been the thing that impacted me the most. I went from slow hard climbs (where I had to stop midway through to catch my breath) to high cadence cycling where I'm able to go 5 times farther uphill without needing to dismount. (Though it is on an upright bike)
***** "How can a cyclist overcome drag at high speed without cumbersome farings?" "How can a cyclist maintain speed during touring/transit without sacrificing comfort or riding head-forward?" Questions all serious cyclists should ask at some point.
Theoretically, recumbent trikes should be better climbers, because you could use very (and I mean VERY) low gears. Using very low gears is impossible on a upright bicycle, because you need to ride above certain minimum speed to stay upright...
looks like either stage coach rd or pleasant grove in citrus county ...another road that looks similar is in spring hill FL and i cant remember the name of it..
BTRflorida: Have you considered installing a rotor crank? Although I've never tried one personally, they certainly seem to review well - more even power stroke with less exertion and lower heart rate. They're a bit spendy and take a while to get used to.
Ever driven on a long trip and come across a big 18 wheeler who wants to speed and go past regular traffic on the flats and down hill. Then comes the hills where all that traffic he passed catches up and passes him. You might pass or be passed by that truck 1 dozen times in an hour. How does if feel to be like that truck. Guessing you did it so to not be left behind by the group?
I would like to experience riding that kind of bike! I don't think that will work in my country though. We have steeper climbs here. My legs would probably fall off! Ride safe sir!
Hey at BTR I love this recumbents with a lot of speed downhill . I would like to know what kind of recumbent in person is riding on the film. How is the gear setup made ? I life in hilly Norway using a recumbent a model high racer from Challenge from the Netherlands. To use this bike in Norway i had to do some changes on the gear setup ! In stead the standard gear arrangement i have a front ( internal gears in oil) Schlumpf Speed line 1: 1:65 with a oval Rotor 46 T blade and at the rear a single Rohloff interne 14 gear (in oil), 700 C wheels with 23 " tires , using good idlers made from USA , steering is up down . Carbon seat made to 30 grade angle. With the long chain 2.40 m i lubricated this with a Flær system its digital half automatic :-) . Up the hill is going much better before as standard setup , down the hills its fire ring as a cannonball . Results are: Never pain in the bud , no pain in the neck or hands , improved my muscles in the back and legs , free air in my longs, no traffic problems use reflex clothes. Thanks for the video , regards M.B. Norway
hey Kim, cant wait to see the 2012HH video. As for the gopro rattle, I think it's inside the case as I have my mount secured with the white thingy and also silicon sealant and a rubber cushion isolating the mount assy and my handle and still I get the rattle and clicking.
Ability to climb at relatively low speeds where wind resistance is negligible is totally dependant on power to weight ratio. For equal weight machines with equal weight riders who have equal power output climbing speed will be equivalent whether recumbent or upright. Transmission losses are negligibly different between well designed and maintained machines and human power output varies little from position to position in an experienced and acclimatised rider. (nice overtaking on the down BTW)
Have you ridden one of these things? They seem to use different muscles, maybe there is a different technique to riding them. I have and found them crap going up but amazing coming down. In response also to Jimm can you really have better power transfer on them? I've been on many rides alongside them but never seen one going up with the 'safety' bikes. I like them but living in a hilly area decided a novelty item wasn't worth it for me personally.
I ride both types of bike regularly and on really steep climbs uprights climb significantly better. Upright bikes allow you to stand and pedal and thus put your entire body into propelling the bike forward. You can use your arms and your back as well as your legs and you can also move your torso to help keep your legs at an angle that provides maximum force. On a recumbent you are leg pressing your way to the top. Race to the top of a long steep hill on an upright and you'll be gasping for breath with a burning sensation in your muscles. Do the same on a recumbent and you'll be out of breath and your legs will be begging for mercy. The upright hits you in the lungs while the recumbent gets you in the legs. Recumbents can be faster and are way more comfortable, but they simply don't climb or negotiate obstacles as well as uprights.
Bob Gray The muscles you use are not particularly relevant for endurance effort. Your body behaves more like a fuel cell. Try making both vehicles the same weight and timing your climbs.
I got turned off to cycling because of this competition, training, getting up at 5am.🙄 Training obsessing about equipment. Now as I got older built up some touring and gravel mountain bikes and have a renewed interest. I tried a bit of touring and like the urban trails etc. Might try a bent as you call them..
True...and that's a nice time to just keep spinning,look up at the sky, take a pic of wheeling ospreys....and have a sip of water..I ride a heavy cargo trike and I sure like to tour...
@David Kling Not exactly true. My V20 is faster than my TT bike, and I'd guess that even an S40 would be faster providing the whole ride isn't climbing. Hills favor DF bikes, but the flatter the course the more it favors recumbents. Simply, it is all about aerodynamics and the faster you go the more important aerodynamics is.
@David KlingAlex from Fast Fitness Tips did a video on climbing with upright bikes, seated and standing that was really great. Basically, under 10kph it is better to stand than sit with your hands on the drops because aerodynamics is still more important than the difference in power that can be applied. Taking the improved aerodynamic difference between that test (seated with hands on the drops) and a recumbent, I would fathom that under about 8kph an upright bike is going to have the advantage over a recumbent in climbing. All other times the recumbent is going to be faster. I bought a Cruzbike V20 and now my TT bike is collecting dust.
The issue with recumbents and hills is that a standard bike allows you to stand on the pedals and "pump". This means you can get the optimum out of your leg muscles' 'power band' storing energy in your body weight and allow gravity to work in your favor as you stand on the pedal and ride the crank down. Can't do that with a recumbent.
I would guess that max power on both a DF and recumbent would result in a recumbent being about 5%-10% less than a DF, which would make it a worse climber. However, on the flats, the recumbent more than makes up for the loss in power by much improved aerodynamics. When I changed my road bike to a TT bike, I gained about about 2-3kph since my upper body was more aero, as well as taking my forearms out of the airflow. In 3 years of riding my TT bike up and down the same bike path I got quite a few Strava KOMs, as well as established my average speed. I plateaued a few months before buying my V20 recumbent, but as soon as I got my "bent" legs, I started racking up the Personal Records again, as well as taking some more KOMs that I lost, as well as taking some more that were well over 30km. This is no BS, I average about 3kph faster than my TT bike all things being equal. But the biggest difference is that I can double or even triple my best TT effort in regards to distance and still come off the V20 feeling great. 3 hours on my TT bike and I am absolutely useless afterwards.
