Etc - Front wheel or rear wheel drive?

Print Page | Close Window

Front wheel or rear wheel drive?

Printed From: BHPC Forum
Category: Public: Open to anyone
Forum Name: Etc
Forum Description: Any other riding-related topics
URL: https://forum.bhpc.org.uk/forum_posts.asp?TID=7754
Printed Date: 26 March 2026 at 11:54pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.07 - https://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: Front wheel or rear wheel drive?

Posted By: Edward_Bainton
Subject: Front wheel or rear wheel drive?
Date Posted: 16 January 2025 at 12:50pm

I'm researching my first recumbent / possibly a velomobile, after getting intrigued from YouTube (see other recent posts), and recalling my DT teacher 30 years ago with a very fast machine.

One thing that keeps coming up on YouTube is the front wheel / rear wheel drive aspect, and apparently recumbents tend to slip because the weight is not on the drive wheel?

I've not been able to understand this in context, even though it comes up relatively often. Any light anyone could shed would be much appreciated. I guess the physics is obvious enough - for front-wheel drive only, correct? or not?

How big a problem it is practically would be helpful, so I know how much weight to give it (excuse pun) when looking at a bike.

Thanks.

Replies:

Posted By: Yanto
Date Posted: 17 January 2025 at 4:38pm

FWD slip is really only a problem on steep hills and wet conditions, velomobiles suffer in the same way as the rear is lightly loaded, as for a front wheel drive velomobile there was only really one attempt at a commercially produced one, the Valeyo, this also had rear wheel steering. It wasn't a success and in my opinion slow, too big, too heavy and downright ugly.

Posted By: Kim
Date Posted: 17 January 2025 at 6:18pm

On a conventional RWD SWB bike, lack of traction on the rear wheel is usually only a problem on slippery surfaces, though it's easy to make the rear wheel skid under braking. (I should note that as a shorter rider of a relatively high USS bike, I habitually sit upright when starting/stopping, so that I can get a foot down more easily for improved stability. This further unloads the rear wheel.)

Tadpole trikes (and presumably velomobiles of the same geometry) are a bit worse, as there's even less weight on the wheel, and you can have lower gearing than a bicycle.

In both cases, the rear tends to be the first place you add luggage, which improves traction substantially.

My FWD experience is limited (I don't think I've ridden one in the wet) but I expect it's only really a problem if you're comedy off-roading or attempt to climb the sort of gradient that makes balancing a recumbent bike a challenge anyway.

Posted By: Edward_Bainton
Date Posted: 26 January 2025 at 9:49pm

Thanks both, and sorry slow reply: didn't realise I needed to subscribe for updates.

@Kim, what is USS? A quick search gives me Linear bikes by a NY company.

Helpful re RWD/FWD differences. On a high bike, like Velodreamer's Columbo ( https://velodreamer-hpv.blogspot.com/2019/06/buy-recumbent-bike-frameset.html" rel="nofollow - pic ), the weight looks more even - would you say?

Reassuring re baggage, too. I like the thought of turning heads in town, but it's really for long tours that I think I'd get the most out of a recumbent.

I think I'm probably swinging away from velomobile, unfort, as I don't think it's going to do what I want it to easily enough. But I'll see what I see at one of the meets, and might get more inspired. Or maybe it's a 10 year project!

Posted By: Kim
Date Posted: 26 January 2025 at 10:23pm

Sorry: Under-seat steering. Typically puts the handlebars either side of your hips. https://www.hpvelotechnik.com/en/recumbent-trikes-bikes/streetmachine-gte-comfortable-travel-recumbent-bike/" rel="nofollow - HPVelotechnik Streetmachine is a typical example.