Comments and opinions based on my 40 years of experience with the Avatar
Steering
The most frequently asked question is: “How do you steer that thing”?
At first glance, the primary steering rod blends into the horizontal top tube. That optical illusion combined with the minimal movement required of the steering rod in order to turn the front wheel, results in no detectable movement of the rider’s hands or arms which are in a relaxed position at the sides of the body. In ranking the overall positive attributes of the bike the ease of steering is, in my opinion, second only to the comfort afforded by the seat.
Most first-time riders tend to over-emphasize the steering. We learn to “grasp” the handlebars of a conventional bike, but to do that with this design can have a deleterious effect. The steering ratio is very quick. Even small movements of the pivoting rod “handlebar” located under the seat will move the front wheel considerably. The seasoned rider simply allows the hands to rest comfortably on the handlebar, making only the smallest corrections in steering.
If so desired, the actual effort required to move the front wheel can be safely and comfortably accomplished with just two fingers of one hand: the thumb and forefinger. Because the brake and shift levers are located on the tips of the handlebar, with a little experience the rider can safely steer, brake, and even shift with one hand, freeing the other to drink, scratch an itch or whatever.
Balance
The second most frequent question is “Is it hard to balance” or “learn to ride”?
The quick answer is, it is different. Most first timers spend about 20 minutes maneuvering in a not-so-straight line. I was one of them. A significant part of the balance equation is really related to the steering issue discussed above. After a short period, one does less over-steering and immediately finds improved balance. I would say it took a couple hours to overcome about 80% of the challenge.
Learning to balance while reclining instead of leaning forward is a new sensation that takes some getting used to for many people. It probably takes two or three months to become completely comfortable. Once mastered, it becomes embedded as a life-long ability; just as one remembers how to ride a conventional bicycle. There have been several periods where I did not ride the Avatar for several years, such as when I focused on hiking the Appalachian Trail. I found myself able to dust the bike off and immediately ride with absolutely no balance or steering issues.
Effort required
Some people assume it takes less, or requires more, effort than a conventional bicycle. In my opinion there is no discernible difference, at least for casual riding involving level or modest grades. If you are talking about racing, speed, and significant hills, there can be a measurable difference. When extra effort is required for more than 30 seconds to a minute (i.e. climbing long and/or steep hills), the conventional bike allows the rider to “stand up on the pedals” for a change of position, allowing: (1) a reallocation of muscles, (2) a harnessing of body weight or gravity, and (3) ability to pull up on the handlebars creating reactive force or pressure downward on the pedals; all for more sustained power. The recumbent rider is stuck with the one, albeit comfortable, position. Unless someone is a super athlete and has trained extensively on the recumbent, the average speedster or racer will make better time on a conventional bike.
The recumbent riding position invites slightly different forces upon the leg muscles. For this reason, a beginner will find that it takes a couple of months of riding to fully adapt. It is not a problem. The rider may just experience some minor discomfort until their muscles “get with the program”.
Because of the inability to change riding positions it was not long before I changed the gearing to better deal with steep hills. My trip Avatar is equipped with a lowest gear equating to a “gear-inch” of approximately 19 (using a 24-tooth smallest chain ring and a 34-tooth rear sprocket). With this setup I have never had to walk a hill anywhere in the country; although I came close to dismounting in three instances out West. My “around town” bike is currently set up with an IRD freewheel and a 32 biggest sprocket. (See Musings for additional comment about the IRD freewheel)
I have not found the somewhat lower-to-ground seated position as having a detectable advantage regarding wind resistance under most conditions. The one exception may be a long and steep downhill scenario; probably at speeds in excess of 30 mph the recumbent will have an aerodynamic advantage. Personally, I don’t like to go that fast on any type of bicycle. I always have images of an errant groundhog “making” my day! SWB (short wheel base) recumbents no doubt offer less wind resistance.
Having completed three long tours on a conventional bicycle as a comparison, I found no significant difference in the number of miles averaged per day. If anything, I found myself less fatigued on the Avatar thanks to a comfortable posterior and unstrained neck and arms.
Safety
This can be a contentious issue. I am naturally biased in favor of the recumbent. And, I cannot offer judgment on the other category of SWB (short wheelbase) recumbent as I have never had the opportunity to ride one. That said, I feel very strongly that the LWB recumbent such as the Avatar is considerably safer than the conventional bike (assuming safe riding techniques on either type bike) for a number of reasons, as follows:
- The rider’s head is always comfortably in an upright position, making it more likely the rider will see a potential hazard.
- The legs are out in front, in a better position to absorb energy in the event of an unavoidable crash. This eliminates the high risk of being thrown head first over the handlebars, as exists with a conventional bike.
- The shorter distance between the rider and the ground favors the recumbent rider.
- The hands are comfortably resting on the brake levers / handlebar at most times, ready to react for emergency braking.
A common refrain I hear concerns the fact that the rider sits a foot or so lower (how much lower?) than on a conventional bike and therefore it seems “more dangerous because the rider is less visible to traffic”. Yes, the rider sits lower, but the fact of the matter is that the bike and rider represent a big object moving at the side of the road, visible to all but the truly blind. A scenario can occur at a stop light / sign where the lower position can be a problem: If the rider ignores proper riding technique and pulls up next to a vehicle waiting at an intersection, the driver may not notice the bike. The safety-conscious rider will stop behind the waiting vehicle (at the right-rear of the vehicle) and will assume the driver does not see the bike rider. Any additional vehicles that pull up to the stopped traffic will have the bike rider in full view.
