Off Road Recumbent?
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Printed Date: 26 March 2026 at 10:38pm
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Topic: Off Road Recumbent?
Posted By: MeamoFan
Subject: Off Road Recumbent?
Date Posted: 26 May 2024 at 3:41pm
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I want to look at getting a recumbent for riding the local sustrans routes and bridal ways. I have a Mountain bike which is great all year round but limits me to 20km / 2 hours before my arms & bum get too saw to ride.
Clearly I can't expect the same performance off road as a Mountain Bike but something that can cope with a bit of mud would be good. With the exception of one bit, it's nothing serious regards off roading. When the mud is dry my Brompton can manage the route and a lot faster than my MTB. If it had clearance for knobbly tries it would probably do the job year round (putting the lively steering aside).
I love the look of a "Bacchetta Bella", it's said to be good off road if it has the 26" front wheel although I've only heard this said in the context of American gravel not British mud.
The only person I've found talking about off road recumbents, is "Saukki" on YouTube, his Azub Max looks way more capable than my needs but his "Challenge Hurricane" looked very poor off road indeed.
Any experience / make model recommendation great fully received. |
Replies:
Posted By: Leisurerider
Date Posted: 28 May 2024 at 9:00pm
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A recumbent for off road at first seems to fly against the wind. After all, aren't recumbent bikes the domain of low slung aerodynamic speedsters? This forum attracts many with those inclinations. But if you look at it from the other end of the telescope, long distance comfort, it makes more sense to spread your weight out to let the seat take the strain. I've always thought of a bike as a multipurpose machine, and gravitated to what would be considered as maybe gravel bikes, hybrids, or tourers, good for better surfaced towpaths, cycle trails, and bridleways as well as being good on -road. So when I discovered recumbents a few years ago I'd hoped to to carry on recumbenting in the same manner as I'd been using my upright bikes. The biggest difference between conventional bikes and recumbents is the ability to move your body about which you can't so much on recumbents, making it harder to ride on more extreme terrain. If you accept that, it's still quite possible to ride mild off road routes for long distances. My own experience has been quite positive but probably not typical. A long wheelbase 700C/20 bike with underseat steering probably wouldn't be most people's first choice for off road but once having mastered it, it's surprising where it can take you. I started from a position of knowing nothing and from my current viewpoint I was lucky to find that one, which I've still got ( An old Iowa Linear). The suggestion of a Bacchetta Bella certainly chimes with me mainly from the fact of the photos I've seen of them with overseat steering. This would give a tighter turning circle than the USS assuming the bar overhang isn't too extreme, and the overall width would be narrower which might help with cycleway barriers. The Bacchetta could be pricey, would recommend a try before you buy. Also it can take some practice to get the hang of a recumbent two wheeler, though with a long wheelbase and highish seat the Bella might be more welcoming. From a practical viewpoint you'll need more standover if the surface is poor, ruts etc so it's as well to check if you can manage the larger wheels. Another practical point is transportation, if you want to carry a bike in or on a car, or on a train. A shorter recumbent would do the job. The HP Velotechnik Streetmachine has good feedback re off road stability, alas too high for me. A genre of bikes which reputedly do well off tarmac are compact long wheelbase or medium wheelbase recumbents such as the Bike-E, Oke-Ja, HP Velotechnik Spirit. They are easier to learn to ride than some recumbents. I've got a Spirit which I've done some towpath bashing on this year and it's coped well. These bikes are all older models but they do pop up from time to time. The Spirit tends to be pricey but the others can be cheap enough to be worth buying to try, and sell on if they don't suit. I've had a few recumbent bikes since I've started out but these are the ones I've kept. I'm mostly at the budget end of the market. I hope that my reply will encourage others to share their knowledge. |
Posted By: KM2
Date Posted: 28 May 2024 at 9:41pm
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Perhaps something like an Optima Orca. Having larger wheels for better riding over bumps and full suspension. Throw in a full handlebar for control, not hamster bars ( used more for aerodynamics) Decent touring recumbents.
