Tony Marley

Although it was not the first recumbent I bought, I ended up with (and recommend) the Easy Racer family of 'bents. Long wheel base, over seat steering, smaller front tire. Very comfortable. For long rides, I find it much more comfortable than bikes with higher pedal positions. For shorter people, it is easy to stay on the seat and still get both feet on the ground, should you want to do so. While I started with the chromoly frame, I ultimately upgraded to the titanium, but they are all good.

osco53

Just look at this Rolls Royce of a bent,



No further explanation needed

Bassmanbob

I'm not sure if your post is a joke or not, but there's no picture.

VACaver

The shop is a four hour drive from my house. I originally intended to buy it from them, but since Bacchetta offered a ready to ride bike shipped to your home, it didn't make sense to make an 8 hour round trip. I did ask the Bacchetta guys to take care of the shop owner for letting me test ride his bike and they said they would.

osco53

I forgot the picture,, I fixed It

Shahmatt

I have a Cruzbike conversion. It is the only bent I have ever owned and tried. I guess because it is a FWD MBB type bike it would be quite different in character compared to conventional RWD bents.

However I like a lot. Not just because it's fast (for me) and comfortable, but also because of the learning experience I've gained from building and riding it.

It is sad that Cruzbike does not sell the conversion kit anymore. The complete bikes are nice, but the kit was a great investment for those who wanted to learn and experiment without having to spend too much.

@ OP. Do consider the FWD MBB format of bents as well. Between RWD and FWD MBB there are pros and cons. Based on forum posts some who try FWD MBB after extensive RWD experience never do get used to it and give it up. But since you are new to bents, it may be worth a shot.

Jeff Wills

Let's see... I built recumbent trikes in the '80's, bought a P-38 Lightning and rode it through the '90's, bought a Tour Easy and rode it part of the way through the '00's, then bought a Easy Racers Gold Rush in 2008 and have been riding it ever since. It's not superb at any one kind of riding, but it's very good at almost everything short of hard-core off-roading. My wife has one, too, and she won't ride anything else.

Guntrainer

My first Bent was a two wheeled Vision. Pretty bike, but inherently unstable. Went back to DF bike, then developed Arthur in the knees. After a bunch of research, bought a Catrike 700 from Bobby Hanes at Recumbent Bicycles of Tennessee in Murfreesboro. Great guy, great store. He really took care of me, and the Cat is a BEAST on the road. I ride the hilliest part of the Natchez Trace. Eats up hills, eats up DF bikes on the flats. LOL

Easy on the knees, easy on the neck with the neck rest. All kinds of gearing from climbing up the side of a building to barely subsonic flight! Shifts very well, disc brakes are very nice, COMFORTABLE, unexpectedly good ride. Did I mention this thing will fly?

rossiny

never saw front wheel drive bike like this, looks really cool. Is there a version that takes a rack in the back, looks like plenty of room for one back there, Wouldn't mind seen how it feels to ride one

rossiny

woops , should have just scrolled down . I see the rack option!!

polyrhythmia

Cruzbike is offering to arrange trial rides for interested people on their website. I would like to try out the Vendetta or Silvio.

Retro Grouch 

Mrs. Grouch just got a brand new Catrike Trail.

It folds up with just a couple of quick releases so that it will fit alongside one of my recumbent bikes inside of our Honda Element. It was also possible to adjust the trike rack that fits the back of her Saturn to carry her new trike. Even more important, the trike fits her and she's able to get on and off of it easily. It also has a 16 gear inch low gear so she can ride up Jungs Station hill from the Katy Trail to our condo - if her knee doctor ever says it's OK. She's stoked.

james_v

^^^That sounds good for her!

First and only recumbent so far is my Sun EZ Sport AX. Bought used to see if I liked to ride them. So far so good. Definitely different than any DF bike and easy to ride.

Just started riding both the recumbent and the DF again after a 4 month layoff due to a broken tail bone. I raised the front of the seat by about 1/4" using two spacers and it seems to have made a positive difference in the way the seat fits.
Sure is hard getting the cadence and ride time/miles back.

polyrhythmia

I have been getting to where I can both coast and ride hands free with my FWD-MBB QX-100 Cruzbike. Just waiting for the chance to keep up with others on the hills.

bikingbill

I'm on my 2nd Bacchetta. It's a good compromise on speed, comfortable, 'traffic-ability' and cargo capacity.