I ride a Rans Stratus recumbent. It's good on the flat, very fast going down hills, but quite slow climbing them. Interesting math problem: Consider the example of a hill, 10% grade each side. It's 100m high, making the ascent and descent 1 km long Suppose that I am able to climb it in four minutes (average speed 15 km/h) while the upright bikes are able to climb it in three minutes (average speed 20 km/h). If the uprights average 45 km/h going down, what average speed do I need to attain on the descent in order to catch up? Answer: 180 km/h! Clearly impossible, and outright reckless if it were possible. Conclusion: In the quest for speed, it is wisest to consider the sections where the bike is at its slowest, and improve performance there. (Apologies for metric units. I can convert to feet and miles, but the numbers won't be as round, making the math harder to follow.)
I don't know if this is a joke or not. I own a velo, 2 low racers, 1 MTB and 1 road bike. The velo, with all its weight, is the fastest one unless the hill is very steep or I am tired. On 3% gradients and steep shorter hills like the video it dominates even at moderate power. At race effort? Total rape! It would fly up the hill in that video. The crest at at least 20 mph. Probably 25. Low racers and the road bike are about even, pace line? The MTB is the slowest if not the hill is 10%.
i have a catrike villager. my question is on climbing and gear changing. when coming to a climb, should i change to a gear where its harder to pedal but i get more power, or where its easy to pedal but i have little power and no speed? i have 27 speeds and have yet to find one im happy with on climbs. course im still buildin leg strength too.
I guess it really depends on the recumbent bike as well. My Haluzak Horizon does pretty good on the hills as I have a nice seat to push against. Despite having loaded panniers on each side, I still pass other cyclists on the trails.
Some of the hills I go up are 40% grade. I doubt a recumbent can keep up with me. But I want an electric one since they seem so fun. Road biking is my alternative to motorcycling. I love leaning the heck out of my road bike at 50 mph down a hill.
You might want to recheck your source or method for determining the grade of the hills you ride. You specify road biking, yet the steepest paved streets on record are less than 40% grade.
33 to 36 mph. WOW! HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO BUILD UP TO THAT KIND OF SPEED? AT THE CURRENT TIME I AM RIDING A HIGH RACER AND TOPPING OUT AT 26 MPH. I HAVE ABOUT 1000 KM ON THE YEAR AND HOPEFULLY WILL BE ABLE TO RIDE THROUGH THE WINTER MONTHS. (CANADA IS PRETTY COLD SO I AM CROSSING MY FINGERS) THANKS (GREAT VIDEO)
IE Easyracer Sun recumbent, adding to previous comment is the machine I refer to and not the Tour Easy knockoff, which is a fine bent with some flaws, I own two of the most misunderstood bikes in the world of bent's and crank forward, the Sun Easyracer climbs better than any upright I've ever rode with some gain ratio mods, it will out climb lighter bikes", Easyracer was also the first to exceed 65mph with the Goldrush displayed in Smithsonian of American history.
Most of the recumbent climbing issues is weight, the long chain, and the fact you can't stand on the pedals to boost your power. BTR is a very fast rider and most likely the average recumbent rider would have been dropped on the first few hills and would have difficulty to catch up. Depending on the group of course. Some groups will push a lot harder to purposely drop recumbents.
I'm very familiar with Thrill Hill, but I'm not at all confident that I could manage the steepest part of the climb on my M5 CHR. Fortunately steep climbs are extremely rare in Florida, otherwise I'd stick with a diamond frame bike.
Because of balance and slow reaction time issues with seniors, a recumbent trike or 4 wheeler are the only option. And steep climbs are not a viable option either. The lack of continuous pressure in the scrotum area is a major plus for recumbents.
Why were none of the DF riders pedalling on the way down? Also, were those guys really walking up because they hadn't changed down beforehand? Seriously?
well gosh. After riding recumbents for over 30 years (1984 Rans Stratus) I guess I best quit....Jeez....I wish you hadn't posted the video...sniff...sob...you just had to prove recumbents climb slower...oh wait...I CAN maintain a high speed on the flats and my butt never gets sore and my neck is fine after an all day ride! Maybe I will keep riding the rans after all...Thanks!
There are many videos of bent riders climbing hills. A triple chain ring in front, and MBB gears in back and you are all set for climbs. On a DF you can use all of your weight on the top of the pedals by standing up, and you can apply a little more torque by pulling on the opposing bar of the pedal stroke. However on a recumbent, other than simply pedaling, you can also pull on the opposing bar to create more torque on the cranks, which is quite similar to doing a leg press on a machine, but being able to use your hands for leverage as well. Now, this technique isn't easy to master, and since it is more of a power move than an endurance move, you won't be able to max out the torque for any noticeable length of time, but combined with the proper gearing, you can generate enough torque to stay moving uphill if your fitness level permits.
Check out internally geared hubs. 11-speed internal gives you more range than a cassette. You can shift at a standstill. No cross-chaining unusable gears.
Recumbents suck going uphill - and that is the name of that tune. Get a different saddle if your butt gets sore and pad the handlebars. Having used both, I prefer the upright configuration.
about the only thing this proves is that the rider was not well trained in hill climbing on a 'bent. there are quite a few people who can spin up the hill and keep with roadies... just a matter of technique and training.
and besides, recumbents are not necessarily designed for climbing. their strength comes from being in the recumbent position - more aerodynamic and sometimes better power transfer to the pedals. which is most noticeable on the flats and downhills. not the recumbent rider's fault the wedgie riders are in an inefficient riding position! :-)
Duh!....the camera vehicle and the recmbembent are one in the same. I was waiting to see the recumbent bringing up the rear. Clever way to make your point about recumbent myths, even if, some of us are a little slow in the uptake. Nice!. I'm shopping for a tadpole, but I don't expect to be leader of the pack, for some time, if ever. ;-)
Why can't ? You're just overweighted, just like the recumbent, if the recumbent is as heavy as the upright bike, of course the recumbent is the winner. My upright bike is 12 kgs, my recumbent is under development, but it won't be heavier than 20 kgs, I'm 57 kgs, I don't think that there will be much difference. You just need different gear ratios, to give more torque on the recumbent.
Just for the record. It’s pretty easy for roadies to go fast on downs if they push. They hit 120-130 kph in the TdF. Real descent times are almost always handling limited.
