newbie questions

If you are already a good DF rider I don't think the learning curve will be
bad and I wouldn't anticipate "hitting the pavement" very often. Start off
slow until you get the feel of it and you should be fine.

Your clothing choices are quite variable. A traditional bike jersey won't do
you much good as you won't be able to easily get to the pockets in the back.
You probably want to choose your upper body garments according to the
weather. As for lower body, bike shorts are fine although you don't need the
same type of crotch that DF riders wear. You can also wear more traditional
shorts although I would caution you against shorts that are too baggy as you
will have the wind blowing up them.

To clip or not to clip? That is really a matter of choice. If you used clips
on a DF and like them then you will probably like them on a recumbent as
well. There have been a lot of threads in the past about that choice. It
really is not dependent on the type of bike you ride, however.

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

Quoted message said:

I am going to be buying my first recumbent in a week or two and have been
doing a lot of research into types and which might be best suited for me,
but in addition to that I have a couple of other not so technical
questions.

The first is clothing. What type of clothing is worn on a recumbent? Are
regular biking shorts necessary? Biking shirts with back pockets seem to
be impractical also. What about shoes? Best to ride clipped in?

Second question. When first starting out learning to ride a recumbent,
what are the odds of hitting the pavement?

Third question is a even less technical. How many recumbent riders shave
their legs and is it for vanity reasons, speed, or to speed healing when
they hit the pavement?

Thanks for the input.

rayswrld said:

I am going to be buying my first recumbent in a week or two and have
been doing a lot of research into types and which might be best suited
for me, but in addition to that I have a couple of other not so
technical questions.

The first is clothing. What type of clothing is worn on a recumbent?
Are regular biking shorts necessary? Biking shirts with back pockets
seem to be impractical also. What about shoes? Best to ride clipped in?

I wear "conventional" bike clothing, but the Cobra seat allows me to
put some stuff in the rear jersey pockets. YMMV. Lycra shorts just as
well as on an upright in terms of avoiding clothing friction, but some
of my friends combine them with Hawaiian shirts, just to tweak the
roadies:
http://home.pacifier.com/~jwills/springride2004/pages/springride53.htm

I've used SPD shoes and pedals since they were first available (1991).
There's many possibilities, so you'll have to make that choice.

Quoted message said:

Second question. When first starting out learning to ride a recumbent,
what are the odds of hitting the pavement?

When I was first learning, I wobbled a bit, but I rode for several
months before I fell over without unclipping. In my recumbent-riding
career (14+ years, ~30,000+ miles) I've gone down 4 times, with no
serious injuries. All of my scars are from riding uprights.

Quoted message said:

Third question is a even less technical. How many recumbent riders
shave their legs and is it for vanity reasons, speed, or to speed
healing when they hit the pavement?

Thanks for the input.

I wouldn't be surprised if Sam Whittingham
http://www.ohpv.org/albums/bm2004/varnas/pages/varnas14.htm
shaves his legs. I sure don't- but then I don't have any reason to. I
ain't fast, and I sure ain't pretty.

Jeff

rayswrld said:

The first is clothing. What type of clothing is worn on a recumbent?

Depends where I'm going. Today's trip to the shops, just the
clothes I was wearing anyway aside from SPuD sandals.

Quoted message said:

Are regular biking shorts necessary?

No. The padding is basically a moot point on a 'bent seat, but it
won't be a problem.

Quoted message said:

Biking shirts with back pockets
seem to be impractical also.

The pockets aren't much use, but unless there's a heavy ridge they
shouldn't be a problem.

Quoted message said:

What about shoes? Best to ride clipped in?

A lot will depend on the bike. The higher the bottom bracket in
relation to the seat the more sense it makes. Plus the usual
considerations you'd have on a DF: to what extent do you want to
optimise performance?

Quoted message said:

Second question. When first starting out learning to ride a recumbent,
what are the odds of hitting the pavement?

Not great. You'll probably put a foot down a fair bit, but not
actually crash.

Quoted message said:

Third question is a even less technical. How many recumbent riders
shave their legs and is it for vanity reasons, speed, or to speed
healing when they hit the pavement?

My partner sometimes shaves hers for vanity reasons. I don't shave
mine, I don't find I hit the pavement either.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

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

Quoted message said:

rayswrld said:

The first is clothing. What type of clothing is worn on a recumbent?

Depends where I'm going. Today's trip to the shops, just the clothes I
was wearing anyway aside from SPuD sandals.

Quoted message said:

Are regular biking shorts necessary?

No. The padding is basically a moot point on a 'bent seat, but it won't
be a problem.

Quoted message said:

Biking shirts with back pockets seem to be impractical also.

