Recumbent cycling after one month - my thoughts and revelations.

Can't believe I failed to mention the most important point: COMFORT!!! Yes, the recumbent bike is much more comfortable to ride than an upright. No seat pain. No numbness in the hands. Neck and back are never under stress. It's just a comfortable ride all around. I should have made that point in the video.

Another trick to learn on a recumbent bike is to learn to lean into turns as you turn the steering...it helps for tighter turns

I like how you just describe this without the usual sales talk most videos have. Thank you for taking the time for the honest talk.

Thank you so much for your insight!

very well made video. Thoughtful and informative. Thank you very much for your work

You are most straightforward and honest reviewer I have seen so far. Thanks for sharing your experience.

Pedaling shoe rub: I had the same problem with my SWB (short wheelbase) Bacchetta Giro 20 and even my LWB Gold Rush Replica. My solution to this also worked for riding slowly: I only pedal about 1/3 turn with my feet in the safe position, then ratchet backwards and push again. Repeating the small pushes lets you keep "power on" during the slow, sharp turns or even riding slowly in a straight line. My current bike, a LWB Bacchetta Bella, doesn't have the pedal interference, but it's more awkward to transport. However, it's also more comfortable than a SWB bike. More stable at speed, too. Hope you still have your zero fall-off record going. That brings to mind another advantage of recumbents: less distance to fall to the ground! Usually, I can just put a hand down to steady myself, rather than doing a "Laugh-In" type of stop/fall.

Thanks! The tip about handlebar sensitivity hit home especially 👍Noted!!

Considering a recumbent bike, this video was super informative. Thank you!

That was very helpful, thanks ✌

All good advice for the beginning recumbent rider. That said I think that as you gain experience these "problems" will resolve themselves. Years ago I entered the recumbent world riding a short wheel base RANS Rocket and I will never forget my first start from a dead stop! Within a few weeks I could make a flawless start in my sleep. One suggestion I would make is that you buy yourself a pair of Power Grip pedal straps. These provide all the advantages of clipless pedals with none of the disadvantages and they do it at a fraction of the price! Riding a recumbent without some means of securing your feet to,the pedals is, let us say, not a great idea. Given the fact that you are in a nearly prone position if one of your feet should slip off the pedal (particularly when that foot is forward of the bottom bracket) and contact the ground while traveling at speed you can be severely injured if not outright catapulted into the air.

Hey, just wanted to say great video. Wonderful narration and timely illustrations/examples, no fluff. Impressed with you for never falling off! I fell off twice in my first few days of riding.

Thanks for making these videos! I recently purchased a used Six and have been going through the same steps as you. It’s like retraining your brain to balance and ride a bike.

Exactly what I wanted to know, and it is the most honest and precise feedback. Thanks, and great work 👍

I am looking at buying one. Thanks for your info.

Extremely helpful video!

Thank You, little points, but important points

Thanks for for sharing your experience and welcome to the community of recumbent cyclists. You'll find that your bike handling skills will get better with more seat time. The handling characteristics depends upon the geometry of your specific bike and your steering setup. Remember, you can experiment with your handlebar position so that it feels more natural. You don't have to accept the factory setup. This will make a big difference in handling and how the bike feels.

Cool video. I've been thinking about getting one of those myself. Thanks for the info!

Very helpful info! I have a number of 'bents (Ryan Vanguard/Longbikes Slipstream among many others) and the sensitivity of the steering (mine are underseat steering) reminds me of the controls of an airplane where often a light touch is much better than being "ham fisted". I also use a product (Power Grips toe straps) that might be something for you to consider because for these you insert your toe portion of the shoe into the strap AT AN ANGLE with your heels facing away from the bike and then you move your feet into a front-back position (normal riding position) which tightens the strap. But this would make it easy for you to splay your feet outward without risking your foot falling off of the pedal.