Google sponsored links
Anyone have any experiences with Catrike? Which model?
I like the look of the set-up of it (two wheels up front, steering down at the side), but I have never had a recumbent before.
Do you get the same speed as a road bike? Better speed???
What about accessories like a trailer or racks, panniers, bags, etc.??? Is a plexiglass shield a necessary thing, and do they make them for Catrike?
What about an electric-assist system? Which works best on a Catrike? Which is most cost effective for a Catrike? Tidalforce, BionX, Wilderness hub, etc.???
Silly question, but does anyone make a shell for it? How about a side car?
I am looking at it for long-haul commutes (20-25 miles, one way, twice a day with decent sized hills) and it would be great if I could also transport gear (up to 100 pounds at times, but could get away with less if I had to). I do this commute up to 10 days a month.
This is an archived thread, you can find the full version of this thread, with images, links and more content
here.
Ready to buy? Check out these two online bike stores:
-
http://www.nashbar.com (you can find the latest bike nashbar coupons in
this thread)
-
http://www.performancebike.com (you can find the latest performance bike coupons in
this thread)
Cya on the forums,
- The BikeForums Team
-
http://www.bikeforums.net
Are you just looking at Catrike, or have you seen all the other offerings?
http://www.ice.hpv.co.uk/
http://www.windcheetah.co.uk/
http://www.greenspeed.com.au/
http://www.wizwheelz.com/
http://mrrecumbenttrikes.com/
http://www.trimuter.com/
http://www.actionbent.com/TWTRIKE.html
yeah, right after I posted I came across a ton of other recumbents that have the same structural features that I liked (two wheels up front, steering at side). See how much of a newbie I am? Sorry.
So being open to other brands, what would be your opinions on what I would be looking for? (see first post).
I think you'll find that most, if not all, trikes will be slower than an upright road bike. Most of them recognize that fact in their gearing choices, which usually top out at around 85 inches. I like the Catrikes because they're reasonably priced, lightweight, and have more stable, predictable steering than others I've tried.
Hauling upto 100# is going to require a trailer. Catrikes site has a pix of one with a trailer. On the level you will be able to keep up with DF bikes with a bit of extra effort but hills will slow you down a lot. The weight will kill you as the lightest reasonably priced trike is at least 9# heavier than a similar DF bike and more like 12# heavier than an equivalent cost road bike (DF). Then add a 100# load and you will need ultra low gearing to get up the hills. Nice thing about trikes is you don't have to wobble all over the road as your speed drops below 4-5mph. Going downhill with a 100# trailer pushing you will be a thrill, rim brakes would be very marginal and heat up the rim A LOT. Disks would be a little better from a heat point of view. Stopping distance from 30mph is probably going to be the length of an 18 wheeler, don't even think about going faster with a trailer, jack knifing would be a disaster.
Steve
I can't find the pic of the trailer on the catrike web-site. Do you have a link for it???
Thanks for the info. I could always scale down my weight if I needed to. It would still be more than I can do now. Nil.
I think that some claims about the low maximum speed of a trike are due to bad meaurement, if you will. Some roadie passes a casual trike rider on the road and think they've smoked them, when in reality they would have done the same had the trike rider been on any other bike... I guess what I'm trying to say is, it all depends on the rider. With a 100 pound load behind you, I imagine you'll get quite strong in a short amount of time. Just don't overdo it to start, or you'll kill your legs.
I think the picture your talking about is at http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/TeamCatrike/
It's a Catrike Speed and a Burley Nomad trailer. The trailer is rated at 100lbs. I would recommend the alternative hitch as the hitch that comes with trailer doesn't work on the Catrike and most trikes for that matter.
It belongs to me and I use it for grocery runs and also behind the Greenspeed GTT on trips it pulls and works very well.
I think that some claims about the low maximum speed of a trike are due to bad meaurement, if you will. Some roadie passes a casual trike rider on the road and think they've smoked them, when in reality they would have done the same had the trike rider been on any other bike... I guess what I'm trying to say is, it all depends on the rider. With a 100 pound load behind you, I imagine you'll get quite strong in a short amount of time. Just don't overdo it to start, or you'll kill your legs.
