monkistan

Hi there,

I'm not sure that this is the right forum, but I figured I'd start here. I know an older gentleman in his '80s. He has osteoporosis, and lamented to me the other day that he misses riding his bicycle. He said that he'd love it if he had a ladies bike frame with some training wheels so he could get on and off easily and wouldn't have to worry about tipping over.

Does anyone know of training wheels or some type of thing that could attach to an adult bicycle that would keep it stable like training wheels do for a child?

Thanks for any and all help.

M

maddmaxx 

Typically, the adult bicycle appropriate for this purpose is a tricycle. I'm not sure what the brands are but I've been seing quite a few on the paths lately.

wobblyoldgeezer

There are some truly whizzy recumbent trikes, 2 wheels at the front and 1 at the back. - I'm sure that others here could post examples.

Would the chap in question be able to scoot down into the riding position - they're mainly quite low, I think

Crank57

https://www.bicycleman.com/recumbents...ent-trikes.htm

This link takes you to a picture of the two styles; Delta Trikes put two wheel s in the rear and are easier to get onto, while Tadpole Trikes put two wheels in front and sit very low to the ground. Several companies make these.

Tom Bombadil

Or if he just wants to cruise around the neighborhood or pick up some groceries, then a classic adult tricycle would do the trick well and at a reasonable price. $250 for a Schwinn adult trike at Wal-Mart and it's an okay bike. Very popular in some retirement communities. Not something you want to go out and do 20-30 miles on ... for that I'd look at a delta trike.

A lot of options are shown here:
https://worksmancycles.com/shopsite_s...ulttrikes.html

Artkansas 

There are certainly no dearth of good tricycles out there. The EZ3 as mentioned earlier and a lot of other brands such as Trailmate.

There are low-end Westport or Walmart trikes.

Industrial Tricycles has a wide selection of styles and configurations. Your best bet may be to look at the local stores and see what they carry.

rdmjr

If you're looking at tadpole trikes and worried about how low they sit, check out the Cycle Genius Phoenix (https://www.cyclegenius.com/trx.html). They call it a "mobility extender"; their web site lists the seat height as 21.5" - that's only 1/2" lower than an Easy Racer Tour Easy.
- Bob

Velo Dog

Second the trike idea. My dad was always active, but he developed balance problems in his late 70s and couldn't ride a bike safely, He bought a fairly cheap tricycle (might have been the Walmart one somebody else mentioned), and rode it all over his neighborhood until his death five years later.
It was too short for me, but I borrowed it several times just for fun and it wasn't horrible. Under the same circumstances, I'd probably buy a more expensive one, but I love to ride and he just wanted to get around.

Tom Bombadil

I've looked at that one on their site before. I like the styling.

deraltekluge

I like my Sun EX-3 AX. It's a bit heavy, but it's got lots of gears (with about the range of a mountain bike), so hills are still climbable. The seat height is about the same as an ordinary chair, so it's easy to get on and off.

Kai Winters

Very elderly man in my neighborhood ride his adult trike every day. He has a basket on the back and in it are his crutches...Major props to this man.
Trikes are cool. I will ride one someday and flirt with the babes on it. Show them my shaved legs hehehe.

Suzie Green

You sir will be the scourge of the retirement community. Where was it that you said you'll be retiring?

BCRider

Trike for sure. Any sort of side mounted training wheels or outriggers that'll support an adult will be wide enough to hook on every corner and post around and STILL be too unstable.

monkistan

Thank you all for your advice. I'll go and talk to him about what the options might be. I really appreciate the insight. I worry that he won't feel comfortable on a trike, he's a very "proud" man and doesn't like assistance. but we'll see what he says. It's all for him really. not about me.

Tom Bombadil

If he thinks training wheels are more dignified than a trike, then there is this option:

https://www.fatwheels.com/

Heavy duty tubing, larger wheels, made for 26" & 700c wheels, 250 pound capacity.

Artkansas 

Here are the persuasions I would use when talking to him. You will probably want different words.

Well, training wheels are only for small children whose parents are too lazy to give them proper bicycling training. Trikes however have a long history of adult use. So if he's proud, he should be too ashamed to be seen on training wheels. They are at best, a kluge tacked on, not an integrated, well engineered method of transportation.

If he feels that that standard adult trike is somehow demeaning, note that all of the posters to this thread have recommended them, and will not have a problem with riding one, if the time comes.

And look at the variety of trikes. Personally, I think the EZ3 looks cool. If he wants to be really sporty, he can opt for some of the racier tadpole trikes, or the low slung Kettwiesels. If he gets an industrial trike with a refrigerated compartment, he can bring the beer. No one will ever think he's a wuss if he's bringing the beer. There's even a golf trike! Surely there is something to fit into his life style. On these, he's cutting edge, not a fuddy duddy.

Good luck, get us pics of him on his new trike if you can.

rdmjr

When the time comes? The time's NOW! My wife and I (50 & 52) are both riding tadpole trikes now; no sense waiting until later to enjoy them! There's no minimum speed to keep your balance, no problem with having to clip out and back in at stops, and drivers generally give you more room and stop at road crossings to wave you across much more readily. You also get to talk to a lot more people, because they're generally curious and want to know more about that contraption you're riding.
- Bob

The Weak Link

Remind him that trike riders get all the babes.

Tom Bombadil

I test rode a Greenspeed Anura trike yesterday. Liked it a lot.

https://www.greenspeed.com.au/anura_main.html

10 Wheels

Sharon has 7,000 miles on hers.

RonH

That looks W-A-A-A-Y-Y too comfortable.