Hesitating to get a recumbent, but....

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Date: 01 Apr 2005 13:24:11
From: DCcyclist
Subject: Hesitating to get a recumbent, but....

My doctor told me that I would have less trouble with tendinitis in my
knee if I rode a recumbent rather than an upright bike. I'm not young
and I commute about six miles each way, but I'm finding that even one
way is causing my knee to hurt. I'm hoping you can overcome some of my
qualms about getting a recumbent:

1. I know they help with back trouble (and I do have back trouble) but
are they really that good for knees?

2. Aren't they pretty expensive? Are they more prone to theft?

3. Can you be seen if you're riding on a rural road?

4. I don't like calling attention to mkyself, which these bikes do.

But I really want to RIDE

Thank you
Mike Doan
Arlington, Va.

Date: 22 Apr 2005 16:22:17
From: rayswrld
Subject: Re: Hesitating to get a recumbent, but....

About three years ago I was having knee problems, pain on the inside of
the knee, then pain on the outside, it seemed to move all over, making
riding a pain. I finally decided to pay for a professional bike fit.
Since that day I have never had a knee problem again. They shortened my
handlebar stem, replacing it with one with a more upright angle. Also
switched out my SPD pedals for LOOK giving my feet more stability. In
addition there was the seat adjustment. The day after the fit I noticed
the difference. The cost was well worth it.

And now my back is deteriorating so I am considering a bent as I
explained in another post.

DCcyclist wrote:
> My doctor told me that I would have less trouble with tendinitis in my
> knee if I rode a recumbent rather than an upright bike. I'm not young
> and I commute about six miles each way, but I'm finding that even one
> way is causing my knee to hurt. I'm hoping you can overcome some of my
> qualms about getting a recumbent:
>
> 1. I know they help with back trouble (and I do have back trouble) but
> are they really that good for knees?
>
> 2. Aren't they pretty expensive? Are they more prone to theft?
>
> 3. Can you be seen if you're riding on a rural road?
>
> 4. I don't like calling attention to mkyself, which these bikes do.
>
> But I really want to RIDE
>
> Thank you
> Mike Doan
> Arlington, Va.
>

Date: 11 Apr 2005 14:03:06
From: S. Delaire \Rotatorrecumbent\
Subject: Re: Hesitating to get a recumbent, but....

To improve knee problems try shorter cranks. 5 mm less length can reduce
the bending at the knee 5-7% depending on your leg lengths. Have an expert
cyclist look at your seat adjustment, it could be wrong. Pedaling form
correct? Lots of people I see on century rides have very poor pedaling
technique. Not only wastes a lot of power but causes skeletal damage. Are
you doing any leg stretches or other exercises to maintain proper
conditioning?
Happy cycling
Speedy

DCcyclist wrote:

> My doctor told me that I would have less trouble with tendinitis in my
> knee if I rode a recumbent rather than an upright bike. I'm not young
> and I commute about six miles each way, but I'm finding that even one
> way is causing my knee to hurt. I'm hoping you can overcome some of my
> qualms about getting a recumbent:
>
> 1. I know they help with back trouble (and I do have back trouble) but
> are they really that good for knees?
>
> 2. Aren't they pretty expensive? Are they more prone to theft?
>
> 3. Can you be seen if you're riding on a rural road?
>
> 4. I don't like calling attention to mkyself, which these bikes do.
>
> But I really want to RIDE
>
> Thank you
> Mike Doan
> Arlington, Va.

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Date: 02 Apr 2005 21:33:12
From: bpaddy@aol.com
Subject: Re: Hesitating to get a recumbent, but....

> 1. I know they help with back trouble (and I do have back trouble) but
> are they really that good for knees?

I've found they help greatly with back, neck, shoulder, arm&hand (USS),
and
of course butt problems. As for knees, I have not seen any difference
doing high cadence-low force pedaling.

> 2. Aren't they pretty expensive?

