Recumbent bicycles · Public discussion

arm fatigue

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Recumbent bicycles
Published
2 August 2004
Last activity
7 August 2004
Original author
Pat
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  1. I test rode a LWB recumbent today with "ape hanger" handlebars. After about
    10 minutes, both my arms felt dead. On the little EVOX 140 that I have, my
    hands are lower than my elbows. On this new recumbent, the hands are higher
    than the elbows. Is this something that I'll get used to? Does the fatigue
    of the arms go away eventually? Were the handlebars too high perhaps? The
    distance from my body to the handlebars felt okay, but possibly they were
    too high.

    any thoughts?

    thanks,

    Pat in TX

  2. I doubt it goes away, anytime you have your arms above you like that isn't
    going to be good for the circulation, just ask any Harley rider

    "Pat" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    I test rode a LWB recumbent today with "ape hanger" handlebars. After


    about

    Quoted message said:

    10 minutes, both my arms felt dead. On the little EVOX 140 that I have, my
    hands are lower than my elbows. On this new recumbent, the hands are


    higher

    Quoted message said:

    than the elbows. Is this something that I'll get used to? Does the


    fatigue

    Quoted message said:

    of the arms go away eventually? Were the handlebars too high perhaps? The
    distance from my body to the handlebars felt okay, but possibly they were
    too high.

    any thoughts?

    thanks,

    Pat in TX

  3. I rode an ASS with the "praying mantis" set up. I noticed that my forearms,
    hands would go numb...I think it was from the extreme bend at the elbow. I
    think maybe the "Superman" position is not so bad.
    However, I've gone back to my first love, USS and that numbness is a distant
    memory.
    Perry
    "Mark Leuck" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:ZMyPc.79903$eM2.22190@attbi_s51...

    Quoted message said:

    I doubt it goes away, anytime you have your arms above you like that isn't
    going to be good for the circulation, just ask any Harley rider

    "Pat" <[email hidden]> wrote in message


    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    I test rode a LWB recumbent today with "ape hanger" handlebars. After


    about

    Quoted message said:

    10 minutes, both my arms felt dead. On the little EVOX 140 that I have,


    my

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    hands are lower than my elbows. On this new recumbent, the hands are


    higher

    Quoted message said:

    than the elbows. Is this something that I'll get used to? Does the


    fatigue

    Quoted message said:

    of the arms go away eventually? Were the handlebars too high perhaps?


    The

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    distance from my body to the handlebars felt okay, but possibly they


    were

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    too high.

    any thoughts?

    thanks,

    Pat in TX

  4. "Pat" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    I test rode a LWB recumbent today with "ape hanger" handlebars. After


    about

    Quoted message said:

    10 minutes, both my arms felt dead. On the little EVOX 140 that I have, my
    hands are lower than my elbows. On this new recumbent, the hands are


    higher

    Quoted message said:

    than the elbows. Is this something that I'll get used to? Does the


    fatigue

    Quoted message said:

    of the arms go away eventually? Were the handlebars too high perhaps? The
    distance from my body to the handlebars felt okay, but possibly they were
    too high.

    any thoughts?

    I have an under seat steering Ryan and it has a totally relaxing handle bar
    position.. It is a guaranteed fix for what you are complaining about.

    I also ride an Easy Racer and don't have any particular issue with the
    handle bar position on it.

    What have you been riding?

    Where were your hands relative to your shoulders? Higher or Lower?

    I think Ape Hanger Handlebars are those silly things some guys put on their
    Harley's where the have to reach for the sky to get their hands on them. I
    can't imagine a commercial recumbent with that kind of set up.

    skip

  5. My previous bike was a USS and my current bike is ASS but its not the
    praying mantis setup the previous poster talks about, I never have arm
    numbness either

    "Perry Templeton" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    I rode an ASS with the "praying mantis" set up. I noticed that my


    forearms,

    Quoted message said:

    hands would go numb...I think it was from the extreme bend at the elbow.


    I

    Quoted message said:

    think maybe the "Superman" position is not so bad.
    However, I've gone back to my first love, USS and that numbness is a


    distant

    Quoted message said:

    memory.
    Perry
    "Mark Leuck" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:ZMyPc.79903$eM2.22190@attbi_s51...

