Bikes That Are Low to the Ground With Back Support

Bikes that are low to the ground with back support are recumbents. They have smaller tires and a lower center of gravity that is shifted to the rear. Support is derived from a horizontal design that allows the rider to sit reclined in a chair-type seat. The pedals are out in front of the rider instead of underneath.

  1. Long Wheel Base

    • The long wheel base is the most common recumbent. The bike is built on a single beam. The rider sits in a mesh-backed seat with the pedals attached to the other end of the beam level with the seat. The front wheel is extended out from the front of the beam on a fork like traditional bikes. The handlebars are high-rise and swept back to facilitate comfort for the cyclist, putting the cyclist in the "superman" riding position. Long wheel base recumbents are the easiest to learn on, but it takes the rider time to get accustomed to the front end responsiveness.

    Compact Long Wheelbase

    • The configuration of a compact long wheel base recumbent is more like that of normal bicycle. Instead of being built on a beam like the long wheel base, the compact wheel base bike is built with bicycle tubing. The pedals are located close to the front tire and lower than the seat. The seat also has a back support with a tilt to the rear for more comfort. The handlebars are lower and drop down into the rider's comfort zone at a steeper angle, putting the rider in the"easy rider" position.

    Short Wheelbase

    • The short wheel base recumbent is the sports version of the recumbent. It is faster than other types of recumbents but also harder to ride. The rider sits in a mesh-backed chair like the other two, and the handlebars are level with the rider's neck. The pedals extend completely past the front wheel. This almost fully reclined position takes getting accustomed to. The bike can be hard to control due to its short wheelbase.

    Trike

    • Recumbent trikes have three wheels. The wheels can be in any configuration, either two in front with one in back, or in the traditional trike style with two in back and one in front. Recumbent trikes have the same back rest seat like other recumbents. Because of their stability and design, trikes are lower to the ground than any other type of recumbent. Trikes are capable of towing heavy loads and are the most comfortable of all recumbents to ride.