I’ve been a lifelong cyclist, and after a decade of longer endurance riding—and an old, herniated disc that still flares up—I started looking for something more comfortable than my upright bikes. I wanted a recumbent that wasn’t slow or limited: it had to be fast, capable on both pavement and mild gravel, able to carry gear for touring, use standard components, and still fit on a normal car rack. A used Cruzbike S40 checked every box. Learning to ride it felt strange at first, but following the Cruzbike videos helped, and each ride my handling improved. Now it feels completely natural, and I rarely touch my upright bikes. The S40 is dramatically more comfortable and more aero—I can ride 50 to 100 miles with no neck, shoulder, back, or saddle discomfort, and I’m faster on everything except long, steep climbs - but no slower! The only thing I miss is standing to punch up a hill, but that’s a tiny tradeoff for all the benefits. Honestly, I wish I had made the switch decades ago.