My ride behind a fast recumbent bike

[phyotyla]

Based on the name of his blog and some references there, I'd say it's Optima Baron

[howhypno]

What kind of speeds were you seeing on this ride? I just finished building my own recumbent and it really uses different muscles to ride, but so much better on my back!

[stackedhippiechick]

top bicycle speed

[area43]

Does the guy on the recumbent have a beard?

[JohnAllanification]

 damn good video - do more like it.

[TasteyMcSalty]

If you are using only your weight to drive the pedals, you're doing it wrong.

[highdeserthater]

i want to learn a wheely on a recumbent. lol

[TaufanDermawan]

Drafting cost one bottle of drink.. :D

[emailchrishall]

Hay, great video. Love recumbents. I have a Linear and an HP Velo.

Have you thought about doing an audio swap? That would make the video fun.

[MrHobiecat]

Just imagine how much faster YOU would be in you were not sitting up in the wind on your Trek Wedgie. Hear all that wind noise in your helmet came? That is the laws of physics sending you a message.

[evluck424]

@MrHobiecat Yeah, that message is called drag....

[emforty2]

with a body fairing like VELOMOBILES it would even be more efficient and faster than that

search utube and you'll see

[eggaweb]

Even Lance Armstrong said that given the chance he would ride a 'bent...

[MrHobiecat]

@eggaweb Given a chance?! Lance cant afford $1500 for a faster bike than anything he has ever ridden?!

[markleuck]

That was filmed about 3 years ago at White Rock Lake just north of downtown Dallas, if I recall Max and I started that run about 5 miles before he started filming and we were doing about 25+, normally riders behind me drop off after a mile or so but Max stuck with me about 10 miles.

The bike was my first Optima Baron which just a couple of weeks ago broke the frame just ahead of the steering stalk, I'm now riding a later version silver Baron which is even faster

[LAtexStretch]

I Like the Cateye LDR1100

[cats2006]

recumbent bikes may be less harmful to reproductive system than stand up bikes.

[JohanKH]

@cats2006 Aslong as you go USS instead of OSS? :D

[JohanKH]

@cats2006 ... or maybe you meant even without crashing, from just sitting.

[blitzmw77]

vvyrda-----Sounds like you need stronger legs.

[GOBRAGH2]

I have a recumbent bike, but not the kind this person is riding. I have a Bike E. Looks like a chopper etc. I never had any problems with hills. Its very comfortable and fun. Try a recumbent and see what you think. I prefer it to the upright which I have used from childhood up to the present.

[gldys45]

sooo basicaly... both upright and recumbents have their own advantages? i've never riden a recumbent, but there is NO way i would cycle any great distance on a upright, if only for the comfort.

[Scicotion]

Are recumbants good for going up steep hills?

[vvyrda]

nope. upright bikes are better because you can stand up to get more power. If you get stuck going uphill on a recumbent all you've got is brute strength pushing forward with your legs

[MegaDumbdog]

What good does standing up do, the most force you can exert is your weight. On a recumbent you should be able to push the pedals harder than that.

[vvyrda]

Have you ever even ridden an upright bicycle? Standing up definitely helps getting started... no question

when you stand up, you're putting your full weight straight down on to the pedals. When you're sitting down, some weight goes into the seat.

[MegaDumbdog]

I have ridden over 200,000 miles on Uprights before starting on a recumbent 11 years ago. When you stand on an upright , and you weigh 180 pounds, that is what pressure you can put on the pedals. When you are pushing on a recumbent pedal with against the seat, I can generate alot more force than that. All the cycling world speed records are held by recumbents.

[vvyrda]

No, im not saying you get more power on an upright rather than a recumbent, i'm simply saying standing up on an upright is better for scaling hills rather than on a recumbent

[kayakbruce1]

@MegaDumbdog How about hills climbs and mountain passes? 9% grades? I used a bob trailer on a recumbent but it was in the desert southwest.

[Daz555Daz]

@MegaDumbdog Remember though that with standard bike you can utilise the muscles in your upper body to generate power through the handlebars - you are not at all limited by rider weight. This is why top sprinters like Chris Hoy have very developed upper bodies. I would put money on a standard bike being far better at accelerating from a standing start than a recumbent. Recumbants are faster due to aero benefits rather than pedalling action I'd argue.

[triketrek11]

@Daz555Daz i agree with everything you said except generating power through the handlebars... that just doesnt make sense to me. i ride uprights and recumbents but there is no way to produce more thrust to the pedals by using your upper body. top sprinters are normally in good shape :)

[deezynar]

@Daz555Daz

I ride both types and you are correct. You leverage the handle bars in a sprint on a diamond frame bike as well as use your cleats. Recumbents have aero advantage only when you are focusing on performance. Recumbents are more comfortable.

[tecnocato]

@Daz555Daz Not entirely correct. In both types you can use your upper body to apply force in a similar manner BUT in an upright bicycle your are limited to your weight plus the downward force component of your arms which is a lot than what you can push on a leg press with just one leg. Something I read too little about is cardiovascular efficiency. Your heart is more efficient in a reclined position as it pumps bloods with less mechanical head (height).

[tecnocato]

Do you know the brand and model of the recumbent?

[viperman5686]

@MegaDumbdog Yes, but the real reason recumbents are faster is because of wind drag, not the ability to push with more force than your weight.

[EpicureMammon]

@vvyrda When I stand on something, I can only push down with as much force as I weigh, maybe a little more if I get some leverage against the handles and pull with my rising foot, but there's no reason that I couldn't push with 400+lbs if the seat back would take it. I just don't see why standing would make more power than what I produce when supported by a (relatively) unmovable support. I haven't tried, I just feel like I must be missing something.

