Chair wheel
A chair wheel (also known as a scooter bike ) is a bicycle that has a seat with a backrest. Because the bottom bracket is well in front of the seat, chair bicycles are counted as recumbent bicycles , even if the position is not lying down. A chair bike combines the comfort of recumbent bikes with the high seating position of upright bikes .
The seat is shaped like a chair and has a high backrest, mostly covered with fabric. The backrest angle of the seat is significantly steeper than that of a classic recumbent bike . This means the driver sits upright. This particularly reduces tension in the neck. Because the upper body does not have to be supported and cushioned by the arms, the wrists and shoulders are relieved. This also prevents the fingers from falling asleep or feeling numb. In a frontal impact accident , the feet are the foremost point and not the head.
The support of the pelvis to the rear makes it possible to apply high forces to the pedals. The seat is slightly lower than on an upright bike, so that you can put both legs on the ground when you stop.
The view to the front is better than with an upright bike, because you don't have to put your head back because of the upright upper body. The rear view is poor because you can't turn around so easily because of the backrest. Most of the chair wheels are therefore equipped with mirrors. The long wheelbase reduces the effect of potholes, which relieves the spine. Many chair wheels also have suspension on the rear wheel.
The pedals are usually lower in relation to the seat height than on a recumbent bike (negative bottom bracket elevation ). This is usually perceived as pleasant by those switching from conventional bicycles, as the driving technique differs less than that of conventional bicycles.
The air resistance of a chair bike is significantly higher than that of a classic recumbent bike and only slightly better than that of an upright bike because of the upright sitting position and the negative bottom bracket elevation. The main advantage of a chair bike is therefore comfort rather than high speed.
Thanks to its structural properties (secure stance when putting down the feet, backrest), chair wheels are also well received by seniors and people with slight mobility restrictions.
Armchair bikes usually have similarly good luggage transport options as other recumbent bikes. So often four side pockets can be attached to the luggage racks or under the seat. In addition, several bags can be stacked on the rear rack and fixed to the seat. Therefore, these bikes can also be used for shopping in the city or for traveling. A disadvantage when traveling is that chair wheels are relatively bulky, which makes it difficult to arrive or depart by train or plane.