The Recumbent Bicycle

Rating:
Summary: Excellent book for new recumbenteers
Review: I bought Gunnar Fehlau's book, "The Recumbent Bicycle," while shopping for my first recumbent bike. There's a lot of recumbent bicycle information available on the web, but most of it is disjointed.

This book covers the topic of recumbent bicycles in an organized and cohesive way. It introduced me to the different types of recumbents and their merits. The chapter "Basics of Recumbent Design" was particular helpful in contrasting the advantages and disadvantages of short vs. long wheelbase geometries.

The history of recumbents provided interesting background information. The author has a sense of humor. The treatment is technical where required, but at a layman's level. The section on aerodynamics is the only one containing mathematics.

I read the book over the course of several weeks, both before and after buying my bike. The index is comprehensive and that made it easy to lookup various topics when I wanted to refer back to specific points.

The photos and illustrations are good and clear.

If you want to compare specific brands and models, subscribe to the various recumbent bicycle email lists. Read specific product reviews and owner comments at the recumbent and other bicycle web sites. Models change each year so a book detailing specific models would become out of date quickly.

I highly recommend "The Recumbent Bicycle." This is the only book I could find devoted to recumbents, and luckily it's a good one.

Rating:
Summary: A unique book on a fascinating topic
Review: I give this book a top rating because it has almost no competition. No other book that I know of deals with recumbent bicycles in this breadth and depth. Of course it also helps that it is extremely readable and full of cool pictures. Lots of interesting stuff here, from the history of these odd vehicles to the latest speed records and excellent tips on how to get one for yourself. Very well written (considering it's a translation) and well-suited to anyone who might be interested in these bikes, even if they have no previous knowledge. A bargain at twice the price!

Rating:
Summary: A unique book on a fascinating topic
Review: I give this book a top rating because it has almost no competition. No other book that I know of deals with recumbent bicycles in this breadth and depth. Of course it also helps that it is extremely readable and full of cool pictures. Lots of interesting stuff here, from the history of these odd vehicles to the latest speed records and excellent tips on how to get one for yourself. Very well written (considering it's a translation) and well-suited to anyone who might be interested in these bikes, even if they have no previous knowledge. A bargain at twice the price!

Rating:
Summary: A Recumbenteers Handbook
Review: I have just read Gunnar Fehlau's "The Recumbent Bicycle" book and found it to be a most informative Recumbenteer's handbook. It's coverage from grass roots right up to current standards is a "must do" for anyone that is interested in building (or improvement modifications) on a recumbent. "It will keep many a Recumbenteer from re-inventing the wheel".

Lonnie "Capt. Dink" Morse

Rating:
Summary: A Recumbenteers Handbook
Review: I have just read Gunnar Fehlau's "The Recumbent Bicycle" book and found it to be a most informative Recumbenteer's handbook. It's coverage from grass roots right up to current standards is a "must do" for anyone that is interested in building (or improvement modifications) on a recumbent. "It will keep many a Recumbenteer from re-inventing the wheel".

Lonnie "Capt. Dink" Morse

Rating:
Summary: Awful!!
Review: MINUS 5 stars-save your money
Vague. Covers mostly recumbent racing of decades gone by (who cares)-coverage of so called "modern" recumbents is little. Most brands covered have gone by the wayside.

So called "Homebuilder's" section elaborates on the obvious with a few small dark pics. Very few pics in the book and the ones in there are small, dark and black & white. The color pics in the center of the book, of course, cover racing.

Rating:
Summary: Should have called it "Everything Recumbent"
Review: This book gives a great lesson on the history of recumbent bikes (hint - they are older than you think) as well as some pointers on how to get started building your own. It even throws in some data on differebt styles, riding accessories, etc.

What you WON'T find is a lot of side by side model comparisons, etc

Rating:
Summary: Everything you need to know in one place
Review: This is a fantastic history of recumbents, along with lots of technical information. It has everything you need to know to get started, if you're thinking about buying a recumbent. If you're experienced with recumbents, it has a lot to offer as well.

This would make a great gift, something to give to all cyclists. For many cyclists, recumbents are a mystery. Give 'em this book, and clear up the mystery.