Registered: Jul 2004
Location: Racine, WI
Posts: 6

Hi Easy Racer Riders, I hope you're all enjoying this beautiful day God created

I have a Tour Easy (TE) recumbent that I haved used exclusively on my indoor trainer the past two year years due to my busy schedule. Prior to that, I have done two cross-state bike rides and have riode my TE for three years without any problems.

This summer I decided to take my TE outside to ride again. I seem to be having trouble getting the TE going from a standing start. I always seem to lean to either the left or right when I start and then have to place my feet down. Any suggestions for the best way to begin from a standing start?

Second, when I do get going I ride my TE on a bike path. When someone approaches me on the other side I sometimes find myself steering towards them and have to stop and then try to start-up again

I would appreciate any assistance you can provide. Thanks!

Randy

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Registered: Aug 2004
Location: Saco, Maine
Posts: 196

Randy, are you experiencing any balance issues off the bike? If so there may be something medical going on. If not it may just be a bit of a loss of confidence from not riding. Keep riding and you should regain that confidence. As far as starting - I like to place the pedal for my power/push foot at about two o'clock, clip in and pull the pedal back slightly - then I make a smooth, but fairly hard push with that foot and as the bike gets going bring my other foot up to the pedal and ride away. You can also use both feet to scramble along until you reach a speed where you can lift both feet to pedals and ride (effective, but not as graceful as the pedaling start)

Ed

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Registered: Jul 2004
Location: Racine, WI
Posts: 6

Thanks for the information Ed!

Medically I am fine.

I ususally push off like you said bring my push foot back to the 11 o'clock position and then push. It usually goes fine except for recently.

I will just have to practice to regain my confidence.

Thanks again Ed!

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Registered: Nov 2003
Location: Detroit suburbs
Posts: 631

Randy,

It is difficult to tell exactly what is going on, BUT you admit to some lack of confidence, apparently due to not riding outdoors in a few years.

As for the starting out: If you will get into the habit of down shifting into the lowest gear, in the rear as you are rolling up to a stop, and "typically" while in the middle ring up front, then cocking the pedal to 10:00 or 2:00 as someone else suggested, it will make an tremendous difference in your ability to start off smoothly.

If you are not down shifting BEFORE you stop, you are left with trying to start off in the gear that you were riding in. It is frequently difficult to gain enough momentum, rapidly, and you end up wobbling all over the place, and losing your balance, etc.

Try it and see it that helps.

Joe

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Registered: Jul 2004
Location: Racine, WI
Posts: 6

Good morning Joe, I hope you're enjoying this beautiful day God created!

Thanks so much for your tip! I usually am in the middle chain ring when launching my bike but am in the third lowest gear. I will try downshifting to the lowest gear.

I got off today after several attempts and rode six miles just to regain a feel for riding my TE.

Tomorrow, I am going to go to a parking lot in a nearby park in the early morning and stop and launch my bike several times and really make a concerted effort to regain amy ability to smoothly lauch my bike from a standing start.

Thanks to Ed and you for your advice! It is most appreciated!

Randy

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Registered: Apr 2008
Location: Jackson, MS
Posts: 77

While this may seem silly, it works very well for me...practice going slow, as slow as you can. Somewhere on either here or bentrider, there is a thread discussing slow riding contests where the slowest rider wins.

Back when I rode motorcycles, we practiced going slow as well. The idea was to eventually ride and control the bike at idle. You must react quickly with a 600 pound street bike when the engine stalls at idle speed!

With my TE, I can ride along at 2 mph with both feet on the pedals. At crawling speed, I ride the brakes to give a little more pedal resistance and higher cadence. For some reason, this helps me keep a good line but I am baffled at the physics as there seems to be insufficient gyroscopic effect from my legs and crank. I look ahead and keep a relaxed grip. As a bonus, once it is clear to go, I release the brake and can accelerate briskly. This technique is useful in stop and go traffic. This is all from practice as I am about the clumsiest person I know. I started in an empty parking lot and simpy worked on straights, turns, figure eights or slalom and worked up to u-turns.

Your time on the trainer may have programmed your balance and muscle memory a bit off. Last year, I was on a ferry, sitting on the bike, slightly off center of the vessel's path. Once the ferry started moving, I had the sensation that I needed to lean to keep the bike upright, then a flash of vertigo as the lean did not correct the misdirection.

__________________
Keith M.

Two Tour Easys
Two Hase Ketts
Two EZ Sports
Two Hobie Kayaks
and a WW Tour trike

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Registered: Jul 2004
Location: Racine, WI
Posts: 6

Hi Keith!

Thanks so much for sharing these great ideas to practice in the parking lot. I am looking forward to gradually learning how to better control my TE through these exercises.

When I purchsed my TE several years ago the gentleman at the bike shop demonstrated how he controlled steering his TE with the topside of his hand underneath the handlebars. It was way cool!

Thanks again for these great practice ideas. It's nice to practice here in Racine, WI in an empty parking lot so I don't have to worry about traffic.

Randy

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