Tramping it on a recumbent

[TheRhysman]

Hey guys,

Clawing myself closer and closer to becoming the ultimate two-wheeled hobo. I have the opportunity to pick up a recumbent bike, she is in great nick and i have rode one before. I found them incredibly comfy and ergonomic, and i will be able to get the bike bags at a reasonable price too. I was wondering what experience people have had with bikepacking on such a contraption.

Any feedback will be epic.

Thanks all!

[Bearbonesnorm]

I recall there was a chap riding one on last years TD.

[Scattamah]

My missus rides a Greenspeed GTS...and whilst it is indeed incredibly comfortable and fast on flat/downhill paved roads, I wouldn't like to try it on singletrack or have to lift it over multiple gates/fences - it weighs a ton without luggage. It's incredibly slow up hill...crawling is quicker. Can't imagine it would handle well on rocky/muddy sections either.

Greetz

S.

[TheRhysman]

This is what im thinking, i may scrap the idea and go with a tourer. I just have an opportunity to purchase said recumbent cheap and at a great price.

I was sold by how comfy they are, and the fact that it comes with panniers.

This is a challenge recumbent, not a trike like your better half rides, so hopefully the weight would be kept down?

[Scattamah]

One less wheel and brake...in theory, it should weigh less. Still not sure I'd feel comfortable off road with one.

As to someone doing the TD on one...I'd pay good money to see them descend Lava Mountain/Galton/Stemple, etc. kicked back in the chair and holding on for dear life.

Greetz

S.

[Richpips]

I'd like to have a go on one of those offroad. I imagine it'd be rubbish though.

Being sat down, there's little you can do to move your weight a round the bike. You'd be reliant on thugging your way through everything, as you can't unweight the wheels.
Pushing one of those things would give you a bad back.
Weight ~17Kg, You wouldn't want to carry it far either.

[TheRhysman]

Yeah ok. From the feedback here and other places around the web im pretty sure this isn't going to be the way to go.

Gonna have to be the noob now, could anyone recommend a half decent bike to get myself started on?

Im a keen trials biker, but there is no way in hell my 20" Koxx has any other use than that. Any recommendations that won't require me to sell my car?

Cheers

[Richpips]

29er or 650B, dependant on your size, there are some bargains here - http://www.evanscycles.com/categories/b ... f/pinnacle#!

[TheRhysman]

Cheers dude, i shall look into building one i reckon itll be alot cheaper.

Cheers though, im 6ft so might go with a 650b we shall see.

[fatbikephil]

A mate built himself a recumbent years ago and used to use it on forest tracks and the like for which it was fine