wild animals

Hello,

I am in excruciating pain from cycling and I can't take it anymore. The doctors have not been helpful and I can't just stop riding, so I've been putting up with it, but I am angry all the time. heh (The pain is in my wrists, and sometimes radiates through my arms, shoulder and neck.)

SO! I am looking at recumbents.

I want to commute (currently 11 miles each way over large hills, with a couple of miles on a highway shoulder), ride for fun (huge, crazy hills) and eventually ride centuries and go on tours. It is my dream to tour and ride brevets, but I can't ride more than 15 miles without being in pain for a couple of weeks so I don't see it happening on a DF bike.

Anyway, I am curious what the catch is with recumbent tadpole trikes. I know it will be hard to haul one on my Corolla (I will need to carry another bike or trike with it), and I see that attaching water bottle cages, headlights and a computer will be trickier, but what else?

Does a Catrike sound like a good match for what I want? What problems should I be looking for or wary of? I am a bigger person--will my feet fall off from holding them up so high?

I have bought and modified a number of bikes in the past 5-7 years, trying to get comfortable, and I'm tired of throwing money at the problem. So any issues you can warn me about would be a great help.

Thanks a bunch! I am just glowing, thinking about being able to ride until I'm tired, instead of riding until I can't take the pain anymore.

10 Wheels

What and where is the pain may I ask?

10 Wheels

Greenspeed, Catrike, TerraTrike may be the way to go.
I ride with a group that has each.

wild animals

Oh, whoops!
I have debilitating pain in my right wrist and hand, and it's starting in my left wrist as well. When I ride a lot, it goes into my right arm, elbow and shoulder as well, and sometimes neck/back. It's a burning and aching pain that I'm told comes from hypermobility in my joints.

10 Wheels

Chuck age 70 has a bad back and nerve damage in his arms and hands.
Took him 6 months to get used to the Cat trike. It is nice.

wild animals

Can they fit through most places you'd ride a DF bike? I've read they're slower than recumbent bikes and road bikes...is it a big difference?

They seem so great that I'm not sure why I don't have one already. I just don't know how I'll haul it.

I was looking at the Catrike Expedition but that may be too much bike for me

PS: That's such a great photo! I hope I look half that good when I'm 70. Also when you say it took 6 months, do you mean it took that long to strengthen his pedaling muscles?

10 Wheels

They are wider then a DF, but they will go inside a motel or hotel room.
We all (8) went on a 11 day, 10 night camping trip this past May.

Slide show of pics.
one recumbent, Greenspeed, Catrike, TerraTrike

https://s256.photobucket.com/albums/h...view=slideshow

BlazingPedals

Other than wrist pain, is there any special reason why you're thinking trike instead of 2-wheel 'bent?

I'd say they're 'noticeably' slower than 2-wheelers I doubt you'll get a trike inside of a Corolla, but then again I don't think most 2-wheelers would fit either. With either, you'll probably wind up using a roof rack or a trunk/hitch rack.

gcottay

Trikes can ADD to your pain.

• They are great fun so
• You grin while riding
• ride longer
• exposing your lips to wind and sun
• causing them to dry
• so the grin causes painful cracking

My only "warning" would be a strong recommendation that you do some good long test rides before buying. Some trikes will suit you much better than others. ICE, Greenspeed, Catrike, TerraTrike and others make some great machines. The issue is finding ones best for you.

Well, maybe one more "warning." Unless you need some time to save up the money, do your testing and get a trike ASAP. Life is short and riding seasons even shorter.

VegasTriker

Do not buy a trike! You will spend far too much time riding it instead of doing all of the other things you should be doing. Why would you want to foster a new addiction?

wild animals

Hahaha okay! Thanks guys!

I am looking for a trike instead of a bike because I am going to be somewhat slow, especially up hills, and I don't want to fall over. I also feel like switching to a recumbent but staying with steering that keeps my arms up in the air would be a dumb idea, because my arms are just not doing okay. I don't want to get a $2500 recumbent bike and then realize I needed under-seat steering.

Luckily we have a dedicated recumbent bike shop in Portland and I can try out a lot of different bikes and trikes! I will have to save up so I doubt I'll be getting a bike or trike this year. But it is my first priority right now

BlazingPedals

OK, I can buy that.