The pockets aren't much use, but unless there's a heavy ridge they
shouldn't be a problem.

Quoted message said:

What about shoes? Best to ride clipped in?

A lot will depend on the bike. The higher the bottom bracket in relation
to the seat the more sense it makes. Plus the usual considerations you'd
have on a DF: to what extent do you want to optimise performance?

Quoted message said:

Second question. When first starting out learning to ride a recumbent,
what are the odds of hitting the pavement?

Not great. You'll probably put a foot down a fair bit, but not actually
crash.

Quoted message said:

Third question is a even less technical. How many recumbent riders shave
their legs and is it for vanity reasons, speed, or to speed healing when
they hit the pavement?

My partner sometimes shaves hers for vanity reasons. I don't shave mine,
I don't find I hit the pavement either.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Hey Ray's World, you want to take advice from a kook who has the world's
stupidest signature. I mean, do you really want to know as much about him as
he wants to tell you? Before you listen to one word of his I suggest you
look up what a Medical Physics IT Officer is. Also, as is well known,
Scotland has forever been the land of nuts and screwballs.

Instead of getting lost in the bogs and mists of Scotland I suggest you
contemplate my signature below and then tell me who you would rather take
advice from. Of course, I am too busy berating scalawags like Peter Clinch
to ever have any time to give anyone advice on recumbents.

Regards,

Ed Dolan the Great - Minnesota
aka
Saint Edward the Great - Order of the Perpetual Sorrows - Minnesota

You can get some shirts with pockets on the hip sides. Try
www.hostelshoppe.com

rayswrld said:

The first is clothing. What type of clothing is worn on a recumbent?
Are regular biking shorts necessary? Biking shirts with back pockets
seem to be impractical also.

I use 'running' gear. These moetly don't have the zippers in the pockets
and no pockets on your back.

Quoted message said:

What about shoes? Best to ride clipped in?

Yes, yes and yes. Soon after you hit your first bump at high speed and
loose grip from the pedals you'd wish that you were riding with clips...

Quoted message said:

Second question. When first starting out learning to ride a recumbent,
what are the odds of hitting the pavement?

I actually did not hit hit pavement until last week. Been riding for
slightly over a year now...

Quoted message said:

Third question is a even less technical. How many recumbent riders
shave their legs and is it for vanity reasons, speed, or to speed
healing when they hit the pavement?

Don't shave mine.

Arnold.

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

Quoted message said:

You can get some shirts with pockets on the hip sides. Try
www.hostelshoppe.com

You bet, go to the Hostel Shoppe and pay a fortune for those little extra
odds and ends. On the other hand, if you have a brain in your head, why not
just go to Wal-Mart and get something that is suitable and cheap. But we all
know that Pat in TX wouldn't be caught dead in a Wal-Mart, don't we? He
would rather shop at the Hostel Shoppe and pay premium prices for his little
knick-knacks, never realizing that it is just all junk anyway no matter
where you get it.

Regards,

Ed Dolan the Great - Minnesota
aka
Saint Edward the Great - Order of the Perpetual Sorrows - Minnesota

Arnold Ligtvoet said:

rayswrld said:

The first is clothing. What type of clothing is worn on a recumbent?
Are regular biking shorts necessary? Biking shirts with back pockets
seem to be impractical also.

I use 'running' gear. These moetly don't have the zippers in the
pockets and no pockets on your back.

I find that having zipped side pockets on trousers on a 'bent is essential.
I usually ride wearing "Ron Hills" (synthetic fabric, stretchy sport/walking
long trouser common in the UK, made by company called 'Ron Hill'😉. On a few
occaisions I've ridden with normal trousers and had things such as coins or
my pocket knife fall out.

- Nigel

--
Nigel Cliffe,
Webmaster at http://www.2mm.org.uk/

Nigel Cliffe said:

Arnold Ligtvoet said:

rayswrld said:

The first is clothing. What type of clothing is worn on a recumbent?
Are regular biking shorts necessary? Biking shirts with back pockets
seem to be impractical also.

I use 'running' gear. These moetly don't have the zippers in the
pockets and no pockets on your back.

I find that having zipped side pockets on trousers on a 'bent is essential.
I usually ride wearing "Ron Hills" (synthetic fabric, stretchy sport/walking
long trouser common in the UK, made by company called 'Ron Hill'😉. On a few
occaisions I've ridden with normal trousers and had things such as coins or
my pocket knife fall out.

Hi,

I use one of these : http://www.radicaldesign.nl/images/allfa/alsr.jpg

They are perfect. Very small and fit most bikes.

Arnold.

