BioCycle’s philosohy
The BIOCYCle engineering revolutionized the bike projecting in general and the recumbent in particular, developing a solid hi-quality bicycle. As a result it has been found that comfort, handiness and performance do not clash with each other, setting the course for a new field of investigation. Cycling is changing and BioCycle is clearly following this evolution
Problems with ordinary bicycles
Traditionally the bicycle projecting has followed one of the two possibile approaches: ordinary bikes compel the cyclist to sit on a very small saddle, with the pedals placed in the lower part of the body. The weight of the bent body is thus sustained by the arms resting on the handlebar. BioCycle grants a seat with a high back bent backwards, while the pedals are located before the hips. These approaches involve problems. Traditional bikes cause uneasiness to the body in several ways, limiting the fun in cycling as well as its effectiveness. Cyclists often complain about pain in the buttocks, back, shoulders, neck, hands and wrists. The traditional position forces to extra work a limited portion of muscles, knee tendons and quadriceps, whereas the bigger and more powerful muscles are hardly ever used. On the contrary, recumbent bikes make use of a wider range of muscles, including the buttock’s ones, making the cyclist’s position more comfortable.
Utter handiness
What makes Biocycle unique (all over the world) is the extremely easy way you can ride it. Its size, together with the principle by which the frame is conceived, make the bike steady at a high speed and easy to drive at a low speed.
Comfort and safety
The adjustable seat in several positions makes Biocycle suitable both to the body and the riding style of every cyclist. Driving while sitting on a padded seat prevents health problems due to prolonged bending on the handlebar while “hanging” on a too narrow saddle. As for safety, a sitting position with high handlebar in front of you, reduces almost to zero the chance to be thrown beyond the handlebar should an accident occur. Besides it grants extra safety and self confidence as the position of both hands and handlebar function as a protection from emergencies.
Performances
Although BioCycle has never been meant for (particular) performances, some competition models are gaining success in various contests. However for those who only want to enjoy cycling, that means the absence of worries about competition with traditional bikes. You are likely to find out yourself that you will “leave them behind”. Moreover you will appreciate the panorama instead the road asphalt.
Fun
All “BioCyclers” are an evidence that it is impossible to ride without smiling. The high-head position allows you to see everything and everybody around you without effort. No matter what your path, be it on the road or off-road, you cannot help having fun. This is a bicycle meant to be used often and with enthusiasm.
Frequently Asked Questions
Handiness
Several points are to be taken into consideration when evaluating a bike’s handiness:
- Does the bike assure good performances both at high and low speed?
- Is it quick and ready to swing into action?
- Can it climb hills?
Well! Biocycle was projected to provide a perfect performance in all these fields.
Steadiness at high/low speed
BioCycle’s frame is long enough to be steady and sufficiently short to grant perfect manoeuvrability at low speed. BioCyclists and experts in general have unanimously praised BioCycle for being easy to ride.
Manoeuvrability
BioCycle’s manoeuvrability is due to the peculiar position of its seat and to its frame corners. Other recumbent bikes stress this bending position even more, which may appear more comfortable in the beginning, causing on the other hand a lesser stability and manoeuvrability when emergency occurs.
Riding uphill
Thanks to a compact frame and a sufficiently straight posture, BioCyclists can challenge slopes without inconvenience.
Performances
The apparent simplicity of BioCycle’s project might make you think it is not as fast as ordinary bikes. Nothing could be more distant from truth. Although BioCycle is not exclusively meant for speed, in 1996 a BioCyclist won a competition, sponsored by International Human Powered Vehicle, which was open to all sorts of bikes without fairing. Thus BioCycle is not only for those who just long for comfort.
Impressions about riding
Performances
The apparent simplicity of BioCycle’s project might make you think it is not as fast as ordinary bikes. Nothing could be more distant from truth. Although BioCycle is not exclusively meant for speed, in 1996 a BioCyclist won a competition, sponsored by International Human Powered Vehicle, which was open to all sorts of bikes without fairing. Thus BioCycle is not only for those who just long for comfort.
Comfort while riding
I love riding fast, but I do not esteem as safe the position required by ordinary road bikes, which compel you to have a sight ranging only from the traffic ahead to the centre lines painted on the asphalt. I was looking for a bike that might allow me to ride fast for at least 30 minutes without aching shoulders, neck or wrists. Riding 30km/h enjoying the same panoramic sight a car driver can was a real revelation.
Safety
I wanted a seat high enough “to see” and “be seen” amidst the traffic jams but I would not accept any compromise as 99% of my free time on the bike is spent on roads with elevated traffic. On the other hand, I could sacrifice something as far as aerodynamics efficiency. BioCycle makes the biker’s posture similar to that of a car driver. Being 1,80cm tall, with proportioned torso and legs, thanks to this bicycle I can see the roof of a saloon car looking straight in the eyes of off-road drivers. In order to increase rear visibility I fixed on the back seat front and rear lights plus a reflective triangle you normally use when jogging at night time. I also used a little flag for some months, which I then removed when I realized it did not increase in any way the already good visibility.
Length
BioCycle is 5cm longer than ordinary race bikes, although it looks even longer because the distance between the two wheels axle is bigger than in ordinary bikes. That is because Biocycle uses 51 cm wheels. Thanks to the reduced length I can travel by train, hanging my Biocycle on the wagon wall reserved for bicycles, which would not be possible with long recumbent bikes.
About carrying goods
I have always used rear carriers and side bags on my road bikes. BioCycle provides an optional under seat carrier compatible with standard accessories. Because of the low position of the carrier, differently from traditional bikes that swing when overloaded in the back, BioCycle is easy to turn even when heavily loaded. It is possible to fix a rear carrier over the wheel. When my only load is a briefcase, instead of putting it under the seat, on one side of the carrier for bicycle touring, I place it on this rear carrier so I can have a better aerodynamics. [picture]
Conclusions
BioCycle keeps spurring the bike’s evolution towards new fields of investigation. BioCycles are easy to ride. Besides they have introduced a level of quality and performance undreamed of before.
