Hi,
My wife and I have started pulling our daughter in a trailer (we ride mountain bikes) down the paved trails in Jacksonville Fl (not many choices BTW). And, my Mom is moving down here so we've been looking at trikes for her to ride on the pavement. We just checked out the Catrike Trail. She sat on it, but wasn't offered a chance to ride it :( . The Trail seems to be a very nice trike, and probably more than fast enough to keep up with my wife and I and plenty of gears for FLAT Florida. But, my Mom's 5' 2" so I think the Pocket would be a better fit (and it fits through doorways better). We'd probably add the rear carrier and the headrest. I like that it comes with SPD pedals. Anyone know why the Pocket costs more???

There's a Catrike dealer in Jax, which I really like because they'll do lifetime minor stuff for free if we buy from them. It seems like that's our only choice if we go with a LBS. I'd checked out the Utah trikes online, and like the fact that they're shipped assembled. But, any service or adjustment will cost something at the LBS so I have to keep that in mind.

Any other suggestions? A folding trike would be nice, but she drives an Odyssey minivan so she can transport it in there when she puts the seats down. We probably won't be buying for a few months so if something new is coming please let me know.

Thank you,
dan

An older woman might be nervous about being in a recumbent. At least let her try one of the upright adult trikes. Then if she gets into it get low. Prices start near $350. Not too bad when she upgrades.

i have a friend with ms that rides a greenspeed - he loves it - and it folds up. he is able to get it out of his car alone and keeps up pretty well with regular riders.

we talked our neighbor, who just suffered a stroke paralyzing her on one side, into a trike -- she got the catrike- the guy at the shop set up all the controls on the right side for her.

the only problem with both of these is how low they are to the ground. the greenspeed's wheel's lock so a person can hold onto the handle and lower down. we have to chock up the catrike to get my neighbor on.

we used a dealer in south carolina that will outfit it for the particular person. he deals with all sorts of recumbents.

both are tons of fun to ride

mm

Our city has this recumbent trike program for senior citizens. They seem to really like this model. It's a little higher up. I got to try one out at a bike event, and the visibility is pretty good. Here's a video (http://www.streetfilms.org/archives/portland-or-older-adults-bike-program/) and an informational page (http://www.portlandonline.com/transportation/index.cfm?c=37401&a=155167). They've gathered a lot of information about riding issues for older adults in their pilot program. You might contact them for ideas.

Thanks for the input. We'll take a look at the Greenspeed and check the Catrike again.

dan

Thanks for the input. We'll take a look at the Greenspeed and check the Catrike again.

dan
The Sun deltas don't cost much and sit higher off the ground. A lot of people with limited mobility have problems getting up and down from a tadpole trike.

The only mark against the Sun trikes is that (as far as I know) you cannot set them up with an internal-gear hub.
~

Thanks for the input. We'll take a look at the Greenspeed and check the Catrike again.

danI suggest you let 'mom' decide what's best. If she is like 3 million other 60's + individuals, she ain't gonna like loading and unloading her fanny from a 8" off the floor. I sure don't and have no physical limitations (not yet anyway). A delta trike, such as the Hase Kettweisel, Greenspeed Anura or the budget, Sun EZ-3 seems a more intelligent option. Bottom line, show her ALL available trikes, then let her test ride and make the final decision.

.... The only mark against the Sun trikes is that (as far as I know) you cannot set them up with an internal-gear hub.
~Don't know about the IG availability for the EZ-3, but the Hase Kettweisel has a couple of IGs options available, including the Rohloff and Nexus.

http://b.imagehost.org/0687/Kett-web.jpg

Don't know about the IG availability for the EZ-3, but the Hase Kettweisel has a couple of IGs options available, including the Rohloff and Nexus.

http://b.imagehost.org/0687/Kett-web.jpg
Yea--but a Hase costs about 4X what a Sun does, too.
~

This isn't a recumbent option, but Fatwheels makes outriggers for standard bikes http://www.fatwheels.com/. Here in Toronto, it's illegal to ride bikes on the sidewalk unless the wheel size is 20" or less. A small folder with some fatwheels may be an option although there may not be a restriction where you live.

I have a Sun EZ-3 AX. The seating position is a lot like driving a car, and the seat height is about 18"...about the same as an ordinary chair, and about as easy to get on and off. It's kind of heavy (about 50 lbs) and kind of expensive (about $1500), but I really like it. It's 27-speed with a gearing range similar to a mountain bike, so hills are manageable despite the weight.