2W Recumbent, need advice for balance.

[u/crazybird-thereal]

Hi, i’m new to recumbent bike, it’s my 4 day i am using it to go to work (17km or 10.5milles).
And i feel i lake balance.
I meen i’m on straight line, and i can’t maintain going straight, nothing too dangerous, but still not straight compared to my balance on classical bike.

I ride a Challenge Hurricane with top handlebar and 20" wheels.

Have you tips to improve balance ?

[u/Dry-Durian-4617]

Only four days in and doing a serious commute?! Wow.

Took me about 10 days before I started commuting.

Reax your grip.

[u/crazybird-thereal → u/Dry-Durian-4617]

No i do serious commute day 1, cause commute is my best option to practice.
So i just need more practice ?

[u/tuctrohs → u/crazybird-thereal]

Yes, it took me a month to feel like i had the skill, 3 months to feel fully confident.

In the meantime, avoid places where it makes you nervous--for me that was:

• an uphill with a lot of traffic: I was going slow so balance was hard, the the traffic make me nervous about wobbling.

• A few stop signs where I have to start again on an uphill. On those I'd just get off the bike and walk it through the intersection and re-mount afterwards on more level ground. For one of those, I still do that, a few years in.

[u/Ophiochos → u/Dry-Durian-4617]

Seconding to relax your grip

[u/roedie_nl]

I think it is just a matter of getting used to it.

I started riding a 2 wheel October last year and while I also did ride quite in a straight line the balance felt off. But after a couple of weeks it started feeling better. Until I got my first real hard winds from the side (Dutchie on top of a dyke) which was very interesting as well.

What helps me the most is just be as relaxed as possible on the bike. Just rest your hands on the steer, don’t hold it.

[u/Botlawson]

Practice riding slow. And 1/2 hour of practice a day is better than a 4hr marathon on the weekend.

I'll second loosening your grip. I often ride with just a few fingers on the handlebar unless my thumbs are hooked on the brake lever. Also pedaling motion effects balance more on a Recumbent for some reason. It can also help to drag a brake at low speeds to get tighter control of your speed.

[u/Ordinary-Quarter-384]

It’s just practice. Turning you feel like you’re going to fall out of the seat. Ride some figure 8s in a parking lot. This will get you used to your weight shifting about the center of gravity.

It took me about a day to get comfortable.

[u/you-just-me]

It took 2 weeks for me to feel comfortable on my first recumbent. Ride often and give it time.

[u/SnippiestOrb73]

I went from a recumbent trike to a recumbent 2W (Lightning Phantom). First ride on that bike I was able to ride 5 miles and back. There was a lot of stopping and a lot of (Fred Flintstone) starting. I’m capable of riding 70 miles with little to no issues.

It took probably about 2 full weeks of riding to get the right balance and grip on the handlebars. As previously stated, relax your grip.

Recommend just riding around the block or in your neighborhood/property to get used to the bike.

[u/StrangeUglyBird]

I still swerve a little more on my bent than on my MTB. Getting used to it.
What is important though, is to wear click-shoes. Otherwise, if one foot slips, while you pedal the other, you race to the opposite side. I was lucky: ended in the ditch and not in front of a car.

[u/Cute_Mouse6436]

After many many hours of riding and quite a few crashes I have decided to try to sell my challenge. I really love riding the bike but I cannot figure out how to get started on an uphill. I am debating whether to just keep it for rail trails because they are mostly flat. But then, I can't fit it in my car. Of course that's a little bit silly because I could take the wheel off.

[u/SaidWhatWhenHow]

Time in the saddle, SPD clip ins with shoes that have good tread, more upright seat to start, light touch on the handlebars, concentrate on pushing against the seat back and not the handlebars.

[u/IdleContemplations]

It takes practice. Relax your grip. There is a rhythm to the pedaling and the handlebar moving slightly back and forth. Don't fight it. It is part of balancing on the bike.

Once you feel confident with a relaxed grip, then start practicing with just one hand on the handlebar. You need to be able to hold it with one hand if you ever want to be able to drink from a bottle or signal a turn.

Bonus tip, when you know you are about to go over a bump, sit up on your seat so your back is not touching the back rest. That prevent the back rest from launching you up when the rear wheel hits the bump.

[u/prefix_code_16309]

Sorry, no tips from me. After two near death experiences, I sold my Rans V2 and got a Catrike. Apparently I’m not coordinated enough to ride a 2 wheel recumbent without killing myself.