Why a Trike
#26
I am the Snail~!
I've been riding a trike now since the end of 2010. I used to post in the C&A forum when I first got my left knee replaced and got a 'comfort bike'. Riding, and riding itself is the key point I think. Whether you ride a 'DF', a recumbent bike, or a recumbent trike is more a matter of what you want and are capable of doing.
Most of the folks I know that ride a trike are more into the comfort and enjoyment factor than about speed. Most average people will be 2-3mph slower on a trike than on a bike, if that matters, then a trike may not be for you.
At this point, both knees, right hip have been replaced, and both shoulders have been rebuilt. Not needing to be too concerned about a fall, riding as slow as I wish to (lowest gear is 7GI with my Mountain Drive), carrying or towing gear when camping is a non-issue, and all day comfort with a great view (and a great place to sit when I stop) all add to my enjoyment of my trike.
I think the better question is "Why not a trike?" - And to answer that I would talk about speed and traveling issues that trikes *can* create.
FYI, BROL has an entire forum section just for trikes - Trikes - BentRider Online Forums
Most of the folks I know that ride a trike are more into the comfort and enjoyment factor than about speed. Most average people will be 2-3mph slower on a trike than on a bike, if that matters, then a trike may not be for you.
At this point, both knees, right hip have been replaced, and both shoulders have been rebuilt. Not needing to be too concerned about a fall, riding as slow as I wish to (lowest gear is 7GI with my Mountain Drive), carrying or towing gear when camping is a non-issue, and all day comfort with a great view (and a great place to sit when I stop) all add to my enjoyment of my trike.
I think the better question is "Why not a trike?" - And to answer that I would talk about speed and traveling issues that trikes *can* create.
FYI, BROL has an entire forum section just for trikes - Trikes - BentRider Online Forums
#27
Banned
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Lincoln Ne
Posts: 9,924
Bikes: RANS Stratus TerraTrike Tour II
Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3352 Post(s)
Liked 1,054 Times
in
634 Posts
And-------------this time of year in the snow belt, a trike if many times more safe than a bike. In the ice and snow, a trike will only slide, a bike will dump you on the ground.
#28
Senior Member
Ever try to pedal a trike through 6 inches of slush? Pushing 3 wheel tracks through that much resistance just doesn't work at all. On glare ice the trike has the obvious advantage. In snow, slush, and anything BUT glare ice, the best platform is... an upright. For me, at least, the cold and not the saddle is what limits the length of my rides.
#29
Banned
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Lincoln Ne
Posts: 9,924
Bikes: RANS Stratus TerraTrike Tour II
Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3352 Post(s)
Liked 1,054 Times
in
634 Posts
blazing
If you are riding a bike on ice, you better have studded tires. It is the steering that keeps bikes up right.
BTW I dont ride when it is below 60 because of the cold, and I would NEVER subject my bike or trike to 6 inches of salty slush!!!!
If you are riding a bike on ice, you better have studded tires. It is the steering that keeps bikes up right.
BTW I dont ride when it is below 60 because of the cold, and I would NEVER subject my bike or trike to 6 inches of salty slush!!!!
#30
Senior Member
BLAZINGPEDALS,
If your Avatar is your 'bent, I'm thinking 6" of slush is going to be a soggy ass ride. I've ridden through a couple of puddles where the spray has soaked my rear (thankful of a mesh seat) but your ride looks much lower. Is that a composite seat too? Pretty cool ride though.
If your Avatar is your 'bent, I'm thinking 6" of slush is going to be a soggy ass ride. I've ridden through a couple of puddles where the spray has soaked my rear (thankful of a mesh seat) but your ride looks much lower. Is that a composite seat too? Pretty cool ride though.
Last edited by Trikin'; 01-12-15 at 01:40 PM.
#31
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Kansas
Posts: 2,248
Bikes: This list got too long: several ‘bents, an urban utility e-bike, and a dahon D7 that my daughter has absconded with.
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 363 Post(s)
Liked 66 Times
in
48 Posts
Well, I went ahead and ordered one today. So, to join the stable of three bents will be a trike.
