How do you tour with a delta? Use a trailer?

I am back again and asking for some additional opinions, expert and the like.
I have seen alot of value in the Cattrike and been told that it is an extremely fast bike because of how low it rides. I like the price point.

Is there any advantage to upgrading the hubs to a speed drive. I want to keep up with 4 sons in the RAGBRAI. There is motivation to get the right bike that I can afford and performs against some rough odds.

Is there any advantage to finding a trike with a 26" rear wheel? or ... what other advise does any one have. Yes I already understand that I must be certain to be in good condition; unlike 'golf where the equipment takes care of the game' - but we won't go there.

Thanks for all suggestions, advice and opinions.

I'm building a Greenspeed GTR for s tour this summer. I talked with Ian and Paul Simms (Mr. Greenspeed themselves) they said theat they've tested both 20 and 26 inch wheel and found no advantage to a 20 inch wheel. The first Greenspeeds were 26 inch rear wheel. A 20 inch wheel is stronger and lighter. 20 inch wheel mean a lower gearing.

If you want speed talk to Tony Stark (Iron Man). Get him to build you a pair of super strong knees. Then put a 100 tooth front chainring an go babiieee!!! Just joking. I'm notintersted in speed or trying to keep up with people. Why not let your boys do their spped and find someone else on the tour that will ride at your pace?

It seems to me that the consensus standard for rear wheels on tadpole trikes is the 20 inch size. Ian Sims of Greenspeed has stated elsewhere all the reasons they have standardised on that size for their touring trikes; among them: stronger wheel, one wheel size for the trike, availability of tires, and others. All of which add to my primary reason to think of using the smaller rear wheel. Gearing ranges in the Greenspeed trikes, and other makers' as well, are to be made up with the various specialty hubs,and cranks, Schlumf, Rohloff, et.al as required.

My trike has a 26 inch rear wheel and a gear inch range of approximately 24 to 123. Although my average cruising speed in 3600 miles has crept from less than 12 to 14.5+ mph (includes stops and starts over a regular route), I find that I never achieve the top gear here in the flat lands. So, for me (cruising cadence in the 90's rpm), I am thinking my next trike will have a 20 inch rear wheel with same sprocket sets and no specialty hubs or crank sets. This will change my gear inch range to 19 to 95 and (hopefully) allow me to carry loads on tour when I go to the mountains west of here. No matter to me if I spin out going down hill. More important to me is getting up the hill in the first place. Presently, on the flats, I cruise comfortably (light load) near the 70 gear inch range (need to verify that).

Of course, there are other ways to adjust my gear ratios. Changing the front rings from 52-42-30 to 48-36-24 will provide a gear inch range ( with same 11-32 eight speed cassette) of 18-104. I may do that to test whether such a ratio range is satisfactory. However, using the 20 inch wheel is the only way to gain all the advantages mentioned by Mr. Sims as well. I am in good physical condition and am built more for spinning than mashing on the pedals. So, I tend to work in the low to mid range on my present trike.

I think that a powerful rider riding lightly loaded will find greatest benefit from a 26 inch rear wheel, but that rider could also use different cranks and larger front sprockets with the smaller rear wheel. If you have an abundance of power, you have more options.

Jim

Good advise. I find that racing downhill drains energy fast, which leaves no power to get uphill! Gravity is a good thing!

I've got the 81 gear option on my Greenspeed GTO and I rarely get into the front big ring. When I'm at a speed where I could use it, I find way too much pedal steer which is troublesome at high speed. Just using the middle ring, I can push 24 mph without spinning out.

The Hostel shoppe in Stephens Point, Wis has plenty of recumbents, 2 wheel and 3. If possible you should take a trip over and ride em all. There is also a manuacturer of two wheel bents in town - Volae. They have a recumbent rally each July which is a superb time to try out recumbents from around the globe. This last summer was very good, many many bent riders there. Hostel Shoppe is online also. I tour on a two wheel bent but would not be averse to grabbing any of the trikes I tested and bugging out on a long trip. It would be like comparing which peice of pie to eat first! Each had their pros/cons and it boils down your personal needs and desires and wallet.
My personal likes favored the Cattrike for it's all-function look and wicked-good way it cornered at high speeds. I pushed the be-jesus out of it and the smile on my face kept getting bigger. The other were good with there good points too. Mind you I was in the midst of a summer tour with my recumbent and had to conserve the funds, but I got spoiled, right there, in a few hours, at the rally in ST Pt, Wi. Oh! The toys (serious toys of course!)

Mike

PS: Pratical is staying home all summer and mowing the lawn!

Steve, I've been riding my Catrike (and my previous tadpole trike) through out the Minneapolis and St Paul areas (including downtown) for over six years with no problems. I park it and lock it just like any other bike I've own. Of course the Catrike frame makes it pretty easy to do. I use the traditional U bolt type lock.

Catrike is coming out with a 26'' rear wheel tadpole trike this coming spring 2005. check out there website: https://www.catrike.com

Calhoun Cycle in South Minneapolis has two tadpole trikes in stock (at least as of today) and if you want to try a delta trike, Hiogaards (sp) in St Louis Park carries those.

