Have questions or want to discuss cycling? Join Now or Sign In to participate in the BikeRide community.


Mental Health Warning: Recumbents May Cause Brain Damage
#1
I have started a study based on anecdotal comments from recumbent riders. Although the study is in its initial stages there has been some disturbing evidence that riding a recumbent may be detrimental to rational thinking and possibly cause irreversable brain damage.

I really hope that it is an isolated case, but it is well known that recumbent riders inhale more, and at a higher concentration, vehicle exhaust than do those riders with their heads higher off the ground. Possibly the CO poisoning is causing the cognitive thought issues; I do not know I know since I rode a 2 wheeled recumbent (not for long; hated it!) myself but stopped in order to avoid exhaust and road grit, go faster, climb better, and maneuver more effectively.

If you know of someone who rides or rode a recumbent cycle and has had a noticable decline in rational thought please post your experience.

I am so hoping that the case I exposed is isolated and not a trend.
Ride Fast, Be Safe!
Howard
  Reply
#2
This shouldn't come as a surprise.

The exhaust fumes will kill you.

They do get terribly bad when traffic congestion kicks up.
  Reply
#3
(05-21-2025, 01:09 PM)Criminal Wrote:  I have started a study based on anecdotal comments from recumbent riders. Although the study is in its initial stages there has been some disturbing evidence that riding a recumbent may be detrimental to rational thinking and possibly cause irreversable brain damage.

I really hope that it is an isolated case, but it is well known that recumbent riders inhale more, and at a higher concentration, vehicle exhaust than do those riders with their heads higher off the ground. Possibly the CO poisoning is causing the cognitive thought issues; I do not know I know since I rode a 2 wheeled recumbent (not for long; hated it!) myself but stopped in order to avoid exhaust and road grit, go faster, climb better, and maneuver more effectively.

If you know of someone who rides or rode a recumbent cycle and has had a noticable decline in rational thought please post your experience.

I am so hoping that the case I exposed is isolated and not a trend.

Your study misses the key point: recumbent riding improves blood flow to the brain! Or... wait, is that just the hypoxia talking?
  Reply


Possibly Related Threads...
Thread
Author
Replies
Views
Last Post

Forum Jump:

[-]
10 Latest Posts
New rider
10-02-2026 11:27 PM
Mountain Biking with or with out sunglas...
10-02-2026 11:23 PM
How Bad Are E-bikes By You?
10-02-2026 11:12 PM
Catastrophic bicycle failures
10-02-2026 11:08 PM
2007 Trek Pilot S.P.A. 5.2
10-02-2026 05:40 PM
I don't usually wear a bike helmet. Does...
10-02-2026 03:51 PM
Impromptu bikepacking/touring dilemma..
10-01-2026 08:38 PM
Bmx with 26 inch wheels
10-01-2026 05:50 PM
Gila Monster Gran Fondo
10-01-2026 05:41 PM
Hatch Chiles Rule!
10-01-2026 05:10 PM

[-]
Join BikeRide on Strava
Feel free to join if you are on Strava: www.strava.com/clubs/bikeridecom

[-]
Top 5 Posters This Month
no avatar 1. Flowrider
24 posts
no avatar 2. Sidewinder
23 posts
no avatar 3. GirishH
18 posts
no avatar 4. SPINMAN
11 posts
no avatar 5. meamoantonio
11 posts