Add a recumbent bike / trike activity type

[dk]

Recumbent bicycles have been banned from competitions by the UCI since 1934 because their design has aerodynamic advantages over normal bicycles and competition results are thus distorted. Why does Strava allow a mix of recumbent bikes and regular bikes on the leaderboards for cycling activity type? With a normal bike (diamond frame design) in most cases you have no chance of getting first place in the leaderboard when you have to compare yourself to a rider on a recumbent bike who can achieve a higher sustained speed with less power, this makes the leaderboard unusable for activity type cycling.

[Robcikas]

Hi, now Velomobile appeared in choice of activity, but Recumbent also would be good to have, as recumbent bike is "open velomobile", but not DF type bike. 

[Mj]

Ridiculous to not make a difference between diamond frame bikes and recumbent bikes. 

The idea of Koms is to compete against others, but therefore fair and clear categories/ activity types must be defined.

There always will be possibilities to use advantages like drafting, wind, tt bikes, but to say every two wheel vehicle is equal, is ridiculous and not fair at all. 

[MDtriker]

Absolutely agree.  We need both a recumbent trike and recumbent eTrike categories.  This is a growing sport and Strava would do well to embrace it.

[95s10nj]

I'm in agreement as well. Recumbent bikes need their own category. There's a gentleman in my area that takes koms at significantly less power than everyone on a cruzbike v20. I've seen it first hand on a group ride and how aero it is. It's not even in the same league as a traditional road bike.

[ARoger]

Why wasn't this added yet? We even have velomobile. I'm sure there are a lot more people using recumbent bikes than velomobiles.

[dk]

@ARoger because Strava is not interested, they would then have to change the Strava terms of use so that velomobiles are no longer considered simple bicycles. Strava prefers to implement other features, although it would certainly be easy to add a new activity type, whatever.

[ARoger]

Yeah, I just don`t see what is the big deal in adding a new activity type. It should be so easy.

[ReverendG-Bob]

I would like to reiterate a point made above, regarding recumbent trikes. 

I would like to suggest that "Recumbent Trike" be added as an item under "Sport".

Three reasons: 

1.  Recumbent trikes are heavier and much slower than their upright counterparts (either standard or recumbent cycles).  

2. Some athletes will be recording upright cycle rides which distort are statistics in the Trike Squadron Club, for example.

3.  Recumbent Trike are a growing segment of the cycle market and are increasing in popularity.

Strava already has made sub-categories of cycling including

1. Mountain Bike Ride
2. Gravel Ride
3. E-bike Ride
4. E-Mountain Bike Ride

The inclusion of Recumbent Trike under the sport category would be great for us and great for Strava!

[Carey]

I would like to vote for the addition of Recumbent Trike category, and it will also need an E-Trike category. 

Recumbent Trikes are gaining popularity among people who can no longer safely ride a diamond frame bike. Many older people and people with balance issues can ride a recumbent trike. Strava should add the category to voluntarily comply with the ADA. 

[EriconNeptune]

It has been 17 months since the OP. Nothing has happened. I am disappointed.

[Cessholden]

I just bought a recumbent trike because I'm long term injured and can't ride my bikes. I don't care who gets KOMs, I just want to record my stats more realistically than it just being "ride"