xenologer

Never really seen a Trike up close before, but lately one has been locked up at the train station.
I found it interesting that the two brake levers corresponded to each of the two front wheels, with no brake at all on the rear wheel.
Was just curious if that was normal for a trike and how they do things differently with braking setup compred to a bike and why...

LWaB

Yes, both brakes on the front wheel is normal for upright trikes. Have you tried riding a trike with rear brakes, particularly when braking hard over bumps? The rear end skips about all over the place with either one or two locked rear wheels. Check out the photos on the Tricycle Association website, particularly of trike criterium racing. https://www.tricycleassociation.org.uk/

EDIT: OP is talking about a 2 front wheel, 1 back trike, probably a recumbent. I was talking about an upright trike, 1 front wheel, 2 rear. Ignore what I wrote.

arej00dazed

The trike my father-in-law has (schwinn, walmart) has the type front brake but the "rear" brake goes to a "strap" the compresses on the middle shaft........doesnt seem to work very good IMO, but he also hasnt adjusted the brakes either.

I just re-read the original post and it sounds like that particular trike has 2 front wheels? The one I was referring to has 2 rear wheels.

DieselDan

Trikes aren't bikes. Everything about the geometry and physics are different. Apples and oranges. You aren't going to endo a recumbent trike with just front brakes.

arej00dazed

then what would you call a trike? it has everything a normal bike has + 1 wheel and a lil extra frame work.

DieselDan

A trike is just that, a trike, not a bike. You don't ride a trike, you drive it as the balance part of riding is minimized and the handling skills are very different. You are simplifying something you know nothing about

2manybikes

xenologer

Yeah it was a tadpole trike.

I suppose if I think it through, the front brake on a normal bike is the most effective, and the only reason to use the rear is for gravel/dirt where a skid is likely and less dangerous on the rear.

With a trike, I suppose skidding isn't as bad since you aren't going to fall over. Thus no need for a rear brake... Even if one of the front wheels starts to skid... I doubt fishtailing is possible since the rear wheel is still freely rolling...

I guess thats the norm on tadpole trikes then? 2 front brakes only?

deraltekluge

I have a delta trike (1 front, 2 rear wheels), semi-recumbent...and all 3 wheels have brakes. The left lever operates the front brake, and the right lever operates both rears.

2manybikes

Sorry,

Yes, no, no, no, and no.