Recumbent bikes -- why we wrote the story
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They’re quirky. There’s a good chance they have bad backs. And if they haven’t gotten in the way of your road-hogging, belly-fat-inducing car or SUV (are you still driving that thing?), they probably will. They’re recumbent cyclists -- and they’re here to show us the way.
Recumbent proselytizer Jonathan Dietch took reporter Janet Cromley along for a spin recently on his tandem. (She learned that 1] recumbent biking is fun and 2] cleaning mud off a video camera is difficult.) He and other enthusiasts say that unlike road bikes, recumbents stand out. That’s true -- as has been the contention that the bikes are gonna take off among a mass audience. (Any time now. Really. The public is ready. Wait and see... ) That possibility is one of the reasons we wrote the story.
With baby boomers hitting middle age and aware of the price of inactivity -- as well as the price of gas, recumbent bikes are a less traditional, more attention-getting way of hitting the road in a healthy way. The machines are easier on the spine, hips, wrists, shoulders and neck than traditional bikes, but no less obsession-inducing for that.
Their owners can be just as gear-focused as their more upright brethren and, with fewer numbers, can even consider themselves more elite in a certain sense. And, if what’s holding you back is the desire for bragging rights among your clique, note that though the bikes may look laid back, they can cost plenty. They only start at around $600. The status-conscious (sorry, performance-conscious) can still plunk down thousands.
Speed? Not a problem either.
For a nice introduction to the joys of recumbent cycling, check out the Recumbent Blog. The blog closed recently -- the writer rider has moved on -- but it’s still an excellent resource. And then there’s RecumBum, which bills itself as ‘the musings of a recumbent bicycle bum.’
So if you’ve been using the ‘I can’t ride my bike because of my knees’ excuse, give it up.
That’s the Health section for you -- shooting down those I-can’t-exercise-because explanations one feeble excuse at a time. (Our other reason for doing the story.)
-- Tami Dennis