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There are many makes and models of recumbents on the marjket from which you can choose. New and used, from very cheap, to very expensive, the selection and choices you have make your decision all the more difficult. From my long hours of experience on the road, I would say there are four major considerations you should have in mind as you test drive the various models and decide on what you should buy.

The four considerations are wheel base length, wheel and tire size, under seat steering versus over seat steering, and seat design. I will discuss a sampling of what I have come to know about these issues below.

1. Wheel Base Length

A short wheel base (SWB) recumbent is for racing, and for maneuvering in tight situations. A long wheel base (LWB) recumbent bicycle is for touring. I prefer the SWB recumbent even though I tour. It is easier to pack the SWB on airplanes, or to put in a car, bus, or motor vehicle. I prefer to be able to maneuver in parks, on sidewalks, in marketplaces, into secluded camp areas, and in tight urban situations. On mass transit, including airplanes, my SWB, over seat steering (OSS) model often passes for the standard bicycle fare. Sometimes, I will not need to box it, but when I do, the SWB can fit in a standard bicycle box.

It's easier to walk the bike off-road, or down a narrow wooded path. Sometime I will "wild camp", and therefore will find a path, possibly through a gate, or into the forest, walking the bike to a nice camp spot. In the UK and elsewhere, some bikepaths have barriers at street crossings or at regular intervals. These are designed to keep motorbikes and vehicular traffic off the pathways. Often, these gateways are poorly designed, and difficult for a fully loaded touring bike to pass through. Sometimes I am able to pass through these narrow gateways. Othertimes, I have had to lift my bike over, sometimes several times a day.

I can bring my more compact model into hotel rooms, or even carry it up a flight of stairs. Whenever possible, I prefer to sleep near my bike, or bring it inside where it will be safe. But still, a LWB model will offer a smoother ride. A good analogy would be in comparing the difference between driving a Porsche, or driving a Cadillac.



Charles DiBella in September 2008
Dirt and mud in Cambodia
from Poipet to Siem Reap
2. Wheel and Tire Size

Some recumbents have two of the same size wheels. This makes it easier for buying tires and tubes, changing them, and carrying spares. Still, because I prefer a SWB, there are design limitations, and the front wheel must be smaller. I prefer a standard 26 inch mountain bike rear wheel. Given my preferences, I must have the small (16") front wheel. Such a bicycle is tricky to ride at first, but once you have the technique, you can go places where a LWB recumbent cannot.

A smaller front tire will wear out quicker, and when on the road, quality 16 inch tires are harder to find than quality 26 inch tires. Even though my frame design is for racing, I modified the ride with fat tires. These work better for touring, and for some mild off road use. Regardless, the bike does not work well on sand, or very loose gravel.

3. Under/Over Seat Steering (OSS vs. USS)

I have little experience with underseat steering (USS), but until then, I feel I prefer OSS for a few reasons. I like having the handlebars for mounting gadgets and a small bag. When you need to walk the bike, it's a lot easier to steer the handlebars. The SWB and the OSS allows you to get in and out of remote camp places easier. I often camp in the wood, off the side of the road, out of sight, and a SWB bike is better suited for this. You must walk the bike at times along trails.

I do not use a trailer but rather have large Jannd Expedition panniers. A trailer is more bulk, more road friction, more maintenance, and just another complication given my style of touring.

4. Seat Design

The seat design is especially important. It's far better to have a high back seat, where your shoulders rest against it. It must be strong and lightweight, as well as comfortable. The mounting hardware must be strong and durable as well. The seat and mounts take a lot of stress at many points, and this is what is inclined to break first, over thousands and thousand of miles.

Along with these four considerations, there are issues of frame and design and composition, and component design. Most all parts on a recumbent are standard Shimano parts, and easily replaceable, but when you look closely, you will see a few parts that are unique to your bicycle. These parts usually have something to do with the steering, the seat, or managing the long chain.

Charles DiBella, May 2000 in Phoenix, Arizona
Back before I needed to wear glasses,
when I wore a beard, before my hair turned gray,
and while my bicycle was still shiny and new.

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Being on the road alone isn't always easy. One must expect tests and trials around any corner, but such things are what make us strong and cause us to grow. If you've found my site interesting, I hope to hear from you. Your few words of encouragement in passing are the same as a simple "thumbs up" from a stranger as I go along my way.

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