Well, they don't sell them at Wal-t. My parents, for example, think
over $50 is expensive for a bicycle. For me, a major investment in
my health is worth thousands.

> Are they more prone to theft?

I'd have not had a problem given it would be hard to hop on it
and ride off and certainly it would be much more visible for a thief
to try and keep or fence. But who says a thief would think that far
ahead. My main concern is some slug who takes it to toss into a vacant
area so they can brag to their co-horts what they've done with the weird
bicycle.

> 3. Can you be seen if you're riding on a rural road?

Certainly, though my experience has been that problems with
traffic have never been due to not actually being seen.

> 4. I don't like calling attention to myself, which these bikes do.

Sorry, but you will, repeat will get all kinds of attention. I'm with
you and wish it were not so but it is.

Date: 02 Apr 2005 10:54:40
From: DougC
Subject: Re: Hesitating to get a recumbent, but....

DCcyclist wrote:
> My doctor told me that I would have less trouble with tendinitis in my
> knee if I rode a recumbent rather than an upright bike. I'm not young
> and I commute about six miles each way, but I'm finding that even one
> way is causing my knee to hurt. I'm hoping you can overcome some of my
> qualms about getting a recumbent:
>
> 1. I know they help with back trouble (and I do have back trouble) but
> are they really that good for knees?
>
> 2. Aren't they pretty expensive? Are they more prone to theft?
>
> 3. Can you be seen if you're riding on a rural road?
>
> 4. I don't like calling attention to mkyself, which these bikes do.
>
> But I really want to RIDE
>
> Thank you
> Mike Doan
> Arlington, Va.
>
I don't know exactly the problem you have with tendonitis, so I can't
comment on that. Sometimes we will read/hear of someone who got a bent
for health reasons and found that it aggravated their condition even
more, but it's not often. Overall, riding a bent (ANY bent) is way more
comfortable than an upright bike, the difference is dramatic. Most of
the pain associated with riding an upright bike has nothing to do with
turning the pedals, it's the poor riding position.
...Cycle Genius is one of the cheaper shop brands starting around
$500, there's a few you can order directly online as well down that
cheap. If you're big or heavy you have less good choices however. 6
miles is nothing on a recumbent. The theft-risk business I don't know,
mine "only" cost $1100 but I ride rural roads, so I don't leave mine
anywhere that's a good possibility quite frankly. The only places I have
ridden it to was where I could keep it inside, and where someone would
be there to keep an eye on it. And yes people do look, but you get used
to it. ~~~~~~

Date: 02 Apr 2005 17:27:35
From: Michael Plog
Subject: Re: Hesitating to get a recumbent, but....

About the issues raised for getting a recumbent:

One thing I highly advise is to try out a recumbent stationary
bicycle. (You can buy a one week or month membership in a gym.) The
recumbent stationary bikes are similar to the Tour Easy, RANS, Burley,
etc. If it hurts your knee, then a recumbent is probably not for you.
The next step might be to see if your local bike store would be
willing to rent a recumbent for a week or so. Again, if the back or
knee hurts, you don't have much invested.

If you do decide to get a recumbent, I highly advise buying the best
you can afford. I bought an EZ-1 and really liked it. It just was
not exactly right, however, and I moved up to the Tour Easy (around
$2000). When I figured I would have the bike for several years and be
riding it often, the price did not seem too bad.

As far as being noticed....well, that's just part of the package. You
don't have to wear the regular cycle clothes, if that helps--simple
sports clothes will do the job fine. In cold weather, I wear running
pants; they zip up at the ankle yet do not have the padding and wind
breaking stuff in all the wrong places. In warm weather, I wear
regular just-above-the-knee shorts. Anyway, there is no way to keep
elementary school kids from yelling "neat bike!" and adults asking
about price.

Good luck with your decision!

Date: 02 Apr 2005 07:44:27
From: HHS
Subject: Re: Hesitating to get a recumbent, but....

