What have you learned from rubbish/the wrong bike?

[invsblwmn]

After riding an upright cannondale for years and struggling with neck pain, buying special gloves, special bib shorts with just the right padding, and good shoes, I was in an accident and forced to ride a recumbent due to a new back injury.
Lemme tell ya something, these bikes/trikes fit like a glove, and I feel better AFTER a ride. My neck is SOOO happy as is my lower back. Recumbents make you use different muscles so things are sore in new ways, but my body generallly loves the feel of 2 and 3 wheel recumbents. Wish I had discovered them before. No hand pain, no butt or "special place" pain, toes never numb, back never aches. With the trike, too, don't worry about unclipping in time before eating the pavement. Only have to unclip when I get home. Life is good!

[kie_fujo]

my first bike was a men's bike and to big. over time i began to have a lot of neck and arm pain from having my elbows locked out to reach my bars. it definitely made me realize how important bike size is.