Very few have the resources and experience to both ride and tune a bent to it's optimum over all performance partly due to marketing and manufacturing, like other bikes, ICE is one exception and had proven concept designs that have crossed the North Pole where others failed, Easyracer has unaccepted designs on mass merchant markets that failed due to understanding the ideal by which I have personally out climbed road bikes effortlessly with this very machine weighing in at 37 pounds plus a load.
Yeh those guys walking up the hill... Wtf?! Don't get me wrong I ain't a strong climber, but I would rather get on the granny gears and pedal my way slowly to the top than walk it?
I'm sure they were just looking for an excuse to slow down and take a break. Anybody who has ridden a bike before knows how to shift gears. Just stop applying force to the pedals for a half second and downshift.
@@Bournefort Exactly. Those guys either blew their wad too quickly, or they were not in the best cycling shape. 1 dude was buff AF, but body-building is NOT cycling.
DUDE that camera noise is annoying! but i like you jet powered sound effects tho :) nice demonstration video , you were way ahead of theme and in comfort
90 percent of all your power goes to overcoming air resistance on a bicycle,a recumbent is much better and should climb faster,I would think ?.The world record is a recumbent in a full aerodynamic body at 82 mph.great video,thanks for posting.
Yes, at the end of the video he shows you the bike he was riding on. It definitely was a recumbent bike (A nice one at that) I just prefer trikes like a 700 or full suspension with a 26 inch rear wheel or bigger.
there isnt anything inherent in the design of recumbents that makes them slower uphill. in fact they should in theorybe more efficient and allow more power to the wheel because the rider can push againt the seat. but they are much heavier than a light weight road bike and the rider cannot stand up, both of which allow the upright bike to climb fast. but make the bent as light, and dont allow the upright rider to stand and they shold climb at exactly the same rate, or even with a slight advantage to the bent. here you can clearly see the recumbent is (much) faster because the climbs, even though significant, are too short to advantage the road bikers
The rider doesn't need to stand up in a recumbent, they can still get that sort of power because they prep their back up against the seat when pushing hard.
What a pointless, bigoted and completely worthless argument. I had 2 recumbents, an SWB and LWB. I had no problem climbing hills at all. It's a question of low gears and spinning at a lower speed, just like being on a conventional bike in the saddle. So, for your information, recumbents can climb hills.
Mike Emerson well it’s not quite as good as an upright. Recumbents are all heavier, have draggier drivetrains, limit your range of motion, and are less stable at low speed.
@@appa609 id imagine if you are used to the bike, recumbents can be just as stable at low speeds as upright bikes. Its all a matter of how experienced you are with the bike and how you learn to adjust your gears just like any other bike
@@taylorwalker6568 You can get quite good and I know a few people who are quite good. But there are still fundamental disadvantages. Upright bikes fall over slower because their CG's are higher. T ∝ √(L/g) You can also move your CG at rest by shifting your body whereas on a recumbent you're mostly fixed. I can't say it's definitely impossible to trackstand a recumbent but it's certainly harder.
Regardless of speed, isn't it more enjoyable to ride reclined than with a seat up your butt?
no?
The fun part is the adrenaline and hard work.
You are reclining, no adrenaline, no weight shifting, no fun.
yeah
Ok so to you cycling is 100% all about getting exercise. Fair enough. Not everyone feels the same.
very much so. but man loves to hurry with everything.
😂
I make popcorn when I ride, too.
I drink a nice cup coffee
Add a mid drive power assist kit to a recumbent with a small 48V 20ah battery pack using the assist only to keep up with the fastest upright rider in the pack when climbing hills and the recumbent will rule for 100 miles or more. Since age has crept in, I've had to resort to treachery. lol
eZee offers 19Ah as default on most of their bikes, and have better features compared to similar priced bicycles. They also have 28Ah and 34Ah upgrade options. Very popular here in Auckland, New Zealand. On most of their bikes since they have existed since 2001, they have used the same battery and mounting formfactor. So very backwards compatible.
I've ridden bents for over a decade and I've seen some very strong bent riders who get smoked by equally fast road bike riders on steep climbs. And just like the video shows, bents scream downhill. Bent riders are faster downhill, in headwind, and crosswind due to better aerodynamics. Bents eat up road bikes in ultra events like 24 hour TT's and multi-day events because you can ride all day with little fatigue from riding position or saddle. Bents can hold their own in rolling hills like the video shows by 'seesawing' back and forth with screaming descents and crawling climbs. So yes, bents can't climb. That's why many, if not most performance bents have triple chain rings. So what? You'll never see me on anything but a bent!
There are 'bent riders who smoke the prostrate riders up or down hills, some videos like that here on youtube. I've since moved on into recumbent trikes, these bikes are more fun than sex! Down hill they smoke regular 'bents. Its why I got one, some kind on a trike screamed past me as we were both going down hill, I tried like hell to catch him and never could. I gotta get ONE OF THOSE, and so I did ;-)
a recumbent trike is slower than a normal recumbent as it has 3 wheels and is heavier. a good lowrider bent like a raptobike is the fastest (non faired) human powered machine and likely faster than even a tt bike. however even a racing trike such as catrike 700 is unlikely to be faster than a normal good road bike with similar rider. i fully agree that some recumben riders are equal to good roadies uphill and recumbents would also generally be as good uphill IF they were the same weight, and IF the road cyclist cant cheat by standing up. overall, id say the raptobikes are superior to all diamond frames on anything but very hilly terrain where aero is not a factor, and trikes CAN be nearly the equal to road bikes, but are generally the most disadvantaged of the 3 types, with BIG disadvantages againts lowrider bents like the raptobike lowrider.
@书中自有黄金屋 Yeah, they creep me out too
Since my last comments, I sold my recumbent Burley Hepcat and got a Catrike recumbent tricycle. The reason I did was 2 summers ago I was riding my Hepcat home from the farm roads I love to cruise on and this KID on a recumbent trike passed me on a downhill section like I was standing still! I thought, oh ha ha, I'll catch his ass on the uphill section and man was I ever wrong, he kept speeding up the hill and was lost to sight. I only saw him again when he turned around to go home and then he made this U turn on a freaking DIME! So, I had the opportunity to try out a first class road trike, when it arrived on the truck in a giant cardboard box, already set up to ride, except for boom adjustment, it was instant LOVE first 20 feet of road travel. I road that thing all summer long, everywhere. I put a car horn on it which saved my butt many times, and ultrabright annoying headlight and tail lights. To my astonishment my uphill speed gained about 4-5 MPH, and hills I dreaded became relatively easy to accomplish and my downhill speeds, with total stability just blew me away. The wheels are all 20 inches and the bike is super low to the ground so much less wind resistance. Super comfortable, I never have to unclip my bike shoes at stop signs anymore either. Am wishing I had done this years ago, but always thought they were just too weird, but these days are rapidly becoming very popular with young and old (like me).
