[Bent] Commenting on "The pleasures of recumbent vs. diamond frame bike riding"

[Jules D. Zalon]

Marty Smith's description of his semi-torturous 50-mile wedgie ride ["My old pains of Achilles tendon and right knee feeling like a bolt and nut that needs oiling came back about mile 40. I've never felt those pains when on my 'bent!"] makes a slightly unfair comparison to the comforts of riding his R40 recumbent. Most of his discomfort can be attributed to the fact that he hadn't ridden an upright bike for 5 years. Clearly, the two bikes utilize different muscle groups. I'd venture to say that it someone who rode only a wedgie up and rode a recumbent bike 50 miles the first time out, they'd feel a lot sorer than our erstwhile commentator. That's just common sense. The first time I rode my Greenspeed GTO just 5 miles, I wondered where all my muscles went. And every introductory article on riding recumbents warns about the time it takes to acclimate your muscles to this new form of riding.

Cycling is a very forgiving exercise. Usually, the only pain we experience from overuse is some sore muscles. In contrast, if you overdo running, you can do some serious damage that will keep you off the roads for months. [Trust, me, it's painfully true!] I love my GTO, but I alternate between it and my Cannondale CAAD6 racer. Because when I rode the GTO exclusively, the occasional ride on the upright reminded me that I was using dormant muscle groups. After years of riding and racing wedgies, I felt like a beginner. The only accommodation I make for the wedgie is a shock absorbing seat post, which I highly recommend; I also make sure that I sit on my sit bones, far back on the Body Geometry seat, which protects the "other parts" of my anatomy.

So while I will keep riding my recumbent, I haven't abandoned the fun -- and the speed -- that comes from riding my racer. In addition to keeping more of my muscles in shape, it also enables me to stay in touch with a lot of old riding buddies, who consider my recumbent riding "amusing." Reading recumbent blogs, one often senses a hostility to the upright biking world. My response is to say relax and enjoy what you're doing. They are both great ways of keeping in shape, saving the planet, and having fun.

Jules
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