Ease of transport - I often throw the bike on the car rack (sorry - I do have and drive a car!) and the swb fits on the back whereas a lwb wouldn't. It's also easier to store (fits in some bike pods (enclosed bike parking))
Ride feel - I guess in 15 or 20 years I may consider moving to a long-wheel base. If a swb is a lawn chair, a lwb is like a hospital bed! It's reallllly smmooooooooooth. The swb steering is much tighter, in my opinion, and after you get used to it, it's almost like you are "willing" the bike to move. very telepathic.
Price - I think you can find more "budget" short wheel base bikes than long (though Bike E - no longer in business - was strictly long wheel base and their bikes were reasonably priced (relatively speaking))
Vanity factor - I just think swb bikes look neater!
Stomach factor - As I approach 50 (years old, not mph!) I notice that with the pedal position of the swb (even with or higher than torso), any excess stomach matter tends to slosh back into your body. With lwb you're more stretched out (your feet are lower.) As I continue to gain old age pounds, the lwb will probably be more comfortable eventually.
If I win the Powerball, I will probably consider getting a recumbent trike, maybe a tandem trike, since they are the coolest (imho) or some form of "velomobile" http://home.gwi.net/velomobile/
Here's a good link for many kinds of recumbents http://www.recumbent.com/recumbents.html
btw, I got my rans rocket used from the hostel shoppe in stevens point and they were great.
- cathy, la crosse
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