[palmersperry]

Depends on the recumbent and on "the engine" ...

[werf4]

trek liquid 55 rocks!!!!

[jpercy2009]

you get more exersize with a recumbent because you puch outward not downwards they are far better

[wildblue2]

but a good cyclist, recumbent or diamond frame tries to apply constant force to the pedals throughout the stroke. cranking not just pushing down. the recumbent has an advantage in erognomics and aerodynamics.

[roamic]

Where is that park?

[cycleview]

It is in Dallas Texas

[conpoo]

being an xc rider i automatically generate this dislike for road bikers! by the way, specialized are common!

[heartsxtesselate]

Recumbent bikes are amazing. Don't you dare say a thing about them unless you've ridden one.

[ahutch70]

i COULDN'T AGREE MORE .. !

[antipike]

The tourdefrance should allow them in just to prove how good they are , less penile dysfunction as well

[peaceandloveletsblow]

They do seem fast but I imagine that's a nightmare to ride in traffic. 'just fall over.

[palmersperry]

I've never ridden a Baron, but I have ridden a Streetmachine, a Grasshopper and a Giro26 in traffic. Once you're used to them, they're not a problem (though you do have to remember to change to a lower gear before you stop!).

[Duncan55Watson]

On a baron you can actually put one hand down to hold yourself up if you have the arm length (aka ape index). It is one of the advantages of the low racer form factor.

[CyclingMikey]

@peaceandloveletsblow Nightmare in traffic? No mate, they are safer - feet first and no endos, plus they scare the car drivers away from you. If you get very tightly packed cars such as in London UK sometimes, then the recumbent starts to be disadvantaged as you can't duck and dive through standing traffic quite as easily. That's rare though, almost all of the time on my commute in London the recumbent still has the advantage.

[abcdrcill1]

Is it just in the more narrow/aerodynamic position? I'm thinking of trading in my roadbike for one...

[fixedgearforlife]

I just got a used recumbent bike. I'm converting it to fixed gear, it's the only way to go.

[Watthiman]

Recumbent designs predate the DF bike. After more than 20 years on a DF, I switched to a recumbent. After 6 years on my Recumbent, There is no going back. I am convinced that the DF is a poorly designed bike. It lacks in virtually every key area when compared to a properly designed recumbent. There is nothing about a DF that feels correct after you've become accustomed to a recumbent. I am faster, more comfortable and much safer on a recumbent. In addition, it is simply more fun to ride.

[dironman86]

whats DF stand for

[Watthiman]

Diamond Frame- a tradition style road bike.

[dondeans]

I used to think they were stupid, but then i sat on one and it was the most comfortable thing ever!

[charliewspringfield]

i hate those bikes

[songnsword]

Have you ever ridden one? They're awesome!

[charliewspringfield]

just look at it

[landongendur]

Wow, that was crazy fast. I guess that's the difference when you buy a quality bicycle.

[ceo560]

What kind of camera do you use? I'd like to have a camera I could attach to my bike and record when I'm riding to catch assholes on camera and post the videos online. I live in a small town of a lot of redneck big ass truck driving dicks. The are always getting they are always getting to close and yelling stupid crap.

[tobigforyou]

i wish i could ride half as good as you guys haha

[Aaronb1215]

How did you film this without dying?

[Karletto555]

1000 us dolars?! for 1000$ i can get a goodgood bike

[Superdave1051]

what do you consider a good bike when you spend a thousand?

[MrAmish]

Trek 1.5

Specialized Allez Pro

Cannadale Caad9

[ModeraterX]

SHE GOTTA DONK SHE DONK SHE DONK SHEEEE GOTTTA DONK.. Aint you just mr sunshine

[mysticalwonder7]

I'm currently building a trike version with all scrap piping and rebar, it's gonna be heavy but indestructible.

[ModeraterX]

I have the same shoes as you! Haha, The nikes.. There so comfortable.

[bellinghamster]

is one of you guys lance armstrong?

[mytube001]

Damn annoying blinkie on the 'bent! Reminded me yet again why I hate blinkies so much.

[superpat89]

I wish I could ride bikes with random people here, but I'd be afraid of getting stabbed.

[Hangdog98]

Do Canadian cyclists normally stab each other?

[Aaronb1215]

Yes.

[clockmouse]

;-) speedy. I hope you'll enjoy seeing some of my vidoes from cycling in Denmark. Also check out pdxtv's videos..some good cycling ones and an excellend one on cycling in copenhagen..

[clockmouse]

how fast were you guys going? Drafting is awesome! We get people drafting behind our tandem occasionally..fun to give ppl the ride..haha!

[randomguy46]

We were doing about 28 mph

[KB1KOI]

The fastest I've done, on a somewhat flat grade was about 26 mpg on a Mountain Bike.

[Kukenango]

You did 26 Miles Per Gallon? Not bad.. ha ha!

[KB1KOI]

my bad 26mph. 26 MPG Would be good for a Hummer

[poweredbairice]

MPG? gallons of what? water? milk? beer?

[markleuck]

(I'm the guy on the recumbent) Excellent ride my friend, hope we do it again soon!

[Makorow]

That road biker should know now that its really hard to draft behind a recumbent, especially a lowracer. Heck, if the recumbent had really poured on the juice, he would have left the roadie in the dust.

[markleuck]

Don't think I didn't try, Max is extremely fast