Riding a recumbent bicycle
16
HP
Velotechnik
tight and is reflective. If you're wearing wide
pants use clips to protect them from getting
caught in the chain - or use an old fashioned
method and put the pants in your sockets.
When you fall with a recumbent you’ll usually
land on the side of your hips and your hands.
Wearing reinforced cycling shorts and gloves
reduces the danger of skin injuries considera-
bly.
Use clipless pedals
The pedals of your recumbent bicycle can be
upgraded on demand with a binding system.
As soon as you are comfortable with riding
your bicycle you should use those clipless
pedals. Due to the rigid connection between
shoe and pedal you don't have to keep your
foot on the pedals with pressure anymore.
This enables a more relaxed and round pedal-
ling movement where you may even pull a
little on the pedals. Without this connection
to the pedals your feet may come off suddenly
which may result in a fall. Modern system
pedals with binding therefor contribute to safe
riding.
At first you will have to practice with these
pedals to make sure that you can get off
quickly in a dangerous situation. Please read
the manual of the pedal manufacturer that
comes with this manual and have your dealer
explain the use of the pedals to you. In the
beginning set the release force of the binding
to a low value to make sure you can get off
safely.
Please use exclusively the original shoe plates
/ cleats from the manufacturer of the pedals,
do not use any other brand. If you're using
shoe plates that are not authorised the bind-
ing system won't work properly.
Slowly increase the strain
We recommend you to perform only short
rides without much power during the first
weeks. Always use a low gear and ride with a
high pedalling frequency. Only after having
acquired some training do increase the strain
slowly.
When you ride on a recumbent you use
different muscles than on a conventional
bicycle, and they have to be trained first. The
very high position of the bottom bracket
requires your muscles and blood transport
system to slowly familiarise with the new
position.
In case of an overload the blood circulation in
your legs may be affected which shows in loss
of power, a prickling in the toes, falling asleep
of the legs or cramps. When you feature a
sporty way of riding it can take up to 6
months until you have become accustomed to
your new recumbent.
If there is pain in your knees occurring while
riding this is usually the result of too much
power put into pedalling. The good support of
the back sometimes misleads to putting the
full power of the legs in the pedal, similar to
the leg training machines in a fitness centre.
When you repeat it regularly it is harmful for
the knees. Pain in the knees often results from
an overuse of the muscles in the knee that can
also be strengthened by exercise.
Also, a wrong adjustment of the front boom
to the leg length (in most cases too short) can
lead to pain in the knees.