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Check your bike carefully before each ride
* The wheels should be straight and not wobble.
*Squeeze each brake lever to make sure there is no binding and the brake pads
press hard enough on the rims to stop the bike. The brake pads should be ad-
justed so they are 1/16" (2mm) away from the rim when not applied. The brake
pads should be centered on the rim and not touching the tire itself.
*The seat quick release skewers should be closed with at least 20 lbs (14kgf) of
force (see the skewer diagram).
*Sitting on the bike, swing the handlebars from side to side checking for bind-
ing or interference. Check to make sure the attachment bolt is tight.
*If you are unsure of the condition of your Vision™ recumbent, Do Not Ride It
until the problem has been corrected. If you have any questions at all, see your
VISION dealer.
Wear gloves
-- with its low center of gravity, you don't fall very far on a recumbent, but
you will touch down with your hand first! A set of bicycling gloves will protect your
skin.
Wear eye protection
Riding down the road at speed is no time to get a bug or dirt
stuck in your eye! Goggles, glasses or both can save your sight.
Practice riding your Vision™
-- before you mix it up with traffic, spend enough
time on your recumbent on a parking lot, driveway or other open area to get used to its
unique riding position. Chapter 3 has some important information about riding your new
recumbent.
Never ride at night without a front and rear light!
Experiment
with different seat positions, seat angles, and boom lengths during your
practice period -- Your Vision™ recumbent has many adjustments and special features
that fit the bike to you. Try them all!
Be careful when riding in wet conditions
- No brakes, whatever their design,
work as effectively in wet weather as they do in dry. Stopping distances and brake
lever pressures all will increase.
Keep your pedal cadence high
- You can overstress your knees with the tremendous
leverage you have on a recumbent. We recommend that you pedal in the 80-90 RPM
range. If you experience knee pain, spin faster and check your leg length setting. It is
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much. The shifters are "twist" type, which are part of the handlebar grip. Twist the inner
section of the grip to change gears. The left hand shifter changes the internal three speed
gears in the hub - this must be done when not pedaling. The right hand shifter changes
the external seven speed derailleur, and can be shifted only when pedaling. In general,
you will set the left shifter to the "2" setting, and use the right hand shifter to change the
gears as you ride. Only when you need to go up steep hills will you need the "1" setting
on the left shifter; you might want the "3" setting on the right shifter going down hills.
For now let's start with the left shifter set on "2" and the right shifter set on "1".
Now let’s get on the bike. I tend to always mount from the left, like on a horse, but the
important thing is to establish a pattern and do it the same way every time so it becomes
a habit. Standing along side the bike, grab the handlebar grips and apply the brakes. Now
step through the space between the seat and the handlebar with your right leg, and sit
down on the seat. Settle yourself into the seat and get comfortable - something you don't
say to upright cyclists!.
Sit awhile, rock back and forth and from side to side. Notice how the seat cradles you,
and how comfortably close to the ground you are. Grasp the handlebars and rock the
front wheel from side to side. Squeeze the brake levers. Yodel a few times. Do whatever
it takes to relax. Many first time riders try to sit forward on the seat, not being used to the
relaxed, laid back position. Sit back! Enjoy the comfort!
Now pick a dominant leg. For most people this is your right leg, but go with whatever is
most comfortable for you. Pick your leg up and swing the crank arm around so you can
easily reach the pedal. If you are using toe straps, flip the pedal clip over your foot, but
keep the strap nice and loose to start with. Swing the crank around until your foot is in a
“cocked” position; somewhere close to the top of the pedal stroke. This spot is different
for everyone, the key is to find the spot where you feel best about putting a lot of power
into the pedal. It helps to hold the bike from rolling with either brake. When you’re ready,
Mounting - Step 1
Step 2
