Questions tagged [tricycle]
A tricycle has three wheels. There are tricycles where you will sit upright (like a traditional children's tricycle) and those where you are more recumbent. If there is only one front wheel and two rear wheels, it is called a delta design. If there are two front wheels and one rear wheel, it is called a tadpole design.
73
questions
27
votes
23
answers
42k
views
Is a recumbent trike faster than a non-recumbent bicycle?
I am seriously considering getting a recumbent trike, probably one in a tadpole configuration, and was weighting up how much time I would save during my commute when compared to my normal bike.
...
16
votes
5
answers
7k
views
Are there any recumbent tricycles that can be transported with a normal car?
My wife would like a 3 wheeled recumbent, but I can’t see how we can transport one with a normal car.
I can put my bike on a rack or the roof, but all the recumbent I have seen are too large to ...
15
votes
6
answers
2k
views
My wife has Cerebral Palsy (CP) so can’t balance on a normal bike, what are the options so she can go cycling with me?
My wife has Cerebral Palsy (CP) so can’t balance on a normal bike, what are the options so she can go cycling with me?
We don't own a van, the size of any "bike" is important as it will have to fit ...
14
votes
6
answers
5k
views
What should I consider when looking at a recumbent trike for commuting and winter riding?
AS part of my investigation on my bike replacement, I'm starting to look at a trike. I like the idea of a trike as it looks to be much more comfortable, much faster, but also much more expensive (in ...
10
votes
5
answers
4k
views
What are the (dis)advantages of a tadpole vs. a delta trike?
On a recumbent trike, what are the advantages (and disadvantages) of two wheels in the front and one wheel in the back (a "tadpole" in recumbent terminology), vs. two wheels in the back and ...
10
votes
3
answers
7k
views
Do your legs get tired faster when riding a recumbent trike compared to a upright bike?
In my quest for getting as much information as I can before configuring my recumbent trike, I was thinking if my legs would be get more tired as they are in a horizontal position?
In an upright bike,...
10
votes
4
answers
5k
views
How can a recumbent tadpole trike brake three wheels with only two levers?
So this is probably a terrible idea, but I was looking at recumbent tadpoles recently and it just clicked. I would have two brake levers but three wheels. I would need to have to...
1.) Calibrate the ...
9
votes
5
answers
5k
views
Bicycle to tricycle conversion kits
I have back and balance problems and am blind in one eye so DMV took my drivers license away. I have been looking at conversion kits to turn a bike into a trike.
None of the sellers have contacted ...
9
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Where (UK) can we rent an adult tricycle or recumbent tricycle
There are a lot of cycle tracks (mostly old railway lines) in the UK that have bike rental, however very few of them have adult tricycle or recumbent tricycle.
Does anyone have the list of where you ...
8
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Laws applying to Homemade Tricycles
I am a freshman in high school who is planning to build his own recumbent tricycle. However, I would be very disappointed if my creation was illegal to ride on bike paths and sidewalks. I have ...
8
votes
1
answer
3k
views
What can I do to pedals to help kids or smaller riders use the bike
We recently bought a recumbent tricycle second-hand for our special needs daughter (catrike pocket). The bikes pedals are a little bit out of reach for her (~4 inches). These bikes are expesive and we ...
7
votes
1
answer
539
views
Terminology: Is there a technical term for the paired wheels on tricycles?
Are there standard technical terms for the location of the wheels on tricycles? I was writing up an answer to another question and was using clumsy terms such as front-wheel on a delta and rear wheel ...
6
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Dynamic stability of a tricycle
I'm currently designing the "electric bike of my dream" (please do not laugh! it's for fun, nothing serious), and I came up after some though with a tricycle, where 2 rear wheels are supporting the ...
5
votes
3
answers
1k
views
New to bicycles; Bad setup, bad bike, or too heavy?
I purchased a Schwinn Meridian adult tricycle hoping to have a flexible means of exercise. After giving it a close look, I tried it with disappointing results. When pedaling from a stop, the chain ...
5
votes
4
answers
445
views
Does this trike have a spoiler for downforce?
I saw a 1977 Masa Slingshot leaflet on ebay (source), copied below.
It has a lot of differences from a modern tadpole, in particular what looks like a "spoiler" on the front.
Is this similar ...
5
votes
6
answers
4k
views
Breaking spokes on adult tricycle
My mother is 60+ years old and 200+ lbs. She never learned to ride a bicycle, so she rides a Schwinn Town & Country adult tricycle. She loves it and rides it everyday, 2-5 miles everyday. The ...
5
votes
2
answers
936
views
Ackermann compensation for tadpole trikes- how to work Peter Eland's spreadsheets
I am building tadpoles trike with "dual crossed drag link" type steering, and having been using the spreadsheets below to get the Ackermann compensation right. I am however not really sure how to get ...
5
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Towing with a Recumbent Trike, Tadpole or Delta?
I have some experience towing with an upright bike I am considering getting a recumbent trike, as my back side does not last as long as my legs. With an upright bike I automatically move my weight ...
4
votes
3
answers
960
views
Adding gears to a childs trike pickle pashley
I'd like to add gears to my disabled son's pickle pashley tricycle. I have made a start by adding a 5 speed casette, but I'm stuck trying to work out how to shift the gears as there is no where to ...
4
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Are upright conventional bicycle more comfortable than a recumbent trike over forest trails? [closed]
This question was prompted out of a short discussion from this question when it was proposed that a upright conventional bicycle is more comfortable than a recumbent trike when riding over forest ...
