The other day, Igor announced via mail that he would be passing through our area, along Fruska gora on his amazing home-made recumbent bike, and suggested we meet up at a convenient crossroads to see this amazing beast!
Now you’ve got to bear in mind that Serbia is a fairly poor country and so people don’t have a lot of free time from worrying about basic matters of subsistence (like, “what are we going to eat tomorrow?”) This means that relatively few people have the time or money to have a hobby, and that includes cycling, even on a “normal” bike!
So it is all the more unusual (and credit-worthy) that Igor has actually sat down and designed and built his own recumbent! We simply had to see this monster and have a try!
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What you see here are the fleeting few seconds I actually stayed on the thing! See the Gallery for the rest of my feeble attempts!
I only realised as I was putting the photos together for the site, that I had come by car and so forgotten to bring my helmet! Nor did it occur to me to borrow somebody’s! What possessed me, I have no idea!
A few first impressions about the recumbent (I had never tried one before! And may not again…!):
- the deal is, this is nothing like riding a regular bike! It involves a completely different body position, different sense of balance and indeed, as I mused afterwards, it is actually exactly like learning to ride a bike all over again!
- the tricky thing is you need to get both feet up in the air before you can even set off, and this must involve quite a deft manoeuvre. Not only that, but Igor has put clipless pedals on it - sounds like insanity, but as he points out, your feet would fall off otherwise, since they are right up in the air!
- the main advantage that I can see, apart from novelty value, is that you are reclining nicely and your back is entirely supported, which must be a good position for riding long distances. On the other hand, with small wheels like these, I can’t help feeling there is considerably more effort involved.
Igor and friends have done a great job putting this together - when I saw the pics it looked like a bodge-job, but it is actually very nicely made! Personally, I am not sure if it is going to catch on, whether there is any real point to it at all, nor whether I will ever learn to ride one of these, but all credit to Igor for bucking the trend and doing something different!
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Posted on June 8th, 2007 by markowe
Filed under: Biking - general, MTB Serbia (All)
Hej
I’m glad You had fun with my bike.
Pity that You couldn’t ride it,as the bike is not set up for such a tall person.
The pedal-seat distance could maybe allow You to take a spin or two,
but the handle bar arrangement wouldn’t,as You will hit the handlebar with Your knees/thighs before you could make a full circle with the pedals.
Tadpole trike,with an under seat handlebar arrangement would allow you to ride it,
and no need to balance the thing,as it has 3 wheels on the ground
When I tried a recumbent bike for the first time,it also felt like one needs to learn to ride a bike all over again,
but just after few stop&start situations,and several hundred meters of wizzing up and down the street it all became natural.
Balance is balance,and this is simply only a bike
Same physics applies for any who wheeler ,be it upright,or ‘bent rider position.
Some things just work in a different manner on a ‘bent,that’s all.
I have clocked about 600km’s since it started to roll,
and now I feel pretty much at home in any situation.
Btw,You only need one foot in the air to get the bike rolling
Then You clip-in the other one,and keep on spinning.
People often ask me “is it hard to pedal on that position” or “how do you start”
It’s all pretty simple,really,and it’s a blast to ride,and enjoying the sky and surroundings instead “enjoying” the look of your front wheel ;-p
Once one learns how to use clipless pedals,there is no difference in using them on a upright (or should I say upWRONG bike
or on a ‘bent.
I admit,there is more distance from the pedals to the ground,
but it’s not really a problem.
And if one is not comfortable with hight,there are always lower bikes and lowracers,and of course,recumbent trikes.
This is a highracer after all,designed to use dual 26″ wheels with the seat mounted pretty high.
The wheels size really doesn’t play much of a roll,except in tire selection options.
It’s more easier to find fast rolling tire in 26″ or 28″ that in 20″ or smaller,
but there are tires like that,and some roll BETTER then big ones!
just they are not easy to get hold of,well,at least in this God forsaken land .. :-/
Any serious recumbent dealer in the west would have quite of a tire selection for any wheel size,from 16″ to 28″
I’m sure that ‘bents will get more and more popular,and sales figures show that they are growing,bit still about 2% of the market share.