Date: 02 Apr 2005 05:24:37
From: mike.a.schwab@gmail.com
Subject: Re: Hesitating to get a recumbent, but....

I paid US$504 last ch for an EZ-1SC
<http://www.easyracers.com/ez_1_sc.htm >
Your local LBS should be able to order and assemble one for you.

Date: 02 Apr 2005 07:43:27
From: Freewheeling
Subject: Re: Hesitating to get a recumbent, but....

"DCcyclist" <oakgrove1@juno.com > wrote in message
news:1112390651.552553.123760@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...
> My doctor told me that I would have less trouble with tendinitis in my
> knee if I rode a recumbent rather than an upright bike. I'm not young
> and I commute about six miles each way, but I'm finding that even one
> way is causing my knee to hurt. I'm hoping you can overcome some of my
> qualms about getting a recumbent:
>
> 1. I know they help with back trouble (and I do have back trouble) but
> are they really that good for knees?

That probably depends upon precisely what your knee problem is, and what's
causing it. In one sense a recumbent could actually be worse, especially if
you don't learn to "spin" and have a tendancy to "mash" the pedals. With an
upright during the part of the pedal stroke where you're straightening your
leg you aren't levering against something, unless it's the handlebars. That
is, as you press down, or away, on the pedal your upper body will tend to
move in the opposite direction impeded only by gravity, which limits the
amount of pressure you can apply on the foot and therefore limits knee
compression as the piston "straightens." On a recumbent you're pressing
against the seatback, and especially if the seat has a hard shell back about
the only means you have for adjusting knee compression is to bend the ankle
(although the problem isn't really that severe, if you got a lot of butt and
back padding).

But if your knee problem is caused by some other dynamic than compression
that aspect of recumbency wouldn't necessarily be a problem anyway. You'll
also want to make certain you have a pedal with sufficient float, so that
you have a natural leg movement rather than limiting to a small range of
rotation, but you probably know about that already since uprights have the
same problem.

Assuming that your name means you're from the DC area why don't you drop by
the WHIRL ride in Rock Creek Park on Saturday morning? While the riders are
assembling they'll probably give you plenty of advice, and will even let you
ride some bikes. In fact, you might be able to link up with someone like
Bill Cook who may let you borrow a bike for the ride. And there are also a
number of recumbent dealers, like Larry Black, who'll let you ride some of
the bikes they have in stock (though Larry rarely makes it to WHIRL).

Here's the link with the particulars for the WHIRL ride:

http://www.recumbents.com/whirl/

There's also a link to Bill Cook's site on that page.

That's a good place to start if you're looking for a good recumbent dealer,
as well.

>
> 2. Aren't they pretty expensive? Are they more prone to theft?
>
> 3. Can you be seen if you're riding on a rural road?
>
> 4. I don't like calling attention to mkyself, which these bikes do.
>
> But I really want to RIDE
>
> Thank you
> Mike Doan
> Arlington, Va.
>

Date: 15 Apr 2005 15:16:56
From: meb
Subject: Re: Hesitating to get a recumbent, but....

