recumbent bikes for RSI/carpal tunnel, was mountain bikes

[Jeff DelPapa <http://www.WORLD.STD.COM/~dp>]

    What bike do you have?  I have test rode Linears and liked it pretty
    well. But I'm short and its a little reach to use the breaks, even
    adjusted well by the bike store on their smallest model.  The biggest
    concern I have is with the wrist postion of their handles.  They handles
    make you twist your wrists so that knuckles point forward/downish and
    palms down.  I think I'd be more comfortable with my knuckles pointed
    down and my palms facing my body, or at least my knuckles forward but my
    palms facing my body.  How do you find your hands fareing on long
    rides?

Well, in my case its bikes.  I build my own now, so I can deal with
fit issues from the start.  If you count the ones that are mostly
rideable, I have 4, with a fifth at an early stage...(have the steel
cut and mitered, but haven't started to weld it together yet).  Saying
that Frankenbike puts very low stress on my arms won't help you very
much, as you can't buy a copy. (and if you could, you likely would
find the bars a reach, my arms run long.)

There is a great variety of recumbent handlebars out there, and thats
before you start swapping and adapting things.  Some are simple
straight bars (like the linear), there are others that will give you a
hand position like you want.  Some bikes use builder specific bars,
others will take a normal bike handlebar, so you can change it to suit
you.  You can also change things on some proprietary bar bikes, for
example one thing to do with a straight bar equipped bike is to fit it
with MTB bar ends.  They will bring the grip higher, and at the sort
of angle you want.  As to the brakes and shifters, you can fit them
onto the bar-end.  (I have done so for some bikes, for some its on the
option list.  Also "Delta" (an accessory importer) has a set of brake
levers that are L shaped, so that while mounted on the regular bar,
they can be reached from bar ends.  (intended for MTB's)


    I test drove my friend's bikeE 7 miles but my wrists ached and I don't
    want to have to bend my elbows much.  However, it wasn't really adjusted
    for me and maybe further adjusting would help.

Sounds like we both like things where we get to dangle our arms.

    I love, love, love riding and am sad to reduce it so much now.  I have
    mountain bike handles and put extensions on them so I can sit up pretty
    straight which helps on short rides, but I don't like having no access
    to the brakes when I sit up straight, especially in my town that doesn't
    have stop signs at residential intersections. And I like going 30+ miles
    and need something better.  Like Paul, I'm trying to save up the big
    bucks for a recumbent, and trying to research which one would help.   I
    think some of them wouldn't be much better than a regular bike for my
    specific body and needs.

Well they are coming down in price, and used ones are available from
time to time.  But even used, they are rarely cheap.  I can understand
your cycling jones, its the only exercise I have ever stuck with.

The best bet is to simply try as many as you can.  (there are a few
bike shops that have a good stock to try.  Luckily several of them are
in (or more commonly an hour away from) a large city, so you may be
able to tack a visit onto some other trip.  (for "large city"
destinations, there are well stocked shops near LA, Denver and DC, but
there are a number of others that have a good variety to try)  While
the number of shops that sell recumbents has gone up significantly,
most are "starting slow", and only carry one brand.

Since you are on the small side, bikes to consider are the Vision R4x
USS models (which have handlebars like you think might work), the
Haluzak Leprechaun (designed for his 5'0" wife -- with the optional
bar ends, and a "high rise" handelbar, can cope with short arms).  The
Green Gear "SatRday" has a high seat, but well placed bars (in the USS
version).  The Vision and Haluzak use standard handlebars, the Green
Gear handlebar is a custom (folding) peice.  (All Green Gear bikes
fold up and fit in suitcases, standard handlebars would present
problems)

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