Whats an HPV?
A. It’s a human powered vehicle. This can refer to a bicycle, a boat, a plane or anything else that moves solely by human power. HPVs are usually powered by bike pedals and chains, but anything from rowboats to roller-skates are HPVs. Q. Are they comfortable? A. They are very comfortable. Recumbent seats are larger and you actually sit in the seat. You aren’t perched on top of a narrow saddle which can tend to cause numbness and chafing. The handlebars are either above the seat at shoulder level, or below the seat at a position where your arms hang down naturally. This combination creates a comfortable ride making long distance riding free from neck strain, saddle sores, and wrist pain. Q. Are they difficult to ride? A. No. It may take you a little time to get used to the feel and handling of the bike. There are variations in handling just as there are in uprights- some are fast, twitchy racing models and others are smooth, stable touring models. Be forewarned though, recumbents use di
