Recumbent - Anyone familiar with Lightfoot Cycles

I am pretty close to pulling the trigger on ordering a Greenway trike for my wife. We have been discussing trikes for a few weeks now and have come down to this configuration. I have to admit I do like the design myself. I was wondering if anyone ha

http://www.lightfootcycles.com/trikes.php

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n235/Timber_8/Bike%20pics/grDavidB.jpg

If 'she' is of smaller stature, why not a Sprite? More compact, lighter weight and lower seat height, yet still accommodates a 6-footer.

http://www.lightfootcycles.com/sprite.php

http://www.lightfootcycles.com/Images-2/txhannah.jpg

The Greenway is the one we kinda like. I am doing some research on the company & I like what I am learning about these trikes. I will probably commute with it in the winter as well myself. I want to get her out riding with my in the parks and rail trails. She wont ride a bike but liked this when we were looking things over. If she loses interest in it I will use it myself

I tired to email them and ask questions. I think they are out of bussiness.

I'll give them a call on Monday, they said they have pictures of the New Sprite coming out in April 2010, they did a trade show in portland April 10th & 11th 2010

Have you looked at the Ariel? Much lighter than the Greenway.

Doesn't matter now she pulled the plug on the Idea

I'll give them a call on Monday, they said they have pictures of the New Sprite coming out in April 2010, they did a trade show in portland April 10th & 11th 2010

Great, glad I'm wrong. They seem to have a lot of nice products.

Doesn't matter now she pulled the plug on the Idea

Might want to propose the new TerraTrike Rover to her. $799
http://www.bentrideronline.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/rover.jpg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npSPP9Wrork
http://www.terratrike.com/

[QUOTE=EriktheFish;10657720]Might want to propose the new TerraTrike Rover to her. $799

Review available here (http://www.bentrideronline.com/?p=3437).

If my smart and beautiful spouse is any measure, the best bike or trike for your wife is the one she selects.

OK, the TerraTrike Rover is not a "great" trike, but it IS an entry level trike, which is what TerraTrikes was aiming for; not a "pedal powered wheelchair". And looking at the
Lightfoots site:

the Greenway is $2,880, so not exactly comparing apples to apples here..... And Timber_8 did say his wife pulled the plug on the idea, it may be that spending almost 3 grand
on a trike seems like a lot (I've broken my wife down on that, she now appreciates why some bikes/trikes can be so expensive)

The Lightfoot bikes and trikes are only available mail order, so you will have to hunt down someone that owns one to try one before you pull the trigger on ordering, or buy
sight (and ride) unseen. And at a weight of 56 pounds!?!

Better to get to a shop that stocks trikes, and try one out. Your wife may hate one, or may love it. Being from New England myself, I wouldn't consider a 3 speed trike
for the rolling hills we have, but there is a TerraTrike model for $999, with an 8 speed internal hub. I ride a Greenspeed GTO, and I love the range of gears that I have,
(technically 81, but lot's of overlapping gears)but it's not considered affordable by any stretch of the imagination.

Try one out first, any one, and go from there... every one's thoughts on the fun of a trike (or lack thereof) are different. Case in point: I bought a used Terratrike
for my wife, but kept my eye out for a used GTO for her, since I think the Greenspeeds are a superior product. Found one in a size that would fit her, refurbished the GTO,
but she still likes the Terratrike better; more comfortable seat, in her opinion. Never mind what I think! :)

The Lightfoot site has a "comparison page" to compare their trikes with other trikes, but it seems the only "mainstream" manufacturer mentioned is Sun,
everything else talks about imported models (with coaster brakes? haven't seen those....) What about trikes from Sun, TerraTrikes, Catrikes (both made in USA),
ICE, Greenspeed, etc....

I would recommend checking out the Buyer Guide on Bent Rider Online; http://bentrideronline.com/reviewpost/showcat.php?cat=4 for the section on Delta trikes. But
again, try one out first. If really interested, RBR has a recumbent Rally in June in western PA, or make a visit to Bicycle Man in western NY. Basically Bicycles in
Turner Falls MA is a stocking dealer for Catrikes. There is also a Human Powered Vehicle Rally in Maine on May 8th, http://www.velomobiles.net/wildfire/index.htm,
may have trikes there to get a better idea....

