Almost There!

MichaelW · 01-30-02, 05:59 AM

Re possible closure of the unicycle thread:
Has anyone ever tried or seen an adult lightweight tricycle. We had a "disabled" guy in our touring club . His balance and walking off the bike was a bit impaired, but on the trike he could ride all day.
There are a couple of trike makers in the UK, Bob Jackson and esp George Longstaff. Ive seen racing, touring and off road versions.
Do you get lightweight trikes in the US ?

Richard D · 01-30-02, 06:09 AM

I've seen a couple of Pashley cycles in a bike shop in Sandwich. I also saw an old Raleigh trike (I couldn't say how old but 50's at the most recent) parked up outside one of the town's pubs. The brooks saddle was rather worn (well worn-out) and the frame had had at least one handpainting in black, but it didn't look in too bad condition. I was very tempted to leave a note on it asking whether the owner was interested in parting with it, but my wife was with me and she wasn't so keen on the idea...

Richard

MichaelW · 01-30-02, 06:49 AM

The trikes Im talking about are lightweight reynolds steel with Campy or Shimano racing components.

Im not overly impressed by Pashly bikes. The concept is good, ie a low maintainance , classic looking utility bike, but I think they are grossly overwight , which is shame since they are usually ridden by little old ladies.

ljbike · 01-30-02, 07:48 AM

There are a couple Trike makers in the US but none that make light-weights, that I know of.

Ellie · 01-30-02, 08:13 AM

I've seen them around Cambridge (along with just about every other kind of bike imaginable, I think!). I've seen Mums riding them with two kids side by side on the back. I've seen disabled people who would have been in a wheelchair riding them slowly around the city centre. I've seen old people using them too.

I wouldn't want one myself (need too much parking space!) but they definitely have their uses.

Ellie

Joe Gardner · 01-30-02, 12:53 PM

I know of atleast one windcheetah in my local area, an amazing trike, i would love to own one my self one day!

oldroads · 02-20-02, 10:28 AM

Worksman Corp makes trikes, though they are heavy duty.
You can find old Schwinn "Town and Country" trikes which are lightweights with 3 speeds.

Maybe check the recumbent web sites?

A F Baker · 02-20-02, 07:30 PM

My great uncle had a trike. He died in the early 1980's, and I haven't seen the trike since. I always loved to look at the trike; I never saw my great uncle riding it. It was in excellent condition the last time I saw it.

bentrox! · 02-20-02, 11:03 PM

There are two basic trike configurations - "delta" (one wheel in front) and "tadpole" (one wheel in back) - with very different performances. The former is a slow-cruising platform and the latter is a speed-performance platform. The lightest and fastest trikes I've heard of are in the latter group, and include the Windcheetah Clubsport and the Trice Micro Lite (29 lbs.) Both manufacturers are UK-based.

There are trike makers in the US, but I don't think any are considered lightweight (50 lbs. or more) compared to the UK models. There is, however, one interesting US tadpole design I saw called the Sidewinder. It has a dual-wheel front drive with rear wheel steering (i.e., the fork is behind the rider and facing rearward). Apparently it can turn in its own radius just using the brakes (it does have steering, too.) Would be interesting to ride one I think.

Eddie