Freewheeling Wrote:
> "DCcyclist" <oakgrove1@juno.com> wrote in message
> news:1112390651.552553.123760@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...
> > My doctor told me that I would have less trouble with tendinitis i
> my
> > knee if I rode a recumbent rather than an upright bike. I'm no
> young
> > and I commute about six miles each way, but I'm finding that eve
> one
> > way is causing my knee to hurt. I'm hoping you can overcome some o
> my
> > qualms about getting a recumbent:
> >
> > 1. I know they help with back trouble (and I do have back trouble
> but
> > are they really that good for knees?
>
> That probably depends upon precisely what your knee problem is, an
> what's
> causing it. In one sense a recumbent could actually be worse
> especially if
> you don't learn to "spin" and have a tendancy to "mash" the pedals.
> With an
> upright during the part of the pedal stroke where you're straightenin
> your
> leg you aren't levering against something, unless it's the handlebars.
> That
> is, as you press down, or away, on the pedal your upper body will ten
> to
> move in the opposite direction impeded only by gravity, which limit
> the
> amount of pressure you can apply on the foot and therefore limits knee
> compression as the piston "straightens." On a recumbent you'r
> pressing
> against the seatback, and especially if the seat has a hard shell bac
> about
> the only means you have for adjusting knee compression is to bend th
> ankle
> (although the problem isn't really that severe, if you got a lot o
> butt and
> back padding).
>
> But if your knee problem is caused by some other dynamic tha
> compression
> that aspect of recumbency wouldn't necessarily be a problem anyway.
> You'll
> also want to make certain you have a pedal with sufficient float, s
> that
> you have a natural leg movement rather than limiting to a small rang
> of
> rotation, but you probably know about that already since uprights hav
> the
> same problem.
>
> Assuming that your name means you're from the DC area why don't yo
> drop by
> the WHIRL ride in Rock Creek Park on Saturday morning? While th
> riders are
> assembling they'll probably give you plenty of advice, and will eve
> let you
> ride some bikes. In fact, you might be able to link up with someon
> like
> Bill Cook who may let you borrow a bike for the ride. And there ar
> also a
> number of recumbent dealers, like Larry Black, who'll let you ride som
> of
> the bikes they have in stock (though Larry rarely makes it to WHIRL).
>
> Here's the link with the particulars for the WHIRL ride:
>
> http://www.recumbents.com/whirl/
>
> There's also a link to Bill Cook's site on that page.
>
> That's a good place to start if you're looking for a good recumben
> dealer,
> as well.
>
> >
> > 2. Aren't they pretty expensive? Are they more prone to theft?
> >
> > 3. Can you be seen if you're riding on a rural road?
> >
> > 4. I don't like calling attention to mkyself, which these bikes do.
> >
> > But I really want to RIDE
> >
> > Thank you
> > Mike Doan
> > Arlington, Va.
> >

Bents tend to be harder on knees, easier on backs than uprights.
As previously mentioned, it is easier to overleverage knees. Not sur
how valid this is, but standing on pedals is reputed to be better o
the knees than weight off.
I do notice my knees more with the bents than the uprights.

I bruised my knee 4 weeks ago, and the two occasions since that I�v
ridden the bent, I�ve felt it, although the uprights I�ve ridden ha
165mm/155mm cranks vs. the 170mm cranks on the bent I tried riding s
it�s not a proper control.

Bikes at Vienna rents bents and is proximate the W&OD trail.

If trying to make this week�s WHIRL ride, remember the single wee
scheduled time change:

http://lists.topica.com/lists/whirl/read/message.html?mid=810930925&sort=d&start=126

--
meb

Date: 01 Apr 2005 17:19:50
From: Mark Leuck
Subject: Re: Hesitating to get a recumbent, but....

Date: 01 Apr 2005 21:35:27
From: Robert Stevahn
Subject: Re: Hesitating to get a recumbent, but....

On 1 Apr 2005 13:24:11 -0800, "DCcyclist" <oakgrove1@juno.com > wrote:

>1. I know they help with back trouble (and I do have back trouble) but
>are they really that good for knees?

Spinning is good for knees. You can spin on any bike.

Grinding is bad for knees. You can grind on any bike.

Recumbents are, however, also good for neck, shoulder, arm and hand
trouble, not to mention butt trouble. :-)

>2. Aren't they pretty expensive? Are they more prone to theft?

Yes, good ones are pretty expensive. I don't think they are prone to
theft, because I don't think thieves think they can ride them.

>3. Can you be seen if you're riding on a rural road?

Most certainly, except perhaps on a lowracer style.

>4. I don't like calling attention to mkyself, which these bikes do.

Can't help you with that one!

Good luck with the knees.

-- Robert