I've been riding a trike now since the end of 2010. I used to post in the C&A forum when I first got my left knee replaced and got a 'comfort bike'. Riding, and riding itself is the key point I think. Whether you ride a 'DF', a recumbent bike, or a recumbent trike is more a matter of what you want and are capable of doing.

Most of the folks I know that ride a trike are more into the comfort and enjoyment factor than about speed. Most average people will be 2-3mph slower on a trike than on a bike, if that matters, then a trike may not be for you.

At this point, both knees, right hip have been replaced, and both shoulders have been rebuilt. Not needing to be too concerned about a fall, riding as slow as I wish to (lowest gear is 7GI with my Mountain Drive), carrying or towing gear when camping is a non-issue, and all day comfort with a great view (and a great place to sit when I stop) all add to my enjoyment of my trike.

I think the better question is "Why not a trike?" - And to answer that I would talk about speed and traveling issues that trikes *can* create.

FYI, BROL has an entire forum section just for trikes - Trikes - BentRider Online Forums

And-------------this time of year in the snow belt, a trike if many times more safe than a bike. In the ice and snow, a trike will only slide, a bike will dump you on the ground.

Ever try to pedal a trike through 6 inches of slush? Pushing 3 wheel tracks through that much resistance just doesn't work at all. On glare ice the trike has the obvious advantage. In snow, slush, and anything BUT glare ice, the best platform is... an upright. For me, at least, the cold and not the saddle is what limits the length of my rides.

blazing

If you are riding a bike on ice, you better have studded tires. It is the steering that keeps bikes up right.

BTW I dont ride when it is below 60 because of the cold, and I would NEVER subject my bike or trike to 6 inches of salty slush!!!!

BLAZINGPEDALS,
If your Avatar is your 'bent, I'm thinking 6" of slush is going to be a soggy ass ride. I've ridden through a couple of puddles where the spray has soaked my rear (thankful of a mesh seat) but your ride looks much lower. Is that a composite seat too? Pretty cool ride though.

Well, I went ahead and ordered one today. So, to join the stable of three bents will be a trike.

Trike-e from Performer

As far as winter riding, the snow here doesn't get deep but I do end up riding on ice quite a bit. Currently am using studded winter tires on a standard upright for winter commuting.

Nice looking trike RobertC. Your not going to need studded tires with your Performer. You could install BigApples and run at a lower inflation (30-40psi) and no worries of hitting the ice if your wheels go out from under you.

Thanks, of course there will be pictures when it arrives.

. . . and if my "wheels go out from under" me on a trike, I know it's gonna hurt!

The more I read threads like this the more I think that a trike is for me.

Trikes make considerably better electric bike conversions just because they don't fall over. You can pack twice as much battery with all that stability, which will put you 100 miles down the road, with all your camping gear, and just roll in anywhere and bit sitting there. I find my Actionbent trike to be better than my Ez-sport, which is also an excellent LWB. And I'm rocking 50 watts per channel of music on the trike and some marine speakers, and almost 2.0 kWhr of energy. If it rains out comes the big golf umbrella and sit there waiting for the storm to pass.

Same goes for my Ti Rush and Catrike Expedition.

The one in my avatar is but one of the bikes in my stable. It's definitely not a 'snow' bike anymore than a trike would be.

Diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks. We have both 2 wheel recumbents (Sunsets/ M5's) , upright road bikes (gitane/motobecane) and trikes (KMX) that the kids (16,14,11 and 9) ride. After they got on the bents I can't get them back on a road bike to save my life. For longer distances they like the 2 wheelers, for tooling around in the park they like the trikes. Telling them to ride the DF's just gets me a chorus of complaints.

The 16 y.o. really wants a velomobile.

Kids, having no preconceptions, will gravitate to the most comfortable and efficient platform. Form Follows Function.

del

Smart kids.

Nice "bike" blazingpedals

Why a Trike? Because it's the last bike you will ever need to buy! When you're too old or feeble to ride a tricycle, it's time to hang up your helmet.

Reviewing this old thread, one point came up I would like to comment on. Someone said something about riding on hi-ways with a trike, probably suggesting it is more unsafe than a bike. Might I point out that in a high cross wind a trike would be far safer than a bike if the crosswind is blowing you toward the traffic. There is very little swerving in a crosswind on a trike.

Rydabent....another consideration, while riding on the hiway have you ever felt the sucking sensation, drawing you in toward the wheels from a big truck barreling past? I remember feeling fear of being squashed under the wheels when I rode my MTB. I still feel the "suck" when riding the trike except there's no fear of falling under the wheels.

My friend and long-time riding companion has been a gifted athlete for his 82 years. Of late, an ailment is causing him balance problems and he is ready to transition to a trike. We used to ride about 40 miles per week and he'll probably continue that regimen when he moves to hilly Seattle at the end of July. I have no experience with trikes but I would like to help him gather information so he can choose one that will suit him. I would appreciate advice.

You might get a larger amount of useful info about trikes at bentrideronline.com in their message boards. Very large recumbent community there including lots and lots of trikers. You also might consider starting a new thread in this forum. A trike is the way to go if balance is gone.

I ride a recumbent trike simply because I have crashed my bikes too many times to risk getting hurt any more. The most recent crash changed my right knee forever, not for better!

I admit, I'm too uncoordinated to safely ride a bike....never was able to learn how to get my front wheel out of trouble and keep it on the ground when encountering a road hazard. Chewing gum and walking at the same time also is not a good idea for me...I end up tripping on my own feet. Also cannot throw or catch a ball.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not entirely a lost cause...I can play guitar like nobody's business. It's the small muscle groups where my skills lie, but I don't play the guitar while riding my trike....!!

Not wanting to make you anxious, but it is possible to wreck a trike, too. But don't let that stop you from riding!

JanMM wrote: "Not wanting to make you anxious, but it is possible to wreck a trike, too. But don't let that stop you from riding!"

Point well-taken, thanks.

I'm not allowing my klutz factor to overturn my trike, believe me!

Maria Leijerstam, call your office!

what trike do you have. What trikes is good. Trikes is much faster than road bikes?