Recumbent bicycle

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Recumbent bicycle
Bacchetta Corsa, a short-wheelbase high racer
Classification	Vehicle
Application	Transportation
Fuel source	Human-power, Motor-power
Wheels	2-4
Axles	0-2
Components	Frame, Wheels, Tires, Saddle, Handlebar, Pedals, Drivetrain
Invented	19th century
Variations	Mountain bike, Lowracer, Highracer, Semi-recumbent, Folding, Tandem, Recumbent tricycle, Handcycle, Hand-and-foot recumbent tricycle, Recumbent quadracycle, Stationary
Wheelbase	Long, Short, Compact long wheelbase, Convertible
Steering	Under-seat, Over-seat, Center steering
Rear wheel drive, Front wheel drive
Suspension	Coil, Elastomer, Air-sprung
Seat	Mesh, Foam

A recumbent bicycle is a bicycle that places the rider in a laid-back reclining position. Some recumbent riders may choose this type of design for ergonomic reasons: the rider's weight is distributed comfortably over a larger area, supported by back and buttocks. On a traditional upright bicycle, the body weight rests entirely on a small portion of the sitting bones, the feet, and the hands.

Others may choose a recumbent because some models also have an aerodynamic advantage; the reclined, legs-forward position of the rider's body presents a smaller frontal profile. Recumbents are much faster than upright bicycles,^[1] but they were banned by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) in 1934.^[2] Recumbent races and records are now overseen by the World Human Powered Vehicle Association (WHPVA) and International Human Powered Vehicle Association (IHPVA).

Recumbents are available in a wide range of configurations, including: long to short wheelbase; large, small, or a mix of wheel sizes; overseat, underseat, or no-hands steering; and rear wheel or front wheel drive. A variant with three wheels is a recumbent tricycle.