Originally Posted by
biggieou
Its definitely not the easiest for me to get up a hill, but I dont have to get off and push. I want to do alot of my riding on our local Hike and Bike and Towpath(flat), but I would also like to ride on the road(some small hills). I'm not as schooled into the terminology so the gear numbers ie 48/32/24 dont really click for me. I'm sure once I get more experience into riding it will make sense. Another thing that you can do from Utrikes is customize the bike while ordering:
http://www.utahtrikes.com/CONFIGURE-TTROVER.html What if any of these options are worth considering?
Most of those items are "accessiory" items that if you don't have the "cash", you can add later. Now, IF I decide to use the TT Rover with the STOCK "8 Speed" Internal drive rear hub, then the (VERY expensive) Schlumph High Speed Drive in the lower range (27/67.5), would for ME be a MUST HAVE, to pull my utility trailer up hills.
I THINK it would be less expensive to get the "24 Speed Conversion" and see if you could get a 26-24 tooth small chainwheel (front) and a 12-34 Rear Cassette (cogs) put on from Utah Trikes, it
seems to me that would cover a LOT of different types of terrain, jmho, ymmv. I'm pretty much a newbie myself to recumbents so hopefully the :
old time trikers" will give you even better opinons than I, (notice I didn't say advise, all this is just my opinion)
On the accessiories, I would want the "rear rack", a cheap "rack bag", full fender set, lumbar pad for seat, mirror, headlight, ect. so LOL, I'd be adding up quick, especially when I'd want the "24 Speed Conversion" too! SIGH, it's a bummer to be "budget limited", that's why I started with a "Sun EZ-1 SX", the cheapest "NEW" recumbent on the market! I love 95% about the EZ-1 but felt a bit, "cramped up" in the cockpit. We got real lucky got a bit more from the Tax Refund than expected so I SOLD our DF Hybrids and now have the "Sun EZ-Sport AX (20/26 combo) and I'm LOVE'IN IT!!
The wife rides EZ-1 SX, she's 5' 0" with a 26in. inseam/35 X-seam so it fits her. We switched to a MTB crankset (LOW gears so she could get up hill easily 42/32/22), of course she's "SLOW" on top speed but for us that was only a
problem when we rode with the local "cycling club", which we gave up and now are quite happy with our recumbents.
Oh to stay on topic: IF money were not an object, I'd have a "Rans Trizard Delta Trike" over any tadpole as I just REALLY like the LOOKS and build of the Rans Delta over any tadpole. Now reality, if I decided to go trike in a couple of years, it will be a Sun T3 CX Tadpole, TT Rover with 24 speed conversion or TT Cruiser.