I have always used a safety flag. I do not think it adds much benefit, especially if one has safe and good riding habits. If nothing else it helps to disarm the uninformed knee-jerk critic. And, if in a rare situation it makes the difference between someone seeing me or not, it will have been worth using. Most bikers don’t use safety flags because they are not “cool” or whatever the latest terminology is, but this guy is long past worrying about appearance!
I always use a mirror. On my around-town Avatar I use a helmet-mounted mirror. On my touring Avatar I supplement my helmet mirror with two additional custom-mounted convex units near the front panniers; one on each side.
All that said, I think anyone would be crazy to try riding any recumbent in the heart of any huge city like NYC, Philly, Boston, etc. I think riding any bicycle in that scenario would be asking for trouble. Of course some people do it regardless of the dangers.
Touring
Obviously I’m biased, but I have toured enough with a conventional bike that I believe my opinions have some merit.
A fully loaded touring bicycle, whether recumbent or conventional, is a different animal. The handling characteristics require another brief commitment of time to adapt. The added weight affects steering, braking, and balance.
Steering on a conventional bike can be adversely affected for two reasons. First, the front panniers must be attached rigidly to the fork which dictates they must turn with the wheel. This added weight to the steering is not a significant problem and the rider can adapt to the different “feel” in short order. However, I have found that a handlebar bag (which also has to move with the steering) loaded with too much weight can contribute to a shimmying problem. The center of gravity of the combined pannier system needs to be as low as possible.
Due to the general design of the Avatar, I was able to fabricate a front pannier rack that mounts rigidly to the frame, not the fork. The wheel can move independently and eliminates any adverse effect upon the steering. The only noticeable difference is a slight increased steering resistance at very slow speed, primarily when walking the bike due to the added weight on the front wheel. At normal speeds the effect on steering is negligible.
Braking on a conventional, loaded touring bike is somewhat compromised simply due to the added weight if no other brake modifications are made. I found the standard caliper brakes were adequate, but required careful maintenance / adjustment on a regular basis to maintain acceptable performance. One could no doubt invest in a special disc brake but I did not feel the need to pursue that option.
I found the standard caliper brakes on my loaded Avatar to be wanting, particularly on long downhill grades. The switch to a disc brake, supplementing the rear caliper, allowed me to eliminate the front brake and works extremely well. It allowed me to coast down the long, sometimes 7-mile descents out west, by alternating between the two brakes; this prevented excessive heat build-up. This set-up also declutters the front wheel/pannier area.
Balance on both kinds of loaded bikes is again different and requires a short learning curve. I found after about an hour, either bike became quite manageable. In fact, at the end of a tour, I found it a little strange to ride an unloaded bike.
One positive attribute of either loaded touring bike is the smooth ride created by the added weight. Very small road irregularities, normally light enough to feel, seem to disappear. The Avatar makes for an especially smooth ride because of its longer wheelbase.
Overall, for touring, because of the comfort and functionality of the Avatar I see no contest. Even having a kickstand to use with a fully loaded bike is so handy. I remember touring with my conventional bike having to either lay it down carefully or find a suitable thing to lean it against. Not an issue, in most instances, with the recumbent.
Comfort and other benefits
The seat really is as comfortable as a lawn lounge chair. When a novice first tries sitting in the seat (with both feet still flat on the ground), the first impression is odd / awkward. That is because the feet are not supported by the pedals. While riding, the pedals provide a comfortable posture.
- The upper body, including arms and neck, experience no stress.
- The unique Avatar frame provides more options for mounting custom brackets, etc. for touring paraphernalia.
- The steering design allows for the rider to safely steer with one hand, and for extended periods. This feature makes retrieving a water bottle effortless as well as safe.
- At stop lights, the rider simply removes one foot from the pedal and places it on the ground, the other foot / pedal at 12:00 position for push-off, providing complete and comfortable support. One can sit indefinitely in this position.
Drawbacks
The longer frame of the Avatar or any LWB recumbent can become an issue to varying degrees, usually when transporting or maneuvering by hand. While the front wheel can be removed quickly, the bike remains quite long and can be cumbersome to handle. It is a negative attribute that you simply learn to live with. It has a larger turning radius than the conventional bike and for this reason it can be more of a problem to negotiate sharp turns at very slow speeds. However, under normal riding conditions and speeds, the Avatar can weave and deal with conditions as well as any other bike. With practice a rider can slowly turn 180° in a remarkably short radius.
As discussed in the section regarding effort, the confinement to one riding position does limit the ability to vary muscle usage. Unless you are a bike racer, it is not a significant issue.
Enjoyment
Last but not least, the reason for my inflated enthusiasm for the Avatar is the fact that it is so comfortable and kind to the body. Yes, if I were an obsessed biker with a need to ride virtually every day for simply speed, I could no doubt adapt to a conventional bike (by developing the necessary calluses!) But I would not be able to maximize the enjoyment of a long bike tour, or everyday riding.
Of course, if I had never ridden the Avatar, or other LWB recumbent, I would never know the definition of ultimate touring or everyday riding.