I don't think so. Mind you, I don't ride a trike so this is all second-hand; but this spring our club had a large influx of new Catrike Speeds. Like maybe 8 of them. Some have been riding recumbents for years. All agree that they are slower on trikes than on two-wheelers. The best of the bunch seemed to be the Windcheetah. Its owner could keep up with the group about half the time. Perhaps the larger drive wheel makes a difference?
I don't think so. Mind you, I don't ride a trike so this is all second-hand; but this spring our club had a large influx of new Catrike Speeds. Like maybe 8 of them. Some have been riding recumbents for years. All agree that they are slower on trikes than on two-wheelers. The best of the bunch seemed to be the Windcheetah. Its owner could keep up with the group about half the time. Perhaps the larger drive wheel makes a difference?
I wouldn't doubt it... I don't know why Catrike uses those silly little wheels, anyway.
I wouldn't doubt it... I don't know why Catrike uses those silly little wheels, anyway.
The rear wheel and gears make it go, It doesn't matter what size wheels are up front. I think those tiny wheels on the speed are for handling and most likely makes the trike more aero dynamic which IMO makes more sence than 406s all the way around. Wheel sizes should be purchased depending on what the individual is trying to achive or use.
The rear wheel and gears make it go, It doesn't matter what size wheels are up front. I think those tiny wheels on the speed are for handling and most likely makes the trike more aero dynamic which IMO makes more sence than 406s all the way around. Wheel sizes should be purchased depending on what the individual is trying to achive or use.
Ah, but smaller wheels limit the speed of the bike/trike. If you put the same gears on a trike with 406 wheels, and on a bike with 700c tires, and pedal at the same rpm, the trike will go slower. It will take less effort, but you will go slower. Therefore, someone on a trike (with 406 wheels) must use a higher gear (if there are any left to choose) or must pedal faster than his roadie counterpart.
I ride both upright road and a 2004 Catrike Speed. Yes, I am faster (1-2 mph?) on the Cannondale road bike. But I don't ride the trike to be fast - I ride it for the sheer fun of it. I have a Burley flatbed and am waiting for the alternative hitch to arrive at the LBS. Then I'll be towing my 45-lb pooch (in a crate strapped to the trailer).
Well, 1 or 2 mph doesn't really matter much anyway. If it were 5+ mph, then I'd be worried.
This is a sweet combo :eek:
I have a Greenspeed GT3 with a Burley Nomad trailer. I agree the speed seems slower but they are so much fun. When I purchase again I will probably add the Rohloff or Schlumpf gearing.
Is Hamburglar still around, so we can ask him what he ended up buying?
Ah, but smaller wheels limit the speed of the bike/trike. If you put the same gears on a trike with 406 wheels, and on a bike with 700c tires, and pedal at the same rpm, the trike will go slower. It will take less effort, but you will go slower. Therefore, someone on a trike (with 406 wheels) must use a higher gear (if there are any left to choose) or must pedal faster than his roadie counterpart.
Ah, thats where a chainring comes in......has anyone thought of the effects a freakin chainring has on a trike???!!! It doesnt matter wat wheel size u have- all that matters is that the chainring has a suitable number of teeth so your not pulling more then 120rpm and looking like a drongo.
And yes its possible 2 keep up with roadbikes, unless they're sprinting on a flat IMO.....but how long can they sit on 55km/h, compared to a suitably geared trike rider? Not that long me thinks......
Just out of curiosity, what is the largest bicycle wheel you can get? Imagine a monster trike with a 36" wheel in the back and 26" wheels up front... LOL. :D
Ah, thats where a chainring comes in......has anyone thought of the effects a freakin chainring has on a trike???!!! It doesnt matter wat wheel size u have- all that matters is that the chainring has a suitable number of teeth so your not pulling more then 120rpm and looking like a drongo.
And yes its possible 2 keep up with roadbikes, unless they're sprinting on a flat IMO.....but how long can they sit on 55km/h, compared to a suitably geared trike rider? Not that long me thinks......