Trike-e from Performer
As far as winter riding, the snow here doesn't get deep but I do end up riding on ice quite a bit. Currently am using studded winter tires on a standard upright for winter commuting.
Trike-e from Performer
As far as winter riding, the snow here doesn't get deep but I do end up riding on ice quite a bit. Currently am using studded winter tires on a standard upright for winter commuting.
#32
Senior Member
Nice looking trike RobertC. Your not going to need studded tires with your Performer. You could install BigApples and run at a lower inflation (30-40psi) and no worries of hitting the ice if your wheels go out from under you.
#33
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Kansas
Posts: 2,248
Bikes: This list got too long: several ‘bents, an urban utility e-bike, and a dahon D7 that my daughter has absconded with.
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 363 Post(s)
Liked 66 Times
in
48 Posts
. . . and if my "wheels go out from under" me on a trike, I know it's gonna hurt!
#34
Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Southwest Virginia
Posts: 30
Bikes: El Cheapo Mongoose hand me down rust bucket AND a Greenspeed GTO
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
The more I read threads like this the more I think that a trike is for me.
#35
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 281
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Trikes make considerably better electric bike conversions just because they don't fall over. You can pack twice as much battery with all that stability, which will put you 100 miles down the road, with all your camping gear, and just roll in anywhere and bit sitting there. I find my Actionbent trike to be better than my Ez-sport, which is also an excellent LWB. And I'm rocking 50 watts per channel of music on the trike and some marine speakers, and almost 2.0 kWhr of energy. If it rains out comes the big golf umbrella and sit there waiting for the storm to pass.
#36
Senior Member
#37
Senior Member
BLAZINGPEDALS,
If your Avatar is your 'bent, I'm thinking 6" of slush is going to be a soggy ass ride. I've ridden through a couple of puddles where the spray has soaked my rear (thankful of a mesh seat) but your ride looks much lower. Is that a composite seat too? Pretty cool ride though.
If your Avatar is your 'bent, I'm thinking 6" of slush is going to be a soggy ass ride. I've ridden through a couple of puddles where the spray has soaked my rear (thankful of a mesh seat) but your ride looks much lower. Is that a composite seat too? Pretty cool ride though.
#38
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Scalarville
Posts: 1,457
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
4 Posts
Get real. Most of the people actually riding trikes are older guys (like me) with some health problem (broken hip, stroke, Parkinsons, etc) that prevent them from riding a DF bike, even if they wanted to. Much of the time there is no choice between a DF bike and a trike, just the choice between riding and not riding. I'd love to go back to my road bike, but it's not going to happen.
M Riley
M Riley
The 16 y.o. really wants a velomobile.
Kids, having no preconceptions, will gravitate to the most comfortable and efficient platform. Form Follows Function.
Last edited by delcrossv; 01-28-15 at 11:37 AM.
#41
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 13
Bikes: 1982 Trek 614 21Spd / Comfortcycle Delta Trike
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Why a Trike? Because it's the last bike you will ever need to buy! When you're too old or feeble to ride a tricycle, it's time to hang up your helmet.
#42
Banned
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Lincoln Ne
Posts: 9,924
Bikes: RANS Stratus TerraTrike Tour II
Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3352 Post(s)
Liked 1,054 Times
in
634 Posts
Reviewing this old thread, one point came up I would like to comment on. Someone said something about riding on hi-ways with a trike, probably suggesting it is more unsafe than a bike. Might I point out that in a high cross wind a trike would be far safer than a bike if the crosswind is blowing you toward the traffic. There is very little swerving in a crosswind on a trike.
#43
Senior Member
Rydabent....another consideration, while riding on the hiway have you ever felt the sucking sensation, drawing you in toward the wheels from a big truck barreling past? I remember feeling fear of being squashed under the wheels when I rode my MTB. I still feel the "suck" when riding the trike except there's no fear of falling under the wheels.
