Are trikes OT here?

I've checked the NG list on my server, and there don't seem to be any with
"trike" or "tricycle" (well, there's four on "counterstrike" so I'm going
to ask here - I have an idea for a new idea on a recumbent trike, but not
anything new about the basic frame or 3 wheels - my invention is about the
drive train.

So, my quesiton is, what's the cheapest, barebones recumbent trike frame,
or would it be worthwhile to just weld something up and buy wheels and
stuff?

OK, about if I have two rear wheels - they're going to have to be on axles.
How more expensive are they than ordinary bike wheels? Or should I use
bike wheels on shafts, and couple to the separate sprockets?

Thanks,
Rich

Rich Grise wrote:
I've checked the NG list on my server, and there don't seem to be any with
"trike" or "tricycle" (well, there's four on "counterstrike" so I'm going
to ask here - I have an idea for a new idea on a recumbent trike, but not
anything new about the basic frame or 3 wheels - my invention is about the
drive train.

So, my quesiton is, what's the cheapest, barebones recumbent trike frame,
or would it be worthwhile to just weld something up and buy wheels and
stuff?

OK, about if I have two rear wheels - they're going to have to be on axles.
How more expensive are they than ordinary bike wheels? Or should I use
bike wheels on shafts, and couple to the separate sprockets?

Thanks,
Rich

Trikes are certainly on-topic here--but nobody else has any idea if your
drivetrain would fit into any existing frame or not. ...And it's tough
to cut up and re-weld a complex (tringulated) frame, as it tends to
distort out of shape as it cools after re-welding. Unless you can get it
stress-relieved afterwards.

If you have two rear wheels, it's called a "delta" trike.
Normally on delta trikes, only one rear wheel is really driven--the
other just spins freely on bearings on an axle. There might be some
delta that drives both rear wheels, but the cheaper ones I've seen just
did one.

If you want to buy a complete trike and guinea-pig it, I've seen delta
trikes from Sun or Cycle Genius for around $800. At least in the
USA--delta trikes [even /recumbent/ delta trikes] aren't usually sold as
"performance" bikes, but as "comfort/convenience" bikes, on the cheaper
end of recumbnet prices . If you want a performance trike you get a
tadpole. (--there's some darn expensive Euro delta trikes however--)
~~~~~~~~

Probably the cheapest ready-to-go trike worth anything at all is the Catrike
Road (tadpole). Frame is all aluminum. Complete trike = 2300.00US. Good
trike though a little scary on fast descents.


"DougC" wrote in message
...
Rich Grise wrote:
I've checked the NG list on my server, and there don't seem to be any
with
"trike" or "tricycle" (well, there's four on "counterstrike" so I'm going
to ask here - I have an idea for a new idea on a recumbent trike, but not
anything new about the basic frame or 3 wheels - my invention is about
the
drive train.

So, my quesiton is, what's the cheapest, barebones recumbent trike frame,
or would it be worthwhile to just weld something up and buy wheels and
stuff?

OK, about if I have two rear wheels - they're going to have to be on
axles.
How more expensive are they than ordinary bike wheels? Or should I use
bike wheels on shafts, and couple to the separate sprockets?

Thanks,
Rich

Trikes are certainly on-topic here--but nobody else has any idea if your
drivetrain would fit into any existing frame or not. ...And it's tough to
cut up and re-weld a complex (tringulated) frame, as it tends to distort
out of shape as it cools after re-welding. Unless you can get it
stress-relieved afterwards.

If you have two rear wheels, it's called a "delta" trike.
Normally on delta trikes, only one rear wheel is really driven--the other
just spins freely on bearings on an axle. There might be some delta that
drives both rear wheels, but the cheaper ones I've seen just did one.

If you want to buy a complete trike and guinea-pig it, I've seen delta
trikes from Sun or Cycle Genius for around $800. At least in the
USA--delta trikes [even /recumbent/ delta trikes] aren't usually sold as
"performance" bikes, but as "comfort/convenience" bikes, on the cheaper
end of recumbnet prices . If you want a performance trike you get a
tadpole. (--there's some darn expensive Euro delta trikes however--)
~~~~~~~~

On Fri, 28 Jul 2006 13:38:03 -0500, DougC wrote:
Rich Grise wrote:

So, my quesiton is, what's the cheapest, barebones recumbent trike
frame, or would it be worthwhile to just weld something up and buy
wheels and stuff?
....
If you want to buy a complete trike and guinea-pig it, I've seen delta
trikes from Sun or Cycle Genius for around $800. At least in the
USA--delta trikes [even /recumbent/ delta trikes] aren't usually sold as
"performance" bikes, but as "comfort/convenience" bikes, on the cheaper
end of recumbnet prices . If you want a performance trike you get a
tadpole. (--there's some darn expensive Euro delta trikes however--)

Thanks for this - in fact, "Comfort/Convenience" is exactly what I'm
shooting for. :-)

Thanks!
Rich

Grolch wrote:
Probably the cheapest ready-to-go trike worth anything at all is the Catrike
Road (tadpole). Frame is all aluminum. Complete trike = 2300.00US. Good
trike though a little scary on fast descents.



-Some people will not consider tadpole trikes, as they have physical
problems getting into and out of them.

Another nice thing about some delta trikes is that two or more can be
hooked together, and function as a tandem.
~

Check Penninger Trikes, my wife and I love the two we own...

http://www.penningerrecumbents.com/bikes.htm

Jim Andrews Columbus/Phoenix