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Posted By: Kim
Date Posted: 28 May 2024 at 11:09pm
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I've done plenty of touring on a Streetmachine, which as you'd expect for an expedition tourer with decent suspension is eminently competent at unmade roads and (Silly Sustrans Gates aside) the average British cycle route. The limiting factor is generally the rider's nerve when things get slippery (which could be improved somewhat by fitting knobbly tyres - I usually have 40mm Marathons which are optimal for tarmac and light gravel), followed by what you can reasonably expect a 20" front wheel to roll over, and then the turning circle dictated by under-seat steering. Larger wheels would obviously roll over bigger bumps, but I'd be wary of sacrificing too much ability to get a foot down quickly. A less reclined seat angle may help with confidence, even if it doesn't really improve the way the bike handles. (Off-roading on recumbent trikes is another kettle of worms entirely. Track width and traction are usually the main issues.)
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Posted By: RoyMacdonald
Date Posted: 28 May 2024 at 11:23pm
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Find Daniel Fenn's video of him riding a trike off road through some woods and you will have to abandon your preconceptions of what a trike can do off road. It was a leaning trike though if I remember correctly (Tripendo Spa). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1DQ6tjdHoE&t=43s" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1DQ6tjdHoE&t=43s Also here... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gy85AmLdnPk&t=20s" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gy85AmLdnPk&t=20s
< id="BFI_" style="width: 1px; height: 1px; display: none;">He is of course totally insane.  All the best Roy |
Posted By: Kim
Date Posted: 29 May 2024 at 12:07am
That looks awesome fun  I'd not really considered the advantages of tilting when it comes to adverse camber (with which I have form for muddy embarrassment). He also appears to be making full use of what doesn't look like a tremendous amount of ground clearance. That's probably the most important thing when choosing a tadpole trike that can go off-road sensibly.
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Posted By: Leisurerider
Date Posted: 29 May 2024 at 10:34am
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Coincidentally, as the the OP mentioned one, a Bacchetta Bella has appeared on the Bay of e, though it's a 26/20 inch wheel model. I have no connection with the seller, just mention it out of interest. |
Posted By: KM2
Date Posted: 29 May 2024 at 5:05pm
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Have a look at this persons video https://youtu.be/JfnTuFgFA6o?si=QhchLeJPKSEzXdPF" rel="nofollow - https://youtu.be/JfnTuFgFA6o?si=QhchLeJPKSEzXdPF
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Posted By: RoyMacdonald
Date Posted: 29 May 2024 at 6:30pm
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But it's not a trike like the OP wants. He has a bike already that he uses and finds uncomfortable. All the best. Roy |
Posted By: Leisurerider
Date Posted: 29 May 2024 at 9:50pm
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Not for me to say what the OP wants but having scrutinised his post closely I see no mention of a trike. His request for information seems to be for two wheels, which in my case, is what piqued my interest. |
Posted By: RoyMacdonald
Date Posted: 30 May 2024 at 3:18pm
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Sorry I was replying to Kim really. Then got confused about what the OP wanted. He said his Brompton would do the job but was not comfortable over a longer ride. Unfortunately you can't see the whole thread until you post. I'm easily confused these days. All the best. Roy |
Posted By: zoxed
Date Posted: 31 May 2024 at 10:19am
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Last year I renovated my old Pasley PDQ to use on the local (German) forest tracks (mostly rough gravel but some sections of mud, sometimes clayey). Worked great with fat tyres for extra suspension, bought some knobblys but didn't fit them yet, but there is plenty of clearance. When they come up for sale they are v cheap, or DTek? |
Posted By: MeamoFan
Date Posted: 02 June 2024 at 2:59pm
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Thanks for all your replies, looking at the suggested models it looks like there are two types of bikes to look for: Long Wheel base (LWB) including Compact Long Wheelbase (CLWB) such as Bachette Bella or Bike E. I’m assuming these handle well off road as the long wheel base brings stability even though they tend to have small wheels. The other advantage I assume is you can put a foot down easily with the upright riding position and sitting lower to the ground. The second approach is a Short Wheel Base (SWB) often with suspension and two 26" / 559 wheels, to eat up all the bumps. Such an Azub Max, Nazica Pioneer & Pashely PDQ. I assume the compromise here is your sat a bit higher with your feet a lot higher to be more reclined for better wind resistance. So it’s harder to put a foot down quickly in a tricky bit of mud? A lot of the above come with either over or under seat steering, does that make a difference in terms of off road manoeuvrability? I’m guessing Over may be better but I’m not sure why. Please correct any of my above assumptions, I’m keen to learn. Regards the two types I'm more intrested in comfort and feeling confident on the bike (at least to start with) so the LWB seems the best choice to me. Although I think getting the chance to ride some examples first would be a good idea, will have to see if I can arrange a visit to Dtek. As an aside I’d not considered a trike as there are two foot/bike bridges on my routes. One 900mm wide and another 700mm wide. The former is up around 1m of steps with only a rail for two wheelers to one side. |
