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Recumbent bicycle | |
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Classification | Vehicle |
Application | Transportation |
Fuel source | Human-power, Motor-power |
Wheels | 2-4 |
Axles | 0-2 |
Components | Frame, Wheels, Tires, Saddle, Handlebar, Pedals, Drivetrain |
Invented | 19th century |
Variations | Mountain bike, Lowracer, Highracer, Semi-recumbent, Folding, Tandem, Recumbent tricycle, Handcycle, Hand-and-foot recumbent tricycle, Recumbent quadracycle, Stationary |
Wheelbase | Long, Short, Compact long wheelbase, Convertible |
Steering | Under-seat, Over-seat, Center steering |
Rear wheel drive, Front wheel drive | |
Suspension | Coil, Elastomer, Air-sprung |
Seat | Mesh, Foam |
A recumbent bicycle is a bicycle that places the rider in a laid-back reclining position. Some recumbent riders may choose this type of design for ergonomic reasons: the rider's weight is distributed comfortably over a larger area, supported by back and buttocks. On a traditional upright bicycle, the body weight rests entirely on a small portion of the sitting bones, the feet, and the hands.
Others may choose a recumbent because some models also have an aerodynamic advantage; the reclined, legs-forward position of the rider's body presents a smaller frontal profile. Recumbents are much faster than upright bicycles,[1] but they were banned by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) in 1934.[2] Recumbent races and records are now overseen by the World Human Powered Vehicle Association (WHPVA) and International Human Powered Vehicle Association (IHPVA).
Recumbents are available in a wide range of configurations, including: long to short wheelbase; large, small, or a mix of wheel sizes; overseat, underseat, or no-hands steering; and rear wheel or front wheel drive. A variant with three wheels is a recumbent tricycle.