Recumbents

Our Guide to Recumbent Cycles

Recumbent cycles offer a great riding experience for anyone. Users like the laid back and supportive seat. They like how recumbent cycles combine comfort with head-up riding position. Some people ride recumbents because they have problems with their back, or have developed balance issues, or have simply never found comfort on a conventional bike saddle.

Cycling a Different Way

Why a recumbent? Because it’s a great riding experience for anyone. Users like the laid back and supportive seat. They like the combination of comfort with head-up riding position. They like the idea of going as slow as you want without falling off, using the additional gears. They like the low centre of gravity, giving maximum stability on fast cornering. Some ride recumbents because they have problems with their back, or have developed balance issues, or have simply never found comfort on a conventional bike saddle. Some just like the amazing sensation of recumbent riding. Actually, the term should be semi-recumbent!

Recumbent Trikes

There are many types of recumbent tricycle to meet all needs, ages and abilities. Recumbent trikes can come in two variants, tadpole with two wheels at the front or delta two wheels at the back. Both variants have advantages and disadvantages. Some are designed for touring, some for around-town practicality. Some are disability-specific, many are not, some are relatively high, some wider than others, some fold, some have suspension, some are handcycles, some are tandems, and some have electric-assist options.

Two-Wheeled Alternatives

If you are thinking of moving to a three-wheeled recumbent purely because you feel a need for reassurance, then do also consider easy-rider comfort cycles: fairly upright bikes with their pedals slightly forward of the usual position, so you can have full leg-stretch when pedalling yet still get both feet onto the ground whenever you stop, while still sitting.

Cycling Performance

Recumbents have multiple advantages, but you certainly can't get up out of your seat and put your body weight over the pedals. Also, you use your leg muscles differently, but they adjust after a period. This can make hill-climbing slower, but the overall speed is still competitive, if you include the downhill stretches! It helps that recumbents are also generally more aerodynamic than uprights, and you can fit (and use) really powerful brakes without somersaulting over the handlebars.

For most, overall speed is not top of the wish list and, since you can access the kind of low gear that few two-wheeled cyclists would ever dream of, you can simply decide to go slower up the hill while you enjoy the scenery without slow-speed balance issues. Some recumbents are specifically designed for people with disabilities, most likely riding in enclosed situations. The stability and seating position give reassurance, a relaxed riding style, and lots of fun.

Options and Choices

You may spot your perfect recumbent easily, but there are clearly many possible variations, combinations and customisations. This is why, as a responsible social enterprise, we prefer to have a conversation with you first, to understand your exact needs and help you avoid mistakes. Our experts can also tell you about our try-out facilities and any alternatives amongst our refurbished cycles. It’s worth getting in touch!

Refurbished Options

We have built up expertise and supply chains which allow us to offer a wide range of refurbished cycles. Most of these are pre-loved models of top brands which we bring in from Holland and elsewhere. Our refurbished cycles are not always the latest model, but we buy quality, so even older cycles will look smart and all perform brilliantly. Refurbished cycles offer great value if you have a limited budget.

What Our Customers Say

"I have a number of complex medical conditions and am unable to do any form of exercise 'upright'. Get Cycling built my Ice Trike Sprint, which has given me the chance to enjoy life again, get out into the countryside and start to achieve things I thought I never would, and for that I am hugely grateful."

Natalie Carter

More Specialist Cycles

Many of the cycles featured in other sections of this website are recumbents or semi recumbents, in their many different forms. They are incredibly versatile machines. Explore the product categories below to see more specialist cycles that we offer.

Contact Us

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