They say I shouldn't buy a tadpole.

[Bearonabike]

"Local" bent dealer is steering me away from tadpoles. I'm 6'2" and he says I'll have a hard time getting out of one. Furthermore, at 330#, I'm told I'm a bit heavy for a tadpole, not because of the weight, but because high speed turns will put too much side loading on the wheels.

What does experience tell you folks?

[BlazingPedals]

At 6'2" and 330, the dealer might be right about getting in and out of one. The seat on a typical tadpole is about 6" off the ground. That means to stand up from one requires leaning forward to get your weight over your feet: an extreme deep knee bend. Also, I don't know if any tadpoles are rated for your weight.

I'll defer to the trikers on the forum on the side loading issue.

[megaman]

The trike that might work for you is the Greenspeed GTR. It's heaviest load rating is up to 440 lbs. Check it out at www.hostelshoppe.com

I've heard of trikes being fitted to people over 6'5", so I don't think your height is an issue. It just depends on if you can get down that low and then get up from that low position.

[ken cummings]

I had a "friend" take my tadpole into a sharp turn in a parking lot to get it up onto two wheels. He rode a few hundred yards that way. The freewheel fell apart and lost ball bearings as soon as I got back on it and started home. That would be about 75 pounds on each of the two wheels with the thrust at ~ a 45 degree angle. A 300+ person might have problems well before he hit a corner fast enough to lift the inside wheel off of the ground. Of course maybe I just had a rotten free-wheel. Ask the builder about this problem and keep thinkling about the trike. I still have mine 25 years later.

[Dr.Deltron]

The trike that might work for you is the Greenspeed GTR. It's heaviest load rating is up to 440 lbs. Check it out at www.hostelshoppe.com

I've heard of trikes being fitted to people over 6'5", so I don't think your height is an issue. It just depends on if you can get down that low and then get up from that low position.
YES, Greenspeeds are da bomb! I have 2! A GTX & a GTT. Neither will leave my stables until I've met my maker! :p

A very good friend of mine has a GTR and had it equipped with both the Rohloff 14 speed hub AND the Schlumph Speed Drive cranks. Very cool 28 speed with no deraileurs to get mucked up by boony whomping! Greenspeed can pretty much make a trike that is designed and built just for you, so there shouldn't be any "issues". Of course if you are handy at trueing wheels, all the better.

Now, the low seat height. As mentioned above, getting out (or in) a tadpole requires the deep knee bend.
So practice on a footstool or some other stable surface that is about 10" high.
The rearview mirrors are not sturdy enough to be used as handles for getting in or out, in spite of how tempting they may look. :p

[Tom Stormcrowe]

Lock the brakes, grab the boom to steady yourself and squat or lift....it'll work!

[jeff-o]

There might be a problem with a 26" rear wheel, but if you get 20" wheels all around (like that greenspeed mentioned earlier) then you'll be fine. Go for it! :)

[ndbentrider]

I'm 250 lbs. w/ a year old replaced knee on a 06 speed - You can steady yourself after locking brakes on boom or one of the 2 front wheels. It can be done - the practicing is a good idea before you get too far on one

[Tourezrick]

Thought I'd have a problem getting off a trike, so I bought a Sun Tad. With better wheels (Velocity Aeroheat V's) added weight shouldn't be a problem, and the seat is higher. Now, I've lost enough weight (Thanks, Byetta) so I ordered a Scorpion with a 5" lower seat. No problem getting off. really, try the Greenspeeds - super trikes, and woulda bought one but the seat support bars hit me on my arthritic left hip - otherwise, a great trike!

Tourezrick

[VegasTriker]

What does this dealer consider as high speed? Isn't Florida flat as a pancake? I could agree that if you lived in very hilly country you can get up to some rather exhilirating (scary) speeds on a trike going downhill. As long as you don't try taking corners on two wheels, you probably will not damage a Greenspeed in an area as flat as Florida. If you want some straght answers, ask Mick Sims at the Greenspeed website. He is great about answering questions about the trikes he makes. Also check out www.bentrideronline.com. It has lots of info on recumbents.

[Irodguy]

I am 6 ft and 260, I purchased a Wizwheelz Tour. Getting on and off took some getting used to be overall was not a big issue. They will take up to 350 without issue. I would go with one of the stiffer sidewalls on any trike you buy. I question the "high speed" , it's highly doubtful you will ever go faster than 17 or so except on a strong down hill, unless you have legs of iron and gearing that is changed up some.

Good luck, trikes are a blast!

[geebee]

The Greenspeed's have an option of a mount like the mirror ones that are rated to use for assisting getting up.
Sprinting on the flat will put you over the mentioned 17mph with practice, my trike has a fairing and I can hold a lot better than that on the flat as a fast cruise.
I normally ride in very hilly terrain and average closer to 14 mph but exceed 40 mph every ride. :)
The smaller wheels like the Greenspeed's use are amazingly strong, mine has 16" all round.

[Woodlark]

I was raised in Melbourne, and there certainly aren't any hills around there where you will get up enough speed to worry about. Talk to Paolo, the designer of Catrikes in Plant City. I think a Catrike Road like mine with its 20" wheels could probably handle you. As far as getting up out of the low seat, lock your brakes, grab the top of a wheel with each hand and pull!:)

[GreenGrasshoppr]

I think a Catrike Road like mine with its 20" wheels could probably handle you.

I think all the Catrikes rider weight max out at 275lbs

[Woodlark]

I think all the Catrikes rider weight max out at 275lbs

That's why I suggested he talk to Paolo.:)

[BKXray]

Tom Teesdale at tetcycles.com builds a Greenspeed-like trike. You can upgrade to a heavy duty frame and be a bit cheaper than the Greenspeed. Being a builder he can alter some things like seat angle for personal preference.