+SDPickups sweet! Which model did you end up going with? I'm just learning about all this stuff.
+Michael McGill I got the Catrike Road, it has rear suspension which smoothes out the roads some. Trikes are incredibly fun to ride, wish I had discovered them years ago.
Nice! Thanks :)
The only thing that bothers me about doing road trips on a trike is being so low to the ground it seems difficult to view scenery, like seeing over bushes and road guard rails.
NAH. My Catrike has adjustable set angle, if you want to be upright you can, I prefer halfway back, better speed, more relaxing.
I had a trike that I rode for several years while working away from home in a small community. I enjoyed it and rode it constantly. Use to pedal up to the top of the pass and roar back down the grade. My retirement plans were to ride it from the Oregon coast home to Montana. I had it hooked up to a Bob style trailer and panniers on the rear. But as I moved my temporary house hold belonging back to Montana along the Trans America route it was rather obvious that many of the road stretches were more sketchy for a trike than I wanted to chance my life on, e.g. the hundred mile stretch between Kooskia, ID and Lolo, MT. I took a regular bike instead. When I got back to MT I just couldn't fathom riding the roads from our home into town, Bozeman. As much as I liked the trike, I personally prefer the narrow and high visibility of my Surly Disc Trucker.
For me, it's all about personal preference. I ride an upright and a recumbent trike. The trike is much more comfortable all around, slows down a lot going up hills, is plenty fast on the flats and downhills. The upright is road bike style with a straight handlebar and modified seat. I had to go with a special seat that has no horn to keep from wrecking my man parts. The upright is still uncomfortable on long rides.......no way even my "improved" version is gonna match the trike for comfort. So, why do I even ride the upright? I am more of a hiker than a biker. With the upright, I can see the scenery similar to the way I see it while walking. And, unlike most folks, I like to get off and walk the upright on steep hills. I can't do that with my trike. Anyway, as you can see, I have the best of both worlds.
Front wheel drive recumbents with "moving bottom bracket" (straight short chain) can help fill the gap between upright bikes and recumbents, cause less power gets lost along the transmission. Also, angles between torso and legs are relevant and can change the balance between climbing performance and aerodynamics; there isn't one only way to ride in recumbent position, but the average speed usually is better (just like you pointed out in the video)
Hi BTRflorida - I really think this is a great video which well demonstrates the power, efficiency and weak point of a tadpole trike. An electric assist would be the ultimate combination. This video has got me pumped up for a trike. Thank you for your presentation.
The video is about a recumbent bike, not a tadpole trike.
My humble mistake.@@brauljo
A few things to consider:
1 - You can never stand on your pedals
2 - You have at least 50% increased rolling resistance
3 - Breathing on a recumbent is not as efficient - due to not being able to stand up
4 - Although lower to the ground, your width profile is twice that of a roadie
It's all about mass momentum. If you are fit and road a trike then a road bike, you would find that you would smoke the roadies all day long.
Nice bell! Bing....
i agree. watch 'why old people ride trikes'. yes, there is clearly no speed advantage at all. the catrike is not overtaking those roadies like a missile
I'll take my recumbent any day and I live in the hills of Kentucky and climb just fine. you can keep you nut cutters.
The bottom line is ride 50 miles then try to have sex. Recumbent riders will steal your wife every time, while the upwrong riders will be chugging Viagra energy drinks ;-)
@Gaj most mindless homo sap meat package survival machine sperm receptacles like the little car wankers best. peacocking the ability to ruthlessly raid the finite, but ultimately lethal fossil fuel cookie jar for short term advantage suggests endless further dopamine squirts, and might facilitate her procreation in the megacancer. very few women would forsake immediate gluttonous advantage for a suitor displaying such meagre genetic traits as zero energy transport virtue.
@@andy-the-gardener I had a hard time reading this but it sounds like wisdom lol
Doom Slayer
If it doesn’t sound much like a grammatical language it’s a demon. Go slay them man and quit laying out of the job!
Why did you burn out in the flats? It would be a better test if you were with them instead of expending your energy foolishly. You would die on the hill anyways being so nutty man!
Note to Self: When racing on a recumbent against DF bikes, look for a race course that ends with a long descent!
I used to do long, hilly group rides on mine and I'd find I would be overtaken on long drags by upright riders I could normally keep ahead of. But for rolling terrain still faster as you get the aero whooshing effect at the start of the rise - in fact, that was the point at which I'd usually overtake people. Could get up 1:5 and even 1:4 hills no problem.
If I was riding uphill on my recumbent and a 12 pound racing bike was offered as a trade to switch over to and the diamond frame guy got on my bent , he would be at the top of the hill before me . I am not fast on hills regardless of what I ride. Some bents and riders are far faster than others and yes they have more endurance , energy , and training than I do. Some of the really expensive carbon bikes on the hilly north shore of Vancouver are ridden by wannabe racer types and they are passed by people on old 30 pound hybrids . It depends on the rider not the machine.
Do you think a 20" wheel in the front would affect this ride differently? Rans has another bike with a 20 in the front that I think would be a better tourer maybe, but probably not as good a racer. May take hills minisculy better because of the angle, not sure.
I had a lighting once, I hated the 20 inch wheel. I got a 24 inch fork and put 24 inch wheel on it and it handle better. I would stick to a long wheel base with the larger sized wheels (both same size) Rans has a model like that
SOME recumbents can't climb, in my opinion. The P-38 has a reputation for climbing and although it climbed well, I'd get dropped on longer hills of 8% or more. On an alloy Metaphysic High Racer I got dropped but not by much. On my M5 CHR I don't get dropped.On my tadpole trikes I always got dropped - actually dropped was an understatement. Totally left behind would be a better description. The flex on trikes is 20mm or more on my diy testing method which I've applied to all my 'bents.
