Recumbent bikes might look strange at first -- the rider is low to the ground on a bench-style seat with his pedals out in front of him. However, enthusiasts will tell you they're far more comfortable than traditional bikes. Although they do have a few drawbacks, recumbent bikes are ideal for those who want to pedal without pain.
Identification
Recumbent bicycles place you in a seated position with your legs stretched out in front of you to pedal, as opposed to traditional diamond-frame bikes where you're sitting above your pedals. These bikes are lower to the ground and provide you with a clear forward view.
Comfort
Ed Burke and Ed Pavelka, authors of "The Complete Book of Long-Distance Cycling," praise the comfort level of recumbent bikes. They note that your upper body receives more support, so you're less likely to strain your arms, shoulders, neck or back. You also won't experience the wrist or hand numbness that often happens due to the angle of your body on a traditional bike. Perhaps most important, recumbent bikes remove the possibility of genital numbness and erectile dysfunction that can occasionally happen with traditional saddles.
Wind Resistance
Recumbent bikes also have less wind drag than traditional bikes. According to Recumbent Cycling Ontario, once you hit speeds of 25 km per hour or greater on a traditional bike, 90 percent of your energy goes toward resisting the wind, with only 10 percent devoted to rolling resistance and friction. Recumbent bikes solve this problem by offering 30 percent less frontal area than a standard bike with a rider in the traditional tuck position. This means you can achieve greater speed with less effort.
Other Benefits
If you like speed, you'll probably enjoy a ride on a recumbent bike. Because of the lowered wind resistance, recumbents have little trouble keeping up with road bikes. Burke and Pavelka note that on flat ground, experienced recumbent riders can easily pass road-bike riders. They also compare riding downhill on a recumbent bike to street luge, noting how easy it is for the bike to pick up speed without the added wind resistance you experience on a road bike.
Potential Drawbacks
In "High-Tech Cycling," Burke notes that recumbent bicycles can be more difficult to pedal uphill or over rough terrain. On a traditional bike, you can stand up to pedal, producing more power to help travel up a hill, for example. On a recumbent bike, you don't have this option -- you have to rely on using gears efficiently to help you get up steep grades. Burke also writes that recumbent bikes are often less visible in traffic. Because you're lower to the ground, you can't see through a car's windows to check the traffic ahead of you. People who ride recumbent bikes in city traffic need to take extra care to make themselves visible to the cars around them.
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