16 replies to this topic

[rhyang]

I've been thinking about getting a recumbent trike, for riding on easy trails and fire roads, etc. I've been looking at such makes as Greenspeed, Catrike, and ICE. I'm not looking for a handcycle, just something with a more relaxed posture and stable orientation (just got my halo off and apparently my cervical spine is fused from c5 - c7 in front and c5-t1 in back).

I've yet to ride one of course, and according to my neurosurgeon I'll have to wait about 3 months before I can take a test ride. But I guess in the meantime I've been doing a bit of research. Any opinions or experiences with these things ?

Thanks for any info !
-Rob

[WheelchairWarrior]

From what people tell me, the Catrikes and WindCheetas are some of the better tadpole trikes. The Greenspeeds are popular, but I've heard that the other two have better handling and stability. Test-riding as much as you can will be the way to go. Velo Vision magazine (out of the UK) is heavily into trikes. However, getting their mags can be pretty tricky/expensive. Test-ride whatever you can.

[pjc]

Hi Rob
I'm also considering getting a trike and have recently tested a couple of makes: ICE and Kettleweisel (Hase). Both seem well constructed, if a little unforgiving when off tarmac. As the previous poster wrote, try to test ride a few to see what suits you best. There is a free downloadable edition of velo vision magazine which details the options;hopefully following link will take you to it (otherwise try their site). I've not yet taken the plunge as I can't find anywhere suitable to ride a trike in London (given the low position, I don't fancy riding it on the public highway, and most paved tracks are inaccessible for trikes).
There are also sites for trike
regards
Pat


http://www.velovisio...pl?storynum=559

[rhyang]

Thanks guys. I've been asking around on recumbent forums about these things ... seems that off-road they transmit a lot of shock, unlike a regular bike where you can use your knees as suspension .. I may try test riding these in Feb/March anyhow - hopefully my neurosurgeon will say it's ok to ride a bike again then.

[bluefairy99]

For what it's worth, I have a Catrike Pocket and I love it. A little difficult on loose terrain, but other wise great! Fast and smoth ride!

[rhyang]

bluefairy99, on Apr 22 2008, 05:02 AM, said:

For what it's worth, I have a Catrike Pocket and I love it. A little difficult on loose terrain, but other wise great! Fast and smoth ride!

Sweet :)

I'm back to riding a regular / upright bike (carefully). On one of my bikes I installed a riser stem for a more comfortable position, since my neck has less range of motion than before.

I hope this thread can be a bit of a resource to other folks who are considering this option though.

[Slowlegs]

rhyang, on Apr 24 2008, 04:01 PM, said:

bluefairy99, on Apr 22 2008, 05:02 AM, said:

For what it's worth, I have a Catrike Pocket and I love it. A little difficult on loose terrain, but other wise great! Fast and smoth ride!

Sweet

I'm back to riding a regular / upright bike (carefully). On one of my bikes I installed a riser stem for a more comfortable position, since my neck has less range of motion than before.

I hope this thread can be a bit of a resource to other folks who are considering this option though.

Hi, does anyone know of any racing associations for recumbents which could be inclusive of disabled people?

[russ1]

Slowlegs, on Aug 26 2008, 10:24 AM, said:

Hi, does anyone know of any racing associations for recumbents which could be inclusive of disabled people?

British Human Power Club hold events that are inclusive of disabled people - their events are certainly open to handcyclists

[robbo100bike]

Just to echo Russ, BHPC hold races which are open to all. They are also a good source of information and opportunity to see and try different kit.

Check out the KMX Kart.

[Able Guy]

I got Greenspeed GTO recumbent trike 6 months ago.
Great exercise for my legs now when I got the pedals sorted.
I have drop foot on both of my feet and ordinary pedals would not work so I made my own design.

First idea was to use rollerblading shoes with clipless pedals. I just removed wheels out of old rollerblading shoes and installed my old MTB clipless pedals on the bottom. The pedals were closer to the heels than usually to allow maximum power transfer.
They were too hot and bad to walk on so I had to find something else.

Secondly I removed the toeclips out of the pedals the trike came with and change them to the other side of pedals so the toeclips became heel cups. that worked better but too much flopping around.

