Just seen that this has been bumped.
Yes, I did get one. I forked out a lot for a StreetMachine GTe with over seat steering rather than under. Although I've seen recumbents whilst on my normal DF (Diamond Frame) bike around London and whilst I knew that cycling in London wasn't what I bought it for; for a variety of uninteresting reasons, I haven't used it much in the last six months. BUT summer isn't over and I still have hopes of starting to get out on it regularly again and using it for what I bought it for - some touring. However, whilst I've really enjoyed using it, I have found that the times I've cycled out in London with it, even leaving really early one morning late last year to get down somewhere pleasant to cycle, in this case cycling from Clapton in East London to Richmond Park, was quite stressful in the London traffic. I find it quite easy to be an assertive cyclist in London whilst on my DF and have very rarely have any contretemps with other road users but I've found it difficult to manifest whist I'm on my recumbent.
I chose the StreetMachine because it was the best one for touring and that's what I just need to do, it's not as low as you think, especially compared to most of the other types. As a minor taster last year, I really enjoyed cycling the Bristol-Bath trail and back (which is on a former railway line) and it was a great ride. Had some tentative plans to do the Reading-Bristol sustrans trail with a friend but he's just become a father so not sure he can get the pass out for the necessary few days with obligatory pub stops to quench the thirst en route.
Riding low to the ground or rather in the reclining position, is only an issue cycling in built up urban areas with regards to asserting yourself if necessary amongst other road users; at all other times it's fine and in addition you can really throw the bike into corners with the sort of speed and impunity that folk on DFs can only look at. Again, I reiterate, when my friends have seen my StreetMachine they are always surprised when they sit in it, about how high they still are off of the ground whilst still being in a reclining seating position.
