I have few thoughts about bikepacking on recumbent bike.
Because of the weight distribution I don’t see any difference in the ridability and handling. The issue with flexing bike when loaded with bags isn’t noticeable when riding only when you need to push it.
But the hills are killing me it isn’t ideal without the bags but with them it is brutal.
#bikepacking #biketouring #bikeTooter #regel17 @bicycle_touring
@plactagonic I’ve never ridden a recumbent, so I want to ask what’s the problem? Not enough gears for pushing uphill at a comfortable power/cadence, or keeping balance?
@bicycle_touring
@mariusor @plactagonic @bicycle_touring
On a regular bike you can stand and put your entire weight on a pedal. Not much harder than walking up a stairway.
On a recumbent, you’re pushing sideways, and your back is going into your seat even as your feet push forwards. The weight of your body doesn’t help, and you’re not using your muscles as effectively.
On an upright bike, hard pedalling is a whole body exercise, with the swaying side-to-side. Body weight is a force limiter. I’ve found it easier to pedal hard on a recumbent, against the seat back. One of my knees hurts now. It’s a bummer that the upper body doesn’t get exercise.
I don’t know what you mean by “pushing sideways” in this case - that only applies to foot-steered Flevo bikes/trikes.
@mariusor @plactagonic My bet is on too much weight on rear wheel
Doubt - that bike is front heavy without baggage. Overloading a tyre doesn’t add that much resistance anyway, and it’s easily compensated by adding pressure.
@Tehdastehdas Front heavy when going uphill? I seriously am not sure about it, but never driven one.
Even the steepest uphills aren’t that many degrees, having surprisingly little effect on weight distribution.
Hahaha. I got some inclines for you.
When he’s standing to the side to push his bike the bags get in the way.
@mariusor @plactagonic @bicycle_touring I have the same issue on my MTB with plenty of low gears, so I doubt it has much to do with recumbentness(?). Just pushing more weight uphill is hard, and the heavier the system is, the worse it is.
@Anibyl @mariusor @bicycle_touring @number6 @schmaker
Just to clarify for all of you. Recumbent bike balance only in some speed, for me it is ~6 kph. So on normal bike I can spin my legs go slowly, still balance and gradually push through the hill. But on this I have to keep some tempo even uphill and can’t help myself by standing up.
@plactagonic @mariusor @bicycle_touring @number6 @schmaker Oh, I didn’t know that! Yeah that must be brutal then.