BlazingPedals

Maybe. How many sub-4 centuries have you done?

OldTryGuy

Just meant the first trike not first overall.

Bob Ross

When my perverse fascination with 'bents started (maybe 10 years ago?) I was convinced that I would eventually add one to my stable of bikes. At the time the thinking was either a USS/SWB model like the Challenge Sieran SL, or a lowracer like the Velokraft NoCom.

But as I've gotten older, I'm starting to see recumbents not as something to simply expand upon my hobby/obsession, but as something to allow me to continue with my hobby/obsession when I'm no longer able to stay upright on a two-wheeler. I now foresee a trike or tadpole in my future, not as a luxury but as a necessity.

It's nice to have options!

bowzette

I'm beginning to resemble that so I ordered a Dumont

BlazingPedals

The downside of the trike popularity is that 2-wheel manufacturers are having a hard time of it. Trikes aren't expanding bentdom, they're taking a larger slice of the too-small pie. I think eventually we'll see highracers and trikes, and not much in between. That'll be a shame.

Retro Grouch 

I'm thinking just the opposite.

I think that the two wheeled recumbent market is about the same size that it's always been. Trikes represent a much different new class of of recumbent riders.

Trsnrtr

I agree totally. Where did all of the lowracers go? Pretty much gone if chatter on bent boards are anything to judge by.

The MWRR was pretty much ruled by trikes.

Even highracers are seldom seen in my area any more. There are still a few LWBs but low are history and high are fading fast. In my group, five of us ride trikes where we used to ride and high two wheelers.

Anyway, trike sales are booming and I suppose that's a good thing.

Retro Grouch 

So ask your four riding buddies why they switched to trikes.

Trsnrtr

I know why. like me, they got older and fatter!

Trsnrtr

You should probably start a new thread in this forum. As a moderator, I thought that I might be able to do it for you but I can't see any easy way. If you start a new thread, then you or I could delete this one.

EDIT: Your post has been deleted and resurrected in the Bicycle Mechanics forum.

https://www.bikeforums.net/bicycle-m...lp-e-bike.html

rtool

This is my fifth year riding a trike (ICE SprintX FS). I have noticed many more trike riders in my area (Dayton, OH) and on the many tours I do each year. Seems also that many of them are younger riders that just enjoy the fun side of trikes. Just returned from the BourbonCountryBurn tour, Lexington,KY. A three day tour. This is there first year for this tour, hope they keep it going. Only seen 6 trikes and 2 two wheel Recumbents during the three days.
Very hilly but most were rollers with some great down hills. Great bourbon sampling and many tours of top name distilleries in the area. Great time and super great weather.

Juan Foote

Interesting.

I read a great article about doing this tour from a bike (somewhere) that gave turn for turn directions. It is on my bucket list of rides. KY is a great state to ride IME.

rydabent

I have the good fortune to have both a two wheel bent and a trike. For several years I rode them about 50-50 but this year since most of my riding is on trails around town, the trike gets the nod most of the time. It is so easy to ride around town with all the stopping and starting, since you can remain clipped in all the time. It simply is the most relaxing way to cycle there is.

Retro Grouch 

YES! I think that's a huge benefit that gets understated way too often.

The closest you can come is on a DF bike IF you happen to be adept at track stands. (don't forget to unclip when you find it necessary to put a foot down). Comparing my trike to my SWB recumbents the benefit is enormous. One of my most memorable concussions came when 2 DF riders in front of me stopped unexpectedly rather than just roll over a low curb.

Loving my trike.

BlazingPedals

You won't be the first trike no matter what. My buddy went down there a couple years in a row and did it with his velomobile. Not knowing the way, he just rode with the eventual winners (on bents.)

BlazingPedals

Never been on a lowracer, huh? I can easily put a hand down. Not that unclipping or re-starting is that tough... The only bad thing I see about stopping is that it ruins your average speed.

OldTryGuy

Is not a Velomobile in a class of its own?

Start to finish average speed---yes

Moving average speed---no

Robert C

I will point out a severe problem with trikes. I purchased one for my wife to ride with me. However, now she goes riding while I am at work. Even worse, she now wants another one, and a more expensive one at that.

rydabent

Smart woman!!!!!

Retro Grouch 

You have a point. I have never ridden, or attempted to ride, a low racer. I'm pretty sure that's not going to happen either.

Trsnrtr

Love lowracers. Not as low as BP’s because I cramped up the last time I even sat on a NoCom but I did enjoy my Velokraft VK2, my two Challenge Fujins, and my Optima Baron.

BlazingPedals

For most 'gran fondos,' its class will depend how the ride organizers define it. A velo is a recumbent, and it's a trike, and for HPRA racing it has a full fairing which makes it a streamliner. Unless the cross-Florida ride has a streamliner class, faired and unfaired trikes will be in the same class, possibly along with 2-wheelers. The Black Bear Grand Fondo in Michigan lumps all bents together, so I had to compete directly with F-40s and streamliners (Great White specifically) in the recumbent class. CKAudio in his Quest holds the record for the old course, and I expect him to get the new course's record as soon as he learns the route and stops adding 'optional' miles by missing turns.

Yes, stops affect moving average speed. You don't start and stop instantaneously.

tmac100

From personal experience, this is still LESS expensive than "other" alternatives. Trust me - I have been there....

polyrhythmia

Waiting for the Cruzbike tilting trike attachment to come out. Sit up higher, lean like a bike, not fall over when stopped because it can be locked. Not have to unclip when stopped. Will ride recumbent bikes as long as I can balance them. I do know a guy who had a stroke and probably is done riding bikes. He had been thinking about getting a trike before his stroke...

rydabent

Just yesterday I stopped by the bike shop to look at the new TerraTrike trike. There was an older trike rider there, but he was looking at LWB bents to buy. IMO the fact that 2 wheel bents are slightly faster means there will always be a market for them. Wittness the fact that RANS has just come out with a new model.