squirl

After 15 plus years of Mtn Biking I just bought my first bent. With your helpful tips I just purchased a 2004 catrike and my perma grin wont stop. I wish I had found these years ago. Cant wait to get out for my first commute on monday, until then I will haul the kids around to all the parks I can find.
Thanks Again for the 'Trike Advice' I might of bought an action bent without your help.
Cheers
Darn how do I attach a picture of my sweet ride?

Chaco

Welcome to WPP (the World of Perineal Pleasure), squirl. I get a big kick out of all the posts that talk about the gels and such that DF'ers have to stuff in their pants to keep from getting saddle sores. When I quit biking 15 years ago, a 30 mile ride was pure torture. Now it's a piece of cake.

squirl

Thanks, just finished working out the bugs, chain length and such, put about 25 miles on this weekend pulling my kids around in a trailer while getting her ready to start my commute monday. I havent been this stoked about biking since I got into MTN Biking back in the 90's.
see you out there.

Oh yah, fenders are high on my list of things to add, we just rode back from the hardware store with a pretty good rain and the spray off the tires while turning is a little less appealing. Although I did keep feeling like I was in some kind of Rally race which was cool.
later

cat0020

If you don't mind me asking:

Who and how did you get turned on to recumbents/trikes?

Did you try many different models before deciding which one to purchase?

Was the price of the trike a big factor in your purchase?

Do you feel "less of a cyclist", as if you have betrayed the Diamond Framed bicycles?

Do you feel like a disabled person riding a "wheel-ed chair"?

Would you consider riding in a group ride with your recumbent trike?

squirl

Who and how did you get turned on to recumbents/trikes?
Actually I was looking for alternate ways to commute to work. I had been commuting on my MTN bike for years and it was was kinda boring on the road and then I found some trikes online (action bent) that interested me so I started looking around.

Did you try many different models before deciding which one to purchase?

Actually I tried to test ride some but only one shop in seattle had any you could test ride ( greenspeed) unless I wanted to set up some mystery appointment with the action bent guy which seemed alittle odd. Other shops might have one or two but sure werent going to let me try them and or they were hanging on the wall like some sort of oddity bike chachski. so I test rode the greenspeed like 10 times in a month and asked people on Bike forum about other quality trikes.

Was the price of the trike a big factor in your purchase?

Yes, I couldnt affored the Greenspeed $2400 to $3400 at all, I spent that much on my MTN bike but I knew what I was getting into with the MTN bike. I finnally found a used Catrike for $1500 which is about right for an experiment like this trike was.

Do you feel "less of a cyclist", as if you have betrayed the Diamond Framed bicycles?

Actually I feel more like a cyclist than I have in a couple of years, I cant get enough rides in and I look for reasons to run to the store ( 3 miles each way) for any small thing we may need just get on my cumffy speed machine. But my friends and inlaws ( also long time cyclists) are making fun of my decision, They are calling me 'OLD MAN' and where are your sandles and pot belly? and such. They really feel like recumbents are LESS than road and MTN Bikes. Im actually not talking with one of my inlaws ( Jerod your a Pri$K) over this topic but I know for a fact when (if) he does finnaly ride my trike he will come around to the comfort speed rush and fun of my bent trike, but that may never happen.

Do you feel like a disabled person riding a "wheel-ed chair"?

No, I feel more like people think Im some sort of geeky dude that wants to be different and in fact that was the main thing I had to get over before I could buy a trike. I had to buff up my self confedence about myself and the reasons I was buy a bent and especially a trike. It took one ride and I realized it was all for not...Im in love with my trike and plan to ride it into the ground saving 1 gallon of gas each way to work every day and having a blast while doing it.
I personally feel more like Im in some sort of crazed hyped up big wheel that I could only dream of as a kid.

Would you consider riding in a group ride with your recumbent trike?

Yes, Id like to see how people set up thier trike and that would be quite a site to see 6 to 10 trikes zipping around seattle on a group ride, heck they would probalbly get the news vans out there to get a quick local shots of some 'weirdos on wheels', or somthing like that.

Yah, Bent and trikes sure have a stigma with the general public and especially DF cyclists but I actually believe that these trikes have the potential to become very popular with young people as well as commuters, and eco gas savers, they just need to be put in the hands of more people and ofcourse they could be alot cheaper.