For road riding the bent is the most natural choice - it’s superior aerodynamics are better than the time trial bike,so with the right rider in the seat,it can be faster then the high end road bike,
so now wonder that UCI banned recumbents from international races,including Tour de France in 1934,stating that “recumbents are in unfair advantage against traditional bicycle”
They where faster,and they banned them!
Bents are SO comfortable,that one can do long distances without feeling any pain,like wrist/beck/back/but pain.
I can do about 70km on a upright,and everything beyond that becomes just simply painful.
My but aches,my wrists get swollen,and hands go numb,no matter what kind of seat/handlebar/gloves/chamois I use.
Just few weeks ago I did 170km on the bent,and never experienced any discomfort.Only my legs were tired.
I could go on and on about advantages of a recumbent over traditional bicycle,
then the traditional bicycle.
but i suggest you do some research,and find out on your own,
that bents are faster,more comfortable,more safer,more cool
As always people have problems accepting something that is different,
and no one likes to be the black sheep in the herd,
even if being a black sheep will allow you to be free from pain,cycle longer and faster.
People are strange ..
However,’bents are not the best bike for every situation.
Bents can never do what MTB can do.
Some are close,and can be ridden offroad,but they will never be faster,and efficient in offroad conditions as mtb is.
One can commute in very dense city traffic on a bent,sure,but it would never be as efficient in that field as a dedicated commuter upright bike.
The upright has better view of the traffic,and is more visible to other road users too,
it’s easier to weave trough the row of cars,and most importantly,it can jump on/off kerbs,and bents usually can’t do that.
In order to climb a high kerb,one must dismount,or go very slowly to climb it,to avoid pinch puncture.
Getting off of the kerb is not as hard,but still it’s far more easy to do it with a upright bike.
But when it comes to the “open” road,bent rules.It can smoke any roadie anytime (presuming that riders are of equal fitness level),
and ride faster and further,with no pain .. think about it !
Hi,
this summer me and a friend are making a 2 week trip trough Czech, Slovakia, Hungary and Austria by recumbent. So if you want to have a second try on a recumbent you can meet us anywhere on the road.
We both got a highracer. My friend has a M5 26/28 and I’ve got an Optima Cougar.
If you want to try, we are happy to meet you.
Regards, Naan
That thing is a monster. I’m so impressed! It’s a serious achievement to build something like that, yourself.
I see a guy on the road with a recumbant regularly - used to see him most days on my way to work. His has the pedals under his knees/seat though and he’s riding with his feet lower than this one.
I always think it looks comfortable and very energy efficient - I mean his pedal energy here… then an 18 wheeler goes past him a little close and I see him wobble and fight against the slipstream and I think, hmm…. maybe not. Higher up is not always more efficient but if you’re using it as a road bike it’s a bit more visible…
If you meet Naan, I’ll look forward to seeing the photos!
Cheers
BC
PS I’m busy testing saddles at the moment… I need something designed for a lady, with ladies things!
You mean like with extra mirrors so you can powder your nose, that sort of thing?
Yeah, I mean it’s just a really weird feeling, you are lower down and your centre of balance is just in some completely different spot to when seated on a regular bike. So like I say it is totally like learning to ride all over again.
Strangely, recumbents always remind me of the Sinclair C5! And much like the C5, they seem to be ridden predominantly by bearded middle-aged men (I’m really asking for trouble with this!) who look like maybe their wives threw them out and now live an itinerant recumbent-riding life! Oh dear, I’ve just alienated 90% of the readership!
>> then an 18 wheeler goes past him a little close and I see him wobble and fight against the slipstream and I think, hmm…
Hej ! where is my reply!?I’ve just posted it. I wrote bunch of things,and I don’t see it here ! :-/
Markowe,
Maybe I can show you some that will change your associations with recumbents. I recognize your image but it’s worth to look at it from another perspective. A recumbent is progressive. An evolution of biking, by people who want to cycle faster, further or just more confortable. These bikes are not common, they are “different”. The people using them are usually more openminded and not afraid to be “different”. Therefor, they sometimes even look “different”. Everything new is different.
take al look here:
http://www.azub.cz
http://www.challenge-ligfietsen.nl
http://www.naaneldering.nl/img/condor2.pdf
http://www.naaneldering.nl/showoff/mtventoux.jpg
http://ligfiets.net/fotoboek/fotos/jwmRNBvN.jpg
Thanks for your comments Naan (and Igor, sorry your comment got chewed up, don’t know what happened there).
