RACING RECUMBENTS A recumbent has the capacity of going faster than a traditionnal bike on the flats and downhill. Uphill comparisons vary per rider : the aerodynamic advantage is gone but heartbeat rate is lower and you get fresher at the start of any climb. Whatever you might read, not every recumbent is faster though. Trikes are slower than normal bikes, and so are longwheel based recumbents. Others are made for travel and will not compete for racing with lightweight uprights (but will beat regular travelbikes on distance per day). The sensation of speed is magnified by the closer to the ground experience while riding. Curiously the feeling of security is higher, feet first feels safer as head first on an upright. In our range the real fast bikes are Baron, Elite, Cheetah, Cougar and Stinger. They can match your need for speed and will lead you away from the upright pack whenever needed with hardly any draft to pick you back. Optima has a long history of recumbent racing with the Optima Baron and X Low. Many first places on HPV events and speed records were performed with our bikes. This page is made to keep you updated on velocity.
Waow! Mark Leuck from Texas, where the bearded beer drinkers and hell raisers ride heavy motorcycles, rides a heavy Baron. A Baron Elite pimped with Aerospokes and all that matters for a fast bike. His daily ride reviews and all about his life on a Baron here.
On stock for fast riders and quick decision makers : limited series of Baron Elite in metallic blue. The bike has been officially approved by Hugo, our young gun testrider. 2495 euro with carbon seat and front fork, including a gold KMCX9sl chain! Ask your local dealer.
Upright cyclist with a competition record wishing more speed without chemicals contact us : Optima race team > Contact.
Reasons to chose a recumbent to go fast : -much better aerodynamics than even a time trial triathlete with zero effort to keep the position all day -no more backpain or risk of impotence by saddle compression -looks better, goes faster -lower gravity = better braking -no upright cyclist belly by gravity!
Any news on recumbent racing with an Optima bike, we will be happy to inform our readers >
After his gold at the Jersey World Championship in may 2010 in the unfaired category, Robin Boucher once again went for a first step on the podium of the French AFB recumbent championship. Taking the lead in the kilometer and the 200 meters with his alloy Optima X Low, stock class and street ready, of some full carbon superlow prototypes, he once again proofs the timeless fast geometry of this bike. Bravo again Robin!
Hugo Scherpenzeel went for a second place on the yearly kilometer championship in Paris at the Cipale racetrack. He ran the 1000 meters in 1.14 seconds which is pretty amazing as he just turned 15 ( allthough sligtly disappointing as he ran faster last year for some /100 of a second at only 14). To our knowledge he remains the fastest junior cyclist on earth though.
Jean Marc Buschiazzo takes his Baron down the highway of.. the island of La Reunion for his triathlon training! Imagine the sensation riding downhill a smooth asfalt road on a fast bike with an Indian Ocean view... wow!
unlimited mileage unlimited speed
NEWS - MODEL RANGE - COMMUNITY - SPEED - DISTANCE - COMPANY - DEALERS - CONTACT - FILES - WEBSHOP Optima Cycles, manufacturer of recumbent cycles since 1995.
Liggecyklen Vélo couché RECUMBENTS OPTIMA BARON SPEED Bicicletas reclinadas CONDOR LIEGERADER Bici reclinate TRAVEL RECUMBENT NORD KAP OPTIMA DRAGON LIGFIETS Vélo horizontal Speed records TIBET ORCA
NEWS MODELS MODEL RANGE BARON BARON ELITE COUGAR 20-26 COUGAR 26-26 CONDOR DRAGON LYNXX ORCA STINGER RIDER COMPANY DEALERS COMMUNITY SPEED DISTANCE CONTACT FILES SHOP QUIKPAK