Originally Posted by Velocivixen

This doesn’t add much to answering your question, but I do want to say kudos to you for learning to ride a recumbent BEFORE test riding.

I’d never even sat on a recumbent prior to my “test ride” (more of a slow test wobble). Given that I could barely pedal up the block it was hard to tell the difference between any of the ones I rode. I chose based on budget, components and aesthetics.

If I were to test ride now that I’ve got a few hundred miles under my belt, it would be a very different situation.

My only other thought is that sometimes beginners get a “beginner” recumbent, then shortly outgrow it and want something that might be a little more advanced, different angles, etc. Nothing wrong with a recumbent which might be considered beginner, but keep in mind that with experience you might want something different. I’m only saying this because this had been my own tendency before. Now I buy things that are a tiny bit advanced for me, knowing that I’ll grow into it.