Actually I agree Naan, I think the thing I find most attractive about the recumbent is that it is different, and maybe that’s why I will try it again sometime. It’s maybe the same as a unicycle, or penny-farthing bike, it’s fun because it’s different, as you say.
In fact, I tried riding a unicycle and had even less success than on the “ligfiets”
What I like most about a recumbent is it’s speed. It’s aerodynamics makes it so much faster..
Important fact is that an unicycle was designed for fun, hard to ride, a circus thing, not for transportation. A recumbent is really develloped to be a faster and more confortable way of transportation. An evolution of the normal bike..
People who are curios can meet us in Budapest around 16 July.
Regards, Naan Eldering
There is definitely a part of me which would like a recumbant… and a saddle with a nose powdering mirror but that’s another story. Naan, your comments about speed and aerodynamics definitely make me think “hmm” - but in a good way. Everything I’ve read about recumbants so far says basically, the same as you, that they are faster, more energy efficient and more comfortable.
That said… the bloke I see on the A10 is a bearded middle aged guy…. although of course, this is Cambridgeshire, the office I used to work in had belonged to Sir Clive in a previous incarnation… and about one in three males past puberty has a beard, a phd in physics and wears open toed sandals with socks in all weathers… sorry, I’ve gone off on a complete tangent there… I guess what I was really saying is that I think recumbants are pretty cool…
Cheers
BC
Ha, yes, THEY’RE the guys I mean
Well, I think there is definitely a market for young guys like Naan and Igor to MAKE recumbent cycling cool! Laid-back you might say…!
Now I have to agree with you.. Recumbent riders are usually the type “old-world-travelers” with goathair socks in sandals, yes. They have homemade recumbents with lot’s of useless stuff on it like a dynamo powered MS-DOS PC for navigation, a Cappucino machine and a laundry dryer. And they look as if they’re still living with their mother. They don’t have a cellphone, fashionable clothes nor deodorant. Nerds, leftovers, and freaks.. I know them. Nice people, but I hate the image they are spreading.
But there is another side which I try to show you. There are real recumbent racing competitions with sponsored riders who are damn serious about it. People with brand new, lightweight racing recumbents, trying to set new world records. Manufacturers working on new inventions, trying to make cycling better in some ways. Or people who just want to ride their bike without explaining why. And they’re all stuck with this image.
To become a succes, they have to get rid of that image.
http://www.flevobike.nl/
http://www.flevobike.nl/content/view/25/55/lang,nl/
http://www.aerorider.com/
Anyhow,I was saying:
Regarding the 18 wheeler monsters.
To my surprise, ‘bent behaves better then the upright in situations like that !
I used to get whipped out one my upright when a truck/bus going 70-80km/h in the opposite direction comes towards me,
I could feel the kick of the air in my chest.,and get instantly slowed down by at least 5km/h
Not so with he bent.There is turbulence alright,but it doesn’t affect me that much
I just “feel” the wind,and that’s all.No drama like on the upright.
Must be the better aerodynamics.
Also,to my surprise it even behaves better in side wind situations,
which is strange,cause the body position,looking from the side,
is not that much different when on the upright bike.
But I think I know the explanation for this.
Even tough this is a high racer,now with dual 26″ wheels,
the riders body is LOWER then on the upright.
Since in side wind situations,rotation axis is on the tire contact patch,
heaving the body closer to the axis results in less leverage when the side wind acts upon the rider,so rider doesn’t get thrown sideways as much as on a bike where the body would be higher.
And of course,there are always low riding recumbent trikes.
There is noting more stable then 2 wheels in the front,and one drive wheel in the back.
Ok,ok,there is always a 4wheeler
Tadpole trikes are practically not affected by side winds,
because the body is very close to the ground,and of course,they have 3 wheels
They are also more comfortable(no need to balance,just sit back and relax),and easier to ride,since there is a zero learning curve.
