The authors speculate it was due to pressure from bicycle manufacturers and a perceived threat to the cycling identity.

On a personal note as someone who rides a drop bar bike and wants to change over to a recumbent bicycle, it kinda informs the wierdly elitist nature of the sport and culture.
Drop bar bicycles get hilariously expensive when you factor all the support items needed to ride one long term.

But blood doping was a ok for how long?

Its a bit easier to spot a recumbent bike than doped blood, to be fair.

Going to try one now. They sound interesting to ride

Tell that to my probation officer

Very Important: If you don't get a good starting push that really get the wheels rolling, the human instinct is to put a foot down to stabilize you. MAKE that starting push HAPPEN! If you try to dab from a 'bent, you will turn your foot around backwards. I've seen it happen twice, terrible, just terrible damage to tendons and ligaments and muscles.

Set the crank of your chocolate foot (the one you prefer) at the top and ask for a good push off from someone to get started, no shame, you'll get it down as you go. Make sure you're in a middle low gear. Push hard and then crank furiously, all while willing yourself upright and as balanced as possible.

After that, if you're gonna fall over, just take it on the shoulder. DO NOT try to save yourself with your foot!!

Heh, a 'bent or a trike do too, especially once you factor in aerodynamic improvements and all the non-standardized accessories! You get faster, faster on a 'bent, too though!

As the sales manager for a recumbent bike manufacturer, I can tell you a few things. Taking the pressure off your sitty bones (the ischeal tuberosities) is amazing. Having a seat back to press against adds leverage to your pedal stroke. Sitting upright greatly benefits the spine and shoulders. But aerodynamics without shells or screens piles up as you go faster. Most folks don't like hill climbing on a 'bent. And the control that comes from having your hips over the cranks is not inconsequential. I've ridden 'bents into mtb-style challenges like traversing large culverts; as long as you can carry momentum, you're good. I own a LWB 20"/26" and would like a tadpole trike, once the tech gets another weight drop. And I've got a quarter of a million commuter miles on a beach bomber with a layback seatpost and bomber-thick city slicks (the ones with the flames on the sidewall). I run the tires cuz I almost never get a flat with them. I run the layback cruiser bike cuz I get so much control out of my hips and "flat foot technology" is no BS. The recumbent is like a weekend party excursion, though- ergo, comfy, laid back, efficient.

I’ve been riding my bachetta for over 10 years. Not having pain in the neck, wrist and taint is great. Going faster on level road is a benefit too.