Recumbent bicycle
| Recumbent bicycle | |
|---|---|
Bacchetta Corsa, a short-wheelbase high racer | |
| 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 |
| Drive | 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, and often called a human-powered vehicle or HPV, especially if it has an aerodynamic fairing. 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, with four wheels a quadracycle.
Recumbents can be faster than upright bicycles, but they were banned by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) in 1934. Recumbent races and records are now overseen by the World Human Powered Vehicle Association (WHPVA), International Human Powered Vehicle Association (IHPVA) and World Recumbent Racing Association (WRRA).
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.