Recumbent - What is the stage before "Newbie"?? that's me

Wow! I am learning... and by that I have to mean I've determined that I don't know enough to know the right questions to ask.
I assume after doing some reading I need to give some of my dimensions before I can ask about frame or other things that would be important in picking the "right" bent for me????

The stage before newbie is "wannabee," which starts as soon as you learn of recumbents' existence and ends with becoming a newbie.

Step one is to read, but the first thing you need to read is were to find test rides. Test everything you can lay your hands on, regardless of whether you can afford it or whether you think it will match your intended use. In other words, don't pass up a test ride on any bent for any reason. With test rides, you will build an experience base, which will come in handy when you're trying to decide which kind you want vs what you can afford.

Wow! I am learning... and by that I have to mean I've determined that I don't know enough to know the right questions to ask.
I assume after doing some reading I need to give some of my dimensions before I can ask about frame or other things that would be important in picking the "right" bent for me????
The main measurement used is your "x-seam", which is measured as shown here:
http://www.hostelshoppe.com/tech_xseam.php

Aside from that, test-riding is the best way to start but it's not always practical. Estimating what you'll like is difficult because unlike upright bikes (that are all pretty much the same rider position) recumbents have a larger variety of rider positions, and those positions are generally not very adjustable because they are determined by the relation between the seat height and the bottom-bracket height.

As for new bikes, Actionbent (online), Sun and Cycle Genius (dealer-only sales) are among some cheaper brands.
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Test ride as many as possible. I don't know where you live but up here in ND I think I had the first bent in our city of 100,000 people! I bought it on impulse when I saw it at a year end sale while pushing my walker trying to recover from extensive back surgery and a stroke! I knew absolutely nothing about the various types of recumbent bikes, only that my brother in law told me that I should try one because he felt it might work out! Heck, I hadn't ridden ANY bike for 55 years or so so I wasn't even a wannabee!
The bike sat in my garage for a month without me even test riding it ONCE, and I kept trying to ask myself why I bought that darned thing anyway! To make a long story short I started riding it and 8 - 10 thousand miles later I can't do without it! It's been the best thing that ever happened to me, second only to my wonderful wife and kids, and grandkids! Hah! I have a faster bike than that original one now, but I still ride the original bike, a Burley with most of the components replaced and upgraded over the years. I rode it last night - just like meeting up with an old friend again!
So try 'em, and if you find you bought one that you don't like too much, you can usually get most of your money out of it, unlike a big gas guzzler SUV! Ha! Then turn around and try another one! Another bent that is, not SUV!!
In my opinion the long wheelbase recumbents are easiest to start with, as the learning curve is practically zilch! The short wheelbase ones are a bit more difficult to master, but still not all that hard. Trikes are pretty easy (sorry trike owners) - heck, most bents are fairly straight forward to learn to ride, and ALL of them are loads of fun!
Entry level bents are a bit more expensive than entry level uprights, but resale values are better, too.
just hop on one and have fun!

Test ride as many as possible. I don't know where you live but up here in ND I think I had the first bent in our city of 100,000 people! I bought it on impulse when I saw it at a year end sale while pushing my walker trying to recover from extensive back surgery and a stroke! I knew absolutely nothing about the various types of recumbent bikes, only that my brother in law told me that I should try one because he felt it might work out! Heck, I hadn't ridden ANY bike for 55 years or so so I wasn't even a wannabee!
The bike sat in my garage for a month without me even test riding it ONCE, and I kept trying to ask myself why I bought that darned thing anyway! To make a long story short I started riding it and 8 - 10 thousand miles later I can't do without it! It's been the best thing that ever happened to me, second only to my wonderful wife and kids, and grandkids! Hah! I have a faster bike than that original one now, but I still ride the original bike, a Burley with most of the components replaced and upgraded over the years. I rode it last night - just like meeting up with an old friend again!
So try 'em, and if you find you bought one that you don't like too much, you can usually get most of your money out of it, unlike a big gas guzzler SUV! Ha! Then turn around and try another one! Another bent that is, not SUV!!
In my opinion the long wheelbase recumbents are easiest to start with, as the learning curve is practically zilch! The short wheelbase ones are a bit more difficult to master, but still not all that hard. Trikes are pretty easy (sorry trike owners) - heck, most bents are fairly straight forward to learn to ride, and ALL of them are loads of fun!
Entry level bents are a bit more expensive than entry level uprights, but resale values are better, too.
just hop on one and have fun!

Great and inspiring post!!! Thanks for sharing!!

As for new bikes, Actionbent (online), Sun and Cycle Genius (dealer-only sales) are among some cheaper brands.
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I have an ActionBent JetStream II that I bought in Feb. Just know going in if you buy from ActionBent or another on-line dealer that you will either need to assemble it yourself or go to the LBS to do it. ActionBent are a low-end starter 'bent. You'll probably want to upgrade components as you ride it and learn more about it. The biggest problem with on-line dealers, is that you won't get to test ride it.

Even with those 'negatives' I love mine. But you may want to check Craig's List and other places and maybe pick up a used one. You can get in cheaper if you know what you're looking for.