    Quoted message said:

    I doubt it goes away, anytime you have your arms above you like that


    isn't

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    going to be good for the circulation, just ask any Harley rider

    "Pat" <[email hidden]> wrote in message


    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    I test rode a LWB recumbent today with "ape hanger" handlebars. After


    about

    Quoted message said:

    10 minutes, both my arms felt dead. On the little EVOX 140 that I


    have,

    Quoted message said:

    my

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    hands are lower than my elbows. On this new recumbent, the hands are


    higher

    Quoted message said:

    than the elbows. Is this something that I'll get used to? Does the


    fatigue

    Quoted message said:

    of the arms go away eventually? Were the handlebars too high perhaps?


    The

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    distance from my body to the handlebars felt okay, but possibly they


    were

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    too high.

    any thoughts?

    thanks,

    Pat in TX


  6. Quoted message said:

    What have you been riding?

    Where were your hands relative to your shoulders? Higher or Lower?

    I think Ape Hanger Handlebars are those silly things some guys put on


    their

    Quoted message said:

    Harley's where the have to reach for the sky to get their hands on them.


    I

    Quoted message said:

    can't imagine a commercial recumbent with that kind of set up.

    skip


    it's a CycleGeniusRDX model. http://www.cyclegenius.com/rdx.htm

    I don't think my hands were higher than my shoulders, though.

    Pat in TX

    Quoted message said:
  7. Pat said:


    Quoted message said:

    What have you been riding?

    Where were your hands relative to your shoulders? Higher or Lower?

    I think Ape Hanger Handlebars are those silly things some guys put on


    their

    Quoted message said:

    Harley's where the have to reach for the sky to get their hands on them.


    I

    Quoted message said:

    can't imagine a commercial recumbent with that kind of set up.

    skip


    it's a CycleGeniusRDX model. http://www.cyclegenius.com/rdx.htm

    I don't think my hands were higher than my shoulders, though.

    Pat in TX

    Quoted message said:


    Being quite short myself (5'4"😉 I found my hands in an uphill elevation on my Tailwind after I increased the recline of the seat. Although I didn't have numb hands syndrome I felt that a "hands level with shoulders" position would be better and also improve visibility. With some consulting with the factory I removed nearly 2" from the bottom of the tiller tube. Everything is real comfortable now. I still have 1" of knee clearance. Perhaps you could make some mods to reduce your bar height?

    'bent Brian

  8. Pat,

    The bars do look pretty high.
    There should be some adjustment in them and I supposed they could be cut
    down.
    It doesn't appear like there would be any knee interference if they were
    lower.
    I'm sure the LBS could make them fit better.
    From what I've seen of this bike ,I'm pretty impressed.
    Ben fox

    "Pat" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:

    What have you been riding?

    Where were your hands relative to your shoulders? Higher or Lower?

    I think Ape Hanger Handlebars are those silly things some guys put on


    their

    Quoted message said:

    Harley's where the have to reach for the sky to get their hands on them.


    I

    Quoted message said:

    can't imagine a commercial recumbent with that kind of set up.

    skip


    it's a CycleGeniusRDX model. http://www.cyclegenius.com/rdx.htm

    I don't think my hands were higher than my shoulders, though.

    Pat in TX

    Quoted message said:
  9. "Pat" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:

    What have you been riding?

    Where were your hands relative to your shoulders? Higher or Lower?

    I think Ape Hanger Handlebars are those silly things some guys put on


    their

    Quoted message said:

    Harley's where the have to reach for the sky to get their hands on them.


    I

    Quoted message said:

    can't imagine a commercial recumbent with that kind of set up.

    skip


    it's a CycleGeniusRDX model. http://www.cyclegenius.com/rdx.htm

    I don't think my hands were higher than my shoulders, though.

    Pat in TX

    Quoted message said:


    The handlebars on the Genius RDX do look uncomfortalby high to me. What
    does the dealer say about the situation?

    skip

  10. Pat said:


    Quoted message said:

    What have you been riding?

    Where were your hands relative to your shoulders? Higher or Lower?

    I think Ape Hanger Handlebars are those silly things some guys put
    on


    their

    Quoted message said:

    Harley's where the have to reach for the sky to get their hands on
    them.


