Editing Recumbent bicycle (section)

==Variations==
[[File:Challenge Hurricane recumbent.jpg|thumb|300px|Challenge Hurricane: a ''mid-racer''.]]

===Mountain bike recumbents===
With the right equipment and design, recumbent bikes can be used for riding unpaved roads and offroad, just as with conventional mountain bikes. Because of their longer wheelbase and the manner in which the rider is confined to the seat, recumbents are not as easy to use on tight, curving unpaved singletrack. Large-diameter wheels, mountain gearing and off-road specific design have been used since 1999. [[Crank forward|Crank-forward]] designs that facilitate climbing out of the saddle, such as the RANS Dynamik, also can be used off-road.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bikeroute.com/Recumbents/News/Archives/2007_11.html|title=Recumbent News: November 2007 Archives|website=www.bikeroute.com}}</ref>

===Lowracers===
Lowracers are a type of recumbent more common in Europe among racing enthusiasts. These typically have two 20″ wheels or a 26″ wheel at the rear and 20″ wheel at the front. The seat is positioned between the wheels rather than above them. The extreme reclined position, and the fact that the rider is sitting in line with the wheels rather than atop them, makes this type the most aerodynamic of unfaired recumbents.

===Highracers===
Highracers are distinguished by using two large wheels (usually ISO 559, 650c or 700c). This necessitates a higher bottom bracket than on a lowracer so that the rider's legs are above the front wheel, and this in turn requires a higher seat. The seating position may be otherwise identical to that on a lowracer allowing similar aerodynamics. "Racer" in the name implies that this will often be the case, since these bikes strive for speed.

Highracers are generally more maneuverable than lowracers since their higher center of mass make them easier to balance at lower speeds.<ref name = Fajans/> Given the same seating position they may be faster than lowracers, since it is widely believed that rolling resistance is inversely proportional to wheel diameter.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/bicycle-tires-puncturing-the-myths-29245/
| title = Bicycle tires – puncturing the myths
| author = James Huang
| date = 12 February 2011
| publisher = BikeRadar
| quote = Larger diameter wheels roll faster than smaller ones: Yep, it's now been confirmed in the lab – 29er mountain bikes roll faster than 26ers. Wheel Energy say the effect here is similar to that of tire width, in that larger-diameter tires exhibit less casing deflection and thus less energy loss.
| access-date = 4 October 2012}}</ref> However, lowracer proponents reply that their design is faster due to aerodynamics. The reasoning is that the riders body is in line with the wheels, reducing drag.

Hip and elbow injuries are more common on highracers than on lowracers due to the greater height from which the rider can fall. However, the injuries are very rare and seldom serious.

===Semi-recumbent and crank forward bicycles===
Bicycles that use positions intermediate between a conventional upright and a recumbent are called semi-recumbent or [[crank forward]] designs. These generally are intended for casual use and have comfort and ease of use as primary objectives, with aerodynamics sacrificed for this purpose.

===Tandem recumbents===
[[File:Barcroft Columbia.jpg|thumb|300px|This Barcroft Columbia is an example of how a tandem recumbent can be fitted within a compact layout for easy transport.]]
Just as with upright [[bicycle]]s, recumbents are built and marketed with more than one seat, thus combining the advantages of recumbents with those of [[tandem bicycle]]s. In order to keep the [[Bicycle and motorcycle geometry#Wheelbase|wheelbase]] from being any longer than absolutely necessary, tandem recumbents often place the stoker's [[crankset]] under the captain's [[Bicycle seat|seat]]. A common configuration for two riders in the recumbent position is the [[sociable]] tandem, wherein the two riders ride side by side. There are also hybrid recumbent designs such as the Hase Pino Allround<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.recumbent-cycle.com/en/recumbent-bike/41-hase-pinoallround |title=Hase Pino Allround - Touring - Recumbent-cycle.com : Recumbent bike |access-date=8 November 2012 |archive-date=7 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150507051646/http://www.recumbent-cycle.com/en/recumbent-bike/41-hase-pinoallround |url-status=dead }}</ref> that utilize a recumbent stoker in the front, and an upright pilot in the rear.

=== Recumbent tricycles ===
[[File:Faireds1.jpg|thumb|300px|A tadpole recumbent tricycle made by [[Inspired Cycle Engineering]] with a transparent front fairing]]
[[File:hand & foot recumbent trike2.jpg|thumb|260px|Hand and foot recumbent tricycle]]
[[File:Quattrocycle with canopy.jpg|thumb|260px|right|A modern touring 4-wheel recumbent quadracycle – a 2011 model Quattrocycle four seater with canopy<ref name="Quattro">{{Cite web|url = http://www.quattrocycle.com/|title = Quattrocycle|access-date = 30 June 2009|last = Quattrocycle BV|year = 2008}}</ref>]]