Well the decision to scrap the idea for the moment has nothing to do with cost of the trike. In fact it is really the only one we where considering do to my wifes health issues. The fact that is has over 190 gears is a major factor. She has just decided she is not ready for it quite yet. My question had to do with what experience people had with the company. The ice trike configuration is not an option for her. I don't want to get into the circumstances around my wifes condition but it has less to do with recreation more to do with physical therapy. But thank you all for you input.

Few who genuinely know trikes, would be hard pressed to categorize it otherwise.

1. 19" seat height +dangerously poor CoG placement for a trike, especially if ridden on public streets.
2. 3-speed

Further, where do carry the groceries?... in your lap? And should you ever decide to add rear panniers, you'll also succeed in worsening the weight distribution, making it even more dangerous.

And would YOU ding your credit card to the tune of $800 + shipping for an unproven 'budget' product that is less than 48 hours old? Not to mention that the one-and-only review so far, reads more like an hyped sales ad for a Yugo, considering it is littered with heavy embellishments and half-truths.

Let's see, the seat height on the Greenway is 22.5", and with a higher "curb" weight, seems that would move the center of gravity even higher than the Rover. The Rover is 29.25" wide, the Greenway is 32.4", so the tip-ability would probably be similar for either trike. Indeed, the Lightfoot website states "Although much more stable than upright trikes, the Greenway is the least stable of our trike models, and it is very possible to tip the Greenway over. Persons using it at modest speeds will find it steady and stable."

As far as carrying groceries, you are correct, you would need a rack and panniers to carry groceries or run errands, or purchase a trailer. That of course becomes a personal choice depending on the users intended usage. If only to get out and get some fresh air, a bit of exercise, the Rover might be a suitable trike. You could purchase the trike and a 2 wheel trailer to go for the occasional shopping errand, and still spend less than $1,100. When you aren't running an errand, leave the trailer behind, and the associated weight.

I wouldn't recommend the Rover for a buyer in New England, since we have our fair share of rollers and hills, I think that would foster someone overstressing their knees by pushing too hard up a hill. Would I buy the Rover? No, I don't like the seat height either, among other things. But I'm not their intended target audience.

My point is, you seemed to come right out bashing the Rover; the post asked about Lightfoot and the Greenway, someone made a suggestion of an option, and you stomped on the thought and demean the trike.

As far as "dinging" my credit card, each trike manufacturer offers a 30 day money back warranty, so why not?

Again, comparing these two trikes are definitely an "apples to oranges" comparison, meaning not really feasible. One is built as a workhorse to last a lifetime, the other as an entry level, "get someone interested in recumbents" trike. I have my own strong opinions on who makes a better trike or bike, just like the next person (and it's neither of these firms). But I'm not the one looking to make the purchase, so just thinking that we should give considerate opinions of products when asked.

Well the decision to scrap the idea for the moment has nothing to do with cost of the trike. In fact it is really the only one we where considering do to my wifes health issues. The fact that is has over 190 gears is a major factor. She has just decided she is not ready for it quite yet. My question had to do with what experience people had with the company. The ice trike configuration is not an option for her. I don't want to get into the circumstances around my wifes condition but it has less to do with recreation more to do with physical therapy. But thank you all for you input.

190 total gears may be a large number, but I think she's looking at it wrong. It looks like the Greenway has a triple crank, with a cassette on the mid-drive shaft, and another on the left rear drive wheel. Your wife could leave the mid-drive cassette on one cog, and just shift the front and rear derailers like a normal setup. When she gets familiar with that, then she can start using the middle cassette if she wants. I'd get Lightfoot on the phone and discuss this with them. They may have many examples of people that were just as skittish as your wife about all those gears, and found out they had no problem with them.

I might just order one for myself. I think maybe if it is available for her to ride and we have 2 that she may feel better about it. I put down a lot of miles a week on my Bike and have been looking at recumbent for a long time. I really like the Delta trikes myself. The 24 speed in 8 ranges is the best I have seen yet. I have the money for this so that is not the issue. It does however look as to be something that will have to happen over the next year.

Lightfoot Cycles moved to a new location in April, 2011. I just visited their new showroom and manufacturing facility and was very impressed with what I saw. It's a small firm with a team of very hard workers. Here's their new address:

Lightfoot Cycles, Inc - 3306 DVN Lane - Darby, MT 59829
Phone: 406-821-4750 - Web:www.LightfootCycles.com

ask for either Rod Miner or Marty Stomberg (martys@lightfootcycles.com)