I have ridden recumbent bikes (e.g. http://www.recumbents.com/home.asp http://www.recumbents.com/home.asp) for decades. Mine is very much like the Yike: unders

I have ridden recumbent bikes (e.g. http://www.recumbents.com/home.asp http://www.recumbents.com/home.asp) for decades. Mine is very much like the Yike: underseat steering, approximately 20" wheels, short wheelbase, and I sit almost directly over the front wheel (like the Yike) except I have to pedal. Here is what I know: 1. sitting on a wheel means every time you hit a pothole you say yike as your spine is pounded. 2. you MUST keep both hands on the wheel at all times because it is dynamically unstable (very different from an 'upright' bike which will steer hands-free). 3. forward center of gravity will dump you on your face under heavy braking (or for the Yike - the slightest braking). 4. small wheels feel every bump in the pavement (which has a fractal dimension explored in greater detail as the wheel gets smaller). 5. You can ride a recumbent for hundreds of miles in a day and still be very comfortable (I have) but it requires a chair-type seat; preferably with some recline to it. That seat looks painful. 6. A short wheelbase like my bike or the Yike allows you to turn on a dime - but it takes practice as both wheels do not have the same weight and a skid is unrecoverable. Do not attempt this on ice, snow, wet leaves, etc..