Elliptigo commuters

[n18]

Please don’t buy one. It seems like a fun tool, but seems to require more workout than a bike, and you could get a fancy bike for a much lower price. Besides, there doesn’t seem to be a way to attach panniers to them, so you can’t carry groceries, or work stuff on them if you need to.

[mstone]

I tend to see a lot of new people on them. That is, I don’t often see the same person twice.

[AliasXIII]

Do you mind if I ask why you’re interested in one? I’ve never understood them, and I’m curious what I’m missing.
(Or maybe they’re super awesome, and I’m better off not knowing? I have enough n+1 ideas already…)

[accordioneur]

This reminds me very much of the kayak vs. SUP (paddleboard) arguments I’ve been a part of. Maybe “more workout” (or at least a different workout) is what the OP is looking for. And while generally I’m a believer that bikes should be equipped to carry things, on my commute I use a backpack rather than panniers.

I have no experience with the Elliptigo, but efdaut, please don’t be dissuaded by the bike-biased comments here.

[Judd]

I don’t recall seeing an Elliptigo commuter around here, but I’ve seen several out on the trails on the weekend. I’ve also seen folks on Elliptigos on RAGBRAI and on century rides. I didn’t notice anyone having agility issues while riding one, although I’d assume that the higher center of gravity might impact steering a bit.

My best advice on getting one up a hill is to take one on a test ride up a hill and see if you make it.

If you do test ride or buy one, I’d be interested in hearing how it works out.

[Vicegrip]

I tried one for a short ride so this opinion is based on that only. I was curious to see how it rode and felt. I found it to be heavy and took more effort to go the same distance a bike could. It is a good bit less maneuverable than a bike but not unsafe or ponderous. Somewhere between a standard diamond frame bike and a tandem bike. I did not bomb down any big hills to test the high speed handling. You ride standing bolt upright and it has a VERY large wind signature. There was a normal slight breeze the day I tried one and the return lap was into the wind. The extra effort was considerably more than the same headwind on a bike. If you ride enough you learn that the wind and the amount of aero drag you have makes a big difference in the effort going from here to there. They also take up a good size footprint when parked or stored away. My take away was only get one if for some physical reason you could not ride a bike.

[Crickey7]

I see a rider on the Capital Crescent Trail on a fairly regular basis. He seems to go about 2/3 the speed of conventional cyclists. My sense is that for a commute of 5 miles or less, it’s quite doable.

[dasgeh]

I used to see a guy on Virginia Ave quite regularly. (Like once a week for at least 4 months, but about 2 years ago). Not sure what happened to him.

[jrenaut]

I saw a couple on them at the top of this climb in the Wine Country Century.

[AliasXIII]

This reminds me very much of the kayak vs. SUP (paddleboard) arguments I’ve been a part of.

I can totally see that.

Also, I think of kayaks as the bicycles of the sea. But maybe that’s just me.

[Author]

Posts