Hello Everyone, another n00b here!
 
My name is Oliver, and my screen name is Mizta_Nice. I'm relatively new to recumbents, but I have been riding for a couple of years, mostly by myself since I don't personally know any other 'bent riders as of yet. I have been reading the boards for a few months now, and I figured it was time for me to stop lurking and start mingling. I'm hoping to get some knowledge about bikes and maybe find out about some of the better rides in the area.
 
Like many of you, I started out riding a wedgie until I developed back issues. Now, I wonder why I didn't switch to a 'bent sooner, because I love being able to look where I am going while flying down the road. I also love not wondering when my back is going to start hurting or when the neck, wrist and bum pains are going to begin. I've worked up to riding 20-30 miles at a time and wanting to go more.
 
Right now I am riding a Sun X2-AX which I bought at City Cyclist before they went away. I know from my reading that a lot of people don't like that model of bike, but it's been a good starter bike for me. The LWB really was forgiving for me to get used to the position. Plus, it wasn't so expensive that I couldn't afford some accessories. It's a good beginner bike, but now I wish I had something faster. Much faster. Much, much faster.
 
I've done some research, and I think I am leaning toward a Rans Stratus or a Lightning P-38. I like the LWB, but I would switch to an SWB if the speed difference was large enough. I just don't want to have my feet too high or my position too reclined because of ruptured and repaired discs in my lower back. I have test ridden some SWB's and putting my feet down caused a little pain, so that's why I am drawn to those more upright bikes. Now, I just need to convince the wife that I need a new bike.  
 
Well, I have rambled long enough. I hope to meet all of you sooner or later, and go on some rides with you all. It sounds like lots of fun.
 
See you all soon.
 
 
 

Welcome Oliver, good to have you with us.

Quote from Mizta_Nice on Jul 26^th, 2012, 7:33pm:

 
 Glad to meet you Mizta_Nice. I have good news for you, several of us ride the Trinity Trails from the east and the westewrn direction. I'm on the mend for a few more weeks after stiring up an old shoulder injury I got while in the Coast Guard.  
Also, your first bent was a good one and you should have no trouble getting a fair resell price  for it.(that should pacify the wife somewhat)  If you prefer lwb rides check out among others, BentRider for sale forum
(http://www.bentrideronline.com/messageboard/forumdisplay.php?f=5)
cu on the road. I live next to Hulen Mall close to Performance Cycling.

I've been lurking long enough so here goes; I am a bentaholic.  
 
After years of Mountain biking then trying out road biking or a while around the Corinth/Denton area, I was persuaded, thanks Phantom Rider to take a test ride on a used vision R40 that I'd had my eye on for a while at RBM. Apparently the grin on my face after the test ride said it all according to my wife as I was instantly hooked and made the purchase once the sales manager agreed to a reasonable price.  
 
The funny thing is that when I got it home my oldest son(22) after riding it for 5 minutes said I should go find another one because he wanted to buy that one from me. Luckily my wife instantly fell in love with it too after taking it for a spin and has starting riding it regularly.
 
So, with little options my quest began and in just a few short weeks after driving to Wichita Falls to pick up a very nice used Bacchetta Strata for myself, we are now a two bent family with the potential for a third, once I find a good deal on a SWB for my son.  
 
Looking forwarding to meeting you all soon at some local rides and get togethers.

Welcome Ron.  I started out on an Infinity, probably an 86 model.  Just sold it this summer to a guy who's putting it in a streamliner in Ohio.  Welcome to the club!

Hi, everyone.  I'm Ron, and I'm a father of two grown daughters, and a grandfather of five.  I live with my wife of over 30 years in North Fort Worth, West of Keller.  
 
Professionally, I'm a Unix/Linux system administrator.  I currently (and hopefully for the foreseeable future) work for Southwest Airlines.  This is the first time in my professional career I've worked outside Tarrant County.  
 
I loved to ride bikes as a child, and in College (Commerce, TX) I rode my bike everywhere.  After moving to the Metroplex, I didn't feel there was any safe place to ride, so I stopped.  <time passes>  I hurt my back, three herniated disks.  I spent two months in bed while they worked on it.  After many steroids, and three steroid injections to the lower back, I could walk again without pain.  My doctor told me not to jog, run, jump rope, play basketball or racquetball, ride a bike, or anything the puts pressure or stress on the lower back.  
 
Two years ago, my brother-in-law showed me his new ride, a 2009 ICE Sprint with full suspension.  He let me ride it, and I was hooked.  I couldn't stop grinning for hours after my first ride.    It took a year, hours of research on UtahTrikes.com, and BentRiderOnline.com, then last June I bought myself an HP Velotechnik Scorpion fs (tadpole trike).  I still grin every time I go out for a ride.  
 
Last summer I rode with my brother-in-law, we started on Bear Creek Trail, worked up to River Legacy, and finally graduated to Trinity Trails, and finished the season on the Cowtown Classic.  This summer, I've been riding mainly the Trinity Trails, and peaked about the end of July with 105 miles.  Saturday before last I did 85 miles.  Last Saturday I only did 30 miles.  I gave up and went home early because I had an unpatchable slow leak around the valve stem of my rear wheel.  I had to stop about every 5 miles and pump up the tire.  On one of the stops, I met a nice couple, also on tadpoles, who invited me to join this forum, and I'm glad I'm here.
 
Last fall my wife (who was jealous of all the fun I was having) bought an ICE Adventure.  So far she only rides the trails around the neighborhood.  I hope to get her out on longer trails soon.

welcome to the forum, its good to know there is someone else in my neck of the woods.  'im a two wheeler guy and ride west of keller often.  from fort worth to haslet, saginaw, keller, watagua over to southlake , grapevine,just making the circles.
 

Hi, I am Linda. I am returning to riding again, and am mountain biking on L.B. Houston and Horseshoe Trails on my Specialized mountain bike.  I love the trails, but by the time I finish, my wrists are killing me   .   I will invest in another bent in the spring to get back to the rides I enjoyed such as the Mesquite Rodeo and other rides.  My bucket list has completing the Hotter Than Hell Ride on it, and I want to do it this year.  A friend really is encouraging me to do the Shiner Ride   in the spring, so I really do have alot of road miles to put in before that ever happens!  My old bents were a Burley Koosah and a Lightning Thunderbolt (loved that bike).  I am still kicking my own rear for selling that bike!
Glad to be pedaling again...just getting started!
Linda