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Terra Trike Rover 3 or 8 Speed

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Terra Trike Rover 3 or 8 Speed

Old 12-29-13, 02:53 AM
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Terra Trike Rover 3 or 8 Speed

I have been looking, and drooling over the TerraTrikes for a long time now. It looks like the Rovers and Ramblers are great trikes. I like the slightly more upright posture, and they look well-built and solid. We don't have any recumbent dealers in this area or possibly even the whole state here (Montana), so I have to find info here and on the web, I haven't ever seen any recumbent riders in my town. I wonder if any of you out there own a TerraTrike, and how well you like them? Are the Rover 3 or 8 speeds good trikes? I'm not in any position to buy one in any forseeable future (super tight budget and special needs kids at home), but I can dream and maybe someday I can. Thanks!
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Old 12-29-13, 04:14 AM
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https://www.bentrideronline.com/messageboard/index.php

Lots and Lots of reviews on the home page at BROL. It would take you all of a Montana winter to read all of the review articles I bet.
IMO 80% of what they do Is Tadpole Trikes, and they still cover all the other kinds of recumbents better than any one else.
There are lots of good like new used options available for often half the new cost and most used recumbents are well cared for.
As for TerraTrike, I think they are one of the handful of top shelf manufacturer's out there...
My personal favorite is the Sportster...

Montana,,, hills,,, I'd want more than 3 speeds,,,,,

I will never sell my Tour Easy 2 wheeler but I to am saving for a Tadpole,,,,
Going to be a while, my pc had to be replaced so I am starting over.

'Bents" are like Lay's potato chips, No one can have just one XD

Last edited by osco53; 12-29-13 at 04:27 AM.
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Old 12-29-13, 08:14 AM
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More gears up to a point is alway good. Personally I would go with the 8 speed.

BTW get the trike, you will never be sorry. They are that much fun to ride. Just the fact that you can come to a stop and stay clipped in, and then just ride off is a huge plus. No wobbling, no scratching and clanking to get clipped in.
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Old 12-30-13, 07:07 AM
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Hey, Thank You for the info, I didn't know about Bent Ride Online, looks like lots of good reading there, and I'll keep my eyes peeled, maybe someday I'll run across a good used trike on there. We have some pretty decent paved paths here which I ride frequently on besides my bike commuting, but I have Never seen a recumbent trike here in this town before...the only way I learned about them was online some time ago. They sure look like a great way to ride! Bent riders seem like really cool folks, willing to try something a little bit unusual and enjoying it tremendously. I'm enjoying reading this forum. Thanks!
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Old 12-30-13, 05:22 PM
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Op,
There is one more option you should look into....

https://forum.atomiczombie.com/content.php

With a long Winter, a garage and some free time,,,
You may even find a Tadpole frame on Atomic someone built then moved on to something else..
Buy the frame,
Almost all the other parts are just bicycle parts......

just sayin.
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Old 12-31-13, 02:19 AM
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VegasTriker: I received your pm, and had written a reply...unfortunately it turns out I have to have 50 posts before I can send a pm. But your advice is right on, and I agree with you, 100%, and I thank you. I do think trying to locate an older used trike in good condition will be the route to take, and while I don't have the moola at this time, maybe down the line.
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Old 12-31-13, 02:21 AM
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Osco: Hey, thanks! I'll keep an eye on atomiczombie. Its food for thought!
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Old 12-31-13, 05:12 AM
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Boy, some of those Cattrikes are sure nice to look at! Cool bents!
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Old 12-31-13, 07:55 AM
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My wife wanted a trike, just after I had sold my last one and moved to two wheels, so we went looking for a Terratrike Rover for her to ride. And did find one at a bike shop across the state, on one of the better MUP's in Florida. After a few hours she was sold on the Rover, and we went looking. We were lucky to find a used one, in a bike shop in Tampa, that had been upgraded to a 26" rear wheel, had all the fenders and all the stuff she needed to get out and get riding. I am SOLD on the 8 speed, even here in South Florida where it's 'pool table' flat. She can always find a gear that is easy to pedal but will get her down the road at 10mph or so. I was warned away from the 3 speed by a couple of bike shop owners, and would warn you away as well. Stick with the 8 speed and have some fun.

Tractor Tom in Okeechobee
Who just ordered a new Utah Trikes Annihilator so is back into trikes again....
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Old 12-31-13, 02:19 PM
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90 gears,, Really ? Yer Kidding right ?

I am considering going to a 2X10 or a single front chain ring.

27 gears on my Tour Easy,, Yeah I'm a flatlander, I use the same 5 or 6,,or 7 gears on all my rides.

