Admittedly, there are some recumbents that I'd never be caught dead on, but there are some models that are downright sexy.
Optima (http://www.optima-cycles.nl/eng/2.htm) and Challenge (http://www.challengebikes.com/ch-01/ch-frameset-e n.html) are just two brands that come to mind.
Uphills... well, gearing and conditioning should handle that.
As for visibility... IMHO, recumbents are hard NOT to notice, they're so damn wierd looking. Add a few LEDs for night anyway.
Don't feel bad, I don't even have one yet, and my friends and fiancee are giving me hell.
Upright "traditional" bikes are fine for say, barreling down a ski run at speeds that would make Dan Gurney cringe, or for riding a half pipe at the Tony Hawk huckjam, but for road use, they're far inferior to recumbent bikes.
I'll give you two reasons why right off the bat: much lower CD (aerodynamic resistance), and superior ergonomics.
Upright bikes put undue pressure on wrists, backs, and a rather tender portion of the posterior, whereas recumbents are nearly as comfortable as your living room chair.
The aerodynamic advantage is a no-brainer. It's the lower frontal area, stupid!
Not to mention lower CG, lower height to fall in a crash, and downright geek coolness.
i.e. http://www.optima-cycles.nl/eng/2.htm
You all can laugh about this all you want, but it's not going to be funny when the Klingon mental patients overload our already delicate social services structures!
Isn't there some treaty against intergalactic versions of the Mariel Boatlift?
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Optima (http://www.optima-cycles.nl/eng/2.htm) and Challenge (http://www.challengebikes.com/ch-01/ch-frameset-e n.html) are just two brands that come to mind.
Uphills... well, gearing and conditioning should handle that.
As for visibility... IMHO, recumbents are hard NOT to notice, they're so damn wierd looking. Add a few LEDs for night anyway.
Don't feel bad, I don't even have one yet, and my friends and fiancee are giving me hell.
Upright "traditional" bikes are fine for say, barreling down a ski run at speeds that would make Dan Gurney cringe, or for riding a half pipe at the Tony Hawk huckjam, but for road use, they're far inferior to recumbent bikes. I'll give you two reasons why right off the bat: much lower CD (aerodynamic resistance), and superior ergonomics. Upright bikes put undue pressure on wrists, backs, and a rather tender portion of the posterior, whereas recumbents are nearly as comfortable as your living room chair. The aerodynamic advantage is a no-brainer. It's the lower frontal area, stupid! Not to mention lower CG, lower height to fall in a crash, and downright geek coolness. i.e. http://www.optima-cycles.nl/eng/2.htm
You all can laugh about this all you want, but it's not going to be funny when the Klingon mental patients overload our already delicate social services structures! Isn't there some treaty against intergalactic versions of the Mariel Boatlift?