Your first experience with human power probably was a recumbent/semi recumbent ... the normal front wheel drive tricycle. Most recumbents are extremely comfortable - because you do not put all the vitals on a few square centimeters of saddle. In fact, the lowracer (which is a 2 wheel recumbent) is actually more comfortable than most couches I have sat upon. It has got a lumbar curve to support your back, and the saddle goes from your butt, to your shoulders. The recumbent cycles in the virgin active is not the standard experience. I find then uncomfortable compared to other recumbents, and they are not very adjustable. If a vehicle cannot see you, he wont be able to see the lines on the road, or a kid on a bicycle. Vehicles give me more space, than they give me on a normal bicycle. As with normal bikes, intersections can be a problem, especially if you sneak up from behind. I only had one accident, at an intersection, where a vehicle wanted to turn right (same as me) indicators on, until the robot turned amber, and then suddenly changed his mind and wanted to go straight ahead. I hit his door with my hand and stopped without him hitting me. If I was on a normal bike, I would have went over the bonnet. we typically start with the tandems as our ride profile is very similar to tandems. slower on the uphils, and faster on the downhills. tandems= same frontal area, double weight. recumbents = same weight, half the frontal area a pic of the lowracer to give you an idea of what i am talking about The lowracer was bought as a frameset from the netherlands. it is very flat there, and the lowracer evolved in order to minimise the frontal area, and also to be as close as possible to the ground. all the shrubs next to the road, break the wind for you. the lowracer is heavy, so am I, and therefore I am slower on uphills. my best amashova time is just under half an hour faster than my best upright time. The greenspeed trike is very similiar in position to the lowracer, except that the steering is under the seat, and it has 3 wheels. the seat angle is about 30 degrees. The lowracer is actually very extreme in position compared to normal 2 wheeled recumbents. Most 2 wheeled recumbents have got the pedals lower compared to your seat, or on the same level. most recumbent balance very easy(the trike is a no brainer) but the lowracer is more difficult to get used to here is a picture of a long wheelbase This bike has a fairing on, and aero wheels. The cranks are behind the headset, and it has above seat steering. This is an american Easyracers recumbent. any normal cyclist should be able to get on this bike and ride straight on the first ride after the first 20 meters. Here is a picture of another dutch recumbent, this is a shortwheelbase recumbent, and you can see the cranks are not a high as the lowracer, and the seat is higher. It has under the seat steering