That's where test rides come in. You may be right, but I wouldn't write off possibilities until you confirm that. Unless you just really want a trike, of course. And that's OK too.

dzrthauler

Hey! FWIW we are in the same proverbial boat - I have been diagnosed with Cubital Tunnel Syndrome in both elbows & have moderate to severe Ulnar nerve damage in both. My utility cycling days have ground to a halt, the pain, numbness and lack of grip shows up sooner and sooner with every ride. I am staring at surgery on both elbows (one at a time) and realized I needed to look at other alternatives to the DF type frame. The Catrike Expedition will be the trike of choice for me as my wife and I plan on touring and the Expedition is capable of fully loaded touring including a trailer. I have been reading journals about folks touring on trikes, primarily the Terra's and Cats. Moving off topic - It seems you probably need a specialist to do a work up on you to find the root problem, may turn out to be the same that I have - nerve related. Good luck with the diagnosis, and I look forward to hearing about your new trike! I'll post when we become a 3 wheeled 'bent family!

wild animals

dzrthauler, sweeet! The Expedition is what I was looking at, too, but I did see a Greenspeed that looks similar and folds really easily to fit in the trunk (!!). It just costs near twice as much I went in to Physiatry some time ago for my arms, and they did a lot of nerve conductivity tests, but I'm not sure they ran the impulses through my elbows. Do your elbows burn a lot? If I lean my elbow on my knee, it feels sore, like a bruise, but there isn't anything on my skin. Do you feel pain more in your elbows or wrists?

I want to use whatever I get for utility purposes but I have a $1000 bike now and I already am not comfortable leaving it locked anywhere! I might end up with a cheap vintage bike for grocery runs and then a bent for long stuff. Then insure it like crazy


BlazingPedals, the trikes do appeal to me! They're so spunky-looking. I'll get whatever seems like the best fit, though. The problem is that everything seems great until I've ridden it for a couple hours, multiple times. The bike I have now seemed great until I put some miles in, and now I'm losing ability in my right hand again, augh. So I guess I'm looking for warnings like "I GOT A BENT AND MY WRIST FEELS WORSE AND ALSO THE TRIKE DOESN'T FIT IN THE BIKE LANE ROOOOAR!" That doesn't seem to be happening, though! I just don't want to get my hopes up, throw money away, and feel more disappointed than ever. My happiness is, unfortunately, tied in to cycling, which has thus far injured me repeatedly and enduringly. haha. I'm going to look for rentals so I can have a longer-term evaluation. Crossing fingers!

icftwltv

I strongly suggest you consider an Ice trike. They are very adjustable compared to the others and they fold quickly and easily and the ride is sweet because of the steel frame and rear suspension. They offer many models with a wide price range but if you stick to just rear suspension you should be able to get out the door for around $2,600. I know that's a bit spendy but believe me, it is money very well spent.

dzrthauler

The pain is a very intense ( so intense - I describe them as Lightning Bolts - a severe one caught me off guard in Feb and I ended up totaling our car by swerving into a fire hydrant!! me - unscathed, thankfully) burning pain caused from the inflamation of the nerve and centralized inside the elbow... my Ortho has somewhat eased that pain with heavy Motrin (800mg) but the pain I get from my job (heavy repetitive lifting) will not go away with out surgery. For the last, oh, 4 months the classic signs of the tingling in my ring and little fingers has progressed as is the "losing my grip" in both hands. Having pressure on my elbows is no longer an option, so the low controls of the tadpole type trikes with the under seat steering is my one and only option... seriously giddy about getting it and the thought of touring on it !!

Jeff Wills

Yes, Coventry will let you test ride anything- there's differences among them so making a decision will be a laong, drawn-out process.

If you like, you could come out to the Recumbent Retreat in August. The trike population has been growing in the last couple years, so you'll be able to look at and test out a bunch of trikes. Here's the trike gang last year:

LWB_guy

I had cubital tunnel syndrome (self-diagnosed). I got rid of it by wearing towels to bed wrapped around my arms to keep my arms from bending at the elbows.

VegasTriker

You asked a few questions that did not get answered. You can solve the problem of your foot coming off the pedals and your foot/leg getting caught under the crossbeam (foot suck) by either using clip-in pedals and cycling shoes or if you are ultra cheap like me by buying a pair of strapless toe clips from Nashbar for around $5 or $6. Then you can wear out ordinary shoes instead of expensive cycling shoes and the pedals are also inexpensive even for some really good ones.

I've never seen a quality trike that did not have braze-on fittings for water bottle cages. As far as lights, rack, computer, and horn - there are lots of accessory holders that are available for most brands of trikes. They mount to the deraileur post in front or to the steering mechanism. My Greenspeed GTO has mounts for a mirror, front light, computer, and for an Airzounds air horn. It came with a rear rack installed so there's not much you can't carry on the trike.

