Trike Questions

I'd like to buy a recumbent and I'm considering purchasing a trike, mainly
so I can do a lot of miles without back problems. However, I have some
concerns about the size of the trike, it looks as if you almost need a
garage to store it. There are some new foldable trikes but it still looks
like an awkward assembly to put away after each ride.

My other concern is having my vision blocked due to the low ride height in a
traffic situation. I don't have any dealers nearby so trying one out is not
an immediate option. I'll be riding in suburban traffic, some downtown, some
semi-rural.

Any comments are appreciated.

In alt.rec.bicycles.recumbent on Sat, 24 Jan 2009 08:25:19 -0500
ATP* wrote:
I'd like to buy a recumbent and I'm considering purchasing a trike, mainly
so I can do a lot of miles without back problems. However, I have some

Trikes aren't the only recumbents - plenty of two wheelers that have
the same style of seat.

concerns about the size of the trike, it looks as if you almost need a
garage to store it. There are some new foldable trikes but it still looks
like an awkward assembly to put away after each ride.

Hang it from a wall...

My other concern is having my vision blocked due to the low ride height in a
traffic situation. I don't have any dealers nearby so trying one out is not
an immediate option. I'll be riding in suburban traffic, some downtown, some
semi-rural.

I wouldn't ride a trike in traffic on a regular basis. Exactly
because of the low height.

Instead get a two wheeler. They come in several flavours, each with
their partisans.

Leaving aside the low racers which are as low as a trike, you get
- high bottom bracket
- medium botom bracket
- low bottom bracket

and each of these can come in above seat and below seat steering, and
above seat steering can have the hands wide or narrow.

I ride a Bacchetta Giro 20 which is a medium BB with above seat
steering using "tweener bars" where your legs go inside the bars and
your hands are shoulder width apart. I like it heaps - easy to ride,
very comfortable, and I have no problems in any kind of traffic.

All two wheelers take a bit of time to learn to ride, but once you
have mastered the start, and the low speed turn, you are set.

Zebee

On Jan 24, 5:25 am, "ATP*" wrote:
... I have some concerns about the size of the trike, it looks as if you
almost need a garage to store it... My other concern is having my
vision blocked due to the low ride height in a traffic situation.

Tadpoles hang quite nicely on a wall, and don't take up a lot more
room than a bike. A typical footprint is about 24" out from the wall
and about 32" along it. You can use a common wheel hanger hook
for the rear wheel, or you can mount one crank up with two hangers.
I like a Rubbermaid system that has an adapter with two parallel
rods that fit nicely around the main tube and beneath the crossbeam
on our LoGos, Catrikes and TerraTrikes. You can also hang a
tadpole from the ceiling if you have about 24" of headroom to spare.
Our home garage, for example, has 9' ceilings and it's no danger
for me (at 75" tall) to walk under it.

Visibility is rarely a real problem in traffic. I have found
situations
where I couldn't see over the hood of a monster SUV, but a bright
flag makes most drivers see you. Stability and convenience of
not clicking in and out of pedals are nice tradeoffs.

Regards,
Wayne

"32GO" wrote in message
...
On Jan 24, 5:25 am, "ATP*" wrote:
... I have some concerns about the size of the trike, it looks as if you
almost need a garage to store it... My other concern is having my
vision blocked due to the low ride height in a traffic situation.

Tadpoles hang quite nicely on a wall, and don't take up a lot more
room than a bike. A typical footprint is about 24" out from the wall
and about 32" along it. You can use a common wheel hanger hook
for the rear wheel, or you can mount one crank up with two hangers.
I like a Rubbermaid system that has an adapter with two parallel
rods that fit nicely around the main tube and beneath the crossbeam
on our LoGos, Catrikes and TerraTrikes. You can also hang a
tadpole from the ceiling if you have about 24" of headroom to spare.
Our home garage, for example, has 9' ceilings and it's no danger
for me (at 75" tall) to walk under it.

Visibility is rarely a real problem in traffic. I have found
situations
where I couldn't see over the hood of a monster SUV, but a bright
flag makes most drivers see you. Stability and convenience of
not clicking in and out of pedals are nice tradeoffs.

Regards,
Wayne

Thanks, does stability remain a problem in traffic on two-wheelers, or is it
only a problem until you get used to the bike?

"Zebee Johnstone" wrote in message
...
In alt.rec.bicycles.recumbent on Sat, 24 Jan 2009 08:25:19 -0500
ATP* wrote:
I'd like to buy a recumbent and I'm considering purchasing a trike,
mainly
so I can do a lot of miles without back problems. However, I have some

Trikes aren't the only recumbents - plenty of two wheelers that have
the same style of seat.

concerns about the size of the trike, it looks as if you almost need a
garage to store it. There are some new foldable trikes but it still looks
like an awkward assembly to put away after each ride.

