How to Ride a Recumbent Bike 

I'm buying that same exact recumbent on Saturday... I can't ride a normal bike anymore because of a neck surgery... man, it's going to be great to ride again. :)

I just bought a recumbent .. happy to find this video! I rode it for a few seconds to test it out and it was exhilarating! But I was doing all the things wrong lol :) ... this video is giving me confidence that I can get it down. Thank you- I hope you see this!

I found this video when I was trying to decide which recumbent to buy a few months back. I just realized that I bought this type of bike, a Sun EZ Sport AX. Great video and great bike to ride.

Great demonstration! Your ´´Laugh In‘´ and Flintstone references date you though 😉. But by getting it I guess it dates me as well! lol 😀. I watched your video prior to going out to test drive my first recumbent (a bike for sale down the street from me). I didn't want to look too much like a noob. When I got to the guy's place I hopped right on (remembering to apply the breaks), did a quick "Fred Flintstone" and off I went. It was easy as pie using your technique! I loved the experience so much I bought the bike from him and am now "Bent"! Thank You! Richard

many riders try to lean forward, and never get the balance; the best advice I ever got (and that I share with people trying my 'bent) is "Lean back, and push off like you mean it!"

This guy just seems a pretty nice dude.

These upright over seat steering bikes are the easy ones to learn on. It's when you start out with an under seat steering bike that lays way back-that's tough! On my first day I learned to ride it though after I put some thought into it. I started out by starting on a slight downhill, sitting upright and just coasting with my feet dangling. Then I'd walk the bike back to the top of the crest and do it again. Then I tried it while trying to lay all of the way back, several times. After doing that a few times wobbling along a bit I turned to another street with a slightly steeper downhill. At the bottom of the hill I had more speed so Iput my feet up and started pedaling-then I had it! I still need to practice but at least I got started in one day. There are some other tips that helped. Don't look at your pedals-look down the street but not too far. Lay back and relax. Don't grip the handlebars too tightly-relax. Enjoy!

I love you for taking the time to make this video sir

I am about to buy my first recumbent bike in about an hour. Getting it off cl for 50 dollars! it's a ez1 super cruiser. Wish me luck!

Well done and thanks. I thought if he can do it, I can do it. I use to own a recumbent trike that I had set up for touring and used for commuting for several years. However, after pondering and driving over some of the roads I would navigate on the TA I decided to abandon the trike for a Surly LHT due to safety concerns, e.g. the Locsha between Kooskia and Lolo. When I retired and moved home to MT I decided to sell the trike because the roads and drivers around Bozeman were not a trike conducive environment. Well, I just bought my first used recumbent bike yesterday (Velotechnik Street Machine). My first attempts to launch on it were rather feeble, to say the least. I decided to step back and watch some experienced folks tackle the launch. Your video, and others, have given me the confidence to make this happen. After all, it can't be that hard. But first I will need to lengthen the peddle distance and that means a new chain, a new FD cable, and while at it, I'm going to swap out the front crank for a mountain bike crankset off my former trike build.

I wish I'd seen your video here 4 weeks ago as I made a huge mistake with not allowing momentum & putting my left foot up soon onto the pedal. The bike fell over to the left, and crack, there goes my left shoulder, fractured. :( I'm currently in a sling trying to heal up. It's literally hell on earth! :( But once healed, I'm giving it another try. I love bicycle riding! It's great exercise!

Such a thorough and useful explanation! Thank you so much for sharing this knowledge.

Thanks for the demonstration and good advice.

Thanks so much for such an informative & encouraging instructional video

Thanks! Great tips. I showed your video to a friend and he did great! Went out and bought a bent the next week!

At first I just bought a recumbent for the chicks, but as time went by I realized there's a ton of secondary benefits.

This is an excellent instructional presentation on learning to ride recumbents. I have been riding semi-recumbents and low racers for almost ten years, and could not add to this video. What holds true for the beginner, is used everytime by the pro.

Loved your instructional vid!!...just bought a suntour recumbent from a thrift shop in WV over the holiday weekend. Never rode one before, but absolutely LOVE it!!...it only seems to have 5 gears tho and I think my BF will want to buy a nicer one with more gears.....Really comfy and fun alternative to our usual mountain biking!:)

I have an Infinity Recumbent that's in the shop right now but can't wait to go riding again!!

I have one from a company called Bike E. Lots of gears, great seat and very very comfortable. I can even ride hills with no problem.

@AnotherAgnostic My neighbor gave me this nice recumbent bike ...it is the most beautiful thing ever... i think i am hooked for life now... i dont think i can ever go back to traditional bicycle anymore.

When I learned, the advice was "Lean back, and push off like you mean it!"

Mid-video, when I first heard the engine revving, I thought it was a dub as the rider is taking off :D

Would love to see more videos !

I have that same color Sun EZ Rider CX and am very pleased with the comfort and ability to ride for hours. Just over 1,000 miles on my 'bent here in Nebraska. More people should try recumbent bikes!

"Lean back and push off like you mean it."

I been riding Recumbents now for 2 years the one in my avatar this spring I am going on a cycling tour for a week to Nashville tenn or pigeon forge havn't decided yet but it is going to be self supported which means I carry all my stuff I will need for that week. Tent, sleeping mat. food clothes. tools, and maps . this will be the first tour since 1991 so I should be ready

Thank you, that was helpful.

hi jim, eu sempre gostei de recumbent bikes. elas são maravilhosos, you riding for a long time but you dont feel pain in your back and hands. Nao vejo a hora de conseguir uma recumbent bikes. greetings from porto velho

Nice thank you for the painters

@AnotherAgnostic, sorry, I bought one today used but like new... less than a hundred miles on it, plus with all the bells and whistles for $500... awesome deal. Been riding it since I brought it home... i can ride again.

