Three Wheels Good

Umbra on adult tricycles 16

Dear Umbra,

I want to reduce my carbon footprint. I already take a commuter train to work, but the station is down a steep hill from my house, so I drive the first mile or so in the morning and back up the hill at night. The train station has lock-ups for cycles and I'm interested in that -- but I have a disability that affects my whole right side, arm, foot, leg. I'm not able to stay balanced on a conventional two-wheeled bike but have seen specialty adult-sized tricycles around town -- mostly pedicabs for tourists. Do you know where I can find a lightweight, adult-sized tricycle or someone who can custom make one for me?

SMA
Kensington, Calif.

Dearest SMA,

Something new every day, that's what we learn. There are plenty of adult tricycles to choose from -- one thing I learned today. I'd never seen one, but they're popular enough to be carried by Wal-Mart -- my other surprise. Like most holier-than-thou Wal-Mart haters, I've only set foot in one Wal-Mart (15 years ago; I bought a little photo album for quite a reasonable price). According to the internet, Wal-Mart carries at least two adult trikes, including a foldable one. These look great for folks who need stability and cargo space.

When you feel like a third wheel.

A few short weeks ago, during the onset of Bicycle Obsession, we discussed European cargo bikes. Adult tricycles belong in the same family. They're sturdy, with big seats -- sometimes even chairs in lieu of seats -- and usually a big wire basket between the two back wheels. Also like European cargo bikes, I think trikes are designed for flatter terrain. One Schwinn trike is single-speed, another is three-speed; Worksman makes a three-speed with a full chair-style seat; and Freedom Concepts makes a seven-speed. (I found all of these on an "adult tricycle" internet search, and there are others out there; a few are available for delivery.)

How can you transform a bike designed for flatter, low-key riding into one that you can ride up a steepish hill? I have a few ideas, but you should also talk with an actual bike mechanic about your hill, your physical abilities, and whether my ideas or other modifications will actually result in a workable situation.

One option you might want to look into is modifying whatever trike you're interested in by adding more gears. Gears control how easy or hard it is to pedal the bicycle. Three speeds don't give much range of pedaling ease, but more gears would. However, there may not be space to add the needed chain rings that would give you more gears. In that case, you might consider adult "training wheels", which might work for your needs, and would get around the problem of a three-speed trike. Instead of the trike, you would buy a regular mountain bike with lots of gears, and attach these extra wheels for balance. Bike Rack, the company selling the training wheels, has a wide range of parts and bikes for atypical cyclists such as yourself.

Here's my other suggestion: toe clips, which are the little baskets that attach to the pedals. They keep your foot on the pedal, but more importantly they maximize muscular effort of your leg. Without toe clips, your foot only powers the bike on the downstroke. If your foot is attached to the pedal, it can continue to turn the gears during the upstroke as well, because it will pull up on the clip and lift the pedal. Clip-in shoes are the step beyond toe clips: special shoes the rider clicks in to special pedals. They attach very tightly and maximize pedaling efficiency, but it can be a hassle to wear special shoes and hard to get the hang of clipping in and out in a hurry.

If you do get a trike, look into toe clips, but be aware of the attendant safety hazards. A rider needs to be able to quickly slip a foot out of the clip if the need arises, and it's dangerous to have clips attached and let them drag along the ground, as they may snag on random items.

I have high hopes that you'll be able to find a good solid trike and easily adapt it. You and your styling ride are going to be the talk of the commuter train.

Spokily,
Umbra

 

Yours is to wonder why, hers is to answer (or try). Send your green-living questions to Umbra.

Umbra Fisk is Grist Research Associate II, Hardcover and Periodicals Unit, floors 2B-4B.

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  1. rebekkahhilgraves Posted 1:36 am
    28 Jul 2008

    TricyclesFor the hill, you might also be interested to know that there's a battery-assist tricycle for adults. Have a look at http://wheels4tomorrow.com/battery.html and look for  the IZIP TRI CRUISER.
    Good luck!

