Why do we sell recumbents? Who would want one? And why (especially given their price)?!
Well, we have been selling them for close to fourteen years largely because ... nobody else around here does. The market for recumbents is quite small, but because Rapid Transit is one of very few shops in the greater Chicago area that carries them, we pull customers from far and wide.
The market is saturated with look-alike bikes. Recumbents provide a healthy dose of excitement, both for the customers, and for us. Recumbents allow us to fill the needs of those customers who would not be well-served by a standard upright bike. We are approached by people who are older, who have had to give up cycling because of back or other injuries, or who cannot get comfortable on a standard bike for reasons of their own.
But let me dispel the notion that recumbents are for the aged and infirm. The main reason our customers are attracted to recumbents is because they combine good ergonomics and high performance with spectacular success. Recumbents are not clunky (OK, some are, but making a generalization would be like saying that upright bikes are clunky because you know cruisers are).
They can be quite fast. (For examples of top speeds, click here and here.) Although the top speed potential varies from model to model, and is highly dependent on the rider, all recumbents offer an aerodynamic edge. You slice into the wind with your feet rather than your torso, thus minimizing wind resistance. Although you can't stand up on the pedals to crank a recumbent to top speed, you can brace your back firmly against the seat, and achieve a similar result. And all the while you can enjoy the scenery without straining your neck.
(drawing by Gary Varvel)
Who rides recumbents? Several of our most dedicated recumbent customers have been folks were over 70. The youngest person to ever buy one from us was 14. But, in general, recumbent enthusiasts represent a pretty broad range of the population.
And the price? Most recumbents are not cheap, but they are also not cheaply made. Many of the ones we sell are hand-made in the US. They cannot be easily mass-produced. A lot of thought and care goes into the frame design, which has to be complemented with carefully chosen components and accessories.
Here are some ideas from Lightning Cycle Dynamics about offsetting the initial high cost of a recumbent:
The average cost of operating a car is about 50 cents per mile (VERY conservative and somewhat dated statistic, but, hey, let's use it). If you ride your recumbent 2000 a year (that's ONLY 5.5 miles per day), you are saving $1000. In two years, you recumbent has paid for itself. After that, it's actually making you money!
