ANY trike accidents??

[overthere]

I'm still trying to convince myself to get a trike, even though all my DF companians think it's, well, not safe. So I'm asking; we always hear on this forum about the various crashes and injuries on a DF (and I've had them myself). Are there any 'moving' accidents to report with a trike? Any at all?

[dougfoot]

My first Seattle to Portland in 2002, I rolled my Trice Micro my first hour out. I was going about 35mph. I was still able to finish that ride in a single day - total 15.5 hours. if you look here at my 2002 STP Photo, you'll see that I'm not too worked over... www.footeco.com/images/stp/2002/portland01.jpg

[geebee]

I have flipped my trike on it's side at 30~35 kph, going through a bike chicane (can't lean because of the bars) on a bike path with a strong wind of the rear quarter, I got the trike up on 2 wheels and the wind wouldn't let me get the wheel back down so over I went, slid up the track on my side, my feet were strapped in and I held onto the steering grips and when it stopped reached out and flipped back upright a quick check, no damage off I went. My body never touched the ground.
Sliding up a rough concrete path at 30+kph on a 2 wheeler would have removed significant skin.

[cjs1948]

I'm still trying to convince myself to get a trike, even though all my DF companians think it's, well, not safe. So I'm asking; we always hear on this forum about the various crashes and injuries on a DF (and I've had them myself). Are there any 'moving' accidents to report with a trike? Any at all?
I have no accident to report but then that was one of the goals of getting a trike. Here are some things to consider:

You have the best braking available in the pedal world. Two disc/drum brakes in front of you with no possibility of end-over (tip-up yes, but that only causes mild heart fultter).

You can roll a trike but it won't happen because the road condition caused it or a tire blew. If it happens, it is because you messed up. If you do, the ground is so much closer and the trike has some width to give some protection.

One of the absolute joys of riding a trike which has caused my to eliminate all thoughts of two-wheeling is the ability to largely ignore the road as a source of potential disaster. I watch mostly for comfort disturbing bumps and glass shards. It is SO relaxing to tour and watch the scenery. It is SO invigorating to be able to bear down on the pedals and concentrate almost entirely on your form and output. Both virtually without concern for sand, rocks, gravel, ice, grooves, etc. on the trail. I have a clip-on cup holder on my trike for the occassional ice tea or latte from which I can sip at any speed from 0 through the 20s because one-handed driving and hard-pedaling are not mutually exclusive.

If you're in Denver, let's go for a trike ride. Otherwise find a trike to ride and go long enough and far enough to get your own real feel for it. Then come back and tell us what you think.

Chip
http://cjschip.smugmug.com/gallery/385391

[TRIKE IT]

one heck of a flag ya got their...;-)...they cant say they didnt see you coming

[overthere]

Thanks for the offer Chip, but I live in Davis, CA. You'd think, flat as a pancake, there would be trikes out here, but not on the rides I go on. Thanks for the convincing posts! Yes, I have to go try one. I'm waiting for summer vacation, and saving a bit more, then go for a test ride. Can you really ride your Pocket with one hand? I do, of course, on a DF, but sorta looks like both hands need to stay on the trike's hand breaks...

[cjs1948]

Thanks for the offer Chip, but I live in Davis, CA. You'd think, flat as a pancake, there would be trikes out here, but not on the rides I go on. Thanks for the convincing posts! Yes, I have to go try one. I'm waiting for summer vacation, and saving a bit more, then go for a test ride. Can you really ride your Pocket with one hand? I do, of course, on a DF, but sorta looks like both hands need to stay on the trike's hand breaks...
The Pocket is the wife's trike and I'm one who has commented at length on its sensitive handling (true of any direct steer trike). I would NOT advise high speed one-handed riding on it. Actually, I would not advise high speed riding on it with two hands (much over twenty). On the other hand the Logo and previous TTs are quite capable of such feats. Single-sided braking at speed (20 or less) is quite doable with a little practice. The best of indirect steer trikes like ICE and Greenspeed are capable of much more speed with very comfortable one-sided braking if desired or required.

I hope you have the opportunity to try several trikes--a challenge to be sure. Inviting someone to try a trike is a lot like waiting for a friend to open a present that contains something they really want. Would really like to hear your impressions by post or direct: chasjstern@comcast.net

Chip

[Triker]

I have thousand of miles on home built Greenspeeds, many loaded touring miles in the midwest. Never had an accident. Traffic gives me space and you have to try very hard to roll a trike!

I feel much safer on my trike than I ever did riding DF bikes for twenty years and umpteen thousand miles.

[Gary Mc]

I have rolled my GTO trying to make a U-turn at the bottom of a hill. I misjudged my speed. That happened in the first couple of months that I owned it. I learned my lesson and lean more in turns now. I have been without an accident for about 2 years now.

Relative to cars, I have had only a couple close calls. With great brakes and no need to unclip in an emergency, it seems easy enough to avoid accidents around town if you just think ahead and use caution coming out from behind parked cars, etc.

Regards,

Gary

[Dr.Deltron]

First tragedy was pitching my 8 yr old stoker off the back of our GTT. No seat belt so he rolled off during a sudden turn (bad captaining on my part) and was subsequently run over AND dragged a couple yards before I could stop.
And I did the inaugural "high-side" on my GTX at the bottom of a hill. (and I was leaning hard to the inside. A bit trickier on the laidback X vs. a GTO/R)
READ THE GREENSPEED MANUAL! It actually encourages you to learn how to "wheelie" your trike. That is, ride it on only 2 wheels. This is great fun, once you master it.
CHECK YOUR SPOKES OFTEN!!!!
Learning to "wheelie" your trike also hones your leaning skills for high speed cornering.
Happy tricycling,
Dr.D

[VegasTriker]

Of course there are. If you are out on the roads, you are vulnerable no matter what you ride, short of a Sherman tank (revealing my age!!!). I bought my first trike, a Wizwheelz 3.4 in May of 2003 after crashing my Linear LWB twice in about 5,000 miles. Both falls resulted in substantial hematomas on my hip, not something I wanted to try a third time. I turned the WW turtle once while demonstrating a tight turn around my parked car at fairly slow speeds. Only my pride was damaged. I moved on to a Greenspeed GTO, a trike that stops on a dime and turns in half the radius of the WW. Although I have raised the trike on two wheels a time or two, I have never crashed it. I have had a few times I needed to take evasive measures to avoid being run over, but they are few and far between in over 10,000 miles on the trikes, almost all on urban streets. Most people give you lots of room. The worst place to ride (IMHO) is in parking lots. Something just seems to make people deranged in a parking lot. I keep to the center of the lane and do stay vigilant. Using a flag and wearing bright clothing helps to remind people you are there.

[BlazingPedals]

I'm not a trike rider, but I like to tell the story of one guy in my club. He was 'in the zone' and not paying attention to what he was doing, just following the pack of roadies. The group went around the corner and he unthinkingly followed - without slowing. At 26 mph, the trike made the corner just fine, but he didn't. Flipped him right out of his seat and deposited him in the middle of the road. He tumbled a bit, but there was no significant damage.

[Dr.Deltron]

Thanks for the offer Chip, but I live in Davis, CA. You'd think, flat as a pancake, there would be trikes out here, but not on the rides I go on.
CHIP, Make contact with a recumbent group in Sacramento. I think they have a Yahoo group, somethign like "recumbent riders of Sacramento". They have a "first saturday ride" every month and a full moon night ride. A LBS should have CalifornisCyclist magazine (free) and they list the rides and contact info. Used to be headed by Dave Stock. I'll probably bring my GTT to one of those rides sometime this summer.
Cheers,
Dr.D