Several FreeWheel participants are riding recumbent bicycles because they provide more comfort.

Recumbent bikes have a larger seat that is low to the ground and have long handlebars.

Some have seats that slope back; others have straight backs, making them look similar to a motorcycle chopper.

"On an upright bike, you're sitting on a skinny seat and you're in a bent-over position," said Fred Green of Angleton, Texas. "On this, because you're laid back, you're in an aerodynamic position anyway. To me it's more comfortable being laid back instead of hunched over."

Green, riding in his 11th FreeWheel, was the third rider to reach the second stop of the trek, which continues Tuesday with a 57-mile trip to Warner and ends Saturday in Baxter Springs, Kan.

Monday's 81 miles to Wilburton was the longest leg of the ride, leaving many recumbent bicyclists appreciating the comfort of their bikes.

"If you do a long ride, like an 80-mile ride, on a regular upright bike, your butt is hurting and your hands are hurting because of the pressure leaning on your handlebars, and your neck and shoulder are hurting," Green said.

"You just don't hurt as bad after you finish a ride on these."

Green rode an upright for 20 years before he started having back problems. He switched to a recumbent about six years ago. It took him a little while to get the hang of riding the new bike after riding an upright for so long, he said.

"My wife got one, too, and she had never ridden an upright bike before because it was too uncomfortable for her," he said. "But she gets on and she takes off; no problem. She's taking off in a straight line.

"I got on it, and I was wobbling around all over the place," Green said. "The guy at the bike shop was yelling at me, 'Don't run into the Mercedes!' "

Beth Rooney of Tulsa bought a recumbent bike to alleviate her neck pain.

"I was having trouble with my neck because I work on computer," she said. "It was just aggravating it, and I needed to make a change."

She also had a little trouble learning the new style.

"It just takes a couple of miles to get used to it," she said. "I only fell twice."

Rod Whitlatch of Tulsa said most recumbent riders are older people who enjoy riding but feel pain on long rides.

Recumbent bikes also are more expensive -- about twice as much as a comparable upright.

Whitlatch has ridden his recumbent for about three years.

It has a wide seat and straight back, so it works well for tours such as FreeWheel because it makes it easier for him to enjoy the scenery.

"It's like you're sitting in a lawn chair going down the road," he said. "It's the most wonderful experience."

Shannon Muchmore 581-8400
shannon.muchmore@tulsaworld.com