Had any test rides yet? If so, how did you get on?
The only actual test ride I've head so far was a week ago where I had a fairly brief go on a track on a pretty low-end, heavy trike (KMX cart) at
Wheels for All - Oxford, but that did seem to confirm that riding recumbent style
didn't seem to aggravate my lower back condition, which is *very* sensitive at the moment (whereas the two mile ride to the track on my Brompton did aggravate it). It did also confirm, though, though I wasn't so keen on being so low to the ground nor the way a trike steers - so think a two wheel high or mid racer is more what I'm interested in.
I did, however, also meet up last Sunday with a local two-wheeled recumbent rider who has a 700c wheeled
Pelso Brever high racer, I had a good chat with him and sat in the bike, though it was attached to a turbo at the time and, although I could reach the ground with my feet, the way it was setup was far too long for me (I think my X-Seam is about 37"). I'm going to meet up with him again tomorrow and see if we can adjust it enough to make it rideable for me for a test ride. I suspect it will still be too large, but we shall see.
It would seem that the Schlitter Freestyle is the new bees knees for someone who isn't too tall and wants to do sportives and audaxes. Review and pictures here:
https://www.recumbent.news/2020/07/07/the-indomitable-schlitter-bikes-freestyle/
Another review here, https://www.bentrideronline.com/?p=12646
And another here, https://www.redpearlracing.com/single-post/2020/02/12/Schlitter-Freestyle-Review
That does indeed look excellent, the only things that slightly concern me are the reported likelihood of heelstrike for shorter riders and high BB, though I do like the fact that it can use "normal" 700c road bike wheels and that the riding experience is described as feeling "in" the bike, rather than just on top of it.
Is there a UK distributor for Schlitter?