P-38 2mm
Tadpoles 20-25mm
Optima Orca 10mm
Optima Raptor Carbon 12mm
Cruzbike Silvio, Vendetta 0mm (but handlebar flex applies to FWD MBB)
M5 CHR 2mm (but the rest of the frame and seat mount are very stiff.)
It is my firm belief that you can't climb efficiently on a flexing frame and I don't think it's a coincidence that I can rate the efficiency of the recumbents I've owned by their crank tube flex. You also need to take into consideration seat flex or seat cushion flex and handlebar stiffness. I'm too old to be a guide to how well the M5 can climb as I always ride with DF riders 10 years younger or more. I can't beat the best climber in our group in a fair fight, but I don't need to gap him by much prior to the climb to equal or beat him on climbs of a mile or less. No one near my age can beat me. The nearest is an ex pro, but he's taller and heavier.
Also bear in mind that my M5 with tailbox, tools and a coat is 3 to 5 kg heavier than the DF bikes. So given my age, asthma and extra weight I can categorically say that for the same rider weight and power, the M5 would simply kill them climbing.
The climbing issue is only there if I'm being polite and riding with the group, which is frustrating because they are so slow relative to the M5. On the flat it's just faster. On any descent it just runs away. on a 1/2 km 6% descent the M5 is 10 kph faster and on a longer descent it hits 72 kph while the DFs reach 55.
In mixed terrain, the best recumbents just outpace the DFs even when they paceline.
Recumbents are just a different more comfortable, faster way to ride a bike but they're also not the best choice for the Sunday peloton.
After 30 years on traditional road bikes and mountain bikes, I eventually had to convert to recumbent if were to continue to ride. No hand pressure, no sore but, no neck strain, no lower back pain. Wish I had made the switch earlier. And yes... whith group rides I am fast on flats, and really fast on descents but pay for it on the climbs.
I love it! Could have also been titled "Diamond frames in my review mirror"
At the end of the ride...as everyone else is walking off the pain in their butt....the recumbent guy is asking if anyone wants to ride down the street to get some ice cream. :-)
lol! how true! I think nothing of 100 miles
There's a warped idea from some roadies: if you are slow up hills the rider must be struggling. Must be a real fear about hills. Bents simply have to gear down. It is quite easy going up hills. And slow. All 'bents are not the same. Road bikes have practically no rolling resistance and the fast riders seem to carry only an energy bar and a water bottle. If all you want to do is race or ride fast don't buy a 'bent unless your the guy in this video. But I can't imagine multi-day touring, sitting on a fence post ever again. Bent riding may be a 70% mental adjustment from an upright bike. If all your friends have road bikes, you need to ride with another group. You can't compare the two. Like comparing horses with motorcycles.
I've ridden 'bents for 30 years now, great way to go. Now, I've switched to 'bent trikes and I am actually faster and can go up hills much faster as well. The stability of a trike is just wonderful, no more unclipping at stop signs, just laid back BLISS.
@@SDPickups the vid 'why old people ride trikes' shows clearly that trikes, or at least racing ones like the catrike 700, do have significant speed advantage over upright bikes. its almost night and day difference. theres no arguing when you have a 25 degree seat incline letting the air flow easily over your body
I just bought a recumbent. There's some different muscles getting worked and my shins get sore. I'll split my time on my bikes. Recumbents get lots of looks in the neighborhood. Mostly WTF remarks as i go by.
4:46 Nice job with the stop sign.
In most countries, stop signs are yield signs.
Cyclists who roll over stop signs are only putting themselves in danger, nobody else, and very little danger at that.
In most countries, stop signs are stop signs. Yield signs are yield signs.
People honor or disregard them according to the level of enforcement.
*****
Yeah, a cyclist only hurts himself because 200 pounds of cyclist and bike, blowing through a stop sign at 35mph, won't hurt a motorcyclist who has the right of way. Right? Riiiiiight?
JasmineLindros
Why are you incapable of reading a fucking sentence?
I read yours, Chasing, and you're an idiot who hasn't ridden a bike in five years, ever since you turned 12 and became too cool to be seen riding a bike. If you'd like to stand in front of me while I'm approaching an intersection on my bike, you're a fool. Wear a helmet, and prepare to get whiplashed.
I live in Saskatoon Saskatchewan Canada. This small city would be the perfect place to commute on bicycle to work. Nice rolling hills with lots of flats. Unfortunately it is next to impossible to ride with the next to nill cycling infrastructure. Even taking my grandkids for a ride in residential areas is proving to be quite challenging. I watched this video because I like all the different types of ways to ride a bicycle. I especially enjoy homebuilt bikes
if i lived in canada id worry more about accidentally falling into a massive tar sands chemical waste pool. you know those things made so you can carry driving your massive suvs and pretend your massive overshoot populations are legitimate
Hi, i have found over my many years of cycling to go into the climb at a high cadence (95 - 100 now, when i was younger 100+) then as you climb keep down shifting trying to keep high cadence as long as possible. hope this helps
I vouch for this technique. I used to use slow cadence's and try to keep up momentum. It does work and it is faster or short climbs but I get exhausted quickly since it's basically like sprinting uphill in order to conserve momentum.
I've recently switched from mountain biking to road cycling and Downshifting early has been the thing that impacted me the most. I went from slow hard climbs (where I had to stop midway through to catch my breath) to high cadence cycling where I'm able to go 5 times farther uphill without needing to dismount. (Though it is on an upright bike)
aww the mid west, where that is considered climbing. That was hardly even a roller
Aren't the Black Hills, Wichita Mountains, and Oucahita Mountains in the midwest?
yeah, these guys will never know what its like to ascend 6,000 feet on a single hill.
I would not have been passed on that roller on any of my recumbents. You gotta keep the power level up to carry the momentum.
Recumbents , The answer to a question that should've never been asked .....
***** "How can a cyclist overcome drag at high speed without cumbersome farings?" "How can a cyclist maintain speed during touring/transit without sacrificing comfort or riding head-forward?" Questions all serious cyclists should ask at some point.
***** That's the thing , if you're a serious cyclist you would never ask those questions . Unless you like riding a lawn chair .....
To those guys that were walking up the hill, you just got humiliated by a "bent" rider. Learn to shift or stay on the porch
Theoretically, recumbent trikes should be better climbers, because you could use very (and I mean VERY) low gears. Using very low gears is impossible on a upright bicycle, because you need to ride above certain minimum speed to stay upright...
looks like either stage coach rd or pleasant grove in citrus county ...another road that looks similar is in spring hill FL and i cant remember the name of it..
