Recumbent - Boy, I'm in big trouble now

Boy am I in trouble.......... :twitchy:

Tuesday had a blowout on the 'bent. :notamused: Had to drive to work Thursday and Friday. :notamused: Which meant I had to figure out how to get in the security gate in a car again. Disappointed the girls at Rutters where I stop for breakfast every morning since I wasn't on the bike.

Today I made the trip to the nearest bike shop that does 'bent. That's where I got in trouble. They have this really nice used Bacchetta tadpole :love: - which I made an appointment to test ride Wednesday on my day off. I want a trike bad...... so I'm in big trouble-crack the piggy bank open. :twitchy: :twitchy:

I hope it rides like crap, doesn't fit, won't shift, bad brakes, really slow so I have an excuse not to get it. :eek: I want to do a build but after seeing this one............

I rode today for a couple miles with a tadpole trike. Pretty cool machine but overall it was really slow. I still want to try one for myself as well.

The worst is yet to come. Once you get a trike, you might get the itch to get a better (and even more expensive) one.

I'd agree that you will probably be slower on a trike than on a 2-wheeled recumbent and even a bit slower than one of those spandex-clad riders on a 15 pound bike but with time and effort you can get a lot faster. A lot depends upon the rider and how fit they are. Most days I ride around 15 miles in an urban environment with stop lights and stop signs. I can still average over 13 mph (bike computer calculated) unless there is a stiff wind.

A Bacchetta tricycle? When did they make a trike?

A Bacchetta tricycle? When did they make a trike?

I'm asking the same quesetion myself...

umm, I thought it was a Bacchetta. It was hanging high on the wall and we couldn't get to it. But I'll know for sure Wednesday.

If it's a tadpole, it's not a RANS either... That still leaves a few possibilities.

It's not a bacchetta I'm sure, but trikes are nothing but FUN - I wouldn't go near it if you want to keep cash in your wallet. (enjoy the bike!)

whatever it is, it wants you to give it a home

Unless it is very inexpensive or seems perfection on three wheels after a long test rides, I suggest resisting until you have had an opportunity to test other trikes.

Well, today was the test ride..... and no, I didn't buy. But I'm in love with the idea of a tadpole.

I was wrong on the brand. It was a Cattrike. Thank god he wanted more than I am willing to pay right now ($2k used). But it was definitely enlightening. A strange setup to me too.

It had an internal '2-speed' crank. You pushed a button with your heel to change from high to low, and it had an internal 7-speed rear hub. Needs a new calliper on the right front disk. It felt like it only weighed a couple more pounds than my ActionBent two-wheeler.

He did also have a new EZ delta in stock, but I just don't like the style of the deltas. Weighed a lot more too. And to me, the biggest detractor on the delta was the rear axle is actually 2 axles (one to each wheel) and the drive chain is only connected to one of them.

Nice thing about it, after talking price and him knowing I wasn't going that high, he still wanted me to take a ride just to compare with others - and he was willing to pull the EZ delta out for me to ride after the tadpole. That's why he's my LBS (2 towns away) and I don't use the LBS here in town. And why every time I'm in there I stock up on his business cards cause I hand them out whenever any asks me about a bike shop.

What can I say, I'll keep looking. I want one!

The internal hub and crank added a lot to the price. I think my wife's 2007 Cattrike Road was $1550, including some accessories. Mine was a 2008 model, and was a little more.

I rode a cattrike a friend bought used. It had shimano deraileurs that worked as advertised. (great)
It was a major kick and I am now addicted. Only my flat wallet is holding me back.

Yeah, I need to find a beginners' group around Knoxville / Oak Ridge, TN so I can ride more too.

You might want to try the Want to Buy section of Bent Rider Online (http://www.bentrideronline.com/). There are some Cat enthusiasts there who enjoy getting the latest/greatest and selling their old rides.