Why don't more people use recumbents?

[reohn2]

Cunobelin
No need for condescension.
My reasons for rejecting a recumbent are no myth,and I do know what I'm talking about.
I considered long and hard buying a recumbent and filtering through traffic or the lack of it,was one of the main reasons along with their lack of offroad capability that I didn't.I'm broad shouldered and ride wide 46cm drops with a bar end RVM.MickF has described very well why that isn't an issue.

Bob,Cunobelin,Pete.
There are number of jams I filter past on rides I do regularly,where the road is just wide enough for two vehicles to pass,one in particular is snakelike with lazy bends,with usually a mile long jam or more,leading to three sets of TL's at it's head.
These jams and particularly the snake jam,would be nigh on impossible to negotiate on anything but an upright,you simply wouldn't stand a chance on a trike or low recumbent due to having to nip in inbetween cars to allow oncoming traffic to pass.
I should mention that the only recumbent I eventually considered,after considering a few,was the HP Velo Spirit,being a higher recumbent I came to the conclusion that whilst it may have been high enough to filter as I did on my uprights it was negated by the lack of aerodynamics that a lower recumbent offered,and the lack of off road capabilities closed the door on recumbents for me.

Seeing over or through cars,SUV's included,at window level is no problem for me on an uprighht as I ride in quite a relaxed style that should I want to for headwinds,etc ride on the drops I can do for hours on end if needs be,the tops are 40mm higher than the saddle.
As for trucks and vans in jams,it's possible to plan ahead in a jam so you don't or rarely,get yourself in the position of being stuck behind one,which also goes for recumbents too,to a certain extent.
The high manoeuvreabilty of an upright with its ability to hop off quickly,carry past obsticles,ie;I once was able to carry my bike past a beer truck that had shed it's bottled beer load,leaving the road and pavements covered in broken glass,and on a banked back lane that would've needed a 5 mile detour around a large fallen Ash tree that blocked the road,I simply lifted the upright onto my back and climbed over the tree.
Either manoeuvre though a rare occurrence,would be difficult on even a HP Spirit or upright trike,and almost impossible on a recumbent trike but is illustrative of the versatility of the upright bicycle.
I also like to explore off road,sometimes using the odd footpath between bridleways or byways,sometimes a walk of half a mile and a couple of stiles,though sometimes difficult to negotiate isn't a huge problem for me on my uprights,but would be with a HP Spirit or any other two wheeled recumbent,impossible with a trike of any kind,you just wouldn't go there.
As I've stated before but I'll post it again:- The recumbent for those they suit are the answer but they're limited in a way uprights aren't and that's a fact,and for me the con's far outweigh the pro's

[middleagedspread]

... recumbents for those they suit are the answer but they're limited in a way some uprights aren't and that's a fact, and for me the con's far outweigh the pro's

Fixed that for you.

Otherwise, fair comment.

[reohn2]

......recumbents for those they suit are the answer but they're limited in a way the vast majority of uprights aren't and that's a fact,and for me the con's far outweigh the pro's

On the contrary I FIFY

[Cunobelin]

Even on the trikes the difference in width is minimal practically when safely filtering traffic.

Nope.
Having been with trike riders on a few occasions, I disagree completely.

My shoulders/upper arms are 60cm wide outside width. (just measured them)
An ICE trike is a minimum of 85cm wide.
http://www.icetrikes.co/products/adventure-hd
Look at the very first picture, and then scroll down for the dimensions.

Also, the thin bit of an upright is low down and the body width is high up of course. Cars tend to be have a narrower roof-line than the wheel-track. Widest part of a car (other than mirrors) is at door-handle height.

I have never experienced any problems in traffic with recumbents

I had a Trice (Peter Ross 1994) followed by Catrike Expedition, two HP Velotechnik trikes, and a Kettwiesel. none has traffic issues.

Nor do I have problems on the Street Machine or Hurricane or the Linear that I had in 1990

As I stated before, I will continue to commute, tour and enjoy riding in away that I am continually being told by others is impossible

[reohn2]

...... I will continue to commute, tour and enjoy riding in away that I am continually being told by others is impossible

But you're not being told any such thing.
You're being told that a trike won't fit where a two wheeler will in the context of filtering in traffic.That's a fact!

[middleagedspread]

Thanks rheon2 but

recumbents are ... limited in a way the vast majority of uprights aren't and that's a fact

is really not an established fact. I acknowledge that there are some things I can do with my very versatile hybrid that I can't do with my recumbent trike, but I can do more with my recumbent trike (including off-roading) than I can do with my carbon specialized allez road bike. Given the prevalence of road bikes in the UK, I challenge the sweeping generalisation.