    I

    Quoted message said:

    can't imagine a commercial recumbent with that kind of set up.

    skip


    it's a CycleGeniusRDX model. http://www.cyclegenius.com/rdx.htm

    I don't think my hands were higher than my shoulders, though.

    Pat in TX

    Quoted message said:

    I have been riding an RDX for the last 4 months with 750 miles on the
    bike and have never experienced this. I ride with the bars in their
    highest position.

    You have adjusted the height? The RDX has 3 built in positions,
    selected by loosening a quick release and lowering the bar.

    Mike in Houston


  11. Quoted message said:

    The handlebars on the Genius RDX do look uncomfortalby high to me. What
    does the dealer say about the situation?

    skip

    This "dealer" (and I use the word loosely) doesn't know squat about
    recumbents or what they are supposed to look like.

    Pat

    Quoted message said:

  12. Quoted message said:

    I have been riding an RDX for the last 4 months with 750 miles on the
    bike and have never experienced this. I ride with the bars in their
    highest position.

    You have adjusted the height? The RDX has 3 built in positions,
    selected by loosening a quick release and lowering the bar.

    Mike in Houston

    The bars were up in the 2nd from highest hole, so I lowered them to the
    bottom hole and still had arm numbness after a bit. You must be a lot taller
    than I am. I am 5'8" tall. I am still interested in the bike, though. Did
    you get the black one or the brushed aluminum?

    Pat in TX

  13. Pat said:


    Quoted message said:

    I have been riding an RDX for the last 4 months with 750 miles on
    the bike and have never experienced this. I ride with the bars in
    their highest position.

    You have adjusted the height? The RDX has 3 built in positions,
    selected by loosening a quick release and lowering the bar.

    Mike in Houston

    The bars were up in the 2nd from highest hole, so I lowered them to
    the bottom hole and still had arm numbness after a bit. You must be a
    lot taller than I am. I am 5'8" tall. I am still interested in the
    bike, though. Did you get the black one or the brushed aluminum?

    Pat in TX

    I got the aluminum finish. No particular reason. I am very pleased with
    the bike and believe it compares well with far more expensive bikes.
    Check out the reviews in BROL, Recumbents & Tandoms (this month's
    issue) and up and coming in RCN.

    I am 6 foot. I really wouldn't think 4" would make that much
    difference. I have the bar all the way up and my forearms have a slight
    upward angle to the grips. Why not give Cycle Gnius a call. Ask for
    John. I am sure he can help you with the prblem.

    Mike


  14. Quoted message said:


    I got the aluminum finish. No particular reason. I am very pleased with
    the bike and believe it compares well with far more expensive bikes.
    Check out the reviews in BROL, Recumbents & Tandoms (this month's
    issue) and up and coming in RCN.

    I am 6 foot. I really wouldn't think 4" would make that much
    difference. I have the bar all the way up and my forearms have a slight
    upward angle to the grips. Why not give Cycle Gnius a call. Ask for
    John. I am sure he can help you with the prblem.

    Mike

    Did you compare the RDX to the Rans Stratus before buying? That's where I am
    right now. The Rans seat back is much higher, but I thought the RDX seat
    back came up plenty high on my back....Although the Stratus is lighter
    weight---in spite of its being steel---it doesn't look as if it has enough
    metal to put panniers on or even some sort of storage bags. I wish I could
    see one in person.

    Pat in TX

  15. Pat said:

    Did you compare the RDX to the Rans Stratus before buying? That's
    where I am right now. The Rans seat back is much higher, but I
    thought the RDX seat back came up plenty high on my back....Although
    the Stratus is lighter weight---in spite of its being steel---it
    doesn't look as if it has enough metal to put panniers on or even
    some sort of storage bags. I wish I could see one in person.

    Pat in TX

    Did you see the comparison at Cycle Genius' web site? I think you get
    as much or more bike for $300 less. Also, the RDX seat is far more
    adjustable, just as comfortable and actually stays in place. (A stratus
    I test rode had a seat the would move when ever I did some pedal
    mashing). As far as weight goes, I have lost 15 to 20 lbs. in an effort
    to loose 70, so a couple of extra bike pounds does make much of a
    difference to me <G>.

    Mike

  16. One other point, I wanted the 700X451 wheels.

    Mike

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