BIKE: Touring Bike or Recumbent for commute?

[Librik or Babich]

John SomdeCerff wrote:

>         Time for another interesting and worthwhile question:
>         Which is better for commuting in hot, humid Austin - a standard touring
> bike or a recumbent?  In particular, would a recumbent's seat back get
> your back hot and sweaty like a backpack or do they ventilate OK?  I
> guess the particular seat design would make a difference.

You know what kind of answer the local recumbent dealer will give...

Mesh back seats are not sweaty. I have done some long distances in hot weather on
several such seats, and I have turned out plenty sweaty, but not particularly on my
back. Shell style seats, fiberglass or carbon fiber, which are used mainly for
racing or as a low cost seat option, are sweaty, as are canvas sling seats, but the
vast majority of recumbents use mesh. You can even hang a bag on the back of the
seat and still have good airflow around the back.

The real consideration for commuting is the ability of the bike to stop and start
easily. Some recumbents are not very good at this, while some are very good, in
fact much better than upright bikes. Properly operated, such models are exceeding
fast off the line, and the seating position allows you to easily plant a foot on
the ground. This avoid the tendency of cyclists to try to pass off a track stand as
a stop or yield, which can confuse motorists. By being able to quickly and easily
plant a foot, you will find your interactions with other drivers at intersections
to be much simpler and lower stress.

Also, the ability to mount mirrors effectively will have a big influence on your
interaction with pursuing and overtaking traffic.

Feel free to contact me directly for test rides or rentals. You might also read an
essay on bikes for urban cycling on my Urban Cycling website, at
www.urbancycling.com/essays/bikes.html

--
Mike Librik, LCI #929
Easy Street Recumbents
512-453-0438
45th and Red River St., thereabouts
Central Austin
info
www.easystreetrecumbents.com
www.urbancycling.com

"Is it about a bicycle?"