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Why no recumbent bikes in triathlon? (Page 2)
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 2008-03-17 4:04 PM in reply to: #1276812 |
Cycling Guru  15134    Fulton, MD |  Subject: RE: Why no recumbent bikes in triathlon? |
| 2008-03-17 7:18 PM in reply to: #1276078 |
Member 42 Albuquerque, NM | Subject: RE: Why no recumbent bikes in triathlon? Daremo - 2008-03-17 11:08 AM KRCSWO - 2008-03-17 12:46 PM Why don't we see athlete's racing recumbent bicycles (or trikes)? Is there a rule that forbids them? Yes ...... there is a USAT rule not allowing them. And while there are a ton of doctor's and lawyers in triathlon, there are not as many engineers - which are the brunt of recumbent owners ..... Hey, let's not knock on engineers!! (ok, yes, I am one....) But seriously, they can be faster for the simple reason that you present a smaller frontal area and therefore have less drag. But I've read that they can be a bit harder to get used to as the lower CG makes balance a bit more tricky. And they're also harder to see because they're lower, which is why you often see them with tall flags on the back. Doesn't matter how fast you are if you get hit by a car.... Mike |
| 2008-03-18 9:35 AM in reply to: #1276011 |
| 115 | Subject: RE: Why no recumbent bikes in triathlon? Just FYI, the rule is 5.11(c): "A vertical line touching the front most point of the saddle may be no more than 5 cm in front of and no more than 15 cm behind a vertical line passing through the center of the chain wheel axle....." |
| 2008-03-18 9:48 AM in reply to: #1276011 |
Expert 937 Traverse Cityish | Subject: RE: Why no recumbent bikes in triathlon? Recumbants can be rocketships or lazy touring bikes, but pretty much all of them are more aero than a tri or TT bike. The crazier designs that put the rider a few inches off the ground with their head darn near rubbing the rear wheel can be peddled at 30+ MPH all day long. That being said, they can really suck to transport and yes, you are more likely to get squished in one. While I'm a computer geek and not an engineer, I may actually go the recumbant route for touring one day. Well, in about 30 years.  |
| 2008-03-18 10:16 AM in reply to: #1276011 |
Expert 1202 Montana | Subject: RE: Why no recumbent bikes in triathlon? Is it possible that they are not allowed, by the very fact that they would require less athleticism than an upright bike? |
| 2008-03-18 10:30 AM in reply to: #1276011 |
Elite 3130 | Subject: RE: Why no recumbent bikes in triathlon?
Even though I can't use my recumbent bike in triathlon, I can still wear my pot belly and gray beard, right?
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| 2008-03-18 4:35 PM in reply to: #1276011 |
Elite 3091 Spokane, WA | Subject: RE: Why no recumbent bikes in triathlon? I think you have to smoke a pipe to become a recumbent owner, and most pipe smokers don't do triathlons. |
| 2008-03-18 5:06 PM in reply to: #1276011 |
Extreme Veteran 790 Rocklin | Subject: RE: Why no recumbent bikes in triathlon? Are you kidding me. I'm sure there are some crazy aero recumbents out there, but I have never seen one passing anyone on my rides. Maybe it's because I live at the beggining of the foothills around here, but I can't imagine you can generate the more power in that position. I did see a lot of bearded dudes with pocket protectors and helmet mounted mirrors crusing those when I went to UC Davis (which may be the flattest place I have ever been). Hill climbing in a recumbent seems like a slow proposition. |
| 2008-03-18 5:40 PM in reply to: #1279179 |
Sensei Sin City | Subject: RE: Why no recumbent bikes in triathlon? OMG!!! The last three posts are SO spot on! I've seen him too, just the other day! I have a new theory - there is only 1 guy that owns a recumbant in the states. He is just so fast and loves riding he goes from city to city and is spotted by all..... |
| 2008-03-18 5:44 PM in reply to: #1279217 |
Sensei Sin City | Subject: RE: Why no recumbent bikes in triathlon? The ones I have seen that make me chuckle are the ones that have a full faring around them to look like a rolling gel cap. OR, the other day, one had a full plastic transparent tarp around them and they looked like a rolling pancho.... |
| 2008-03-18 5:51 PM in reply to: #1276011 |
Champion 6999 Chicago, Illinois | Subject: RE: Why no recumbent bikes in triathlon? they are too short that you can not fit them on rack and too wide that they take up the room of 3 other bikes in transistion. |
| 2008-03-18 8:13 PM in reply to: #1276011 |
Expert 1277 St. Paul, MN | Subject: RE: Why no recumbent bikes in triathlon? There are plenty of "dorky" looking recumbents out there, but ones that are built for more performance than the ones my in-laws pedal are a lot of fun to ride. My father started riding recumbents because of back pain. I've ridden all of his 'bents and his trike. I'll tell you, that trike is a blast. I would have no problems with putting a bunch of miles on that thing. Fast, comfortable, and fun. |
| 2008-03-21 8:32 PM in reply to: #1276011 |
Master 1567 Kauai, Hawaii | Subject: RE: Why no recumbent bikes in triathlon? |
| 2008-03-21 11:01 PM in reply to: #1276011 |
Expert 1240 Columbia, MO | Subject: RE: Why no recumbent bikes in triathlon? I don't think we've adequately covered the DORKINESSfactor yet |
| 2008-03-22 8:45 AM in reply to: #1276011 |
| Champion 8903 | Subject: RE: Why no recumbent bikes in triathlon? I'm agreeing with aggiecatcher, every recumbent I've ever seen is horribly inefficient when it comes to climbing hills. The riding position is just not very effective for power transfer, so the rider must rely on a wide range of gearing to make hill climbing possible.
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