velomont

I've been riding a recumbent for about a month after 30 years on various DF bikes. Last night, as I was riding to an appointment on my DF city-bike and thinking about the differences between DF and recumbent riding, the following question occurred to me:

Did any of you, or did anyone you know, learn to ride a recumbent without ever having previously ridden a DF or being capable of riding a DF? If yes, what procedure was followed?

Chaco

I don't exactly qualify, but when I got my recumbent the end of June this year, I hadn't ridden a bike of any kind in about 15 years. I'm not sure it really would have made a difference either way. You have to develop a different sense of balance on a 'bent. For me, it was almost like learning to ride all over again. The first week, I spent a lot of time on my street, just doing figure 8's, practicing starting off, stuff like that.

velomont

I certainly understand what you're talking about, though in my case I am a very experienced DF rider who has commuted daily since '90 and year 'round as well. I bought my recumbent on a Saturday about a month ago, spent about an hour on the following Sunday in a large parking lot and each day spent more time on busier and busier streets. It was a significant learning curve and I figure I am now at about 80 - 90% of my DF skill level.

It is a challenge and for me the tricky part, which I am now sorting out, is getting started at busy intersections and moving at slow speeds.