[Bent] Cycling The Erie Canal

[kollenberg at juno.com]

I just got back from cycling the Erie Canal with 500 other cyclists
(http://www.ptny.org/canaltour).  I've never seen so many recumbents in
one place that wasn't specifically recumbent-oriented.  Probably at least
30. There were all kinds: tandems, folders, trikes, and makes I'd never
seen before.  AFAIK no other home-builts tho.  It was interesting
watching the upright-riders shake out the tension in their arms and hands
all the time, while the bent riders did all the optional extra
side-rides.  A lot of the upright riders asked about recumbents and
seemed genuinely interested.  Some, however, asked in all innocence if
didn't find the difficulty in climbing on a bent problematic.  The thing
that amazed me about this was that often they were panting out the
question as I easily and comfortably spun past them up a hill!
______________
Eric Kollenberg