Posted By: KM2
Date Posted: 02 June 2024 at 4:50pm
| There is a Peer Gynt, LWB, with rear suspension on the cycling uk forum. |
Posted By: legs_larry
Date Posted: 03 June 2024 at 9:46am
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I very much suspect that the front end of an LWB would tend to wash out when asked to go round corners when off-road.. ------------- ==================== a bit ov a lyv wyr by slof standirds |
Posted By: Leisurerider
Date Posted: 03 June 2024 at 3:56pm
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Don't try this at home! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PDpqLylqeM (Hope the link works) I think it's a Flevo Oke-Ja. Available in versions with rear suspension too. The Bike-E is similar and comes unsuspended and in rear suspended versions. Advice seems to be regarding front end lightness, go for the large size frame as due to the sliding seat design if you are average or tall on a small or medium size frame your weight ends up over the back wheel, unloading the front. On a large frame the rearward weight bias is less extreme. It's noticeable on my Linear that the previous owner was quite tall and the seat was well back when I bought it. It's a medium frame and to fit me being fairly short the seat is well forward. This seems to help with the weight distribution though the greatest braking effort is still on the back wheel. I just use reasonable treaded road tyres. Fitting a front Big Apple a few mm wider than the back tyre curiously made the front feel very planted. I haven't fallen off it though I'm no superhero when off road, and I don't intentionally do mud where you might need something more knobbly. The 20" front wheel felt tiny when I first started out but now I've had it a few years it doesn't seem strange. 10 or 20 years ago even 16" wheels weren't uncommon and are seen on older recumbents. Ideally, larger wheels roll better but ease of getting a foot down counts for a lot too especially when starting out. Smaller wheels don't necessarily rule out off road ability. The Pashley PDQ has dual 20" wheels for example, and a compressible rubber suspension at the rear. One thing I would say though, is that a smaller wheeled recumbent benefits from some kind of suspension at least at the rear, though again others might disagree. Over seat steering vs under seat steering? There's no doubt that under seat steering looks cool and mysteriously recumbenty, and feels good too. There are times off the beaten track when those generously sweeping cables below the bars can be a nuisance, snagging on undergrowth, and your arms are in an ideal position to make the acquaintance of prickly, stinging plants. Also they make it more problematical to mount mirrors, bells, computers where you can see them. Sporty riders might claim they are less streamlined than over seat bars. There's also the issue of restricted lock, as the seat tends to restrict the lock to lock movement. Because your levers are the first thing to hit the road if it falls over, you can damage stuff more easily than if they are higher up. Did I mention that it feels good on the road? Over seat steering gives you more choice of handlebars, is arguably easier to learn to ride with, usually has a simpler direct steering set up and gives you somewhere to mount your gadgets. It also gives you something to get hold of if you have to get off and push or wheel it about. Trouble is, I can't advise anyone about them, because I like both systems! Recumbents are just so different from each other, you really have to try different ones. It's definitely a field where one man's meat is another man's (or woman's) poison, and some might not take to them at all.
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Posted By: Leisurerider
Date Posted: 03 June 2024 at 4:00pm
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http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PDpqLylqeM" rel="nofollow - http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PDpqLylqeM Hyperlink didn't work. Try this one.
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Posted By: Leisurerider
Date Posted: 03 June 2024 at 4:06pm
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Need to highlight link in last but one post, right click, and click on "Open Link" to make it work. Don't know what happened there!
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Posted By: Kim
Date Posted: 03 June 2024 at 4:42pm
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Try this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PDpqLylqeM" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PDpqLylqeM
(First one wasn't link-ified, second one had a spurious http:// in front of the https://)
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Posted By: Arellcat
Date Posted: 05 June 2024 at 9:03pm
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Although it usually wore slicks, I went offroading from time to time when I had my RANS long wheelbased bike: https://www.flickr.com/photos/beqi/8553006100/" rel="nofollow">  I did more offroad riding on my RANS Sequoia though: https://www.flickr.com/photos/beqi/47981154863/" rel="nofollow">  Since getting my big, bouncy Orange I've not been riding the Sequoia and would be happy to sell it. ------------- carbon Quest, Lightning P-38, RANS Sequoia, Kona Sutra, Orange Five, Elephant Bike, Brompton, Stumpjumper |