Mona,
and all who are looking for a Great COMFORTABLE bicycle,
I was having pains on my longer DF rides so I tried to solve the problems by raising the handlebars. That only delayed the onset of the hand, wrist, arm, and yes butt numbness. So for years I would from time to time research for solutions and started to look at bents. Also I did not like wearing out, cleaning, lubing, and having to replace chains. So I looked for other solutions and found shaft drives. But after researching shafts I thought that they would become difficult to get replacement parts in a timely manner if I was on the road and something in the drivetrains broke, also much more expense and weight.
So I
started to look at chains in a different light, and found that FWD used off the shelf parts: regular size chain and derailleur, no idler or chain guide, etc thus saving weight, expense, and replacement parts readily available even in small town LBS.
Then I found Cruzbike forum and read all I could and decided on the Quest because it looked like a good commuter/touring bike.
But because FWD responds differently to pedalling I read all the tips on this forum on how to learn to ride a FWD and watched YouTube vids. Then I would visualize practicing those tips even riding my DF with my legs on top of the handlebars pretending to pedal a FWD (got some stares while doing this). Don't do this -dangerous!
OK- I hear you- get to the point
When I picked up my Quest from LBS, after my first few moments on the bike looking like I could not go in a straight line, I stopped and fell back on the learn to ride tips. I flintstoned to start moving, coasted to get the feel, found a slight down incline and Flintstoned again but now pedalled lightly with hands on handlebars lightly counteracting feet pedalling. And went around parking lot practicing, then a ride on bike path (it was on a weekday so almost no one around). It did not take long for me to feel improvement as I rode about 20 miles on the bike path and in parking lot doing figure eights every day first week. Then started commuting to work using the Q, and continued doing skills training using the sheet in the Cruzbike manual and tips on this forum. That started Feb'15, and now I ordered a QX100 because I don't want to use my DF as my backup ride any longer.
Basically with riding my brain/body has become increasingly acclimated to the FWD to the point where I don't have to think about what I am doing, and because of how comfortable the riding position is I don't want to go back to a DF. I use a ventisit pad to avoid getting a sweatty back, and put a lumbar support under the ventisit pad.
Also,it took about a month to get my muscles used to a bent. I dont know why that is but that is something I had read on the forum so when I did not perform the same as on my DF I figured that was the reason.
Better end this session
Happy benting!!!?!!!
Mark