[Bent] Commenting on "The pleasures of recumbent vs. diamondframe bike r...

Mon Jul 16 12:49:55 EDT 2007

Responding to Steve's comment about keeping up with wedgie riding buddies, we apparently run in different crowds. The guys I ride with -- when I'm able to stay with them (which isn't very often) -- do a 35 mile killer loop on Saturday mornings, and unless you're a Fast Eddie or Tim Brummer, nobody is going to stay with the group on some of the hills they ride on, one of which is 1.75 miles long. Moreover, since most of the guys race their bikes, much of the ride is paceline riding, something a recumbent can't participate in. I'll continue to do the Wednesday evening pizza ride, but for the rest of my group rides -- and to keep my muscles in balance -- it's the wedgie.

Jules

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Sfriedlander2 at aol.com 
  To: bent at list.marsride.org 
  Sent: Sunday, July 15, 2007 12:31 PM
  Subject: Re: [Bent] Commenting on "The pleasures of recumbent vs. diamondframe bike r...

  I agree with most of what you said, Jules. One of the drawbacks of being a bent rider is that it can be torture to ride a wedgie. When I'm travelling without a 'bent, I occasionally like to rent a bike and have to resort to riding a wedgie. 10 miles is about all I can tolerate - anything more is punishment. Of course, most rental bikes leave a lot to be desired anyway, but I doubt I could appreciate a high end road bike. Nevertheless, I'm not desperate enough to go back to riding a wedgie in order to be able to enjoy those relatively rare occasions when I might wish to rent a wedgie.

  I'm not sure I understand your point about how riding a wedgie helps you stay in touch with your old riding buddies. Afterall, most wedgie people still talk to bent riders, don't they? I find that riding a bent with a group of wedies is usually quite enjoyable (as on the Wednesday evening rides), as I get to relax a lot on the flat-to-downhill segments and get a good workout on the uphills. My average speed always turns out to be faster than if I had ridden alone, while the overall ride feels more relaxing. Riding a fast bent (like my P38 with the F40 nose cone) makes it possible to keep up with faster wedgie riders who are in better shape than me - and hopefully dispels any notions people might have about bents being slower and unable to climb hills.

  Steve 

  By the way, any plans to do a Wednesday pizza ride? I probably won't make it this week, but should be there next week.

  In a message dated 7/15/2007 7:50:56 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, jzalon at comcast.net writes:
    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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