Recumbents in Amsterdam?

[cca...@new.rr.com]

Years ago when I was vacationing in Europe, I was happily awestruck by
the great number of cyclists there. It seems as though the bike has
replaced the car as their main mode of transport.

However, I don't remember seeing many (or, any?) recumbent bikes
there.

At the time I was an avid rider of standard bicycles, so maybe I just
wasn't looking hard enough?

Cullen
Appleton, WI

[DougC]

I've never been so I don't know first-hand, but have read that the
percentage there is about the same as everywhere else--that is,
something well under 1%.

Lots of people commute by bicycle in Amsterdam, but the vast majority of
trips are rather short--something like 80% are less than 3.5 miles.
(there's a website somewhere that has government statistics)
The comfort benefits of a recumbent aren't really obvious in such a
short distance, so I'm not surprised there's not more converts there
than elsewhere.

-And really, most bicycles you see in the Euro bicycling meccas are
utility models very-much /not/ efficient for long distances. For a few
blocks they work great, but if you're riding 50-75-100 miles at a crack,
you will want something that is built for performance--regardless of if
you want that performance upright or reclined.
~

[cca...@new.rr.com]

On Dec 24, 4:41 am, DougC <dcim...@norcom2000.com> wrote:

Thanks for your response.

Do you think recumbents lack the lack the utilitarianism that uprights
have?

Cullen

[DougC]

Well,,,,,, yes.
A lot of the Dutch bikes have large front and rear racks for strapping
oversized "stuff" to (rather than just hanging custom-fitted bicycle
touring bags on). Most recumbents have no front carrying capacity at
all, and often not much rear either.
~