Hellbent also has a trike with a 26 inch rear wheel in their design pipeline.

https://www.hellbentcycles.com/spitfire_rs26_preview.htm

Might be worth comparing to the Catrike. Ah...so many trikes, so little time.

Chip

I posted in the +50 forum that I am currently riding a mountain bike to lose weight (325) and plan to reward myself with a bike at 275. (Years ago I used to race and do triathlons.....oh well). I've also had a knee replacement and the other's working toward the same treatment (too much running and jumping when younger).

I initially inquired in another thread about a bent because I was curious about their suitablity. A person in that thread recommended a trike. but I have concerns as well.

First, I live in WV....mountains. Steep grades and narrow roads with hardly any shoulders. I find that I am spinning in my lowest gear on my MB on most climbs (heart rate 160+, when I had my EKG I got my heart 190+ and the doc was really suprised...) and wonder if a trike would be even more difficult to climb in or easier than a bent.

I know nothing about trikes....always associated them with old people in Florida (silly I know).

How do they hold up with heavier people?

How safe are they in traffic?

How do they climb compared to a bent?

How hard are they to transport....do you just use a bike rack?

Can you get them more elevated? Most I've seen in pictures are really low. How maneuverable are they and how quick are they? (I have to confess that due to my earlier racing years I tend to be one who really rides hard...I never seem to be able to ride just for enjoyment....always trying to better my last time etc)

How many here ride them as the primary form of riding?

What ones are the best to look at?

I must say that I have never seen one being ridden (Even in CA where I used to train and do triathlons). I can guess that to buy one I would have to go outside this area to even find them.

1. Trikes have no balance issues. you can pedal uphill .25 mph if you want.
2. Greenspeed has a trike that has been known to hold up 400+lbs people
3. It's got 3 wheels just put it on top your car and rope it down.
4. It's got three wheels you can take corners at speed without worrying about balance
5. They are heavier so they climb slower than uprights.
6. Because they are 2x as wide as other bicycles people give you more space on the roads. People have touredfaround the world on these things so they are safe on the roads.
7. Check out www.greenspeed.com.au they do a lot of custom work.

Funbun


The greenspeed looks nice but $3500 for a trike? not including shipping? Are all trikes this expensive?

Not all are than expensive. Try scarabtrikes. They are based on Greenspeed's design and cost about a 1/3 cheaper, plus they are made right here in the good old USA. They can hold your wieght also. Trimuter is another trike. they are all made by Doyle recumbent manufactoring. Here are they're URLs:

https://www.scarabtrikes.com/
https://www.trimuter.com/
https://www.doylecustombikes.com/contact.html

I ride a trike. But only during the warm months. I have a pit bull that likes to run with me. He has been trained to attack any one who messes with my trike. He will immediately go for the crotch. So far, I haven't had any problems leaving my trike, when I go into a store.

Go give a trike a test ride. They are a blast! I have made all styles of recumbents for myself and family, and all the kids in the neighborhood come by to try them out when they see me in the shop. The one thing they all beg me to make for them is a tadpole trike.

Darren

Not close, but very knowledgeable:

wheeldr@goeaston.net

Wheel Doctor Cycle and Sports Inc.
St. Michaels, MD
800-586-6645

Trice claims a big rear wheel is faster. Others don't think it is significant. I think you are better off with same size wheels (preferably 20"; tires and tubes can be found anywhere) for touring. Main thing is, find something you are comfortable with, including high speed stability for downhills.

Re RAGBRAI, don't worry about keeping up with your sons. It usually doesn't work for people to ride together, and this is one ride where it isn't necessary. In most of the towns on RAGBRAI you find half the people standing around trying to find the other half because people are trying to stay together.

Make sure they know how to take care of themselves before the ride, then each morning tell them to have a nice ride, and meet up in the evening again and tell stories to each other... "Did you see the guy...."

Does anyone have any experience with Tri-Sled trikes out of Austrailia. I had a chance to ride one last summer for a short while and it was a great ride. I have not ridden another trike and there is none to try in Winnipeg Mb. I now have the chance to buy the one I rode for a very decent price. Just looking for more info from other owners or riders.

One of my riding buddies uses only Greenspeed. If you PM me with your email I will get him to email you and get his opinion. He has owned 3 of these I believe and rides them over his other recumbents.

I own a Greenspeed Trike and feel that I was rewarded for the extra cost as I could have it geared and equiped the way that I wanted. I live in the mountains and low gearing (about 10 gear inches) opens all sorts of climbs to me that were previously beyond my capabilities on the Rans Stratus. Low speed balancing is, of course, no issue. You can stop on the steepest grade without unclipping and then start again at will.

I have over 7500 miles on the trike and have had no problem being seen on the open road. I do ride with extra caution in town but always did. One nice thing about the trike is that you can edge out slowly from behind parked cars. Overall, I feel safer on the trike than on my 2 wheel, though that was not true at first. My worst accidents have been on upright bikes. At least the trike is unlikely to catch a wheel in a road obstacle (road edge, train tracks, hair brush) and throw you into the path of traffic.

Gary Mc, Greenspeed GTO, Salt Lake City

I turned my ez3 into a cargo tike, any one looking for info should email me: jawnn.geo@yahoo.com