telios

There's a reason. Cyclists began to see the merits of seat & back comfort, fun of steering with sticks and being close to the ground. There's more. A triker can climb with zero thought of balance. He can stop on an incline and simply sit comfortably to rest. A trike loaded with camp gear can manage steep ascents at low speeds --I'm talking 1 mph--and not be concerned with tipping over.

It's true, most trikers can't keep up with DF bicycles on climbs but get outta the way on descents. On flat terrain, trikers do keep up with DFs. I do, anyway.

The sticking point with buying a trike is cost. They're up there. Of course, one can find used trikes for sale which in itself can be exciting.
The next time you encounter a triker, see if you can have a chat. What he/she says can raise your eyebrows.

Rootman

I'd like to get one because I could ride in cooler weather. A friend of mine rides his during the winter and says he can be more bundled up and stay out of the breeze more on a trike than a diamond frame. I wonder if anyone else feels the same?

JanMM

Recumbent bikes are plenty comfortable enough, thank you.........................

BlazingPedals

I'm with Jan. Trikes are okay, but they're not without their drawbacks. Pick the mount that fits your style. As for me, I prefer 2 wheels.

rydabent

I have the best of both worlds. I have a Rans Stratus bike and a TerraTrike Cruiser. This year I have switched between the two about 50-50. If it is really windy, or I just want a relaxed site seeing ride I take the trike.

And yes the fact is trikes are selling really well here. A lot of the older bent riders are going to trikes, and a lot of us can get our wives to ride with us if on a trike. My wife will.

Lastly there is no doubt that a bent in any form is best for touring. The comfort of riding long hours on a bent bike or trike cant be beat. And as the OP says in the mountains, one can ride at any speed, and or stop and start with no problems at all.

osco53

A Tad is in my future,
Soon as I got a few thou to spend,

But I will keep and ride my Tour Easy till I am too old to balance on two wheels,

I will always dig leaning way over in a fast sweeper and all that.

the_tool_man

I'm hoping that as trikes become more popular, the economy of scale will allow the price to come down.

Jeff Wills

Go figure- I was just 30 years ahead of my time: https://home.comcast.net/~jeff_wills/aerocoupe/index.htm

At this year's Recumbent Retreat, it was about 2/3 trikes, 1/3 bikes. Yes, the times they are a-changin' :

no1mad 

+1

tshelver

I think having both options is the beat. But as for leaning, we have a few passes around here where I'm faster on my ICE Q than just about anything else, 2, 3, 4 or however many wheels, engine- or pedal - powered.

I can get around the trucks and buses faster than anything bigger, and the 2-wheelers can't keep up because of the slippery /bumpy conditions that have me locking either front wheel and sliding either end on occasion as well.

Kind of funny to whizz past vehicles that have passed me a few km before, usually it takes them another few km to catch up again. :-)

aenlaasu

Trikes are also good in extremely icy conditions. I found myself riding on roads so slippery I couldn't stand on them yet made it fine thanks to 3 wheels with studs. Gives me confidence to ride all year.

dekindy

Because they are more popular? Is this a trick question?

rydabent

And then--------------just ride one. They are just plain fun to ride!!!!

jwh

I must admit, I had never considered riding one until now.
I broke my left ankle in a mountain bike accident a week and a half ago. A good friend showed up at my house two days ago with a recumbent trike (tadpole type?) and left it in my garage.
I put a speedplay pedal on the right crank and took it out on a short ride with my dog. I was very pleasantly surprised! Luckily I live just about 100 yards from a nice long bike trail system and that bike really moves along, even with one leg power. I can't wait till I can try it out with two good legs (in about 4 months)
In the mean time I am just happy to be able to get out in the fall air and get some exercise with my baby girl.

BlazingPedals

As the weather turns cold/rainy/snowy, I find myself dreaming of three wheels. With a full body. I bet a velo would get me out nearly every weekend in the winter.

delcrossv

+1 Winter commuting on 2 wheels is "dicey" at best. When it starts snowing in earnest I start daydreaming of a carbon Quest with a Sinner hood.

As a snapshot of the future, the kid is thinking of one instead of a car. Told him to start saving.

chandltp

I'm wondering how well they do in deeper snow? Often times the roads aren't cleared when I leave for work, so I'm guessing 2 wheels is my only option for 6+ inches of snow.

BlazingPedals

In 6+" of heavy snow, even 2 wheels is tough. Adding another wheel -- and likely a small one at that -- would make things really hard to push. That's when x-c skis start looking good.

rydabent

With all due respect anyone riding a bike, DF or recumbent on snow and ice is looking to be on the ground. The only thing that keep a bike up right is to be able to steer to balance. On ice and snow if the front wheel slips, you go down.

Bob Shaver

I'm going into my 6th winter in Boise Idaho riding a trike (Catrike Speed) every day to work. I have not driven a car to work in 5.5 years. Admittedly, my 3 mile commute is pretty easy, and Boise winters are somewhat mild, but we get 6" of snow once in a while. I use a studded rear tire, and a fairing on the front.

6 inches of fresh cold snow is easy to pedal through. What is difficult is when it is plowed into 12+ inch piles, and when those freeze hard. Also, when cars mash the snow till the two car tire tracks are cleared, but the snow outside the tire ruts are frozen into chunks, plus the sidewalks are not cleared. Lucky for me, our snow often melts within a day or two. But, however hard it is on a trike, its worse on a 2 wheeler. On a trike in can be bumpy, and you can lose traction, but you don't fall over.

Doohickie

I'm not.

rebel1916

That's weird. Cause I have literally seen one this year. Handicapped guy, nice, strong athlete. Wished he could still ride a bike.

Atophy

Their gonna be seeing at least one a lot more in Calgary in short order!

nogods

I've only had a trike for about a month (a used Sun EZ 3 SX). I'm constantly being stopped by strangers who ask "where did you get that." The other day I was towing my two grandchildren in the bike trailer when a car with a young couple pulled up and wanted to know every thing I could tell them about trikes, which wasn't very much.

I think lots of people will try trikes when they learn about them. Some will not because of tradition or image.

I had a similar experience when I switched from a tent to a camping hammock for backpacking.

BlazingPedals

If you think you get attention riding a trike, just imagine what it's like to ride a velomobile. It's like becoming a space alien. My buddy has averaged 28+ mph for a century, and in spite of that I can sometimes beat him because every time he stops he's swarmed with people asking questions and taking pictures.