Bikes vs. Trikes?

FarHorizon

Could someone provide (or refer me to) an unbiased comparison of recumbent bikes vs. trikes? Some of the trikes I see reviewed on bentrideronline seem to weigh less than their two-wheel brethren!

Offhand, I'd guess that:

1. Trikes have a larger turning circle than SWB bikes
2. Trikes have greater stability than bikes (duh!)
3. Trikes, on average, should weigh slightly more than bikes and have more wind resistance
4. Trikes should have superior braking
5. Trikes should have better traction on slippery roads
6. Trikes should have less ground clearance except when compared to lowracers

Since I'm shooting from the hip, I'm probably wrong about some of these, and there are probably other considerations that I've missed entirely. Please share. Thanks!

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CATIN STEVE

Could someone provide (or refer me to) an unbiased comparison of recumbent bikes vs. trikes? Some of the trikes I see reviewed on bentrideronline seem to weigh less than their two-wheel brethren!

Offhand, I'd guess that:

1. Trikes have a larger turning circle than SWB bikes
I have a Catrike Road and it makes a U turn in a trial as good as any 2 wheel recumbent or DF.
2. Trikes have greater stability than bikes (duh!)
Of course. I did have my riding buddy fall on top of me when he forgot to unclip at a stop. Nobody was hurt and he thanked me for the soft stop.
3. Trikes, on average, should weigh slightly more than bikes and have more wind resistance
My trike weighs 30 lbs not what I would call heavy.
4. Trikes should have superior braking
I have duel disk brakes if you grab them hard they will stop fast.
5. Trikes should have better traction on slippery roads
I do not give sand, wet road, or leaves a second throught.
6. Trikes should have less ground clearance except when compared to low racers
I have not ridden a low racer nor do I know anyone who has one so I cannot comment. I have not had any problem with ground clearance but I do not ride off road with it except in my yard going to the garage.
7. Trikes As much as I like my trike it is not as fast as a high racer. I do a Saturday ride and I ride with a couple of high racers and I cannot match there average speed. My next recumbent will be a high racer. I’ll probably give my Road to my wife.

megaman

I do a Saturday ride and I ride with a couple of high racers and I cannot match there average speed. My next recumbent will be a high racer. I’ll probably give my Road to my wife.

Is that because of the gearing, engine or some other factor?

CATIN STEVE

I have put a little over 1100 miles on my Road this year. My engine is middle of the road. I am sure that it will keep on inproving the more I ride. My rideing has changed in the last couple of months. I have been riding on club rides. Most about 30 miles at a time. Several of the group are recumbent riders and have been working there way up the ladder looking for the fastest cruising recumbent. Some have had LWB Rans and moved up the the high racer Becchattas. Most have gained 2-4 mph on there average for the day. I am happy with the Road but I hate getting dropped from the group. Orginally I was riding with my wife and we had DF hybrids. She is still riding a DF, but she does not go on these club rides her idea of riding is ride some look for wildlife, ride some stop and look some more. I have been going on some Centurey rides not that I can do a century but the pace of the ride does not appeal to her. So when I go trail riding with her its definally the cat. When I go with the club rides I want a recumbent that can keep up with the gorup.

dougfoot

I have been riding a Trice Micro since May 2002, and have seen my average speeds increase. I have over 15,000 miles ridden (including four Seattle to Portland 200+ miles one day rides). I can hang with average speeds of 18+ mph. Your ride is what you make it.
Comparing my trike with a 2 wheel whatever isn't really fair - the question should be - Do I get where I want to go in a timely fashion? Most of the time I can answer "yes" - in that, I don't stop as often (I stop every 50 miles or so) nor as long (my stops are about 10-15 minutes). In a given 100 mile ride, my averages are 16-18mph with one stop. The cyclists I ride with are hard pressed to keep up. Granted, on hilly terrain, I usually get clobbered going up and I pass my friends going down. Its all relative.

ctbent

I have been riding recumbents about 12 years. I got a Wheel Wiz 3.6 in March of this year and have about 1200 miles on it. I am at least 15% faster on my SWB R40 Vision.
Gary

BlazingPedals

1. I can u-turn my V-Rex in about 8 feet - keeping the wheeltrack inside a single parking space. (The boom/pedals would obviously be outside the wheeltrack.) I don't know how that compares to a trike.

6. Most of the tadpole trikes available are lower than most lowracers. One club rider had to watch the position of his cleats, or his heels would touch the ground when riding his Windcheetah.