Recumbent bikes have better aerodynamics and ergonomics than conventional bikes. This allows them to travel up to 30 percent faster, according to the website BikeOff. Recumbent bicycles were banned from competitions featuring conventional bikes since 1934. Although not as maneuverable as a conventional bicycle, recumbents are more comfortable for long distances like a commute or cross-country trip.
Accessibility
A recumbent bike reduces the physical limitations that may be keeping you from climbing up onto the seat or sitting upright on a conventional bicycle. Try a recumbent bicycle on the street or at the gym. It reduces strain on your neck, back and wrists. A recumbent bike sits considerably lower to the ground and features a seat similar to a chair.
Sizing
When purchasing a recumbent bike, ask to look at and try frames that match your height. Adjust the seat to fit your body, as recommended by San Diego Miramar College. When you sit back in the seat of your recumbent bike, your legs should extend completely, but your knees should not lock.
Riding Uphill
A recumbent bike performs differently than a conventional bike when riding uphill, according to John Foltz from Tri-County Recumbent Riders. A recumbent bike loses speed at a slower rate than a normal bike when riding uphill, allowing it to perform better on short hills, even steep ones. These bikes feature low gears to make climbing up long hills easier, but it may take longer to reach the top than when you ride a conventional bike.
Advantages
A recumbent bike offers riders several advantages: it is generally more comfortable than a conventional bicycle; if you fall off the bike or get into an accident, you are low to the ground, making it easier to break your fall with your hands or to stabilize yourself with your feet; and when you stop short on a recumbent bike, you will not fly over the handlebars because your weight is leaning toward the rear.
Disadvantages
On a recumbent bicycle, you cannot stand up on the pedals, shifting your weight from side to side to get up a steep hill. The smaller front wheel makes it less stable than a conventional bike when riding on gravel or mud. And because a recumbent bike sits low to the ground, it makes it difficult for some drivers to see you when you ride on the road.
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