lcgeek

Hello, Newbie to recumbent trikes...please be patient

I am looking to venture into recumbent trike area, tadpole design. Here is my quest for your help. Can anyone recommend a trikeunder $2K, that would allow (1) great flexibility in the seat angle and also in the (2) inseam accomodation? I would like to get a trike that both my wife and I can share...she is 5'2 and likes a very upright seat postion, I am 6.0 and prefer a lower seat angle, but not laid back too low.

We checked out a Sun Sun EZ-3 CX. We found that even in the seat's most upright position, it was too laid back for my wife...and no neck support for me?

If you have any suggestions for brands/models to look at based on these criteria, let us know - THANKS!

Dr.Deltron

A tadpole trike
Adjustable seat angle
$2K or less

Pick any 2!

Tadpoles; I have 2 Greenspeeds, GTT & GTX
Adjustable seat angle; ICE trikes
$2K or less; good luck!
(although I DID get my GTX for $2K w/82 miles on the odometer. Just Lucky I guess.)

Course there's always fleaBay or Craigs list.
For eBay, try BidSage free snipeware.

aikigreg

you're not going to find that much adjustability unless you buy a trike and an extra boom and cranks for your wife. Though it MIGHT work if you got a set of tandem crank shorteners.

I'd look for a used catrike road or pocket.

jeff-o

www.actionbent.com

If you lived in Canada I'd try to sell you one of my trikes. But, this sale may go to ActionBent. You can get a tadpole for $1375, maybe less if you bid on one of AB's eBay auctions. That's almost cheap enough to buy two!

The boom on these trikes can easily adjust for leg lengths in that range. The seat on the Tadpole trike has an adjustment range of about 5 degrees - not much, but you may find that you won't even have to adjust it at all.

These are mature, well thought out designs that will serve you well for many years. There's no need to spend 2k+ on a trike!

imahounddog

If u r interested in building your own, there's a site with a builders' gallery and plans. I belong to the forum and it's a good place to start if u r on a tight budget and have some time to invest. I was intimidated building my own trike at first but I'm getting lots of help on that forum and taking my time to do it right the way I want. I highly recommend their plans. Even a newbie like me can understand them and follow each step.

Dr.Deltron

OK, I am mistaken!
A friend of mine just got a "buy-it-now" Slip Steam tadpole on fleaBay for $1,600!
That would be a trike similar to a Windcheetah! Retail definetly NORTH of $5,000!!
We're gonna go pick it up tomorrow and we'll post some pics.
It's an AWESOME machine, anodized blue & red with carbon stays. Designed by Mike Burrows. 1 of 30 in the world!
So if you search eBay for long enough, something cool WILL come your way!

cjs1948

One of the WizWheelz trikes would fit your criteria. However, it is not practical to share a trike with your difference in height. You would not only have to make all of the frame adjustments, but you would have to add/subtract a piece of chain every time. You will tire of this process quickly. Increase your budget enough to get two of the cheapest trikes--that will work.

Chip

Shaman

2nd the Actionbent tadpole trike. Excellent value for a quality trike.

Sign up for the Yahoo Actionbent Forum

...and...

Browse the BentRider Online forums trike section

Buying used is also an option if it is a low milage trike.

lcgeek

thanks for all the feedback folks - looks like it will have to be two trikes...now which ones, more research and looking. Thanks again!

lcgeek

ok, sorry for being so slow...but after visiting many different recumbent trike dealer websites, I find very little information about different size trikes? How do you size one to the proper inseam? Does one bike fit all so to speak...Thanks!

Shaman

Some trikes are built to the rider's size while others are one-size-fits-all. Some companies offer different size seats.

Trikes are most often fitted by moving the boom in and out depending on the rider's x-seam measurement. As stated before, changing the boom length changes the chain length; therefore chainlength needs to be adjusted after the boom is in the right place. Optimally, you would want to be well seated and your leg straight out with your heel on the pedal. I am 6'2" and have had people 5'2-3" tall test ride my trike without any adjustment. They just move lower in the seat, but longterm, this is not practicle.

Some of the higher priced trikes can be built to fit a little more custom, but for most people, they will all work for the 90-percentile.

One option on the chainlength change if you need to keep moving the boom is to know which gear combination you need to stay out of. For your need, this is a bit more than the adjustment will allow and still have a good gear range.

BTW, there is a good deal on a Catrike Speed on BentRider...
Here (forum thread) .and...
Here (pix)

Catrike is a well respected brand and definitely fits with your "leaned back" requirement.

Shaman

BTW... you don;t say what riding style you are after. Catagories like "fun", "Touring", "Racing" etc...
For touring couples, Tandems are very popular.

Shaman

Fun place to get familiar with bike and trike touring blogs

Lots of great stories and information

jeff-o

If you do end up changing the boom length all the time to suit you and your wife (something which I guarantee won't last long... it will stay in one position and the other person will want their own), there is something you can do to make changing the chain length easier.

Buy two sets of Powerlinks. These are special bicycle links that can be snapped apart and put together repeatedly with a pair of pliers (or your fingers if you're really strong). Measure out the difference in leg length, double it, and isolate that length of chain with the powerlinks. When it's time to change the chain length along with the boom, all you have to do is graft in the section of chain using the power links.

cjs1948

You want to go to the MANUFACTURER web sites. I use links on my site to send the potential buyer there for detailed information so I don't have to redo a whole raft of details that will be of interest to different shoppers.

Chip
recumbenttrikestore.com

lcgeek

thanks again for the feedback. I am definitely NOT looking for one bike to work for both my wife and I, so once the boom and chain set, they will stay there. I was looking for sizing information because as I come across various used bikes, I am wondering "would this one fit my wife"? That led me to look for frame sizing info ect, like on stadard bikes frame size is a key difference, one wouldn't buy a size L fram for a short leg So that is what I was wondering...for the most part can Trikes be sized to fit most riders...or do I need to limit my search to specific frame sizes that correspond to rider height? It sounds like boom controls it for the most part, but I just want to be sure..thanks!

jeff-o

Yes, nearly every commercially available trike (except for the custom made Greenspeed, ICE and Windcheetahs) is adjustable for riders with different leg lengths.

FarHorizon

Used Catrike Speed on e-Bay.

lcgeek

I searched ebay for catrike and found nothing...but thanks anyway.

Shaman

Actionbent Tadpole Trike for $900- here

[fyi]