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  2. timoey Posted 2:02 am
    28 Jul 2008

    Toe clips & Speed caveat for tricyclesToe clips are a good idea to maximize power. Plus on a tricycle you can leave your feet attached to the pedals and remain upright when you stop (whereas on a bike you will fall over).
    On the flip side, regarding gears and hills, it is best to keep tricycles on relatively flat terrain and to watch your speed carefully to avoid tipping over -- unlike bikes it is much more difficult to take turns at high speed safely. So the gearing that comes with most tricycles is probably best left as is to encourage safe riding.
    Cheers,

    Tim Oey

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  3. hwfielden Posted 2:22 am
    28 Jul 2008

    adult trikesAdult tricycles are a great idea. I am in the process of converting a trike,that I received for free, to electric assist. I have started researching front wheel hub motors which I believe to be ideal for any type of bike for folks that like a little exercise but need a little help also. I have noticed that trikes can be found fairly inexpensive @ yard sales, and,yes they can be tricky when trying to turn too sharp. Good luck.

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  4. sustainablemer Posted 6:56 am
    28 Jul 2008

    adult trikesi have a small-ish adult trike. it folds in half and will go into the hatch back of my car. as a sort of sport model it has a shorter than standard distance between front and back wheels. be prepared with this size to smudge the back of you calf occasionally moving it around. my trike is less grandmotherly than most. it has upright handlebars and a cushiony seat (but not a giant tractor-type sit-down). it is almost dainty looking with its smaller than standard wheels.

    that said, mine has an electric hub motor. i can pedal it on flats, but the 3 little 12 volt batteries and the motor make it heavy. around town it goes about 10mph and can go 15+ miles on an overnight charge. other configurations are possible.i like it very much and use it regularly for errands. it came with a back basket between the rear wheels and i added a removable shopping basket in front. i too have balance problems. getting out of toe clips at an intersection was always and invite to fall. the trike took care of that. as for hills, it's not going up that is the problem. after all, you can use the motor and pedal assist if need be. remember that a steep downhill is beyond the capability of the brakes, esp with the added weight of groceries or packages. JUST GO SLOW!

    ride any likely trike you find. you really shouldn't catalog order a model you have never ridden. look for models with spring front fork and seat. most can be retrofitted with a motor if you decide to go that way.

    good luck in your search. hope you enjoy yours as much as i do mine.

    blessings,

    emmer

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  5. BlackBear Posted 7:21 am
    28 Jul 2008

    Chiming in.I'm just chiming in about adult tricycles. There is an small american company working on recumbent tricycles that are purportedly much more stable than the upright ones above.
    http://www.lightfootcycles.com/trikes.htm
    They are all handmade, and therefor much more expensive, but I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't dying to try one out.

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  6. smukai Posted 9:27 am
    28 Jul 2008

    TrikesI have a friend/co-worker who, due to various reasons, prefers riding his tricycle to a bicycle. Because hills can be a challenge, he has a battery-assist motor that allows him to cruise up inclines that would otherwise leave him in a great deal of oxygen debt. Plus, he likes to leave lycra-clad roadies in his dust on the hills just for giggles.
    Check out his website: http://trikeanimal.com/

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  7. rusty snails Posted 9:37 am
    28 Jul 2008

    adult trikesThere are a myriad of trike manufacturers out there, as there are configurations. Uprights, deltas, tadpoles, recumbents, velomobiles, faired, naked. Too many websites to list. Lightest are the sports trikes. There are a range of electric assist options available. The Australian manufacturer Greenspeed makes a delta and range of tadpole trikes including folding or collapsable. Varna do a good handcycle trike.

