Stabilizing wheels for seniors
12-19-12 | 08:06 PM
#26
Senior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,712
Likes: 1
Many times we mistakenly look to Things, their acquisition and control, as a substitute for solving the people problem. To me this is one of those times. The Thing, stabilzer, is meant to solve/compensate for the balance problem. To me, the true answer, as is the case almost every time, is to solve the human problem. A good evaluation of the organs and muscles involved in balance followed by appropriate training seems to be the best attempt at a solution.
12-20-12 | 06:59 AM
#27
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 247
Likes: 35
From: Bushnell, FL
Bikes: Recumbents and all HPV'S
This Delta trike is interesting although a bit heavy.
12-20-12 | 01:21 PM
#28
As I understand the issues:
1. Poor balance
2. Inability to get the body low enough to sit on a typical recimbent or most trikes (except one like a Worksman)
3. and perhaps not a whole lot of $$ - but just a guess.
I believe any proposed solution must resolve issues 1 and 2 and maybe the 3rd
1. Poor balance
2. Inability to get the body low enough to sit on a typical recimbent or most trikes (except one like a Worksman)
3. and perhaps not a whole lot of $$ - but just a guess.
I believe any proposed solution must resolve issues 1 and 2 and maybe the 3rd
__________________
My preferred bicycle brand is.......WORKSMAN CYCLES
I dislike clipless pedals on any city bike since I feel they are unsafe.
Originally Posted by krazygluon
Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred, which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?
My preferred bicycle brand is.......WORKSMAN CYCLES
I dislike clipless pedals on any city bike since I feel they are unsafe.
Originally Posted by krazygluon
Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred, which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?
12-20-12 | 01:25 PM
#29
I'll be honest, it just seems like a bad idea to me.
I've got my Worksman front-loading tricycle, and have put a few miles on it. But one thing I notice is that having 3 wheels does not eliminate the need for balance and handling ability. Yes, if you stay on flat land and go very slowly, no problem. If you're riding at anything beyond a crawl, it's easier to turn a high 3-wheeler over than it is a bicycle. With the bicycle, you lean to compensate for the turn, and with the 3-wheeler, that is awkward to do- you tend to stay flat until it's too late.
It seems to me that the training-wheel solution would have similar problems, perhaps worse. For one thing, the weight is not all on the training wheels, so it looks like it'll let you flop from side to side some, with the amount depending on your weight and how flat the ground is. If you lean into a turn like a normal bike, you don't need the training wheels. If you don't, you're fairly likely to fall over the opposite direction.
Anyway, if it was me, I'd look into the lightfoot trikes, which share some layout similarities with the Worksman trike, but have a wider range of gearing.
https://lightfootcycles.com/products-...dels-overview/
I'm sure they're more expensive, too. If it's something you actually plan to use, it'll be worth it.
I've got my Worksman front-loading tricycle, and have put a few miles on it. But one thing I notice is that having 3 wheels does not eliminate the need for balance and handling ability. Yes, if you stay on flat land and go very slowly, no problem. If you're riding at anything beyond a crawl, it's easier to turn a high 3-wheeler over than it is a bicycle. With the bicycle, you lean to compensate for the turn, and with the 3-wheeler, that is awkward to do- you tend to stay flat until it's too late.
It seems to me that the training-wheel solution would have similar problems, perhaps worse. For one thing, the weight is not all on the training wheels, so it looks like it'll let you flop from side to side some, with the amount depending on your weight and how flat the ground is. If you lean into a turn like a normal bike, you don't need the training wheels. If you don't, you're fairly likely to fall over the opposite direction.
Anyway, if it was me, I'd look into the lightfoot trikes, which share some layout similarities with the Worksman trike, but have a wider range of gearing.
https://lightfootcycles.com/products-...dels-overview/
I'm sure they're more expensive, too. If it's something you actually plan to use, it'll be worth it.
I also am aware that due to the narrow span between the rear wheels of the Worksman Pav , and any other cycle like it for wheel spacing, will flip over at speed if you're going to fast. But you learn how to speed around corners in time.
__________________
My preferred bicycle brand is.......WORKSMAN CYCLES
I dislike clipless pedals on any city bike since I feel they are unsafe.
Originally Posted by krazygluon
Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred, which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?
My preferred bicycle brand is.......WORKSMAN CYCLES
I dislike clipless pedals on any city bike since I feel they are unsafe.
Originally Posted by krazygluon
Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred, which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?
Last edited by Nightshade; 12-20-12 at 01:29 PM.
12-20-12 | 01:35 PM
#30
Banned.
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 20,915
Likes: 13
I was trying to be helpful by summarizing because it seemed to me that folks were not responding with ideas that met your needs. I apologize for this, and helping is something I pledge to never do in the future.
12-20-12 | 01:36 PM
#31
Oh, ok. Thanks.
__________________
My preferred bicycle brand is.......WORKSMAN CYCLES
I dislike clipless pedals on any city bike since I feel they are unsafe.
Originally Posted by krazygluon
Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred, which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?
My preferred bicycle brand is.......WORKSMAN CYCLES
I dislike clipless pedals on any city bike since I feel they are unsafe.
Originally Posted by krazygluon
Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred, which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?
08-27-21 | 09:15 PM
#33
Gruppetto Bob
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 11,614
Likes: 11,806
From: Seattle-ish
Bikes: Orbea Orca, Bianchi Infinito & Campione de Mundo
I assume you have been to an ENT and physical therapy to help you regain balance but had no luck? Trying to treat the cause rather than the symptoms.
__________________
“A watt saved is a watt earned” 🚴🏻♂️
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“A watt saved is a watt earned” 🚴🏻♂️
08-28-21 | 08:48 AM
#36
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,947
Likes: 256
From: Sin City, Nevada
Bikes: Catrike 700, Greenspeed GTO trike, , Linear LWB recumbent, Haluzak Horizon SWB recumbent, Balance 450 MTB, Cannondale SM800 Beast of the East
In the future, please start a new thread and reference the original post since it is so old. If you google on "adult bike stabilizer wheels" or "adult bike training wheels" current sources will come up. Bike USA sells a set that is available through Kohls for $220. https://www.kohls.com/product/prd-1858867 You can also find them listed on eBay where there is a used one available for $120 plus $25 shipping right now.
08-29-21 | 06:09 PM
#37
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 12,560
Likes: 799
From: Middle of da Mitten
Bikes: Trek 7500, RANS V-Rex, Optima Baron, Velokraft NoCom, M-5 Carbon Highracer, Bacchetta Quattro, Catrike Speed
The two-wheeled recumbent with the side wheels was a Lightning.
https://lightningbikes.com/
I don't see those stabilizers on the current bikes list, but if you contacted them they could probably make a set.
https://lightningbikes.com/
I don't see those stabilizers on the current bikes list, but if you contacted them they could probably make a set.
