Counterpoint Presto: What's the trick?

I purchased a counterpoint presto based on recommendations in this forum and others. I've had it serviced and made road ready.

But I can't get started! If I start on an incline I can get rolling, but it is so tippy that I can't even get a second foot on the pedals. I've ridden some unstable uprights before, but this is like a Slackwire act. As soon as I'm slightly off center of gravity, the bent turns out tips radically. I'm using the Fred Flinstone start or an incline, but lift that second foot and I'm into the curb or on the pavement.

Is this a crazy unstable bike or am I just not getting it?

 

Hmm. Not familiar with that bent. But when I teach someone to ride a bent, I start them on top of a very mild slopping hill. I have them sit up, with their feet dangling down and push off and just steer. At the end of the hill, I tell them to hit the brakes and stop. Then they walk the bent back up to the top of the hill. We do this as often as it takes to get them comfortable.

Step 2 is to do the same thing, but this time lean full back into the seat with legs dangling and do this until comfortable.

Step 3 is to start at the top of a hill, lean back AND put feet on pedals. No clipping in, no peddling. Repeat until they are comfortable.

Step 4 is same as Step 3 but I have them not clip in but they do peddle.

Step 5 is starting on a flat surface and peddle.

Step 6 is the clip in and go!!!

Don't know if this will help you, but in 30 minutes I have been able to get anyone going a their bent.

Good luck!!!

 

That's some good advice Jon, when William taught me...it was more or less like being thrown into the deep end of a pool. Sink or swim. In my case it was pedal or fall. I fell and crashed a bit the first few times but I soon got it. Now I pedal smoothly...