13
Fig. 5-1
Fig. 5-2
Fig. 5-3
Chapter 5
rIDIng your VolAe
Learning to ride a Volae recumbent takes a little practice but is not difficult for most riders. This chapter covers some of the things
that will make your transition to recumbents easier.
First, be sure to read Chapter 2 and 3 about setting up and adjusting your bike. It’s helpful to be sure that your Volae is adjusted
to fit you properly. First time recumbent riders may find it helpful to have the seat a little more upright. Later, you can recline the
seat as needed.
It is essential to wear a helmet whenever you ride. Also, we recommend wearing gloves for two reasons. Gloves help protect
your hands if you fall and they make shifting easier when you have sweaty hands. Protective eye wear is also helpful. Protection
from dust, pollen and flying insects is important on a recumbent. Recumbent specific cycling shorts and jerseys make you even
more comfortable.
Bike shoes with clipless pedals are highly recommended. We especially recommend them on the dual 650c wheel models.
With your feet higher than the seat, it can be an effort to keep your feet on the pedals.
ride a while with regular shoes to get
confident with the balance before switching to a good set of clipless pedals and shoes.
Contact the Hostel Shoppe for
suggestions about shoes and pedals.
5-1 StArtIng
rollIng StArt
Preparation:
1. Find an empty parking lot or lightly traveled road.
2. Position the seat more upright than it would normally be used. This provides the rider, new to recumbents, with a seating
position that is easier for an upright bike rider to relate to. Adjust the seat as shown in
(Fig. 9)
to get you in the ball park
for proper leg extension.
Four steps to make learning to ride easier:
1. While sitting completely upright on the seat push off and coast to get the feeling of the steering and the bike. Keep your
feet just off the ground.
(Fig. 5-1)
2. Do the same thing as step #1, but now lean back on the seat (which is adjusted to be fairly upright). Keep your feet just off
the ground. Do this for awhile until you feel comfortable with the balance and handling.
(Fig. 5-2)
3. When you feel fairly confident with the handling, put your feet up and start peddling. Don’t stop peddling for awhile. Your
confidence and ability to handle the bike should improve significantly in the first five minutes. (
Fig. 5-3)
4. Start reclining the seat a little at a time and ride a few minutes at each recline angle until you have reclined the seat to the
point where you don’t feel that you are sliding off the front of the seat. As you recline the seat you will have to move the
seat slightly ahead to keep your leg extension in the proper range.