Recumbent [[tricycle]]s (trikes) are closely related to recumbent bicycles, but have three wheels instead of two. The three wheels can be arranged in two ways: delta trikes have one front wheel and two rear wheels, while tadpole trikes have two front wheels and one rear wheel.
<ref>{{cite web
|access-date=2021-12-14
|url=https://www.triketech.com/Trike/trike_layouts.html
|title=Recumbent Trikes by Design
|website=Triketech
}}</ref>

<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Handcycle.jpg|thumb|300px|A competition handcycle]] -->

====Handcycles====
{{Main|Handcycle}}
In order to accommodate [[paraplegics]] and other individuals with little or no use of their legs, many manufacturers have designed and released hand-powered recumbent trikes, or handcycles. Handcycles are a regular sight at [[Human Powered Vehicle|human powered vehicle]] (HPV) meetings and are beginning to be seen on the streets. They usually follow a delta design with front wheels driven by standard dérailleur gearing powered by hand cranks. Brake levers are usually mounted on the hand holds, which are usually set with no offset rather than the 180° of pedal cranks. The entire crank assembly and the front wheel turn together, allowing the rider to steer and crank simultaneously.

Although arms are weaker than legs, many hand cyclists are able to make use of the power of the whole upper body. A good hand cyclist can still achieve a respectable pace in competitions. Handcycles have also been used for touring, though few designers incorporate mudguards or luggage racks. Also, the gear ratios of standard handcycles tend to be less useful for long steep climbs.

==== Hand-and-foot recumbent tricycles ====
Recumbent cycles offer the possibility of combined hand and foot power inputs, and thus the potential for a full-body workout, and the option for persons with a weak or missing leg(s) to power a cycle. In one recumbent tricycle design the user makes the two front wheels change direction by shifting his center of weight, and moves forward by rotating the rear wheel.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.skywheel.kr/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=2012-11-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025090056/http://www.skywheel.kr/ |archive-date=25 October 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> There are also hybrids between a handcycle, a recumbent bike and a tricycle; these bikes enable cycling by use of legs, despite a spinal cord injury<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://berkelbike.co.uk/|title=BerkelBike – Cycle with your own muscles, in spite of your condition|website=BerkelBike}}</ref>

=== Recumbent quadracycles ===
{{main|Quadracycle}}
Recumbent four-wheel cycles have more stability and fewer tracks than tricycles.<ref name="QuadStability">{{Cite web|url = http://www.ibike.org/library/tech.htm#Quadracycles|title = Quadracycle Stability|access-date = 29 May 2011|last = ibike.org|year = 2011}}</ref> More wheels introduce more weight and more complexity, namely required wheel suspension on uneven surfaces. The fourth wheel is of most benefit when going off-road.<ref name="QuadVsTrikeStability">{{Cite web|url = http://www.lightfootcycles.com/atc_recumbent_quadracycle.php|title = Quad vs Trike off-road ability as Lightfoot compares their ATC quadracycle to their Roadrunner tricycle|access-date = 29 May 2011|last = lightfootcycles.com |year = 2011}}</ref> When two and sometimes four riders want to ride together in a sociable configuration the four-wheel recumbent cycle is a viable option.<ref>{{cite magazine
| url = http://www.popsci.com/category/tags/eco-tour
| title = ECO TOUR 09.15.11
| author = Pierce Hoover
| year = 2011 
| magazine = [[Popular Science]]
| access-date = 15 September 2001}}</ref>

===Homebuilts===
[[File:Recumbent-trike-homebuilt.jpg|thumb|An example of a home built recumbent trike made from two 24″ MTBs]]
As with upright bikes, there is a subculture of recumbent builders who design and build home-built recumbents.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://carbonbent.bravehost.com/index.html|title=The Mistress|website=carbonbent.bravehost.com}}</ref> Often these are assembled of parts from other bikes, particularly mountain bikes. The frame designs may be as simple as a long steel tube bent into the appropriate shape, or as elaborate as hand-built carbon fiber frames. For many builders, the engineering and construction of the bikes is as much of a challenge as riding them.

===Folding===
Several manufacturers offer [[Folding bicycle|folding]] recumbents to facilitate packing and travelling.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.atob.org.uk/folding-bikes/folding-bike-buyers-guide-uk/
| title = UK Folding Bike Buyer's Guide
| date = 24 February 2012
| publisher = AtoB: The Sustainable Transport Magazine
| access-date = 17 May 2014}}</ref>

===Couplers===
It is possible to add [[Bicycle Torque Coupling|couplers]] either during manufacturing or as a retrofit so that the frame can be disassembled into smaller pieces to facilitate packing and travel.

===Stationary recumbents===
As well as road-going recumbent bicycles with wheels, [[Stationary bicycle|stationary]] versions also exist. These are often found in gyms but are also available for home use. Like a regular stationary exercise bike, these stay in one place and the user pedals against some kind of resistance mechanism such as a fan or alternator but in a recumbent position. These have the same comfort advantages as road-going recumbents. Stationary recumbents almost always have a fairly upright seat and the pedal crank is lower than the level of the seat. The seat is normally adjustable and is adjusted by sliding it along a rail.{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}}