BTRflorida: Have you considered installing a rotor crank? Although I've never tried one personally, they certainly seem to review well - more even power stroke with less exertion and lower heart rate. They're a bit spendy and take a while to get used to.
Ever driven on a long trip and come across a big 18 wheeler who wants to speed and go past regular traffic on the flats and down hill. Then comes the hills where all that traffic he passed catches up and passes him. You might pass or be passed by that truck 1 dozen times in an hour. How does if feel to be like that truck. Guessing you did it so to not be left behind by the group?
what kind of recumbent are you on? Assuming it is not a trike since it seems your bike is leaning...
6-02-2017 - - - So - - what kind of bike is it? Manufacturer/model/price...etc...? Just curious.
Those are the faces of new recumbent owners.
Sorry that I don't know, but is this a recumbent bicycle or tricycle?
I would like to experience riding that kind of bike! I don't think that will work in my country though. We have steeper climbs here. My legs would probably fall off! Ride safe sir!
Hey at BTR
I love this recumbents with a lot of speed downhill . I would like to know what kind of recumbent in person is riding on the film. How is the gear
setup made ? I life in hilly Norway using a recumbent a model high racer from Challenge from the Netherlands. To use this bike in Norway i had to
do some changes on the gear setup ! In stead the standard gear arrangement i have a front ( internal gears in oil) Schlumpf Speed line 1: 1:65 with a oval Rotor 46 T blade and at the rear a single Rohloff interne 14 gear (in oil), 700 C wheels with 23 " tires , using good idlers made from USA ,
steering is up down . Carbon seat made to 30 grade angle. With the long chain 2.40 m i lubricated this with a Flær system its digital half automatic :-) . Up the hill is going much better before as standard setup , down the hills its fire ring as a cannonball .
Results are:
Never pain in the bud , no pain in the neck or hands , improved my muscles in the back and legs , free air in my longs, no traffic problems use reflex clothes.
Thanks for the video , regards M.B. Norway
i was using a 56,42,28 tooth oval chainring by 11 -28 in back at the time
hey Kim, cant wait to see the 2012HH video. As for the gopro rattle, I think it's inside the case as I have my mount secured with the white thingy and also silicon sealant and a rubber cushion isolating the mount assy and my handle and still I get the rattle and clicking.
Ability to climb at relatively low speeds where wind resistance is negligible is totally dependant on power to weight ratio. For equal weight machines with equal weight riders who have equal power output climbing speed will be equivalent whether recumbent or upright. Transmission losses are negligibly different between well designed and maintained machines and human power output varies little from position to position in an experienced and acclimatised rider. (nice overtaking on the down BTW)
Have you ridden one of these things? They seem to use different muscles, maybe there is a different technique to riding them. I have and found them crap going up but amazing coming down. In response also to Jimm can you really have better power transfer on them? I've been on many rides alongside them but never seen one going up with the 'safety' bikes. I like them but living in a hilly area decided a novelty item wasn't worth it for me personally.
I ride both types of bike regularly and on really steep climbs uprights climb significantly better. Upright bikes allow you to stand and pedal and thus put your entire body into propelling the bike forward. You can use your arms and your back as well as your legs and you can also move your torso to help keep your legs at an angle that provides maximum force. On a recumbent you are leg pressing your way to the top. Race to the top of a long steep hill on an upright and you'll be gasping for breath with a burning sensation in your muscles. Do the same on a recumbent and you'll be out of breath and your legs will be begging for mercy. The upright hits you in the lungs while the recumbent gets you in the legs.
Recumbents can be faster and are way more comfortable, but they simply don't climb or negotiate obstacles as well as uprights.
Yep that sounds about right with my experience too. What surprised me was the need for a different seat height/length.
Bob Gray The muscles you use are not particularly relevant for endurance effort. Your body behaves more like a fuel cell. Try making both vehicles the same weight and timing your climbs.
David Beacham I spent 10 years as a professional recumbent trike framebuilder.
I got turned off to cycling because of this competition, training, getting up at 5am.🙄 Training obsessing about equipment. Now as I got older built up some touring and gravel mountain bikes and have a renewed interest. I tried a bit of touring and like the urban trails etc. Might try a bent as you call them..
Check out the Cruzbike S40. That is one HELLUVA touring bike!
True...and that's a nice time to just keep spinning,look up at the sky, take a pic of wheeling ospreys....and have a sip of water..I ride a heavy cargo trike and I sure like to tour...
Recumbents fascinate me. Though, besides lack of funds, I’m reluctant to try on cause of the lack of visibility to drivers.
Ah yes, the Thrill of the Hill :-) Great video Kim!
Depends of the particular bike. Cruzbike are pretty good climbers.
@David Kling Not exactly true. My V20 is faster than my TT bike, and I'd guess that even an S40 would be faster providing the whole ride isn't climbing. Hills favor DF bikes, but the flatter the course the more it favors recumbents. Simply, it is all about aerodynamics and the faster you go the more important aerodynamics is.
@David KlingAlex from Fast Fitness Tips did a video on climbing with upright bikes, seated and standing that was really great. Basically, under 10kph it is better to stand than sit with your hands on the drops because aerodynamics is still more important than the difference in power that can be applied. Taking the improved aerodynamic difference between that test (seated with hands on the drops) and a recumbent, I would fathom that under about 8kph an upright bike is going to have the advantage over a recumbent in climbing. All other times the recumbent is going to be faster. I bought a Cruzbike V20 and now my TT bike is collecting dust.
The issue with recumbents and hills is that a standard bike allows you to stand on the pedals and "pump". This means you can get the optimum out of your leg muscles' 'power band' storing energy in your body weight and allow gravity to work in your favor as you stand on the pedal and ride the crank down. Can't do that with a recumbent.
I would guess that max power on both a DF and recumbent would result in a recumbent being about 5%-10% less than a DF, which would make it a worse climber. However, on the flats, the recumbent more than makes up for the loss in power by much improved aerodynamics. When I changed my road bike to a TT bike, I gained about about 2-3kph since my upper body was more aero, as well as taking my forearms out of the airflow. In 3 years of riding my TT bike up and down the same bike path I got quite a few Strava KOMs, as well as established my average speed. I plateaued a few months before buying my V20 recumbent, but as soon as I got my "bent" legs, I started racking up the Personal Records again, as well as taking some more KOMs that I lost, as well as taking some more that were well over 30km. This is no BS, I average about 3kph faster than my TT bike all things being equal. But the biggest difference is that I can double or even triple my best TT effort in regards to distance and still come off the V20 feeling great. 3 hours on my TT bike and I am absolutely useless afterwards.
