Recumbents

You never forget your first time. After the initial bewilderment, the false starts and hysterical wobbling you catch the spirit, and with a heave that pushes you deep into your seat you glide into the world of recumbent riding: cycling's equivalent to the flying carpet.You're not on your bike, you're in it. The combination of sofa-like seat and head-up riding position make you feel like you're watching the country pass by in panoramic wide-screen.

You can't somersault over the handlebars, so you can fit (and use) the fiercest brakes available. You can't ground the pedals, so you can keep pushing round corners. Recumbents might look dangerously close to car-bumper level, but in fact on most city recumbents the seat is higher than that of a car. Instead of looking through you, cycle-blind drivers are more likely to give you a double-take.

It may take you some time to fully appreciate the qualities of a recumbent, for the riding style is quite different and both your brain and your body will need time to adapt. You certainly can't stand on the pedals and 'honk', and you use different muscles, all of which can make hill-climbing slower, especially for the novice rider. But the overall speed is still competitive, if you include the downhill stretches: recumbents are generally more aerodynamic than uprights. The other snag is that some recumbents can cost a fair bit more than a conventional bike, due to smaller production runs, custom-built componentry, and vigorous research and development activities.

Recumbents vary just as much as uprights: there are trikes, tandems, tandem-trikes, load-carriers, racers, tourers, city-bikes, and more. Alongside the usual variations of components, suspension, and frame materials comes the question of wheelbase. Recumbents with the wheels close together are often speedier and more manoeuvrable while the long wheelbase varieties are traditionally more popular for touring, and are easier for beginners to ride. The recent emergence of medium wheelbase recumbents is an attempt to reap the benefits of both styles.

Then there are cultural differences. North Europeans tend to prefer under-the-seat steering with relatively short wheelbases, where as Americans tend to go for longer wheelbases and above-seat 'easy-rider' steering. Then there are many countries where recumbents are as yet virtually unknown.

Get a recumbent, and you'll love it! Stealing along with the wind in your hair, not just down the back of your neck, on an exclusive machine designed by someone you may well be on first-name terms with, you're part of cycling's cutting edge. A great view, great comfort: just lie back and enjoy!