Not hard to ride...Just different
Hi Kim,
I think a huge asset to riding a Cruzbike is having some recumbent experience to begin with. You're fortunate that you do. When I first tried a Sofrider, I wasn't sure if I could ride it! The tips on the Cruzbike website are important and Jim Parker has a video on YouTube which shows the beginner just how to get rolling?.
Trust me, by following the steps, it is so much easier to ride. It takes time to get used to, but by day two I was confident enough to ride a busy MUP and a couple days later, I went out on a group ride with roadies. I too used to own a Vision R-40 with USS and it was a fun bike. I think you'll find a Silvio to be just as much fun, but more efficient, faster and a better overall ride.
I live in Columbia, SC, but still dreaming of putting together a Silvio. As soon as I do, let's talk if you hadn't had the chance to try a Cruzbike yet.