Originally Posted by John Forester
NC, you must be a very clumsy cyclist to take that long to solo a recumbent on the road. Of course, I don't suppose that you see your words as admitting your clumsiness.
The first time I tried a recumbent, I just got on and rode it, because it handled just like I expected a recumbent to handle. For that matter, the first time I leaped onto an ordinary (that's the motion that is required), I just mounted and rode it, because it handled as I expected an ordinary to handle.
To emphasize the point, I never expected a recumbent to handle just like a diamond-frame bike. I am not so stupid.
The first time I rode mine I was a bit clumsy, sure. After a while I got very good at it, took me a week before I decided to take it out into traffic, I rode in empty parking lots & paved high school tracks to see how it would handle & learn how to control it. Once I gained experience & confidence I started riding in traffice. The more I rode it the better I got.
After 6 yrs. I am now a very experienced recumbent rider. I have not had an accident, due to a mistake in control on my part, in over 5 yrs. Good for you if the first time you got on one you had an easy time riding it, do you want a cookie or something? Some of us take to it naturally, some don't. I bet if you ask any recumbent rider in the recumbent forum room there will be some like me & some who took to it naturally right away. So what?
That does not mean you rode one long enough to form the opinions you did about it. Bottom line you didn't.
If you did not expect a recumbent to handle like a wedgie bike why did you try to test the same way? If I am not mistaken in your book, (In)Effective Cycling you stated as much.