My name is Mike, and I'm 47. I live in Allen with my wife, Cheryl (a.k.a., "Turtle") and our two cats.
 
I got back on a bike in 2003, starting on a comfort bike before graduating to a mountain bike and then a road bike. After riding the road bike for a season, I had to admit that my neck and back problems were keeping me from riding for longer and longer periods. I spent the early part of 2006 undergoing MRIs and bike fittings with little improvement. Easter weekend, I brought a Bacchetta Corsa home from PC&F to evaluate and never took it back.
 
I did stop by to pay for it, of course.
 
I've got a couple MS 150s a bunch of charity rides and even more weekend club rides under my wheels since then, for a little over 5,000 miles. Paltry, by the standards of long riders like Bud, Paul, and the Pettys - but I does what I can.
 

My name is Steve. I live in Frisco with my wife(Peggy ,also known as mrsstrada on the forum). I'm 45 years old. I had four back surgeries from '01-'04. In 2006,Peggy signed up for the Richardson Wild Ride as part of newly found fitness program. She has lost 70lbs since time(from cycling/eating healthy).  
 
I didn't ride with her, but was intrigued by the start of the rally. When she returned form her "epic" 16 mile journey, I commented on how cool the rally was. With the back surgeries,I can't ride an upright. Peggy responds "why don't you go over there & look at those funny bikes "(at the finish line  a collection of 'bents that had already finished the race)?
 
The following Monday(after spending all weekend on the 'net researching recumbents),I drove to Plano Cycle & Fitness and purchased a Bacchetta Cafe. I rode the Cafe for approx. 1 year. My first rally was the Collin classic & I rode a whopping 22 miles!! In the Spring of '07 ,both Peggy & I purchased Bacchetta Stradas from Plano Cycling( the Cafe was sold to Dianna & now Jman-keepin' it in the Rbent family).
 
In 2007 ,I rode my first century(100 miles) at H'NH & then was asked to join the Reclining Flyers , a 4 person recumbent team at the Texas Time Trials(500 miles-42 hours. What an awesome team!)last year. Then in October 2007,Ray Torrey(bikerteam on the forum) asked Peggy & to join the Lone Star Randonneurs(long distance,unsupported bike rides).
 
Peggy & I have come along way in a short time(and have a long way to go),but the thing that is most memorable/important for me is the incredible friends that we have made since our first ride with the Rbent group back in the June ,2006.
 
And I don't have "cool" pictures or graphics like the previous Rbenters. That's how I roll.

Paul ,thanks for the "cool" picture. I should have known you would come up with a picture or two. We'll miss you Saturday ,but enjoy your time with Terrie.
 
-Steve

Quote from FooRider on Jul 31^st, 2008, 9:13pm:

 
One reason for choosing that particular photograph...  

Let me introduce myself, I am a man of independent means.....oh wait..that line has already been used,. Actually I am retired and live on my pension. So my bikes help me beat inflation at the gas pump and have fun at the same time.
Recumbents aren't original to our generation either but that doesn't mean they aren't reinvented over and over again. They have been with us for over a hundred years now, yet they seem to be a well kept secret in todays busy world. I don't understand why though because they are a lot more comfortable to ride and for some of us the best way to get just about everywhere.  
    HI, I'm Joe and I am a recumbentholic    I can't get enough of them, having only been active as a rider for the past three years (in this lifetime at least) I have owned or ridden on a BikeE (OSS), an   ActionBent Tidal Wave (USS), a home built long wheel base Tour Easy clone (OSS), a home built tadpole Trike, a Sun EZ 3 Delta style trike, Sun EZ Rider CX suspended (OSS) recumbent, Lightning Thunderbolt USS,  Sun EZ 1 OSS, ActionBent Tango (OSS) and my current recumbent and favorite Bacchetta Cafe' OSS. If I have left someone out, sorry, so many recumbents, so little time to try them all out    

     Recumbents are great not only for the able bodied, but our crew here at rbent has riders of varied physical conditions. I am 60 years young, live in NE Ft.Worth and my favorite ride hang out is River Legacy Park in Arlington. It is just a little over 4 miles from my apartment home and has about 14 miles of protected wide hike and bike trails. I like to ride there at least 4 to 5 times a week. I have an overall avg speed in the park of 11.60 mph. That may not seem real fast, but I tend to take my time and enjoy the landscape along with its various creatures.
     If you are just reading up on the bents, we have one to suit just about everyone. If you want to take some test rides and don't feel like just tooling around in a bike shop parking lot, we can in most cases help you out in that area. All riders and potential riders are welcome to our little piece of cyber space.  
** OSS= above seat steering  
** USS Under Seat Steering  
Bents = recumbents

Quote from aikigreg on Aug 1^st, 2008, 4:49pm:

pick pick pick   I hadn't even done the first adjustment when I had my son get a picture for me and those are not my riding shoes. But it is a great point to mention for new riders. It is amazing how dramatic  
even 0.25" can make in any direction on these bents. Since we can't "stand on our pedals" like traditional uprights, we rely much more on our X-Seam , seat angle, distance the arm is to the handlebars and so on. Which is another great reason for anyone just getting started to be involved with rbent or similar group of riders to help you get your new bent set up for you.  
Is that proper enough explanation Greg? If you can put my thoughts in a clearer package for new riders it just may help get a new rider the advice they need.
 

Greetings Everyone,
 
My name is Richard Cooper. Some of you probably figured out the drahcirrepooc. Its just cooperrichard backwards. Don't ask me why. High cholesterol and BP drove me back to the only sport I really enjoyed, biking. My recumbent wandering began in the summer of 2005. My first trip to Whiterock lake on the Schwinn Sidewinder I had, dang nearly broke my butt. By the time I rode the 22 miles I was hurting all over. I was saying to myself, "I am too old for this"! Later on whilst riding in a park nearby my house, I saw my son's best friend's dad and mom (the Lots) riding some weird looking bikes. Of course I had to stop and yak awhile. He gave me the bent lowdown. My mind started spinning and I went looking. Yoikes! Man I don't have money for that! I found and purchased a Bentech tube set and began building my bike. (There's another whole story just about that!) That was about June of 2005. Around March of 2006 it was finished. A fine creature with the most comfy seat you can imagine. (I ditched it because it weighed 10 pounds though). I began riding with this group through the forum that summer. I rode the Bentech 2006 and spring of 2007. Linda and I experienced a painful windfall and she bought me the Corsa. Man what a change. I love that bike. For all of my miles on the Bentech, I averaged 12mph. I was really working to get that. I am up now to about a 14mph average and can do that for 40-50 miles. It has taken two years for me to get my legs back.
 
I ride for the health benefits and getting to hang out with my wife and all my whacky bent up friends. I compete mostly with myself but do get a special zing out of passing a DF or two. It is a good feeling being 55 years old and still being able to do what we do.  
 
See you down the road,
 
Richard Cooper