# Looking for a recumbent bicycle **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 19, 2009, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-recumbent-bicycle/506942 "2009-08-19T11:45:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-recumbent-bicycle/506942/1 "2009-08-19T11:45:13Z")
A couple of months ago I was driving home from work at about 5:30am. I had been at work since 8am the previous morning, so I was pretty tired. I went to get off the freeway to see if my bagel shop here in Henderson (NV) was open (they open at 6am), when I saw a group of three guys all on matching recumbent trikes. They all had the windshields, which were edged in like a day-glo yellow aluminum or something. I asked them what kind they were and _thought_ they said Tri-trikes (or some other spelling) but I haven’t been able to find them in searching online. I’d be interested in looking at other recumbent trikes that would fit my frame (6’4" with 33" inseam, about 220# atm), but these looked perfect for what I want. Can anyone help me find these (or similar) recumbent trikes? ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-recumbent-bicycle/506942/2 "2009-08-19T12:25:55Z")
I never see any in stores but maybe I don’t go to enough stores. You probably need to order online or get a store to order one for you. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-recumbent-bicycle/506942/3 "2009-08-19T13:06:00Z")
yeah, i’ve been looking online, but i cant find these bikes that i saw. I want one of those, and none of the bike shops I go to in Las Vegas/Henderson was able to help me find them… that’s why I asked for help here identifying/finding the trikes. ---
**Author:** ![Dragwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dragwyr/32/2855_2.png) [@Dragwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragwyr)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-recumbent-bicycle/506942/4 "2009-08-19T13:29:15Z")
Check out ['BentRider Online](http://www.bentrideronline.com/). they review and have plenty of links to recumbent trikes. Their reviews are also very insightful. I don’t know what your budget is, but be prepared to spend at least $1000 for a recumbent trike. They are expensive, but in my opinion, quite worth it. ---
**Author:** ![Surok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@Surok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surok)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-recumbent-bicycle/506942/5 "2009-08-19T13:32:59Z")
[Trice](http://www.ice.hpv.co.uk/trikes/choose.htm) recumbents, maybe? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-recumbent-bicycle/506942/6 "2009-08-19T15:14:56Z")
Well that certainly has the “sounds-like” quality, and they do look like nice bikes… thanx for that one. I don’t see the windshield that the riders I saw had, nor do I see the silver & day-glo yellow motif that all 3 sported, but those are certainly good looking trikes. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-recumbent-bicycle/506942/7 "2009-08-19T15:18:00Z")
> [@Dragwyr](#): > > Check out ['BentRider Online](http://www.bentrideronline.com/). they review and have plenty of links to recumbent trikes. Their reviews are also very insightful. > > I don’t know what your budget is, but be prepared to spend at least $1000 for a recumbent trike. They are expensive, but in my opinion, quite worth it. Thanks for the link, **Dragwyr** ; I’m going thru the site and seeing lots of cool stuff. ETA: I’m prepared to spend quite a bit more than $1k as long as I get a quality machine. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2009, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-recumbent-bicycle/506942/8 "2009-08-19T15:34:38Z")
terratrike is also a possible sound alike ---
**Author:** ![Dragwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dragwyr/32/2855_2.png) [@Dragwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragwyr)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-recumbent-bicycle/506942/9 "2009-08-20T14:53:11Z")
With regard to the windshield you are looking for. It is called a wind fairing and a lot of recumbent bikes and trikes are not sold with it normally. It is an add on that typically is purchased separately that either you install yourself, or you can have the bike shop install for you. Buying any kind of recumbent bike or trike will require some investigation and research on your part to find the one that fits you best. You may like the ones you saw out on the road, but there are plenty of others that may very well suit your needs. Don’t be afraid to experiment and try other models out. Good luck. I hope you find what you are looking for. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-recumbent-bicycle/506942/10 "2009-08-20T15:21:18Z")
My recumbent is called [speed](http://www.hostelshoppe.com/images/products/lb_07cat_speed.jpg). (Catrike) I love it more every time I ride it. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-recumbent-bicycle/506942/11 "2009-08-20T19:25:28Z")
> [@Dragwyr](#): > > With regard to the windshield you are looking for. It is called a wind fairing and a lot of recumbent bikes and trikes are not sold with it normally. It is an add on that typically is purchased separately that either you install yourself, or you can have the bike shop install for you. > > Buying any kind of recumbent bike or trike will require some investigation and research on your part to find the one that fits you best. You may like the ones you saw out on the road, but there are plenty of others that may very well suit your needs. Don’t be afraid to experiment and try other models out. > > Good luck. I hope you find what you are looking for. “fairing” thank you. I could not remember the word; kept coming up as with things that were close but I knew were wrong. These matched the finish on the trikes, so I made the leap that perhaps they were made by the trike manufacturer. My thanks for all who have responded. Yes, I’d like to try out some of these, as I have a large frame and want to be comfortable while riding. Unfortunately, it seems that would entail driving/flying all over the frikkin’ country, because no bike shops ever sell the damn things. I’d have to go to each manufacturer’s headquarters just for a test ride, and I don’t have the funds to do _that_. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-recumbent-bicycle/506942/12 "2009-08-20T19:31:32Z")
If nobody minds the hijack, what is the specific appeal of these? I’ve seen a few of them and they look like lots of fun, but I’m assuming there are more substantial reasons than the fun factor? Is it a better workout? Do you have a condition / injury that makes these a better fit than a bicycle? ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-recumbent-bicycle/506942/13 "2009-08-20T20:12:02Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > If nobody minds the hijack, what is the specific appeal of these? I’ve seen a few of them and they look like lots of fun, but I’m assuming there are more substantial reasons than the fun factor? Is it a better workout? Do you have a condition / injury that makes these a better fit than a bicycle? some people like the posture more for comfort and/or health. people may have situations that they could no longer ride an upright. other muscles get used but it is more efficient. ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-recumbent-bicycle/506942/14 "2009-08-20T20:14:23Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > If nobody minds the hijack, what is the specific appeal of these? I’ve seen a few of them and they look like lots of fun, but I’m assuming there are more substantial reasons than the fun factor? Is it a better workout? Do you have a condition / injury that makes these a better fit than a bicycle? In most conditions, they’re definitely more efficient. A recumbent rider, on a flat surface, will go faster for the same amount of effort than a rider on a conventional bicycle. Add a fairing to the recumbent and the advantage is even greater. I’m told (I’ve never riden a recumbent) that the opposite is true when going uphill – the conventional bike will do better. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-recumbent-bicycle/506942/15 "2009-08-20T20:35:22Z")
> [@Saintly\_Loser](#): > > In most conditions, they’re definitely more efficient. A recumbent rider, on a flat surface, will go faster for the same amount of effort than a rider on a conventional bicycle. Add a fairing to the recumbent and the advantage is even greater. > > I’m told (I’ve never riden a recumbent) that the opposite is true when going uphill – the conventional bike will do better. Yes a “normal” bike does better, probably due to standing up on the stirrups and using your weight. But down hill? Boy Howdy, the wind resistance is a lot less and I fly downhill. I have mostly ridden in FL where it is pretty flat and can get up to speed and just stay there. Lying on my back, legs slightly elevated, I’m rarely tired even after several hours of riding. And I am big, 270. My real problems come with the width of the bike, bike trails are not built for them. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-recumbent-bicycle/506942/16 "2009-08-20T20:45:58Z")
Very interesting; thanks all. I would love to try one but it sounds like they are typically not in bike shops so I have no idea where I’d go to take a test drive.