Americans spent $5.6 billion on bicycles and bicycle accessories in 2009, with 25 percent of the U.S. population bicycling each year, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. The benefits of bicycling include improved fitness and health, reduced traffic congestion and pollution, plus bicycling can be just plain fun. Whether it's for road use or indoor exercise, one question in choosing a bicycle is whether a recumbent or upright is best for you.
Types
Upright bicycles have a higher seat with the rider's legs hanging down vertically, whereas on a recumbent, the rider is seated lower to the ground against a backrest with legs positioned in front. The two principal types of upright bicycles are the mountain bike, which is better for off-road trips, and the traditional road bike. The three main types of recumbent are short wheelbase, good for in-town cycling; long wheelbase, better for touring; and tricycles, best for people with limb disabilities or balance problems.
Accessories
Upright bicycles allow you to carry several water bottles on the fame, whereas recumbents don't. Recumbent riders also might find it difficult to wear a hydration backpack because the back is against the seat, although the pack can be attached to the back of the seat itself. Using a handlebar bag on an upright bike is easier than on a recumbent because of knee or sight-line interference. With a large pannier-style bike bag, you'll need to drape it over the rear wheels of a recumbent, unlike an upright that can accommodate panniers in front or back.
Handling
You'll probably find you need lower gears on a recumbent as opposed to an upright because you can't stand up on the pedals while going uphill, making it more difficult to get started on a steep uphill grade. Sharp turns can be tricky with some recumbents, which also have poorer handling on gravel and slippery roads, although you can compensate by using fatter tires. Steering on an upright is accomplished by leaning to make small balance adjustments, whereas on a recumbent, it's much harder to lean, so recumbent riders rely more on small steering movements with the wheels.
Safety
Lower seat height on recumbents makes it harder to see over traffic and for motorists to see you. With your back leaning against a recumbent's seat, seeing behind you also can be a problem, one reason many recumbent riders use mirrors mounted on the bike or helmet. Falls and crashes tend to be worse with upright bikes, where you can go hurtling over the handlebars and land on your head, or at the very least get unpleasant "road rash." It's a lot harder to fall from a recumbent dump, and crashes with tricycle-style recumbents are extremely rare.
Health Considerations
Recumbents are helpful if you have carpal tunnel syndrome or a repetitive stress injury to your wrist, neck and back since you don't have to lean over on the handlebars. Recumbents also distribute your weight across the back and buttocks, providing good circulation to blood vessels that would otherwise be compressed on an upright, something helpful for men with prostate problems. In a study published in the American Journal of Cardiology in 1992, researchers found that heart rate, systolic blood pressure, oxygen consumption and rate of perceived exertion were greater in the upright than in the recumbent position while going at a moderate pace, although these differences faded at peak exertion levels. A Colorado State University study also found there might be less load placed on the anterior cruciate ligament during recumbent cycling.
Cost
Recumbents are generally more expensive because they're manufactured in smaller quantities. Recumbents also might cost more to transport via airlines or trains, requiring more dis-assembly to fit into typical travel boxes. Many recumbents use two different size wheels, and you might need to purchase more spare tubes and tires.
References
- Bicycle Touring 101: "Upright Versus Recumbent"
- Bicycling Life: "Recumbant Bikes"; John Anderson
- Bike Route: "Medical Benefits of Recumbent Bicycles"; Paul K. Nolan M.D.
- Pub Med: "Physiologic Responses to Recumbent Versus Upright Cycle Ergometry"
- Pub Med: "Knee Loads in the Standard and Recumbent Cycling Positions"
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