Thanks for asking this stuff has been on my mind alot the last few weeks.

squirl

Wow! it didnt look llike a book before I posted it!

cat0020

Are you satisfied with your new commuting transport so far?

encountering any problems? findings? worries?

squirl

Nah, once I got over the feeling of being so low it has been a breeze. and cars certialnly do seem to give more room than my MTN Bike.
Oh yah, down hills is a bit scetchy but I seem to be getting used to the twitchyness of the steering once you get over about 25. Anyone got any advice about that besides 'Ill get used to it', which I am sure I will. Its not some allignment issue or something?

Dr.Deltron

At higher speeds, you have to have a "light" grip, if any, on the handlebars.
If you are holding on with a Death Grip, you'll be skitting all over the road.

Possibly why cars give trikes sooo much room when they pass.

My tandem Greenspeed is so looong that it DOESN'T feel twitchy AT ALL!
In fact it really shines above 40 mph! Even with all 5 kids onboard (one being ME) we've hit over 45!
That's a 'runaway freighttrain...but it's NOT twitchy!

Glad you're enjoying your CaTrike! Welcome to the big kids tricycle club!

squirl

Well I dont have a death grip, I started riding MTN bikes before they had suspension, and I know that a stiff arm or grip will pumel you on a fire road. Heck, I hardley hold the grips at all. I guess Im used to the float of a regular df as apposed to the twitchyness of the trike OR my trike is abit loose in the front end. I understand it will be more responsive but if a fraction of an inch correction sends you reeling than 'I gota ask 'is it just me or is there a problem?' but I assume it may just be a weakness in the design or just a trike thing or just a learning curve... regardless its still a blast to ride.

megaman

I'm not sure you've come to the "dark side". I'd say it's the enlightened side. DF riders just don't understand until they've ridden a trike. Been there, done that, did that.

squirl

Enlightened is a better word for it, and for all the shyt Ive taken for riding it I actually feel that you recunmbent guys are actually just ahead of the curve and lack the insecurities, of df riders, to break from tradition. My wife thinks its because DF's are viewed by most subconcously as a more masculing position while recumbents are more feminine position.

sappho1949

Some folks call it "the Dork side"...I consider it a compliment and wear the label with great pride, right along with the usual trike grin.

Cow Town Al

I'm sitting on the fence about buying a trike and this posting may be enough to push me over to the Geek Side. I'm not sure why but I too feel sort of like triking isn't "REAL" cycling because after all; isn't speed everything? I was really thinking about the Action Bent due to price and the components seemed alright. From this thread it seems that may be a mistake! What gives?

Recumbomatic

I'm not a triker, but the Actionbent is actually a great trike from what I hear. I think there was a review on BentriderOnline. Also, lots of feedback and tweaks on the Yahoo! Actionbent group.

The RecumbentUSA trikes are good too, although customer service is marginal.

STEEKER

you left the dark side and came into the light !!! it is sooooo amazing to be relaxed and to look around at EVERYTHING when driving a Bent with no pain , welcome Bro

Dchiefransom

On the steering issues, why don't you contact Catrike and see how the steering should be set up. You might need to set it the "toe" properly.
Post this on Bentrideronline and see what some of them say.

aeneidvirgil

The main reason I got a trike [Hase Kettweisel] was so that I could go as slow as I needed to up a steep hill without falling over, as my 2 wheel recumbent got a little unstable under 6 miles per hour, and if I needed to stop for any reason going up a steep incline, it was almost impossible to get moving again uphill. Also, not having to take your feet off the pedals at a traffic signal is great. The only thing that compares to my trike in comfort is my new crank forward Rans Fusion, an incredible bike that is without a doubt the best 2 wheel non-recumbent bike on the market.

squirl

thanks, I sent them an emai land hope that they can help me

squirl

Non Mt biking on the road is not Mt. Biking....but I commute on a mtn bike but I also ride 20 miles a week of single track and downhill that certialy is Mtn Biking. I appreciate your 'reality check' and would love to punnish you on a Mtn. bike ride anytime.

Rex G

I am old enough to remember when "mountain bike" meant a road racing bike built extra light, with gearing more suitable for climbing mountains, as in mountain roads/passes.