Recumbent bicycles - more comfort more efficiency and speed. Tandem bicycles - bicycles made for two... and tandem recumbents!

Recumbent Bicycles offer quite a few advantages over traditional bikes. They are comfortable, easy on your back and easier to pedal (partially due to using the seat back for additional leverage support). Recumbents make nice road bicycles in addition to bike path bikes. I'm sure that you are seeing more of them now and you can find pretty extensive information about them online.

These are the lower bikes with the "easy chair" seats, the pedals out in front and the easy-rider handle bars.

Recumbent bicycles do have some disadvantages though, which are that they are more expensive than traditional bikes and they are a little harder to find.

I have been told that recumbent bicycles can not turn quite as sharply as traditional bikes, which of course can be a disadvantage especially for some preferred riding styles.

I intend to check into recumbents personally myself this year. In the mean time, if anyone out there has some additional info for me to post, please contact me... (via the link below)

Tandem Bicycles have always turned heads and had a certain amount of popularity. These bikes seem to be gaining in popularity these days also. There are also a number of Tandem-recumbents out there and they are getting more popular. For Recumbent Trikes see the WizWheelz link below.

About-Bicycles - Recumbent articles:

Bents-Tour-Strada - First hand descriptions and candid comments about Tour EZ and Bacchetta Strada bents. Test rides at Amling's in Niles Il.

Bents-Giro-Force5 - First hand descriptions, candid comments and original photos of the Bacchetta Giro and Rans Force 5 le recumbents at Bike Rack in St. Charles, Il.

Note:

As I mentioned above, the disadvantages with these types of bikes is that they are more expensive and harder to find. At the time of this writing (March 2003) this remains true online as well.

One of the reasons that I am keeping this section brief is that I have not found these types of bicycles available online (please update me, via the contact link) if you find a good online source.

I wanted to mention that I have spent hours looking specifically for recumbent bikes (for sale online) and did not find a site where you could buy them online.

Of course, this type of thing changes daily... SO...

A great recumbent trikes resource:

Update: 6/5/05

OK, I've had some additional references, for recumbents (and tandem recumbents and trikes) since I originally put this page together and I have found a great resource for these bicycles:

Check out: WizWheelz.com This is a great resource for recumbent trikes! Here's a testimonial sent in to about-bicycles from one of our visitors.

More recumbents for sale online:

Just a reminder... You can always check out www.ebay.com for the latest used recumbents for sale.

Articles and Resources

Cycle Computers (bike speedometers, odometers) A good cyclecomputer is one of the most useful and interesting accessories that you can have on your bike. Speedometer, Odometer, Trip Meter, Date and Time, Riding time vs Elapsed time, averages... Many wireless models are available too!

Bicycle Clothing Mostly what you really need as far as bicycle clothing goes, of course, is what makes you comfortable (some people may require more style to be comfortable than others :-) ).

Bicycle Accessories Having the right bicycle accessories available when you need them makes the difference between just another ride and a ride that you don't really want to end. (bicycle lights, bags, mirrors, hydration packs and water bottles, locks, car racks...)

Bike Parts If you ride bikes, you are going to be needing bicycle tires, tubes, bicycle wheels, cables, chains and chain cleaner kits, brake shoes and other bicycle parts and accessories pretty regularly. Here are some great online sources.

The Recumbent Bicycle
Read all about 'bents offline too...

Tandem Bicycling America: Border to...