Retro Grouch 

OK, I'm going to guess it was 2 weeks ago Tuesday but it might have been 3 weeks. I bought a Catrike 559.

Mrs. Grouch and I were having breakfast at the Bike Stop Cafe in St Charles, MO when another lady casually mentioned 3 different mutual friends who had all had recent bicycle related falls/injuries. I've probably fallen 10 times so far this year and decided it was time for a trike. I wasn't really mentally ready for a tricycle yet but, in retrospect, I'm glad that I made the decision before being driven to it by another injury.

First of all, the fit is fine. I can get down into and up off of the seat with dignity - as long as the trike isn't on an upgrade, then I have to make a U-turn before getting up. Watch enough trike riders and you'll see what I mean. One company even markets an accessory to make rising out of the seat easier. At rest stops I usually stay seated because it's the most comfortable place to be. Fits our car too. The 559 and Mrs. Grouch's Catrike will both fit inside of our Honda Element. Fold them both up, flop them on their sides, and they'll go with plenty of room for all our other stuff.

The 559 is adequately fast. On my first ride I gave it a little sprint up to 22 MPH. I wouldn't have been able to hold that for very long but that's as fast, or faster than I was able to ride previously so I'm happy. Downhill stability and cornering are good too. I've taken the curve coming down Jungs Station hill at 28 MPH. Might not be fast by road bike standards but for the kind of riding that I do that's plenty fast.

I'm gradually overcoming my safety-related fears. I don't feel secure with 2 wheel recumbents at intersections because it's hard to check cross traffic without coming to a complete stop and putting a foot down. Restarts afterward are a pain. On group rides I was constantly falling behind and having to catch up. For that matter, I never felt secure riding 2 wheel recumbents in close proximity with other riders. The trike feels much more stable and secure. I still have to stop the trike to check cross traffic but I don't have to clip out and put a foot down. I also bought a fancy spinner safety flag to use on the street and I've gotten several favorable comments about it so people obviously notice it. I haven't done very much road riding yet, but I'm definitely feeling better about doing a little more. Haven't done any urban riding at all yet, that'll have to wait till later.

I didn't think that I would be this happy riding a trike because it wasn't macho enough for me. Now that I've made the choice, I'm very glad that I did. I'm recapturing the carefree joy that brought me to bicycling in the first place.

Northwestrider

I bought a Bacchetta Strada. I like a SWB bike, but had I it to do over again , I'd go with a bent that had a smaller 20 inch wheel in front . I've never ridden a under seat steering system, but occasionally fantasize about HP Velotechnique's Street Machine . It looks so comfortable .

friday1970

A bought an Optima Baron LowRacer used from a guy in Chicago.

I did some research into bents and speed. Everything pointed to lowracers (though since then, plenty of highracers seems faster and more available). I wanted a bent that was both fast and comfortable. Having never ridden bents, other than a single session with Bike E, I went out an purchased it. After a few months of developing my bent legs, I was easily 2mph faster than with my road bike. And I chafe up far less (actually never on my bent).

The Baron isn't without its issues. The 20" front tire is easily popped with using thin conti GPs, such as larger transitions from sidewalk to street, or potholes. The rear derailleur always seems to have its own agenda. Hills suck. But, I overlook these problems because its so incredible to see the countryside fly by at 20mph+.

BlazingPedals

The Baron can easily take a 20x1.37 Primo Comet. If you want, you can pair it with a 26x1.25 Primo Racer and they'll visually match pretty well. And Primos are one of the faster tires you can get. I never liked the Conti GP, too fragile. I'm currently running a Durano. It's slower than a GP or a Comet but lasts forever. I've heard good things about Schwalbe One but have no direct experience.

friday1970

I have one of Primos already. I swap it out with my Kojak 1.35 tire every now and then, depending on if my planned route is really bumpy or not. I will use it for OHR next year. I tried the 20x1.5 Primo comet and that rubbed against the right side of my fork. This also leads me to believe that the 20x1.5 Shredda would not work either (I would love to have that tire!).
I might get one of the Compass 26x1.25 Elk tires. I'm a little concerned that the price might not match the performance. With my new Velocity A23 wheels, I run GPs on them. But this makes for a harsh ride. I'm thinking the Compass would soften it up a bit and provide the same speed.
My tires would be missed matched (primo up front, compass in back), but it would be comfy ride.