Those with shortened cranks

[fishfright]

@Brucey Head for York rally and have a demo at the ICE / Bikefix stands , you may enjoy it and give you practical experience of the why's and wherefores. If nothing else it's an experience.

[UpWrong]

Let me tell you where i am with all this.
I'm most unlikely to ever get a bent, for lots of reasons....
I like to look over the hedge, I like to ride tracks
I like to put a couple of bikes in the car, or a handful of bikes on the train, or a dozen bikes on the minibus trailer, and take off with some mates.
i don't have the storage.

If you have decided bents are for you, thats great, happy days.
If i question something, its simply curiosity. I'm interested in the interaction of man and machine. I'm not laughing at you, or saying you are wrong.

however, intellectual curiosity has its limits.....you lot blindly saying you are right is getting wearing.

Yes, uprights are very versatile. Ability to tolerate the riding position for repeated long rides seems to vary enormously amongst people. I'm coming round to thinking that suspended 20" wheeel SWBs (Short WheelBase designs) are the most versatile of bents because they can ride tracks, go in the back of a car and can go on trains. The two that come to mind are the HP-Velotechnic Grasshopper and the Azub Mini:

http://www.hpvelotechnik.com/produkte/ghp/index_e.html
http://www.azub.eu/recumbent-bike-azub-mini/

They both come with 3 styles of handlebar; the tiller style has the least footprint and makes transportation easier.

I shied away from buying one of these because of the price, and because of an unsuccessful experience with an earlier version of the grasshopper when I was a bent novice. I'm starting to regret that because whilst the 3 bents I have are all good in their own way, none has that versatility.

[OldBloke]

Performer also have a neat little recumbent at a lot lower price point, not folding though. http://www.performercycles.com/new/prod ... cts_id=473

OB

[squeaker]

Performer also have a neat little recumbent at a lot lower price point, not folding though. http://www.performercycles.com/new/prod ... cts_id=473

Nor any suspension either (apart from radial pneumatic)...

[BrownBear]

OK......read....."the riding position and the rider ergonomics for power output are seriously compromised"

Interesting I read today that Jack Carling's sprint training includes 270kg single leg presses; so it seems he could apply plenty of power on a bent. Myself, I think I can apply more power on a bent than seated on a df, but less than a stand-up sprint (going by climbs, don't have power data to back that up). Most people who report using meters seem to be 10-15% down (heard from 20% to no difference), but find the aero benefit (on a sporty bent) at least equates speed, except of course uphill.

Certainly there are a host of trade-offs between types (and within types), but I would say I've had the greatest frequency of my most enjoyable rides since getting one five years ago. It is dependant on so many factors, e.g. hedges are significant in some parts, but it's difficult to appreciate how nice the 'eyes up' head angle is - 'wide screen' as Guy Martin put it. Great fun on a day ride in ideal cycling territory, but still couldn't have one as an only bike.