I found a hill once,, chucked er down in granny gear and up I went,,,,,

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Old 01-01-14, 03:42 PM
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I wouldn't recommend a 3-speed trike to anyone. An 8-speed would be okay for riding on a flat MUP or trailer park, or someplace really flat like Florida. But even that would be inadequate for any sort of hills. Montana has hills.
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Old 01-01-14, 06:54 PM
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Originally Posted by BlazingPedals
I wouldn't recommend a 3-speed trike to anyone. An 8-speed would be okay for riding on a flat MUP or trailer park, or someplace really flat like Florida. But even that would be inadequate for any sort of hills. Montana has hills.
Remember that on recumbent bikes/trikes, you can't stand when you run out of gears. If you ain't geared low enough, you ain't going up.
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Old 01-02-14, 08:12 AM
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Originally Posted by osco53
90 gears,, Really ? Yer Kidding right ?

I am considering going to a 2X10 or a single front chain ring.

27 gears on my Tour Easy,, Yeah I'm a flatlander, I use the same 5 or 6,,or 7 gears on all my rides.

I found a hill once,, chucked er down in granny gear and up I went,,,,,
NOPE, only 81 gears on the one I'm getting. 90 gears is for old men and sissies....
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Old 01-02-14, 08:30 AM
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Originally Posted by Tractortom
NOPE, only 81 gears on the one I'm getting. 90 gears is for old men and sissies....
Ha!
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Old 01-02-14, 10:15 AM
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Why have so many gears?

There's a lot to take into account in determining the number of gears and the range you want or need on a trike. Do you live in flatland like the Illinois prairie, a place with steep hills like San Francisco, or somewhere in between? Are you going to tour on the trike and carry a heavy load of equipment along with the trike weight and your own weight? What is your age, weight, and fitness level? Do you want to go fast at times or just lope along and enjoy the scenery?

My first trike had 27 speeds and a range of 19 to 90 gear inches. It was OK until I got my "trike legs" and then the top end limitation was a major annoyance. I had no problem climbing any hill I could find with this gear range even in the beginning. The next trike had 48 speeds and a gear range of approximately 14 to 140. It was originally purchased by a San Francisco rider who wanted a gear range suitable for climbing the steepest hills and going fast down the other side. Achieving that range cost $$$ for components, added weight to the trike and took somewhat of a toll in efficiency. My third trike has a standard 3X10 drive. With the 700C drive wheel it has a gear range of 21.9 to 124 gear inches. I'm old but reasonably fit and it suits me perfectly. I like the simplicity of standard gearing (no internal hub and no Schlumpf drive) and the lower weight and higher efficiency it affords. I don't use all of the gears available but want them to be there if I need them.
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Old 01-04-14, 05:04 AM
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You folks that live on the flats are really lucky! I see these vids on youtube of folks riding on paved trails and flat roads that seem to stretch for miles, that must be something! Watched some guys take a 40 or 50 mile ride in California, they had turned part of an old highway into a bike trail (The Orange County Guys...Dregerclock and his friends from Trike Squadron) I totally enjoy watching, those guys look like they have a ton of fun! It's great that folks make videos of some of their rides, I appreciate it. The town I'm in has some hills, and the countryside has rolling hills. There is a mountain range 60 miles southwest of us, past the town of Red Lodge, that has a highway with switchbacks...the top of the pass is a little over 11,000 feet above sea level, called the BearTooth Pass, which is a route to Yellowstone Park. Pretty popular route with motorcyclists, and I have seen folks on roadbikes attempting it. One thing that we locals have a laugh about....tourists pay money to have their roadbikes and themselves driven up to the top of the pass in comfort, then they coast down the pass highway into the town of Red Lodge and cap off their adventure at a local pup...lol. That's about a 25 mile coast! We actually drove up there this summer one day, for something to do...we drove to Red Lodge to picnic, then I decided we should go to the top of the pass...wife wasn't thrilled, looking over the edge of the roadway scares her, and of course I couldn't help saying things like "you know, a rockslide could wipe out this entire stretch of the road anytime...happened last year ya know....". Beautiful up there though. My son and I got out and walked around a little bit, he said "Dad, I feel kind of funny, like super-tired" and I started feeling a little dizzy too. I thought top of the pass was like 8,000 feet, didn't realize it was 11,000 feet above sea level until I researched it later! I think that is one of the highest highways in the nation. It would be a hell of a downhill bent ride, that's for sure!
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Old 03-13-14, 10:17 AM
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I would like my next bike to be a recumbent.
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