Recumbent bicycles offer an entirely different experience than traditional bikes, allowing the cyclist to sit in a chair-like seat with full back support and the pedals out in front of them rather than below. Aside from a significant comfort advantage, recumbent bicycles also provide some safety benefits, as well.
Types
Manufacturers often classify recumbent bicycles according to wheelbase, with the three main types being long, short and compact long. Recumbent bicycles with long wheelbases have the pedals between the front and rear wheels. Short wheelbase models place the pedals in front of the front wheel. Compact long wheelbases place the pedals close to or even above the front wheel. While simply a matter of personal preference, wheelbase length may contribute to rider safety, with longer wheelbases proving nearly impossible to flip during crashes.
Benefits
Recumbent bicycles place the rider in a more ergonomically correct position, promoting proper blood flow to the legs. The chair-like seat provides solid back support and allows the rider to sit tall with a relaxed neck, improving overall road visibility. Recumbent bicyclists sit lower to the ground, reducing the risk of injury during falls. The lower center of gravity even enhances braking and stopping power. There's also no risk of flipping over the handlebars after abrupt stops or damage to the front wheel.
Accessories
Recumbent bicyclists will have greater difficulty looking behind them because of the seat's high back. To compensate, many cyclists equip their recumbent bikes with mirrors to make rear visibility easier and prevent accidents. Because of their construction, recumbent bicycles often position the rider below the eye level of many SUVs and larger motorized vehicles. Wearing bright clothing or adding flags to the rear of the bike may help improve visibility for surrounding motorists.
Considerations
Because the rider sits in a comfortable, stable chair seat, operating a recumbent bicycle requires less balance than riding a traditional bicycle. However, because of their seated position, riders can't lean forward as easily or stand up to make balance adjustments. As a result, recumbent riders must make small steering movements to correct balance. But because riders sit so low, it's easier to place their feet on the ground to prevent falls if balance problems persist.
Warnings
Because they're seated so low to the ground, recumbent bicyclists run a much greater risk of "leg suck," which occurs when the rider's foot slips off the pedal and contacts the ground. When this happens, the bicycle will keep moving forward, causing the foot to be "sucked" behind the rider. This can lead to soft tissue injuries, such as sprained ankles and torn ligaments, or even broken bones.
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