@AnotherAgnostic we are both happy people Cheers to recumbent bikes

I have a couple more suggestions. One, always remember to downshift before coming to a stop--that will make starting again much easier. Two, maintain a light grip on the bars. Upright riders tend to grab the bars tightly; that makes a recumbent nearly impossible to ride. Recumbents a different on hills, but too much more difficult. Energy is not burned bouncing up and down or in your arms. But you can't stop--you have to maintain a spin or you will fall.

I have one just like that one. VERY comfortable! I can ride for miles and miles and hours and hours. Almost 6000 miles so far. Enjoy mine very much.

Great vid, and such a cool bike. Is that an Easy Racer?

i have been looking for this.they should have this on ebikes

He left out one thing. Always stay completely relaxed on take off, or the steering will be all wobbly with you.

I'm building a low recumbent from scrap parts. My design has a center of gravity closer to the rear wheel like yours. From the video, your steering angle looks almost 30* from vertical, 3" or more of rake and half as much trail. Did you find such a steep angle necessary for low speed stability? Is there a trade off at higher speeds?

Thanks, good video. How much does it cost?

@AnotherAgnostic cheers ! to the best bike in the world =)

Easy Rider with pedal power, I like it.

I have the Evox 120 and had it for about...2 years going on 3, their awesome

recumbent bike are wonderfull

I wonder if you guys make a electric assist version for steep hills?

Best kind right there.....

@GhibliFan1 Supply and demand. Most recumbents are made by small business that sell small quantities. Hence the high price.

Kren mr

how is it trying to go up or down a curb on one of those?

Hi MacBook, I'd be interested in your opinion on my 'vertical recumbent' bike at the video called "World's cheapest safest do-it-yourself 'vertical recumbent' bicycle" and "Vertical recumbent" bicycle - how to optimise the push angle and power. I realise it's not as good as a real recumbent, but I do get a lot of extra power than a normal bike, & it feels safer being at normal bike height. Feel free to comment on the vid in any way. Bruce Thomson in New Zealand

I rode a recumbent for the first time the other day, it wasn't one like this, the crank was out in front of the front wheel. It was an odd feeling to have your feet so far out in front. I like my regular rode bike better lol.

what is the difference betwwen this and a traditional bike? is it more fast or confortable?

What is the model you are riding?

Do they make these in adult tricycles? Been looking for a good bike for an elderly lady

Yes that rear tire does look awfully low but I noticed that he is getting suspension out of the tire . If he gets a pinch flat ,his problem don't have to be ocd on this.

I have a low racer. I'm afraid to ride it because I keep falling over, and each fall risks an injury that could take years to heal, or will never heal. Its just not worth the risk. The whole point of a recumbent is relaxed comfortable stress free riding, I rode it for 3 hours and it was anything but relaxing or stress free, what with the balance issues. The bike in this video at least is not a low racer, so probably it isn't as much of a nightmare to balance. But its something you might not consider, please never make my mistake and buy a 2 wheeled recumbent without testing it first (it was impossible for me to test it first). Just get a trike, or a bicycle like the day 6 bicycle which has upright riding, for balance, but still a backrest.

@zero00tolerance, my recumbent is one of my most prized possessions. It's the best thing I ever bought.

How do you barspin?

are they really mutch harder up hilss???

Hi I'm from India and I really enjoyed your feet back I have never seen before about this cycle but believe me I got carried away and I'm greatly excited to build one can you pls help me how to go since I don't have a measurement the length from the seat to the Handel joint and seat to peddle. Not the handle bar if u can. I hope no inconvenience cause by me

wow, must be hard riding uphill plus it looks much heavier. Still a great thing, i wish we had thouse in our country. Shipment might be too expensive. :(( One day i'll get this bike anyway.

I want one

The rear tire looks like it could use some air

Ha ha...bicycling hell's angels style. You have to love that! Such a pity they're overpriced for what they are (a bike in a different shape at the end of the day). I'd love one...but £500-£1000....get out of here. I have a £350 entry level MTB with similar or better parts than many recumbents, so I can't see where all the extra money goes.

I'd love to find that bike. Can anyone see or recognize the brand?

I got OCD from that back tire.

can it climb

Dam..that tire must be low..when he sat down that sucker went flat. :)

Nice video, you covered most of the points. I have a lower mid racer type, and one added point I would make is when you are slowing and plan to stop, get off the pedals with at least one foot. Establish with that foot where the ground is. It is better perhaps to do that with both feet. Also, when stopping, but your feet out wider than is comfortable. It is real embarrasing to come to a stop near a light, and fall over, because the ground is not level, and your feet are not wide enough.

There are professionals biker riders? I know there are professional bike racers, but riders?

i have a question. Do you ride that bike often? Youd be in good shape from doing that.

You might want to put a little air in that back tire:-)

that isn't a recumbent, its a semi.

That's not a recumbent bike it's a Semi-Recumbent bike

brate, izduvana ti guma

that bike is mean

Got a flat tire there buddy

This isn't really a recumbent - look at the others. This is kind of a hybridised banana bike.

You must need a spelling lesson because there are no spelling errors in my post. Now let me give you a different kind of lesson. Just because someone uses a bike on the job that doesn't define them as a professional bike rider. This would be like saying a mailman is a professional walker. What you need is an IQ boost, unfortunately they don't exist.

You're staying overnight for more observation.

rear tire is flat. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

@ Namnar Bonapart: It's also for those who don't want impotence or calcified masses in their testicles.

Looks like he bike a lot to Burger King.

Shame that these are only good for flat city streets!

Probably comfortable, but it looks meh.

the music on this video oh my god

These things are just for people who jut have that innate need to be different.. Kinda like Apple users :-) Just looks like a big hassle over normal bikes

dash no recumbent bike silly goose muffin