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The name comes from the fact that as a senior citizen, I can still ride great distances. Twenty or Thirty miles represent easy days. Sixty miles are harder but achievable for me.
In my view, "bents" have three primary advantages.
1) bents allow you to sit in a relaxed position with your back rested. This is real important for a senior. No doubt, I still get tired on a long ride -- especially on the hills.
2) bents allow you to see whats going on. Your head is up and your eyes can take in all the scenery around without straining your neck. I get tired of the view of the front wheel on a regular bike. The thing I like about biking compared to other forms of exercise is the ability to rather efficiently take in the environment. Ivan Illich suggested the speed of a bicycle or a sailboat was the ideal speed for such endeavors.
3) bents go faster for the same effort. This used to be more important to me than it is now but, the theory is that there is less wind resistance from the lower seating position. The fastest I have ever gone on mine was around 45 miles per hour (70 kph). Of course, that was down hill -- real down hill. On the flats I run along about 18 to 20 mph and average more like 12 to 15 over 60 miles.
The joke among bent r
iders is how often they are asked, "Is that thing easy to ride?"
This is a picture of Vikki's cousin, Mary Ellen getting on Milagro for her first ride. Within a few minutes she was navigating the parking lot. I think it takes an average person 50 to 100 miles to become really comfortably in control.
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