Tangled Metal wrote:Simple question I think. Ignoring the fact you probably have upright bikes too. Assuming you started off on a standard upright bike then switched to riding recumbents, how did you switch?
Did you visit a shop to try a few out first?
Did you just order one online?
Did you try one out that was owned by someone you knew?
Did you see a cheap secondhand one and took the plunge?
Second question, how did you learn to ride one? I'm guessing if you visited a shop to try them out the retailer probably gave you some kind of lesson on riding a recumbent. When I looked at tandems the shop in Yorkshire Dales said they show all new customers how to start, stop and a few pointers on how to ride as a pair. I'm guessing recumbent specialists are like that in their approach.
Because of a back problem I could no longer mount nor ride a conventional bike, so I looked around. I could get onto a Granny trike (step through) but couldn't sit on it for long. So I looked at recumbents, I decided two wheelers wouldn't work with my back, so trikes it was to be. I couldn't find any test trikes around Leicestershire and I have never seen one anywhere in the city or county. So Internet was the next place to look and I found a very reasonably priced Trike on Missioncycles list, it looked good and I couldn't find anything negative about it, so I ordered one.
When the Trike arrived it was carefully handled by their shippers and well wrapped. It was ready to ride apart from fitting the mirrors and adjusting bars and seat for comfort. I was amazed by the ease of handling, manoeuvrability and speed, like everyone else I found uphills a bit of a slog but soon got used to it.
My brother who has been a metal fabricator all his working life and owns his own business looked it over and said it was very well made. He also made me a towball rack to carry it on the back of the car.
I have since fitted a Panda front wheel electric motor with PAS, that cured the hill climb problem.
I've had it three years now and am still as happy as when I got it, although it would be nice to find other bent riders in the area. The only thing I've seen was a disabled trike in Rothley. There must be some!