Hang it from a wall...

My other concern is having my vision blocked due to the low ride height
in a
traffic situation. I don't have any dealers nearby so trying one out is
not
an immediate option. I'll be riding in suburban traffic, some downtown,
some
semi-rural.

I wouldn't ride a trike in traffic on a regular basis. Exactly
because of the low height.

Instead get a two wheeler. They come in several flavours, each with
their partisans.

Leaving aside the low racers which are as low as a trike, you get
- high bottom bracket
- medium botom bracket
- low bottom bracket

and each of these can come in above seat and below seat steering, and
above seat steering can have the hands wide or narrow.

I ride a Bacchetta Giro 20 which is a medium BB with above seat
steering using "tweener bars" where your legs go inside the bars and
your hands are shoulder width apart. I like it heaps - easy to ride,
very comfortable, and I have no problems in any kind of traffic.

All two wheelers take a bit of time to learn to ride, but once you
have mastered the start, and the low speed turn, you are set.

Zebee

I was initially thinking it would be nice to be able to go out with a little
ice remaining on the roads. On second thought, taking a new, expensive trike
out when it will turn white from road salt with no practical way of washing
it doesn't sound like a good plan. They do look like fun, but the two
wheeler is probably the way to go for now, maybe get a trike later for
variety.

ATP* wrote:
I'd like to buy a recumbent and I'm considering purchasing a trike, mainly
so I can do a lot of miles without back problems. However, I have some
concerns about the size of the trike, it looks as if you almost need a
garage to store it.

Hang it by the single wheel is probably the most space-efficient
way, then it's more wall than floor space. Still quite a chunk though!

My other concern is having my vision blocked due to the low ride height in a
traffic situation. I don't have any dealers nearby so trying one out is not
an immediate option. I'll be riding in suburban traffic, some downtown, some
semi-rural.

Think how you cope on a normal bike when surrounded by buses, vans
etc. If that doesn't really both you then a low 'bent will
probably be okay, if you really have issues with it then maybe best
to avoid.

'bent bikes tend to be quite a bit higher, up to and often past car
seat height, and they'll still you freedom from back pain. Also,
in busy traffic the reduced width may well work better.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Zebee Johnstone wrote:
[...]
I wouldn't ride a trike in traffic on a regular basis. Exactly
because of the low height.

Instead get a two wheeler. They come in several flavours, each with
their partisans.

Leaving aside the low racers which are as low as a trike,[...]

The lowness is not an issue as long as you practice "vehicular cycling"
and avoid the bad behavior of "persons on bicycles". Of course, the
worst traffic I have ridden in is Chicagoland.

--
Tom Sherman - 42.435731,-83.985007
LOCAL CACTUS EATS CYCLIST - datakoll

ATP* wrote:
[...]
I was initially thinking it would be nice to be able to go out with a little
ice remaining on the roads. On second thought, taking a new, expensive trike
out when it will turn white from road salt with no practical way of washing
it doesn't sound like a good plan. They do look like fun, but the two
wheeler is probably the way to go for now, maybe get a trike later for
variety.

Windcheetah can set up their trikes to be relatively corrosion resistant
(as can any trike with an aluminium alloy or CFRP frame). The Optima
Rider is another trike designed to be corrosion resistant.

--
Tom Sherman - 42.435731,-83.985007
LOCAL CACTUS EATS CYCLIST - datakoll

ATP* wrote:
[...]
Thanks, does stability remain a problem in traffic on two-wheelers, or is it
only a problem until you get used to the bike?

On a properly designed recumbent, dynamic stability [1] is not a concern
once the rider realizes the control forces need to be much less than on
an upright bicycle.

However, the seat recline make a proper mirror(s) mandatory. I would
also avoid bicycles with great seat recline (most highracers and
lowracers) as being that laid back makes starting out more awkward and
it also makes seeing traffic to the sides and back more difficult.

[1] All bicycles are of course, statically unstable.

--
Tom Sherman - 42.435731,-83.985007
LOCAL CACTUS EATS CYCLIST - datakoll

"Tom Sherman" wrote in message
...
ATP* wrote:
[...]
I was initially thinking it would be nice to be able to go out with a
little ice remaining on the roads. On second thought, taking a new,
expensive trike out when it will turn white from road salt with no
practical way of washing it doesn't sound like a good plan. They do look
like fun, but the two wheeler is probably the way to go for now, maybe
get a trike later for variety.
Windcheetah can set up their trikes to be relatively corrosion resistant
(as can any trike with an aluminium alloy or CFRP frame). The Optima Rider
is another trike designed to be corrosion resistant.

--
Tom Sherman - 42.435731,-83.985007
LOCAL CACTUS EATS CYCLIST - datakoll

Thanks, Windcheetah's out of my current price range- I did find an old
listing on CL, but it was long gone