Flevobike's New Green Machine Commuter Bicycle

This is the Flevobike Green Machine. If it looks odd, that's because it's a recumbant bicycle with a fully-enclosed drive train for maintenance-free riding. It's consider one of the premier commuter bikes in the world, winning the Eurobike Award in 2007.

If you're wondering what a recumbant bicycle is, it's a bike in which the wider sits back, as if in a lounge chair, and pedals while steering with either overhand handlebars or, more popularly (as seen here) below the seat. Seem strange? It is, the first time you try it, but you quickly get the hang of it and it's actually safer in the event of a crash. The down side is that your profile is lower (making you harder to see) and you have a much lower field of vision, so you don't see as much as you would sitting up.



If you enjoy recumbant riding, though, then this is the limousine of recumbants. Not only does the full-enclosed drive train mean that maintenance is minimal (no water gets in, much less oil is required), but your pant legs and cuffs don't get oily or caught in the chain either.

The bike is a 14-speed and has optional handlebars for a more traditional driving experience on this bike. The bikes come in three sizes to fit, a variety of color schemes, and are now available in the U.S.

Check them out at Flevobike.