#44
Full Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Tampa
Posts: 311
Bikes: Gunnar Sport 105/UDi2, previous: Lambert, Giant FCR3, Cannondale Synapse Carbon 105, Specialized Roubaix SL4 Comp UDi2
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 29 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 18 Times
in
11 Posts
My friend and long-time riding companion has been a gifted athlete for his 82 years. Of late, an ailment is causing him balance problems and he is ready to transition to a trike. We used to ride about 40 miles per week and he'll probably continue that regimen when he moves to hilly Seattle at the end of July. I have no experience with trikes but I would like to help him gather information so he can choose one that will suit him. I would appreciate advice.
#45
rebmeM roineS
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Metro Indy, IN
Posts: 16,216
Bikes: Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 653 Post(s)
Liked 345 Times
in
225 Posts
My friend and long-time riding companion has been a gifted athlete for his 82 years. Of late, an ailment is causing him balance problems and he is ready to transition to a trike. We used to ride about 40 miles per week and he'll probably continue that regimen when he moves to hilly Seattle at the end of July. I have no experience with trikes but I would like to help him gather information so he can choose one that will suit him. I would appreciate advice.
__________________
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
#46
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 17
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I ride a recumbent trike simply because I have crashed my bikes too many times to risk getting hurt any more. The most recent crash changed my right knee forever, not for better!
I admit, I'm too uncoordinated to safely ride a bike....never was able to learn how to get my front wheel out of trouble and keep it on the ground when encountering a road hazard. Chewing gum and walking at the same time also is not a good idea for me...I end up tripping on my own feet. Also cannot throw or catch a ball.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not entirely a lost cause...I can play guitar like nobody's business. It's the small muscle groups where my skills lie, but I don't play the guitar while riding my trike....!!
I admit, I'm too uncoordinated to safely ride a bike....never was able to learn how to get my front wheel out of trouble and keep it on the ground when encountering a road hazard. Chewing gum and walking at the same time also is not a good idea for me...I end up tripping on my own feet. Also cannot throw or catch a ball.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not entirely a lost cause...I can play guitar like nobody's business. It's the small muscle groups where my skills lie, but I don't play the guitar while riding my trike....!!
#47
rebmeM roineS
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Metro Indy, IN
Posts: 16,216
Bikes: Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 653 Post(s)
Liked 345 Times
in
225 Posts
I ride a recumbent trike simply because I have crashed my bikes too many times to risk getting hurt any more. The most recent crash changed my right knee forever, not for better!
I admit, I'm too uncoordinated to safely ride a bike....never was able to learn how to get my front wheel out of trouble and keep it on the ground when encountering a road hazard. Chewing gum and walking at the same time also is not a good idea for me...I end up tripping on my own feet. Also cannot throw or catch a ball.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not entirely a lost cause...I can play guitar like nobody's business. It's the small muscle groups where my skills lie, but I don't play the guitar while riding my trike....!!
I admit, I'm too uncoordinated to safely ride a bike....never was able to learn how to get my front wheel out of trouble and keep it on the ground when encountering a road hazard. Chewing gum and walking at the same time also is not a good idea for me...I end up tripping on my own feet. Also cannot throw or catch a ball.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not entirely a lost cause...I can play guitar like nobody's business. It's the small muscle groups where my skills lie, but I don't play the guitar while riding my trike....!!
__________________
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
#48
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 17
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
JanMM wrote: "Not wanting to make you anxious, but it is possible to wreck a trike, too. But don't let that stop you from riding!"
Point well-taken, thanks.
I'm not allowing my klutz factor to overturn my trike, believe me!
Point well-taken, thanks.
I'm not allowing my klutz factor to overturn my trike, believe me!
Last edited by hubmotormark; 07-08-15 at 01:51 PM.
#49
Palmer
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 8,576
Bikes: Mike Melton custom, 1982 Stumpjumper, Alex Moulton AM, 2010 Dawes Briercliffe, 2017 Dahon Curl i8, 2021 Motobecane Turino 1x12
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1644 Post(s)
Liked 1,785 Times
in
1,041 Posts