Thirdly, me and my brother, while I was visiting in Finland, invented new type of drop shaft pedals. that did not work for me in my recumbent but was a success for my brother in his MTB. After dreaming of becoming rich with the idea I found out that some Ｍｒ　Ｒａｍｓｅｙ　ｈａｄ　ｉｎｖｅｎｔｅｄ　ｔｈｅ　ｉｄｅａ　１１０　ｙｅａｒｓ　ａｇｏ．　
（ｓｏｒｒｙ　ａｂｏｕｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｆｏｎｔ　ｃｈａｎｇｅ　ｂｕｔ　Ｉ　ｄｏｎ’ｔ　ｋｎｏｗ　ｗｈｙ　ｉｔ　ｈａｐｐｅｎｅｄ？）

Ｆｏｕｒｔｈｌｙ，　Ｉ　ｍａｄｅ　ａ　ｂｒａｃｅ　ｆｏｒ　ｍｙ　ｆｏｏｔ　ｔｏ　ｓｔａｙ　ｉｎ　９０　ｄｅｇｒｅｅ　ａｎｇｌｅ　ｔｏｗａｒｄｓ　ｔｈｅ　ｐｅｄａｌ　ｓｏ　ｍｙ　ｆｏｏｔ　ｉｓ　ｓｔａｙｉｎｇ　ｐｕｔ　ａｎｄ　ｍａｘｉｍｕｍ　ｐｏｗｅｒ　ｉｓ　ｔｒａｎｓｆｅｒｒｅｄ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｐｅｄａｌｓ．　

Ｉ　ｔｈｉｎｋ　Ｉ　ｍａｋｅ　ａｎ　ｉｎｓｔｒｕｃｔａｂｌｅ　（ｗｗｗ．ｉｎｓｔｒｕｃｔａｂｌｅｓ．ｃｏｍ）ｏｒ　ｙｏｕｔｕｂｅ　ｖｉｄｅｏ　ｏｕｔ　ｏｆ　ｉｔ　ｓｏ　ｏｔｈｅｒ　ｐｅｏｐｌｅ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｓａｎｅ　ｐｒｏｂｌｅｍ　ｃａｎ　ｍａｋｅ　ｔｈｅｉｒ　ｏｗｎ.

[guido]

Hi - I want to bump this thread as we're looking at a tandem with a handcycle and I'd like any input.


It seems the options are horrendously expensive and I want to know pros and cons, things to look out for / to avoid, etc...


The Greenspeed GTT Tandem Touring Trike: http://www.wrhpv.com...spec/index.html








This seems quite a useful resource on pros and cons, but actual member feedback would be cool: http://www.bicycling.../fancybikes.htm


Or the Hase Kett Weisel: http://hasebikes.com...1-handbike.html (or UK http://www.londonrec...ndex.php?id=217) which can be put together with another to make a 5-wheeler trike, but which can be separated easily back into 2 trikes.





Have also found: http://www.terratrike.com/tandem.php


Others?
Is one restricted to touring on roads?
What about green lanes and bridleways?
Handling?
Hills?


HELP....

[Tetracyclone]

Guido,

i lust for one of these also and despair at the price, partly because I know my use of it would be limited- what, twice a month at best???

Tough sell. Still....

[guido]

Just running through the manufacturers and thought I could add what I find out here:


ICE - really helpful chap but don't do any handcranks or tandems any more.


more to follow....

[guido]

There is so little about these recreational trikes for handbiking on the web (it seems) that I want to bump this thread and hone in on the Hase Kettwiesel as it really seems to be one of the best options from all my research, unless you go for the Greenspeed GTT Tandem Touring Trike with handcrank - except that cannot work as individual bikes.

(yes, bear with me, I AM trying to get in a number of keywords for google and the apparelyzed search engines as this may be of benefit to others later on:
common spellings and mis-spellings: Kett weisel, kettweisel, kettwiesel, kett wiesel)

If anyone has and uses one of these recumbent trikes with handcrank, please can you add something about the following:

1. Nexus hub gears plus mountain drive VS Rohloff Hub gears (which cannot have Mountain Drive)
- reliability
- ease of use on uphills etc

2. Difference of capability (hills, etc, as tandem and individual handbike)

3. SON hub dynamo lighting

4. Stowage on touring
- front panniers -> can you have these with a handcrank?
- Ortlieb bags -> can you have these with trailer? Are they really good or just really expensive? Can one use other non-brand bags?

5. Is the recumbent position on seat enough to avoid pressure issues on bum?

6. What do you do with your wheelchair if you want to bike out somewhere and then (for example) have in a pub for lunch?

Why is there SO little on this subject. There must be members out there with these trikes?!
Please advise....

Edited by guido, 25 April 2011 - 12:38 PM.

[guido]

And here is a Hase Forum - mostly in German - so starting some English threads.

http://hasebikes.com/forum/

There's just gotta be help on here.....

Edited by guido, 25 April 2011 - 04:06 PM.

[guido]

The ever beautiful Cat has just found this website: http://www.adventuresofgreg.com/HPVlog/07-31-04.html


More options for the Kett! Looks hilarious so thought I'd post it..!

[Slowlegs]

Hi Guido, I am looking at one of these at the moment but the leg powered one. I will let you know how it is if I get it. I had a ride on a modified one a year or so ago. Nice machines.