[reohn2]

Thanks rheon2 but

recumbents are ... limited in a way the vast majority of uprights aren't and that's a fact

is really not an established fact. I acknowledge that there are some things I can do with my very versatile hybrid that I can't do with my recumbent trike, but I can do more with my recumbent trike (including off-roading) than I can do with my carbon specialized allez road bike. Given the prevalence of road bikes in the UK, I challenge the sweeping generalisation.

Please stop tying to avoid the obvious,which is that a general purpose upright will go where your 'bent trike won't,it will also be easier to walk with or carry,where where your trike can't be.

TBH this thread has become like dealing with a bunch of religious zealots who can't see there are other religions or even non at all.
It really is becoming tedious so I'll opt out from now on and let you lot carry one in your beliefs,sorry to have trespassed on holy ground.......

[Tangled Metal]

......recumbents for those they suit are the answer but they're limited in the same way the vast majority of uprights are and that's a fact,and for me the con's far outweigh the pro's

FTFY

Recumbents are just bikes or trikes with a huge variety of types just like uprights. If there's an upright fit a particular use there's a recumbent for that use. The issue is whether you are willing to accept that and consider looking at the right recumbent for your needs. It seems the majority of cyclists are with reohn2 on this matter in that they have closed their mind to the additional options provided by recumbents. That's how I see his discussion going.

[middleagedspread]

rheon2,

I'm not trying to avoid anything. I agree that a general purpose bike is more versatile than most recumbents. I just wrote that in the post you quoted. But many (most?) uprights on UK roads are not general purpose bikes. They are specialised for road racing, Triathlon, down hilling or whatever. In the same way that most recumbents are specialised for their task.

And of course a two wheeler is easier to carry than a trike - recumbent or not. I don't see many people lugging their Pashley Picador. There are plenty of lightweight high racers that are just as easy to carry or wheel as an upright bike.

And the fact that we disagree does not make me a recumbent fanatic. If you look back to an earlier post, I explained why I no longer ride my recumbents - because they don't suit my current circumstances in the way that a hybrid does. I like recumbents, and I like uprights.

[Tangled Metal]

Psamathe - just seen a recumbent that might suit you in the classifieds of another site.

https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=107527.0

Review here.

http://mccraw.co.uk/nazca-gaucho-26/

[yakdiver]

When I make tea I put my milk in first, that the way I like it

[NUKe]

Please stop tying to avoid the obvious,which is that a general purpose upright will go where your 'bent trike won't,it will also be easier to walk with or carry,where where your trike can't be.

TBH this thread has become like dealing with a bunch of religious zealots who can't see there are other religions or even non at all.
It really is becoming tedious so I'll opt out from now on and let you lot carry one in your beliefs,sorry to have trespassed on holy ground.......

They call it the dark side for a reason. You are right though for General purpose riding the upright has the edge, but I can't help myself the bent just draws me in.

[Brucey]

......recumbents for those they suit are the answer but they're limited in the same way the vast majority of uprights are and that's a fact,and for me the con's far outweigh the pro's

FTFY

Recumbents are just bikes or trikes with a huge variety of types just like uprights. If there's an upright fit a particular use there's a recumbent for that use. The issue is whether you are willing to accept that and consider looking at the right recumbent for your needs. It seems the majority of cyclists are with reohn2 on this matter in that they have closed their mind to the additional options provided by recumbents. That's how I see his discussion going.

but there is not a perfect overlap between the two species, which is

a) kind of the point and
b) means that you will have pros and cons with each type of machine.

For many (but not all) users/uses the cons of recumbents outweigh the pros, simple as that.

cheers

[pwa]

Please stop tying to avoid the obvious,which is that a general purpose upright will go where your 'bent trike won't,it will also be easier to walk with or carry,where where your trike can't be.

TBH this thread has become like dealing with a bunch of religious zealots who can't see there are other religions or even non at all.
It really is becoming tedious so I'll opt out from now on and let you lot carry one in your beliefs,sorry to have trespassed on holy ground.......

They call it the dark side for a reason. You are right though for General purpose riding the upright has the edge, but I can't help myself the bent just draws me in.

And if you like it, that is reason enough. There is a bloke around here who goes around on a modern take on a "penny farthing", which to me looks less than practical. But I love the fact that he does it. It's not about spreadsheet logic, it is about what makes you smile. With recumbents the spreadsheet stuff stacks up better, but I'm happy that people with a passion for bents are out there doing what you/they do.

[Cunobelin]

...... I will continue to commute, tour and enjoy riding in away that I am continually being told by others is impossible

But you're not being told any such thing.
You're being told that a trike won't fit where a two wheeler will in the context of filtering in traffic.That's a fact!

So is the "fact" that helmets save thousands of lives each year

It is not the case in my experience.

Practically there is no difference between riding the two safety in traffic.