Practicing Silvio Climbing Technique on a DF Bike

[Andrew 1973]

I have recently returned to riding my bike after taking much of 2012 off due to illness. I am riding a $35 clearance Magna singlespeed as my commuter, and while it is heavy, it is great to be back on the road and getting noticibly stronger and faster.

With that in mind and the plans of owning my own Silvio someday, I envision myself on the Cruzbike, especially when climbing. What I have noticed is that by pulling on the bars and closing my body position, I can do a seated climb that feels somewhat familiar; much like the feeling I had when riding the Sofrider for a couple of weeks.

My goal is to continue to increase my endurance and speed with a smooth transition from upright to Cruzbike. Does my climbing style sound as if it may carry-over once on the Silvio? Granted, I have but one gear now and a cluster of 9 or 10 will be a welcome relief. I just want to know if anyone else has found that a similar technique can carry over from DFs to recumbent (forget about pedal steer, I am well-aware of that!)

Thanks.

-Andrew

 

[Eric Winn]

I spent 3 months deliberately

I spent 3 months deliberately practicing remaining in the saddle on my Diamondback Ascent when climbing hills to prepare for riding a recumbent. This seemed to help me when I switched.

-Eric

 

[Romagjack]

I'm sure there is some

I'm sure there is some benefit to practicing and visualizing Cruabike climbing on a DF, but remember that you will be using different muscles and have much better leverage using the seatback and your arms on a Cruzbike. If you have access to a recumbent stationary bike at a gym, you can build strength quickly without the initial balance issues on a Cruzbike. Several of the bikes at the fitness center that I go to have stationary recumbent exercise bikes that also have arm levers - great for building hill climbing endurance in the winter.

 

[Charles.Plager]

I completely understand why

I completely understand why one might have to wait to put off the purchase of a Silvio. I'd strongly recommend putting together a Cruzbike conversion and riding that. Wait for a good price on a used conversion kit (and then talk to me about a frame that you used to own ).