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  8. trent Posted 12:55 pm
    28 Jul 2008

    Recumbent TrikesI rode a recumbent trike for about 7 years (most of those years sans car), and for the last 3 years I have been on a recumbent bike.  Without a doubt, I much prefer the trike; despite the extra weight, it is feels much safer to ride in the city as I don't have to focus any attention on balance, and drivers give me more room as I am clearly three dimensional.  I never found hills to be any more of a problem than on the bike, as long as you have good low gears.  And it's fun... my bike mechanic once called it a "Ferrari."
    You should definitely check out the recumbent trikes, as there are a wide variety of different styles and much better gear ranges and equipment than most upright trikes.  The brands I can think of off the top of my head are Catrike, ICE, Greenspeed, Lightfoot, HP Velo, and Wizwheels.
    But, as much as I am a recumbent enthusiast, the most important thing is to get something that you'll be happy riding... and get out there and ride!

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  9. Delay And Deny's avatar

    Delay And Deny Posted 1:31 pm
    28 Jul 2008

    Lean...Mean...Riding Machine

    I prefer a sportier model:
    http://www.bikecare.co.uk/tricycles/mission/chopper_trike ...

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  10. trikebum Posted 11:37 pm
    28 Jul 2008

    3 wheels goodI first purchased a Lightfoot trike in '99 and haven't looked back. We are now a no-car multi-trike family. We also have a 4-wheel side-by-side tandem that serves as the 'family car'. One trike is equipped with electric assist. All bikes are from Lightfoot Cycles and the width works well in traffic.

    I even tow a riding lawn mower trailer I purchased from Home Depot and am able to carry lumber drywall and other building supplies. The trailer also doubles as a float to use in various parades I enter.

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  11. avansch Posted 12:57 am
    29 Jul 2008

    Check out Craigslist!My husband's been looking for mountain bikes and accessories on Craigslist lately and there was an adult tricycle available on there the other day.
    That would be an excellent place to start, if you're wanting one.  

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  12. caniscandida Posted 9:48 pm
    29 Jul 2008

    watch those turns thoughFor some weird physical reason, which no doubt Archimedes, or some other clever lad way back then who was good with his conjugations and declensions, already figured out, you need to turn really generously and patiently on a tricycle.  So if your idea of coolness involves speed, then trikes are out.
    On the other hand, just hang an image of Avalokiteshvara from the handle-bars, or Dionysus with tigers if that is more your style, and you have nothing to worry about.

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  13. amanthasoo Posted 1:02 am
    30 Jul 2008

    Sturdy Adult TrikesThere are two main kinds of trikes.  The delta style and the tadpole style.  The delta style has two wheels in back (shown above), whereas a tadpole style has two wheels in front and one wheel in back.  The tadpole style has excellent turning control.  So if you think you'll going fast down the hill in the morning and there are some sharp turns, I would consider trying out the tadpole style.  For high quality, made in the US, tadpole style trikes (be wary all trikes are more expensive than bikes) check out http://www.terratrike.com/

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  14. trikebum Posted 4:22 am
    30 Jul 2008

    Delta vs tadpole trikesI did a lot of research before I bought my first trike in '99. If you want speed with great handling the tadpole works well, though most tend to be a bit low for traffic situations. The delta type is better for carrying loads as there is  space between the 2 rear wheels. The upright delta is less stable than the recumbent style which Lightfoot Cycles makes.

    Here is my trike: http://tinyurl.com/6g6vs3

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  15. trikebum Posted 4:24 am
    30 Jul 2008

    Delta vs tadpole trikesI did a lot of research before I bought my first trike in '99. If you want speed with great handling the tadpole works well, though most tend to be a bit low for traffic situations. The delta type is better for carrying loads as there is  space between the 2 rear wheels. The upright delta is less stable than the recumbent style which Lightfoot Cycles makes.

    Here is my trike: http://tinyurl.com/6g6vs3

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  16. DannyGirl Posted 6:56 am
    30 Jul 2008

    invention for 1-armed bicyclists & tricyclistsI learned about this exciting development in making cycling accessible to more 'types' of disabled folks (in this case, those with 1 normal arm & hand + 1 disabled arm/hand.
    http://www.brakedirector.com/index.htm
    More about the inventor:
    http://biznik.com/members/david-krafchick
    There's been accessible 'human powered vehicles' for paraplegics and assisted tandem rides for blind folks... now this development!  

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