I understand the felt "need" to try it first. Since I was visiting my son in North Carolina (I'm from Texas), I arranged to get a parking lot trial at their dealership about 120 miles away. The good news: I got it going and stayed up after a few attempts, but I was very determined, having read "everything" - all the blogs, the web site info, etc. I had been studying recumbents on the web about a year.

Bad news: the "trial" felt awful. I knew I could do it; but beyond that, there was no way to tell whether or not I would "like" it. A demo ride really does not tell you anything.

I received mine in a box, put it together about two and a half weeks ago. I have put about 150 miles on it (rural area), and I absolutely love it! However, I was not too sure during the first four or five days. It really is correct on the web site when they say you might as well just order, use it for 30 days, and then return it if you don't like it. You will like it if you are willing to put the time in to "relearn" how to ride a bike! It is different. It is very clumsy at first, and feels "unnatural". I started hitting my groove on the fifth day, and really started getting comfortable on the twelfth day, riding about 5 to 10 miles a day (I'm a teacher, off for the summer). As you get more subconsciously "used" to the bike (and your brain just has to have time to adjust), you start to notice all the little things about the bike and how well they are engineered to work together - a great design). Mine is the "all-around" Softrider V2.
I will use it to commute to school (about 3-4 miles each way) on most days. My legs are starting to get built up, and I am both picking up speed and much more comfortable at slow speeds and turns.

You just have to be dedicated enough to "follow the program": order one, commit to riding it a little each day (don't press it, give your brain and body time to adjust to the new balance needed), and you'll soon wonder why anyone would ever ride an "upright" bike again! I seriously doubt you'll want to send it back after 30 days of regular, but limited use. I would recommend staying in traffic-limited areas until the confidence level is built up. If you live in a high traffic area, pick a huge parking lot and get a lot of slow-speed and turns experience, then neighborhoods, and finally "on the road".

My longest trip so far has been about 20 miles; still making seat adjustments, equipment adjustments, etc. I've taken a lot of teasing from friends (I'm 62 - and no adults ride in this little East Texas Country town, unlike the "bike culture" in the Seattle/Portland area. I used to live in Puyallup, WA, was at McChord Air Force Base, and have friends I still visit occasionally in Portland, OR).

f you decide to order one and try it, I would be glad to send you some "riding tips" - a few things I learned the hard way.

Tom Waters