We're not talking about velomobiles here, we're talking about plain trikes. I don't know of a single trike rider in my club that can sprint to 33 mph without the help of a large downhill.
Regarding wheels sizes, most trikes use small wheels because of strength issues. Since trikes don't lean in turns, they must resist the side forces generated. Spoked wheels are very weak in that direction, and small wheels are a way to make the wheels more resistant to taco-ing in a hard turn. Additionally, the size of front wheels of a tadpole trike relate to the track - small wheels don't impinge on the rider's legs as much in a turn as larger wheels would, so small wheels can result in a narrower package. Of course, larger chainrings can normalize a trike's high gear (at the expense of low gear;) but many small-wheeled trikes use normal chainring sets, which to me is an acknowledgement by the mfg that the trike is slower than a regular bike.
We're not talking about velomobiles here, we're talking about plain trikes. I don't know of a single trike rider in my club that can sprint to 33 mph without the help of a large downhill.
Im not talking about velomobiles either. Im talking a plain old trike. Eg. A human-powered tadpole trike. If thats wat a plain trike fits under, then I own one ;) .
I run 2 different size chainrings on my "normal trike" (20" rear wheel). A 52teeth for duty around town etc, and A 57tooth chainring for when I train with a group of cyclists 3 days a week, as well as treks to the velodrome with my friends and their trikes.
33mph is bascially 50km/h. I can easily reach these speeds with my 57, and am quite comfy at 45km/h (27mph) on a flat surface. My 52 on the other hand; I max out in highest gear at 40km/h (24mph). Cant go any faster then that with a 52-11....on my contraption anyway :D .
Mind u, there may b some factors that contribute. My isnt the most user friendly- it sits at knee height, wheres most production trikes are built for comfort, thus a more upright seating position and extra wind resistance. Also, I run on slicks, which Im sure alot of production trikes dont, thus more resistance again.
I still think an unfaired, human powered tadpole trike can be as fast as an conventional roadbike. As for being faster then a bent bike.......
We're not talking about velomobiles here, we're talking about plain trikes. I don't know of a single trike rider in my club that can sprint to 33 mph without the help of a large downhill.
Of course, larger chainrings can normalize a trike's high gear (at the expense of low gear;) but many small-wheeled trikes use normal chainring sets, which to me is an acknowledgement by the mfg that the trike is slower than a regular bike.
Anything faster than about 25 mph for me is heading downhill. :)
A large downhill would be well over 40 mph. :D I've got great low gearing on my Catrike. Admittedly, the upper end ain't so much, but overall, I'm faster on this than I am on my EZ Sport. On a busy MUP recently, I was only passed by a very few and I passed many. So I suspect it's just as much about the engine.
Ah, but smaller wheels limit the speed of the bike/trike. If you put the same gears on a trike with 406 wheels, and on a bike with 700c tires, and pedal at the same rpm, the trike will go slower. It will take less effort, but you will go slower. Therefore, someone on a trike (with 406 wheels) must use a higher gear (if there are any left to choose) or must pedal faster than his roadie counterpart.
True, as long as you are speaking only of the drive wheels. The tadpoles with small drive wheels--like the catrike speed--compensate by using a larger chainring, an overdrive bottom bracket (Schlumpf), a Capreo-type cassette (same problem as with folders) or an internal hub (Rohloff, Nexus, SRAM or dual-drive). Tadpoles with 26" rear drive wheels and 20" or smaller front wheels can avoid some of these problems and still use conventional cassettes without sacrificing the top end. The non-drive wheels like the 16" on the catrike front wheels have no effect on the gear range.
Small-wheeled folding bikes have the same problem. Despite that, speed records have been set on Moultons.
Usually they get the upper range with conventional cassettes and large--60+ tooth--chainrings.
Previous -
Top -
Next
Copyright 1999 - 2007
BikeForums.Net - All rights reserved.
Common bike forum topics in clue bicycles, cycling, mountain biking,
cycling jerseys, shorts, socks, shoes and bike equiptment selection.