altozwei

Test ride as many trikes as you can and learn as much as you can about the different brands. While you are doing test rides and researching different trikes, look for a used trike that is the type you want. Many people buy their first trike used to both reduce the initial cost, and to see if they are really going to like it. Trikes hold their value very well so it can always be re-sold if you don't like it or when you are ready to tradeup. Places like Bent Rider On Line and the Catrike Forum have classified ads. Craigslist (for your area) can be a good option too. Look for other riders in your area to talk to about trikes. Post questions on BROL as well as here - they have an especially large trike group over there under "Specialty". You can get a receiver hitch mounted to your car that will then hold a rack that can accommodate a trike (some models will hold a bike and a trike). I drive a Subaru Forester and can carry both my trike (Catrike Road) and my son's (Catrike Pocket) in the back. By the way, Trident is another company (that has not been mentioned previously) that makes a folding trike, if that will be better for your needs. Putting accessories on a trike is usually quite easy. I've added a headlight, 3 tailights, computer, and Airzound horn to mine with no effort. I use a Camelback strapped to my rack for hydration. The drinking tube runs over my shoulder and clips to either my seat cushion or my shirt.

Pockets

Being you are in the Portland area it seems to offer a lot of trike shops from what I have been reading on the forums. Everyone has given you good advise. The key is to rest ride and the trike will pick you I sold all my road bikes and 2 wheeled recumbent's. Strictly trikes now Catrike Expedition and Catrike Speed. Happy hunting. Nobody mentioned this but check out www.bentrideronline.com Go to the message board and under specialties section there is a forum dedicated to trikes

wild animals

I will look up that retreat! I've seen it mentioned a few times and it seems interesting. I'd like to see how people have their bikes and trikes set up. I have tried to get to Coventry twice and failed both times, but I'm not giving up!

I read about that on a page I found! That's awesome that it worked. I don't think I can do towels but I'm going to have to figure something out...

I have combo pedals and own clipless shoes but I HATE THEM! I have hard-to-fit feet, and those shoes make me miserable. It's hard enough to find regular shoes, not to mention shoes with cleats on the bottom. If I ever get my trike, I will try toe clips! I had them on my bike but for various reasons I let them go. Way better than clipless though! Good info about the braze-ons...I saw bottle cages but some of the other stuff looked harder to fix up. It seems like it could get expensive for nice things, but short of that I could probably engineer something anyway. I realized that trikes can't carry front panniers, so would that make it harder to go on longer tours, do you know?
Thanks yet again!

All of that is great to know! Thank you! The CamelBak thing is really interesting because I'd written them off due to not wanting to carry anything on my back. But it wouldn't be on my back, on a trike! Nice.

I hate to buy twice, but I think I will have to get a lower-end trike (or maybe bike...we'll see) until I have more time to save. I'm in school and just bought a new car, so it's going to take awhile. I love the idea of riding something for 3,000 miles and selling it for not much less than I paid. And I'll look up Trident, thanks! I love hitch racks, but all the trike racks I've seen have been way too rich for my blood. I'll just have to work something out if I can't get a folder. I plan to ride from home mostly, anyway.


I love to hear that people ride only trikes! I've heard that they are too slow for some, and it's hard to avoid potholes and rocks, etc., so it's nice to hear that it's worth it for so many people! I can't wait to try one out. I found some great trikes on BROL so when I finally know what I want and have the money handy, I know exactly where to go!

Thanks so much, everybody! This is awesome and I'm really excited.

wild animals

YEEIKES! I'm so glad you're okay! I feel the same way about the trikes, but with less provocation! I have a lot of pain, some pronounced weakness/clumsiness, but it isn't as drastic as yours, I don't think. It just constantly burns and hurts, and when I antagonize it, it spreads and gets really bad. I had to change a tube today without tire levers, and by the time I got the tire off, my hands and arms were practically useless. Anyway, I think part of why it's gotten so much worse over the past weeks, even though I've been riding less than last year, is that I've been trying not to sleep on my stomach. That makes me either lean on my arm in a weird way (bent elbow) or throw my arms over my face (bent elbows). My arms feel better after ONE night of trying not to bend them, and I rode 27 miles yesterday, 15 today. So I thank you! I don't think the cubital tunnel stuff started the problem, but I'm sure it's vulnerable to the same problems I have everywhere else, so it's nice to be able to help where I can!

wild animals

These look AWESSSOOOOOME! They have them at Coventry, too. There is no way I can afford one right now, but I will definitely include them in my research Thanks!

Retro Grouch 

I can give you the reasons why I didn't seriously consider buying a trike this spring.

1. I wanted to stay away from 20" wheels if I could. (Didn't happen.)
2. I didn't want to have to manage 3 wheel tracks when I ride.
3. I don't know how much of an issue it is but I was concerned about bottoming out on bumpy roads.
4. I'm getting older and it looks like a long way down to the seat and a long way up afterward.
5. The door to my shop is 32" wide.
6. Transportation by car issues.
7. Trikes look like they would take up more storage space.
8. I think that I'd be spooked riding in traffic due to the lower and wider stance.