 And you thought a trike was just for kids! Wait til you see and ride a Recumbent Trike!Oh how sweet it is! Who would have imagined a trike could be so cool! You apply whatever adjective you want, but trikes are awesome. What am I talking about? Your reaction is probably the same as mine was when someone mentioned a recumbent trike. A what?
The image that flooded my mind was the typical adult trike seen around retirement communities, and nothing appealed to me about that. But that’s about like riding an old cruiser bike by comparison, and the two are as far apart as they could be. Take a look at the Windcheetah right here!
Even though recumbent bikes make up a fraction of 1% of all bikes sold in the world, recumbents are growing in popularity more each year. Recumbent trikes would seem to be gaining popularity even faster than recumbent bikes.
History is not quite so defined on these, as to who made the first one. The first were likely copied from the three wheel motorcycles, with the two wheels in back. This is commonly called the “Delta” style. There are several models being made like this today, but the most popular style due to stability would be the “Tadpole.” Two wheels up front, one in back. Do they work? Oh yeah...do they ever. So what’s the big deal about a recumbent trike anyway?
Consider all the benefits already discussed for recumbents in general, the greatest of which is comfort. Take the added benefit now that you don’t have to put your feet down for balance at a stop, and there is never any energy wasted maintaining your balance while riding. You can go around a corner at 18 mph and keep on going! It’s almost like a human powered go-cart! Very low to the ground, usually 2-3”, with a wheelbase that stretches from as narrow as 26” to 32.” They can be a little heavier because of that third wheel, but much depends on what the frame is made of.
Since recumbent trikes are used as the chasis for a Velomobile, which is a trike with an enclosed body, it could lead to even more popularity.
Recently, David Eggleston secured the rights to build the Dutch Alleweder in Texas. Here's a link to David's site to see what he's offering.
There has been growing interest in the U.S. by others as to the possible market in a car alternative for commuters. Check out the models being offered on the Velomobile link.
Weight on trikes in general goes as low as 30 pounds on aluminum frames, and 38 to 42 on alloy frames. There are a few that are sub 30 pounders, the Catrike Speed being one of those. If you thought riding a recumbent was fun, are you in for a treat! For safety in relation to falling over due to sand, slippery pavement, flat tire going around a corner (I know that one), loosing your balance taking off from a stop (know that one too), it won’t happen with the trike. Even Artie Johnson from Laugh-In days (remember the guy with the yellow raincoat who always fell over on the trike?) would have a hard time on this one.
Comfortable, relaxing, safer, and fun. All the right ingredients to have a great time! They play well with the two-wheeled friends, and the four-wheeled behemoths give them a wide berth. It almost seems too good to be true, when you can get great physical exercise, enjoy the outdoors, be with people you like (or by yourself) and have fun too. And just in case you didn't know it, there are a lot of trikes set up for hand pedaling. For those who are not able to use leg power there are several manufactuers such as Varna in Canada, who specialize in these trikes. There are some serious racers out there who ask no quarter on these hand operated trikes.
See the Varna Speedcycle here.
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