Making myself nuts...
 

OK, I'm about three weeks away from buying my first bent and am making myself nuts.

Ever since I started saving money to make my purchase, I've been focused on a SWB. Specifically, the Bacchetta Giro 20. But now that I'm getting closer to buying, I'm starting to wonder if a trike might be the way to go.

I'm 58, fit, and have no major health issues. I did have a heart attack almost two years ago, but have had no problems since then. The meds I take sometimes make me feel light-headed for a moment, and that concerns me when thinking about buying the SWB. And as much as I hate to face it, I am getting older and lord knows what kind of health issues could start popping up. And that's got me thinking about going with a trike...

I've been eyeballing the Terratrike Tour II and am thinking more and more that it would make more sense to go with it instead of the Giro.

I mainly ride on the greenway and on rails-to-trails, with some occassional roads thrown in.

Thoughts?

Thanks.

If you're used to riding a 2 wheeler, you may be disappointed with the speed capabilities of a trike. They do have the obvious trike advantages. If your meds make you dizzy enough that you think you'd crash, then get a trike. Momentary lightheadedness? Sounds like me riding with the flu. BTDT.

If I was only going to be doing trails, I'd had stayed with my trike. It was fun with almost no learning curve. Very stable. The biggest downside was obstacle avoidance and riding on roads with rumble strips on the white line (which meant I had to ride in the lane or straddle the rumble strips). But my feet also had numbness issues (which is why I looked for another recumbent), and I realized I wanted to sit a little higher to see more when I was riding. I rode across a beautiful lake and couldn't see anything but the cement railing on the side of the bridge.

I recently traded a trike for a Giro 20. I like 2 wheels for obstacle avoidance, sitting higher (to see over the side of bridges when I'm riding on them), and my feet don't have numbness issues as much. Time will tell, because I only have about 500 miles on my legs on that bike. The one big downside is balancing at lower speeds, but I'm learning. I figure after a few thousand more miles that will probably resolve itself mostly. My speed went up 2-3 MPH as well.

Test ride some trikes...then make the decision.

Part of our greenway is an uphill section with three switchbacks. I'm not a strong climber, so I'm kinda concerned about how well the Giro will do on it.

A couple of insights I would like to share with you about our experience with trikes.
I purchased one initially for my wife who has a vertigo condition aggravated by syncope. It has worked really well for her since she can't fall over and the feet and head being on nearly the same level helps a lot too. We have learned that when she parks to get off it is a really good idea to either have me standing right with her or to be at something she can lean/sit directly to more upright. The sudden standing up from the trike's low level has resulted in a few scary moments.

For slow climbs, you can't beat a trike.

The only issue I ever had on trails with a trike was the poles they use to keep vehicles off. I had to slow way down to go through those. That, and passing people requires more room. If there's 2 across, I had to forget about passing until they became aware of me behind them.

I did think of how difficult it is to pass on our greenway at times. Not sure if a trike is a good idea or not.

With a trike, you won't be doing it much anyway...

I know.

I've decided to go test ride (and probably buy) a Giro on Sunday. :)

Test ride Test ride TEST RIDE !

My wife chose a 'Delta' trike and loves it, I like it too..
She liked sitting up higher,
being SEEN better,
much easier to get on and off of for her, and me,
we both found no negatives......
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=422479

She tried a Tadpole and found it,
hard to get in and out of,
Invisible when close and next to a car,
Hated her hands so close to the spinning wheels,
She got face splatter with dirt and rocks on the Tad first wet spot she turned on. Fenders would solve this I guess..

I upgraded from the EZ-1 to a Tour easy :P
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=422480



Like I said, Test Ride, because we all have different tastes...

I can't count the number of times I passed people on my trike. Passed on the downhill and the bottom of the uphill.. then they passed me and we leapfrogged again.

That, and hearing "I really can't draft behind you".

Done making myself nuts...I ordered a Giro 20s on Monday. Should have it on Friday...just in time for snow on Saturday :(

Can't say that I have ever read or heard anything remotely negative about the Giro 20. Have fun on Friday!

My Giro arrives today and I'll pick it up around 3. Sadly, I have to work till 10:30 tonight, and all day tomorrow, so I won't get to play with it until Sunday! :(

The Giro is a great all around recumbent. Enjoy and get out and explore new roads.

You WILL enjoy the trike... there is no perfect bike/trike for all situations...so go with your gut decision and ride like the wind.

Fixed that for you. OP's B-Bike arrived already.

Thanks for the correction... enjoyment has begun

So, when do we get a first-ride report? March?

No!!

First ride was last Sunday. 16 miles. A bit wobbly at first,but things smoothed out quickly. Rode 17 miles yesterday and am beginning to feel comfortable on it.

I have a Giro 26att and one of the things that makes it a better choice than trike is that it can it on standard bus racks for multimodal trips. It can also fit in the bicycle are of the train car better.

My EZ-1, now My Tour Easy, even my Full squish mountain bike all had an adjustment curve.
I adjusted the bikes, the bikes adjusted me, we got used to each other. Now they fit like gloves.

I remember, 'a bit wobbly at first' It didn't last once I learned to lean back and relax...