Fifty Plus (50+) - Time to sit back and relax.

Well, seven months after my surgery and I can only manage to ride 16 miles without having more pain than I think it's wise to ignore. Today I went to the local recumbent dealer and tried out a few of those rolling lawn chairs. I left after ordering a Rans F5 Enduro (http://www.ransbikes.com/07%20F5%20Enduro/8FEnduro.jpg). Fortunately, I live in an area where the roads are flat and the traffic sparse so I might survive learning how to keep the thing upright. Do you think tomorrow is to soon to start calling the dealer to ask: "Is it here yet?"

Do whatever it takes (see pic)

So how much you want for the Schwinns?

I've only ridden long wheel base bents. Don't know how a short wheel base one rides at all. How did you do on your test ride?

I've only ridden long wheel base bents. Don't know how a short wheel base one rides at all. How did you do on your test ride?

I felt like a passenger. :D I guess it's like starting over... without the training wheels.

Do whatever it takes (see pic)

So how much you want for the Schwinns?

Nothing is for sale at the moment. In time, I will probably ride them more... just not for long distances.

You will enjoy your 'lounge chair on wheels' ... May feel twitchy at first, or unstable, but give it a little time and you will be gliding down the road...
l have a long wheel base Linear
and a short wheel base Lightning P-38...and enjoy em both
peace

I felt like a passenger. :D I guess it's like starting over... without the training wheels.

Shouldn't take long to get used to the new bike. I had one very similar to this pass me on the river trail Monday evening like I was standing still. I checked and I was doing 14 mph at the time:(

Those look like they'd be a blast to ride. Let us know how it works for you. They look fast even standing still.

Nothing is for sale at the moment. In time, I will probably ride them more... just not for long distances.

That's what I said at first. The first year, I rode the old road bike twice. The next year I rode it once. The third year I sold it to a co-worker who then complained it was possessed and made him ride too fast. :)

I hear that the F-5 Enduro can be ordered set up for road, for those who only ride on relatively OK roads. I understand RANS' strategy of letting the road market go in favor of being the only ones marketing a fat-tire highracer, but I'm disappointed that they didn't leave the roadie version in their catalog.

I felt like a passenger. :D I guess it's like starting over... without the training wheels.
I found that no matter how hard I tried on my SWB bent, I was not comfortably balanced, especially uphill.

Then I discovered that the problem went away gradually over time. There is no substitute for just letting your brain re-learn how to balance subconsciously. Trying harder just made it frustrating, for me.

I relaxed, and it happened all by itself, eventually.

High racers are a bit extreme for a first recumbent. But if you stay with it, you'll probably like it. I love my Bacchetta Corsa.

More people start out with a CLWB recumbent. They are easier to ride if you have never been on a recumbent before. My wife's first recumbent was one, an EZ-1. After she went over the handlebars of her hybrid, and never seemed to get over her fear of it after that, I bought her the EZ-1. She soon loved it, and said she never wanted to ride anything else.

But I knew that many people find an LWB more comfortable and smoother riding, so after a year, I talked her into test riding my Rans Nimbus. The only way I got that Nimbus back from her was by buying her a Rans Stratus. Now, she loves it and swears she never wants to ride anything else. But who knows, maybe in a year or so, we'll be twinkies on side by side high racers.

That's what I said at first. The first year, I rode the old road bike twice. The next year I rode it once. The third year I sold it to a co-worker who then complained it was possessed and made him ride too fast. :)

Yep, recumbents are a slippery slope into oblivion. I waited 9 months after buying my first bent before putting my two Campy equipped road bikes, a Serotta and an Eisentraut, up for sale. Never looked back. :)