Great vid so are you saying a recumbant can't clime as well as a normal bike or can and it seems faster like more aerodynamics
What is that crunching sound while you are pedaling?
No matter what type of cycle you are you're going to get your assistance handed to you if you're in the wrong gear going uphill.
Love my recumbent for similar reasons lol.
I ride a Rans Stratus recumbent. It's good on the flat, very fast going down hills, but quite slow climbing them.
Interesting math problem: Consider the example of a hill, 10% grade each side. It's 100m high, making the ascent and descent 1 km long Suppose that I am able to climb it in four minutes (average speed 15 km/h) while the upright bikes are able to climb it in three minutes (average speed 20 km/h). If the uprights average 45 km/h going down, what average speed do I need to attain on the descent in order to catch up?
Answer: 180 km/h! Clearly impossible, and outright reckless if it were possible.
Conclusion: In the quest for speed, it is wisest to consider the sections where the bike is at its slowest, and improve performance there.
(Apologies for metric units. I can convert to feet and miles, but the numbers won't be as round, making the math harder to follow.)
I don't know if this is a joke or not.
I own a velo, 2 low racers, 1 MTB and 1 road bike.
The velo, with all its weight, is the fastest one unless the hill is very steep or I am tired.
On 3% gradients and steep shorter hills like the video it dominates even at moderate
power. At race effort? Total rape! It would fly up the hill in that video. The crest at at least 20 mph. Probably 25.
Low racers and the road bike are about even, pace line?
The MTB is the slowest if not the hill is 10%.
i have a catrike villager. my question is on climbing and gear changing. when coming to a climb, should i change to a gear where its harder to pedal but i get more power, or where its easy to pedal but i have little power and no speed? i have 27 speeds and have yet to find one im happy with on climbs. course im still buildin leg strength too.
I guess it really depends on the recumbent bike as well. My Haluzak Horizon does pretty good on the hills as I have a nice seat to push against. Despite having loaded panniers on each side, I still pass other cyclists on the trails.
in a race/ride, it is allowed to go through intersections w/o stopping - note the "officials" vehicles parked at intersections.
Some of the hills I go up are 40% grade. I doubt a recumbent can keep up with me. But I want an electric one since they seem so fun. Road biking is my alternative to motorcycling. I love leaning the heck out of my road bike at 50 mph down a hill.
You might want to recheck your source or method for determining the grade of the hills you ride. You specify road biking, yet the steepest paved streets on record are less than 40% grade.
This video proves, not that recumbents can't climb, but rather that more time is lost climbing a steep hill than is gained descending it.
33 to 36 mph. WOW! HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO BUILD UP TO THAT KIND OF SPEED? AT THE CURRENT TIME I AM RIDING A HIGH RACER AND TOPPING OUT AT 26 MPH. I HAVE ABOUT 1000 KM ON THE YEAR AND HOPEFULLY WILL BE ABLE TO RIDE THROUGH THE WINTER MONTHS. (CANADA IS PRETTY COLD SO I AM CROSSING MY FINGERS)
THANKS (GREAT VIDEO)
IE Easyracer Sun recumbent, adding to previous comment is the machine I refer to and not the Tour Easy knockoff, which is a fine bent with some flaws, I own two of the most misunderstood bikes in the world of bent's and crank forward, the Sun Easyracer climbs better than any upright I've ever rode with some gain ratio mods, it will out climb lighter bikes", Easyracer was also the first to exceed 65mph with the Goldrush displayed in Smithsonian of American history.
Good one, this video made me laugh, left them 2 wheelers in the dust. Love it. Ha ha.
Most of the recumbent climbing issues is weight, the long chain, and the fact you can't stand on the pedals to boost your power. BTR is a very fast rider and most likely the average recumbent rider would have been dropped on the first few hills and would have difficulty to catch up. Depending on the group of course. Some groups will push a lot harder to purposely drop recumbents.
Recumbent bicycle = pain-in-the ass-free-bike.
Nice, I ride a Bacchetta CA2 and get the same results. Way to go!
I'm very familiar with Thrill Hill, but I'm not at all confident that I could manage the steepest part of the climb on my M5 CHR. Fortunately steep climbs are extremely rare in Florida, otherwise I'd stick with a diamond frame bike.
Because of balance and slow reaction time issues with seniors, a recumbent trike or 4 wheeler are the only option. And steep climbs are not a viable option either. The lack of continuous pressure in the scrotum area is a major plus for recumbents.
Why were none of the DF riders pedalling on the way down?
Also, were those guys really walking up because they hadn't changed down beforehand?
Seriously?
well gosh. After riding recumbents for over 30 years (1984 Rans Stratus) I guess I best quit....Jeez....I wish you hadn't posted the video...sniff...sob...you just had to prove recumbents climb slower...oh wait...I CAN maintain a high speed on the flats and my butt never gets sore and my neck is fine after an all day ride! Maybe I will keep riding the rans after all...Thanks!
+G “Jerry” Henrickson Dude, watch the whole video...
It was a bit unfair that you had temporary jet engines to propel you on that ride :P
You can pedal a tank uphill if you have enough power.
There are many videos of bent riders climbing hills. A triple chain ring in front, and MBB gears in back and you are all set for climbs. On a DF you can use all of your weight on the top of the pedals by standing up, and you can apply a little more torque by pulling on the opposing bar of the pedal stroke.
However on a recumbent, other than simply pedaling, you can also pull on the opposing bar to create more torque on the cranks, which is quite similar to doing a leg press on a machine, but being able to use your hands for leverage as well.
Now, this technique isn't easy to master, and since it is more of a power move than an endurance move, you won't be able to max out the torque for any noticeable length of time, but combined with the proper gearing, you can generate enough torque to stay moving uphill if your fitness level permits.
the bad part of climbing on a recumbent+ you fall over at 4mph. the younger crowd (25- 50) can climb with the diamonds
Which RANs bike is it in the video??
