Recumbent Exercise Bicycle

Recumbent exercise bicycles are built to be close to the ground, this cuts a lot of wind resistance and you are lying down on the job! The position is radically different from a normal bike and needs a lot of practice to get the hang of pedalling on your back close to the ground.

Unlike a normal bike position you can’t get out of the saddle to climb a hill, you have to change down a gear and pedal up.

If you can find a second hand recumbent frame you could build up a homebuilt recumbent bicycle, most of the parts are the same are normal bikes, the wheel size is smaller and the steering is more complicated.

The saddle is obviously different, the gearing will be the same, but with a longer chain for the longer frame. The braking system is best to be discs as they run on the hub as opposed to the stirrup normal system, which has to straddle the wheel and tire.

If you are more adventurous you could make a solar powered recumbent bicycle. These have large solar panels fitted on the top of the bike, which charge batteries and then power electric a motor to push the bike forward.

You need a lot of sun and flat roads, Arizona in the USA or Australia are the best places, but don’t try to go out at night!