There is no need to balance,just a gentile touch on the handlebars is all it takes.
Of course,if You take corners really fast,you must lean into a turn,to prevent tipover,proportionally to the seat hight and track/wheelbase.
The lower the seat is,the more stable it is,and wider/longer the wheel track/wheelbase is,the faster you can take a corner.
No need to look for a chair when you stop,no need to unclip shoes.
Just stop and enjoy the view,or pull out your book and read it in some nice quiet place.
Time for me to post some links too,eh ?
http://www.ice.hpv.co.uk
http://www.greenspeed.com.au
http://www.steintrikes.com
http://www.catrike.com
http://www.wizzwheelz.com
http://www.bentrideronline.com
A, yeah, I forgot
:quote: PS I’m busy testing saddles at the moment… I need something designed for a lady, with ladies things!
:/quote:
Been there, done that!
Gel this,gel that,cutaways here,cutaways there,natural leather,from cheap ones to $100 ones ..
And couldn’t find any seat that was comfortable and didn’t give me pain after 3 hours on the bike.
But aching wrists were my major problem.
I’ve also tried numerous handlebar grips,gloves,and nothing really helped on longer rides.
Btw,I rode fully suspended hi end enduro bike,which really soaked up bumps and all (off road or on),
but nothing could prevent my but/wrists aching after 70 kms or so.
The only solution that really WORKED, is a no pressure point recumbent position.
Do Yourself a favor, and get a nice bent for a test ride, for a few days if possible.
But DON’T test a tadpole trike if You don’t have the money in Your pocket !
You’ll be hooked instantly, and would want one to take home with You.
Trikes are dangerously fun !
Cheers
I totally agree with Igor!
Do you guys already know the KMX? That’s tadpolefun!
http://www.kmxkarts.co.uk/
Don’t miss the videos ! http://www.kmxkarts.co.uk/kmxExperience.html
So, I’m off to Czech in 1 day. Be prepared!
Regards, Naan
Hey, unfortunately I doubt I will be anywhere near your route. But have fun anyway, and consider Serbia for your next trip! The new Danube route could be of interest!
Have a good trip!
Oh, and Igor, I like the videos, those are some really fancy recumbents!
Gotta share this with You all
It really shows what recumbents are all about
“They say, [i][b]in cycling,that there’s always someone faster[/b][/i] . So I feel like, why not BE that SOMONE !? ”
http://www.geoffadams.com/bikes/baron.mov [12MB QuickTime file] ( I recomend the “save link as” option)
‘bent greetings !
Hey, Igor, back to this topic - it’s so strange to see you riding a bike sitting upright
http://www.freebiking.org/galerije/main.php?g2_itemId=1617
:-/ !! again my comment got chewed up ! :-/ and i was stupid enough not to copy the text before clicking on ‘post’ ..
In any way,yeah,that’s me on a wedgie
I missed the off road riding,and the joy it brings,
but what I did not miss is the sore but that i got
I haven’t sat on s wedgie in two years!
In the mean time,I have sold my two wheeled bent, and got a trike frame tha I built up to my liking.
See all about it here: http://s113.photobucket.com/albums/n227/iralic/TRIKE/
Cheers!
I have lwb,swb,low racer even unfinished trike in my garage.All DIYs.Tel:065/2429294.Soon I will post some pistures.Bicycles and recumbents are my hobby and life style. Cheers,everyone!
Cool! I guess you know Igor then, too - there can’t be MANY more recumbent/trike fanatics in Serbia, surely!
P.S. Igor, the trike is cool! I am surprised I haven’t seen you breezing through Novi Sad on it. Maybe you were too fast!
‘ello !
Tnx for kind words
Yeah, I guess I was to fast since you didn’t notice I was in town 
http://iralic.fotopic.net/c1496546.html
My first whole day ride was a 160km one, to Novi Sad via Iriski Venac, and back via Danube cycle route
I don’t think I know Zoran, but it is possible that maybe we exchanged few key strokes on the Freebiking forum.
If not, then visiting forum.freebiking.org and it’s recumbent section is a must!
Greetings from snowy Poland!