The guy in the back of the group asked ! OK which one of you guys farted ? The all raised their hands .
lol!!!! making a new video (I ride with old farts) got lots of farts sounds effect to use
Check out internally geared hubs. 11-speed internal gives you more range than a cassette. You can shift at a standstill. No cross-chaining unusable gears.
Recumbents suck going uphill - and that is the name of that tune. Get a different saddle if your butt gets sore and pad the handlebars. Having used both, I prefer the upright configuration.
another sheep
Well, that's eight minutes I'll never get back.
about the only thing this proves is that the rider was not well trained in hill climbing on a 'bent. there are quite a few people who can spin up the hill and keep with roadies... just a matter of technique and training.
and besides, recumbents are not necessarily designed for climbing. their strength comes from being in the recumbent position - more aerodynamic and sometimes better power transfer to the pedals. which is most noticeable on the flats and downhills. not the recumbent rider's fault the wedgie riders are in an inefficient riding position! :-)
Duh!....the camera vehicle and the recmbembent are one in the same. I was waiting to see the recumbent bringing up the rear. Clever way to make your point about recumbent myths, even if, some of us are a little slow in the uptake. Nice!. I'm shopping for a tadpole, but I don't expect to be leader of the pack, for some time, if ever. ;-)
Why can't ? You're just overweighted, just like the recumbent, if the recumbent is as heavy as the upright bike, of course the recumbent is the winner. My upright bike is 12 kgs, my recumbent is under development, but it won't be heavier than 20 kgs, I'm 57 kgs, I don't think that there will be much difference. You just need different gear ratios, to give more torque on the recumbent.
+Jordán József Aerodynamics... It's all about aerodynamics.
paytontech Forgot to mention that, but it doesn't matter on uphill, but on flat road and on downhill. :P
+Jordán József Well... there's a lot more of reality in the flat and downhill than on the uphill!
Just for the record. It’s pretty easy for roadies to go fast on downs if they push. They hit 120-130 kph in the TdF. Real descent times are almost always handling limited.
Air pressure is important, descents at around sea level are limited to around 85 km/h. The fastest speeds are achieved in the Alps or the Andies.
You can climb large hills with recumbent cycles/trikes. I have ridden a Bike E across the Cascade Highway, 402 miles in 6 days.
there are hills in florida?
Very few have the resources and experience to both ride and tune a bent to it's optimum over all performance partly due to marketing and manufacturing, like other bikes, ICE is one exception and had proven concept designs that have crossed the North Pole where others failed, Easyracer has unaccepted designs on mass merchant markets that failed due to understanding the ideal by which I have personally out climbed road bikes effortlessly with this very machine weighing in at 37 pounds plus a load.
Yeh those guys walking up the hill... Wtf?!
Don't get me wrong I ain't a strong climber, but I would rather get on the granny gears and pedal my way slowly to the top than walk it?
With the type of cleats they use, if they get caught in the wrong gear (no idea how that can happen) they will tip over....
I'm sure they were just looking for an excuse to slow down and take a break. Anybody who has ridden a bike before knows how to shift gears. Just stop applying force to the pedals for a half second and downshift.
@@Bournefort Exactly. Those guys either blew their wad too quickly, or they were not in the best cycling shape. 1 dude was buff AF, but body-building is NOT cycling.
Love the Afterburners! Cant wait to get a Bent :) Not sure if I need a high or low one, long or short, anyone?
I visited here some years ago and I am still impressed - wow!
I am getting a thrill at 20 mph.
Cruising that low at 33 mph has got to be a rush.
DUDE that camera noise is annoying! but i like you jet powered sound effects tho :)
nice demonstration video , you were way ahead of theme and in comfort
this is pretty much because of a driver not for the bike....rider isnt strong enough
Are you using pedal assistance?
No, this video is probably 6 years old I don't think they had any pedal-assist then then
Why did you stop? I don't get it.
Pretty interesting video. Your title exaggerates a bit about not being able to climb hills. And downhill....bl****y awesome!
90 percent of all your power goes to overcoming air resistance on a bicycle,a recumbent is much better and should climb faster,I would think ?.The world record is a recumbent in a full aerodynamic body at 82 mph.great video,thanks for posting.
Its now about 89mph :)
Roadies don’t pedal down hills. The climb is the whole game.
How the hell did you hit 44mph?
Yes, at the end of the video he shows you the bike he was riding on. It definitely was a recumbent bike (A nice one at that) I just prefer trikes like a 700 or full suspension with a 26 inch rear wheel or bigger.
there isnt anything inherent in the design of recumbents that makes them slower uphill. in fact they should in theorybe more efficient and allow more power to the wheel because the rider can push againt the seat. but they are much heavier than a light weight road bike and the rider cannot stand up, both of which allow the upright bike to climb fast. but make the bent as light, and dont allow the upright rider to stand and they shold climb at exactly the same rate, or even with a slight advantage to the bent.
here you can clearly see the recumbent is (much) faster because the climbs, even though significant, are too short to advantage the road bikers
The rider doesn't need to stand up in a recumbent, they can still get that sort of power because they prep their back up against the seat when pushing hard.
So wait...was he using a recumbent bike? I'm new to this and I don't know if he was being sarcastic or serious.
Do you have a gumball machine onboard?
What a pointless, bigoted and completely worthless argument. I had 2 recumbents, an SWB and LWB. I had no problem climbing hills at all. It's a question of low gears and spinning at a lower speed, just like being on a conventional bike in the saddle. So, for your information, recumbents can climb hills.
Mike Emerson well it’s not quite as good as an upright. Recumbents are all heavier, have draggier drivetrains, limit your range of motion, and are less stable at low speed.
@@appa609 id imagine if you are used to the bike, recumbents can be just as stable at low speeds as upright bikes. Its all a matter of how experienced you are with the bike and how you learn to adjust your gears just like any other bike
@@taylorwalker6568 You can get quite good and I know a few people who are quite good. But there are still fundamental disadvantages. Upright bikes fall over slower because their CG's are higher. T ∝ √(L/g) You can also move your CG at rest by shifting your body whereas on a recumbent you're mostly fixed. I can't say it's definitely impossible to trackstand a recumbent but it's certainly harder.
@BTRflorida It isn’t the recumbent that can’t climb, it’s the person!
Ah, nice work... and on a new RANS Rifle -- cool!!!
yes they're slow, but they can climb. You just have to know the right gear setting.