I would like to acquire a recumbent trike to use for recreation, longer day rides (80-200km), and some touring (one day--soon I hope--I want to ride coast to coast across Canada). I have rented recumbents in the past with the most recent being a Catrike Pocket which I had for 7 days in April. I really liked it and now want to acquire a trike for the purposes described above. Any recommendations or advice while I start my search?

Since you have riden the Catrike Pocket you might also want to look at the Catrike Expedition or Catrike Road. They are really nice for touring and are well built.

[QUOTE=foggydew;6622961]I would like to acquire a recumbent trike to use for recreation, longer day rides (80-200km), and some touring (one day--soon I hope--I want to ride coast to coast across Canada). I have rented recumbents in the past with the most recent being a Catrike Pocket which I had for 7 days in April. I really liked it and now want to acquire a trike for the purposes described above. Any recommendations or advice while I start my search?[/QUOTE

Although a Catrike is an excellent trike and I have a Catrike Speed, Catrike wouldn't be my first choice for Touring. I"d be looking for comfort and I would look at a Trice Q. They are both in the same price range and the Trice offers a rear suspension, adjustable seats and drum brakes and in a pinch it's foldable, all things that I would want for long distance riding.

Any trike *can* be made to tour but what trike will work best. If you are talking fully self supported, you are going to be carrying some serious gear. The terrain you are talking will have some serious climbs... and decents. Comfort level requirements too have to be considered.

Panniers or trailers? Gearing? Suspension? Chromoly or Aluminum? Which tires and rims?

...and how is the condition of the engine?

I agree that the ICE TRICE Q or QNT or better yet the ICE-T would make a nice touring trike... and with a load, the optional drag brake is a really nice feature to have going down long decents. The tooth rattling chipseal will make suspension pay for itself, as well as large wide tires at low pressure. Also consider raising gear range with various drive options. Panniers don't get flats but on a suspended trike, setting things up takes a little attention but not undoable.

But also consider your budget... as a nicely packed out Trice can run you into the near $4K USD/CAN
Even a Catrike can get you up in the $3K quickly... and no suspension; stiff frame [more efficient]; no drag brake... but many options for the *right* trike for you. Still may need some gearing tweaks for the hills, though.
...And if budget is no problem, throw Greenspeed and HPVelotechnik Scorpion into the mix.

I'd say that if minimalist is your style... go Catrike... but if you are a gadget horder, TRICE. If you like the technology of Europe... HP Velotechnik Scorpion or Scorpion FX... and finally... BeaM'R, Mercedies or even Volvo man... go Greenspeed.

These are my observation over the past few years and everyone elses milage may vary... but you asked

True any trike *can* be made to tour but considering comfort level requirements the Chromoly would be IMO the best of the two, the Catrikes being aluminum and a fixed postion frame seat tend to ride a little on the harsh side.

The Catrike Expedition is $2550 the Trice Q or T both are $2650 and IMO the Trice is twice the trike. I also agree if you have the budget then Greenspeed is the way to go. As far as the optional drag brake goes, yes it can be done but on anything less than a Tandem trike it's overkill and not needed.

I think when people start talking about and preparing for long distance riding or Touring they tend to go overboard and cause themselves more problems than are nessesary.