allot of good info passed along here...I got bent last January and started with a recumbent trike by Terratrike...loved it and upgraded to a mid level trike by them a few months later...I then added a 2 wheel recumbent by Bacchetta in October...go test ride some recumbents and see what feels right to you...they are allot of fun and great exercise...you will know when you have found the right one for you when it just feels right...my best advice would be to spend a little more money on a mid level recumbent with better components over a starter one...I found that out the hard way with my first trike...my second one was double the cost of the first one and then some but it has much better components and is made out of alluminum instead of chrome moly steel, meaning its much lighter and faster to boot...you get what you pay for with these bikes and these things ain't cheap...I would suggest a Catrike if you want a great trike or a Bacchetta if you want a great 2 wheel recumbent...good luck with it all and whatever you choose in the end...forgot to mention the reason I got bent was because I too have lower back pain...I have what is called spina bifida...after years of riding DF's I couldn't take the pain anymore...no problem with my recumbents...