Are recumbent bicycles faster than traditional road bikes?

According to Craig Calfee of Calfee custom carbon bikes the recumbents are way faster.


But you still look like a dork when you ride one.

Yes........I've been passed by dorks (on Calfee custom recumbents)

Go check the formulas yourself;

http://www.kreuzotter.de/english/espeed....

Comparing these without specifications can yield odd results; a good racing bike in the super crouched position will be faster per watt input than a generic low end unfaired 'bent.

Road bikes climb a little faster, but 'bents are much faster down hill or on the flat.

But when you compare the best to the best, there is no comparison. 'bents always win.

That is why 'bents are outlawed from sanctioned road racing- 'bents have too big an advantage.

Even unfaired.

i believe they are technically faster because they have less wind resistance (world record is held by a recumbent enclosed in a shell) but... the position is not an ideal position for high speeds. it is much more stable with a road bike at higher speeds. the road bike is more popular anyways so it may be a reason why it is faster and comfortable to use.

top speed the recumbrents are faster
less wind resistence enables the rider to go faster with less force