Why no recumbent bikes in triathlon?

Actually, it's that last statement, essentially, that does it ... it presents a significant advantage over other competitors with upright bikes in terms of less air resistance.

That said, I'd ride a trike in a triathlon.

Yes ...... there is a USAT rule not allowing them.

And while there are a ton of doctor's and lawyers in triathlon, there are not as many engineers - which are the brunt of recumbent owners .....

I'd say engineers are pretty well represented in triathlon. 

UCI does not allow recumbents in bike racing after the first recumbent bike set the world 1-hr speed record in 1933 they made a rule against them competing. 

That is why more people don't race them.  In normal cycling they are forbidden.

Most information available says that most people will be faster, in most situations on a recumbent.  There are a few exceptions to everything of course.

So there is an actual rule in triathlon that prevents their use?  Interesting.  Anyone ever really heard why?  or is this likely a carry-over rule from the cycling world?

Hey!  I don't know if I want to be insulted or laugh!  As an enginerd, I always thought that tree-huggers liked the recumbents. 

(and no, I don't EVER want a recument!)

I am not fast by any means yet and every recumbant I come across on the popular local bike trail is getting past by me and others.  So I have not yet seen them be faster in real life.  Is this actually something about the rider being more casual, maybe or something else....????  I don't know.

I have nothing against recumbent riders but they definately stick out like a sore thumb.

I saw one once in a duathlon- whooped my a$$- was a middle-aged slightly overweight guy riding it- in running shorts and a cotton t-shirt.  I mean, come on.  He wasn't even sweating...

I was PI$$ED.  He was on a team though, so it didn't affect me any.  Granted I was 16 and was riding a panasonic road bike, but still, I was mad that he just blew right by me.  Didn't seem fair.

In that same race, different year, a guy and his teenage son passed me on a 2 person bike...ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?!!?!?  That was really unfair too.  Apparantly they let anything go at this race...

I should say that I have never ridden a recumbent bike and I agree they are not the nicest things to look at.

I have started reading about them recently because I have been looking at a velomobile (recumbent bike/trike with fairing) as a possible commuter vehicle.  No insurance, no license required, protection from the weather, storage space, zero fuel cost, possible electric assist motor.......

Checkout www.bluevelo.com

The way I see it:
-I could carry my laptop and lunch easily.
-be protected from the weather
-not use my race bike for commuting
-everything I read says decent comfort and speed

Call it the engineering background but when I got thinking about comfort, speed, aerodynamics, I wondered why such bikes were not used in endurance events.

A guy commutes to the same place I work on a recumbant.  One day after work, I was following him on my conventional bike starting maybe a quarter mile behind.  The access road leaving the plant is a long straight six miles (I refer to this part as the "trainer ride".  I thought I could catch him before the exit to town.  I hammered along at 20 mph or so, not top speed, but fast riding.  I was closing the gap but he must have been watching me in his rearview mirror (he has a really nice mirror).  When I was a few yards behind him.  I suddenly stopped gaining on him and it was like he was shot out of a gun.   At the turn to toward town, the road takes a pretty good incline, maybe 300 ft rise in half a mile.  Hill climbing does not seem to be a problem.   He was completely out of sight by the time I crested the hill.  The guy is about my age and commutes almost daily.  I didn't see any disadvantages on hill climbing or riding the flats.

TW  

That is some expensive bike commuting though. 

It's not cheap.  But I spend about $100 per week in fuel for my truck of which the vast majority of its use is commuting with just me in it.  I do however need a truck for pulling my camping trailer, horse trailer and sailboat.  If I bought one as a commuter I could save most of that gas money each week, and it could pay for itself within a few years.  I'm exploring the option.

My commute is 25km each way on flat roads, and I would have to be able to easily carry my laptop and a lunch.  I have done some bike commuting, but I don't like carrying my laptop on my back when riding.  My situation seems like it might be worth trying it.  I don't see many downsides other than that initial cost, which will look better and better as fuel prices continue to rise.

Yeah I know .. but every recumbent owner I've ever met was an engineer ...

I think Fred nailed it!!

Agreed!  There are a LOT of engineers in my tri club.  We sorta rock.

Again, citing anecdotal evidence and presenting it as fact.  Quote a study or go home, you misleading bastage.