I am looking to get a trike for next year. I have test rode one so far. It was a Catrike 700. I enjoyed it alot. I realize that I will have to get some recumbent legs if I get one. I will also have to relax a bit in order to keep a twitch free ride. I like the idea of a 700 wheel in the back in order to keep the gears similar to my upright bike. I was wondering about the trikes with the 20" on the back. Do trikes with the smaller wheel change the gears to make up the difference? If not, what is the difference? Would the smaller wheel make the granny gears more grannyish or less grannyish? Sorry for the stupid question but I am at work and using strong chemicals. I think the fumes are starting to get to me. One of the advantages of the trike would be no need to try and balance after a long day working with these chemicals...lol.

Thanks

A smaller drive wheel can be somewhat compensated for by using larger chainrings; otherwise your gearing will be something like 25% lower. The problem is, it's hard to get a high gear without going to a custom setup - Speed Drive, SRAM 3x9, etc. Really low gears are easy though.

I was wondering about the trikes with the 20" on the back. Do trikes with the smaller wheel change the gears to make up the difference? If not, what is the difference? Would the smaller wheel make the granny gears more grannyish or less grannyish?
Thanks

I've kept mine stock. I have a 20" wheel. Which means a lower high end speed based on the same cadance. But I can climb hills easier than with a larger wheel. But it really depends on the engine as to climbing ability and top end speed.

(snip) I was wondering about the trikes with the 20" on the back. Do trikes with the smaller wheel change the gears to make up the difference? (snip)

My GS SLR has a 20" rear wheel with the following gearing: 45-55-67 front chainrings and 11-32 rear cluster, which provides a gear inch range (rough approximation as I haven't measured the rear tire/wheel combo) of 27 to 115. Works fine for me; I occasionally run out of top end on a long downhill, but that's rare.

The new SLR's have 16" wheels and use the 9 tooth Shimano cog in back (Caprio? something like that.)