A 300 mile newbie comments:

rayswrld said:

Are regular biking shorts necessary? Biking shirts with back pockets
seem to be impractical

FOUND A COUPLE PAIRS OF "ATHLETIC WORKS" UNDERSHORTS - MID CALF LENGTH AT WAL-MART FOR ABOUT 1/3 THE PRICE OF THOSE CLADDY, UNCOMFORTABLE REGULAR BIKING HORTS. WEAR THEM UNDER SHORTS FROM SAME SOURCE THAT ARE LOOSE, ALSO WICKING. RIDE DECENT, DON'T STARTLE THE MOTORISTS.

I FIND ANYTHING WITH POCKETS IN THE SEAT BOTHERS ME EVENTUALLY. THIS USUALLY SEEMS TO OCCUR HALF WAY THROUGH A LONGISH RIDE, AND BY THE END THE BUTTON/VELCRO CLOSURE/SEAM FEELS 50 TIMES LARGER THAN IT IS. MY RULE NOW IS TO AVOID WEARING ANYTHING WITH MORE THAN THE USUAL VERTICLE SEAM IN BACK.

WICKING SHIRTS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FROM WALLY WORLD, FOR AROUND $10. THEY DON'T HAVE THOSE USELESS POCKETS ON BACK AND DO NOT LOOK LIKE THE $70 COLORFUL SHIRTS THE DF RIDERS WEAR. I DO NOT CARE.

Quoted post said:

What about shoes? Best to ride clipped in?

LAKE SANDALS FOR ME. I SOUTH TEXAS, ANYTHING THAT HELPS COOL ME IS GOOD. BEBOP PEDALS REALLY SUIT ME.

Quoted post said:

Second question. When first starting out learning to ride a recumbent, what are the odds of hitting the pavement?

HAVE HIT PAVEMENT 4 TIMES. ALL CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO MENTAL SLOWNESS. 3 TIMES I WAS GOING ZERO MPH... IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCED WITH CLIPLESS ON A DF YOU SHOULD BE FINE

Quoted post said:

Third question is a even less technical. How many recumbent riders
shave their legs and is it for vanity reasons, speed, or to speed
healing when they hit the pavement?

I SHAVE MY FACE, FOR VANITY REASONS. I ALSO BELIEVE IT ENHANCES AERODYNAMICS, LIKE MY AEROBELLY.

HOPE THIS HELPS
CHARLIE

Why are you shouting?

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

ALL TOP POSTERS ARE IDIOTS! NOR DOES HE EVEN INCLUDE ANY OF THE PREVIOUS
MESSAGE TO WHICH HE IS RESPONDING. WHAT AN IDIOT!

Quoted message said:

Why are you shouting?

But Pat in TX is right, I will not bother to read anything that is all in
capital letters. That is a sure sign of idiocy. After all, the only reason
to use capital letters is to emphasize something. If everything is in
capital letters, then nothing is emphasized. Besides, capital letters are
much harder to read.

Regards,

Ed Dolan the Great - Minnesota
aka
Saint Edward the Great - Order of the Perpetual Sorrows - Minnesota

rayswrld said:

I am going to be buying my first recumbent in a week or two and .... have a couple of other not so
technical questions.

The first is clothing. What type of clothing is worn on a recumbent?
Are regular biking shorts necessary? Biking shirts with back pockets
seem to be impractical also. What about shoes? Best to ride clipped in?

Second question. When first starting out learning to ride a recumbent,
what are the odds of hitting the pavement?

Third question is a even less technical. How many recumbent riders
shave their legs and is it for vanity reasons, speed, or to speed
healing when they hit the pavement?

Thanks for the input.

I only ride bents now, and I don't usually buy "regular" bicycling
clothing anymore. Most of it doesn't work well: you don't need butt
padding at all, and the shirts and jackets all have back pockets that
have seams and zippers that are painful to sit on. Cold-weather gear has
the windbreaker material facing the wrong way for bent riding. About the
only "bicycling" clothing that's useful to a bent rider is rain shells.
Everything else I get at "regular" sporting-goods stores, look for the
"performance" wear, for running or in the general-fitness section. It's
made of synthetics (spandex, nylon, polyester, just like "real" bike
clothes), works better and usually costs a lot less than the bicycle
shop stuff. Cotton clothes are poor for activewear--buy synthetics only.
Even your socks should be synthetic--no cotton.
----
Riding most bents is not too bad if you have a day to practice where
there's no traffic and start off without using clipless pedals. Bents
tend to have steering that is more-jittery than upright bicycles;
especially short-wheelbase bents. Try to stay on clean pavement and away
from gravel, silt, ect.
-----
I don't shave my legs anymore, but used to when I rode MTB a lot. I just
did it because I would occasionally crash or scrape my legs on stuff,
and bandages stick to skin better than hair.
~~~~~~