4
votes
2
answers
666
views
Pain in back and back of thigh
I've never ridden a bike before, and I'm not in very good shape. I started riding yesterday (4/15/23). I think my legs are too short, or my seat is too high because the seat digs into the back of my ...
4
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Why aren’t there more tricycles with rear disk brakes (between the two rear wheels)
Just curious if anyone has seen these before, it would be a rare bird. I'm looking for a trike where the mount for the rear disk brake is mid-axle between the two rear wheels. What are the technical ...
4
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Need help identifying adult tricycle
I picked up an old adult tricycle to restore at a yard sale. It needs plenty of work and needs a bunch of new parts (spokes, fenders ect.), however I do not know anything about the tricycle except for ...
4
votes
1
answer
389
views
How to remove and replace wire pins from axle?
I have a Kent adult tricycle. It has a band brake attached to the rear axle. The brake pad is old and no longer grips, so I need to replace it. Apparently I can't just replace the pad because it is ...
4
votes
1
answer
501
views
I weight about 40 lbs (18 kg) more than the weight limit for the trike I can afford
I want to get an adult tricycle because I have balance problems, but I think that a triking/biking would be a good way to help get my weight under control. I weight about 40 pounds more than the ...
4
votes
1
answer
519
views
Tire selection for winter trike riding?
I'm thinking of trying out some winter riding on a recumbent tadpole trike. (ie the single drive wheel is in the rear).
With regular tires it slips all over the place; of course you can't really wipe ...
4
votes
1
answer
679
views
How to determine what kind of front derailleur can be used on my recumbent trike?
I need to replace the front derailleur on my tadpole trike. Unfortunately, I cannot find a brand name or other numbers anywhere on the derailleur, so I cannot just replace it with an identical product....
4
votes
1
answer
211
views
Tadpole Recumbent Bike Correct Fairing Position
What is the correct fairing position for a tadpole recumbent trike? I have a HP Gekko 26 with a Streamer fairing. Should the fairing be as far forward or as close to my pedal range as possible? ...
3
votes
5
answers
3k
views
How can I stop an Adult trike when both front brakes fail?
I have a lovely easy adult trike and I use it all the time.
Now the thing is because it's a trike, it only has front brakes.
Well on the 14th Feb I was riding to my local charity, got to the hill and ...
3
votes
1
answer
501
views
sun ez3 trike gearing
I have sun ez3 trike,it has rear freewheel with the largest being 28 teeth,can I put a mega
range with 34 teeth on it,and do I have to change the deraileur.Objective to make hills easier.
3
votes
4
answers
687
views
Are there any folding adult tricycles on the market in the UK? [closed]
It is easy to find folding bike, but where do you get a folding tricycles?
3
votes
1
answer
859
views
Sun 24" Traditional Trike Help
I am trying to figure out if I need a 23" or a 19" support bar to install a western saddle for my mothers trike. Below is a picture of the measurement from the frame mount to the old seat. I ...
3
votes
1
answer
670
views
Adult tandem trike conversion
I'd like to take my old tandem and make it a trike with dally tires and rims on the rear. Has anyone done it. Thanks
3
votes
2
answers
609
views
Can electric trike be made stable?
I bought a Viribus electric trike, which came unassembled. My son told me not to try it by myself (76-yr-old grandma, not as strong as I once was). I have to say he was not entirely wrong - it was ...
3
votes
1
answer
2k
views
On recumbent trikes, vs road bikes which is safer down hill?
Tadpole, vs delta have different tipping modes. Does the three wheel configuration give a false sense of stability? Are rocks on the road more or less of a risk on a Tadpole vs Delta vs Road/Mountain ...
2
votes
3
answers
286
views
Can I use fiberglass cloth and resin to fix tiny holes in fenders?
I'm trying to restore an adult tricycle and the fenders have multiple very small rust holes in them. Can I cut fiberglass cloth and make a "sandwich" with them with the fender in the middle and then ...
2
votes
2
answers
830
views
How are these trikes able to spin around backwards?
I found a video of some trikers who start out going backwards, but spin around to moving forwards (watch just the first 10 seconds). As best as I know, my trike can only go forwards. How is such a ...
2
votes
1
answer
403
views
Can anyone id this adult tricycle?
Can anyone id this tricycle? It has been painted over. It used to be a sky blue color. The tires are 24"x 1 3/8ths". My friend who gave it to me said it's at least 20 years old, but I think it's ...
2
votes
2
answers
6k
views
Schwinn Meridian trike not pedaling
I'm the third owner of this trike and I ride it EVERY day.I noticed a few days ago that I had no resistance when pedaling and then this morning it stopped altogether, I hopped off and checked it. The ...
2
votes
1
answer
159
views
Should I rotate the tires on a (grown-up) trike?
I have a recumbent tadpole trike (though maybe this would apply to any style). Its two front wheels have a few degrees of inwards lean. The rear is of course perfectly vertical.
I've read in another ...
2
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Changing wheel size when adding ebike kit to tricycle
I have a 20" wheel trike I plan to motorize. Can I add a 24" or 26" Hub front wheel motor and can I mix the front and rear tire sizes?
What are the consequences for stability and cornering?
I am new ...
2
votes
2
answers
931
views
"Right" way to store energy from 2 dynamo hubs
I just bought a recumbent trike, and plan to do a fair amount of long-distance traveling on it, to the point that a dynamo hub seems like a really good idea.
I was going to put a dynamo hub on one ...
2
votes
1
answer
1k
views
What type of hubs attach on only one side? [duplicate]
I wish to build a tricycle and one of the limiting factors is getting the front hubs. I search for tricycle hubs on eBay and get nothing useful.
I need both the hub and axle or the axle dimension has ...
2
votes
1
answer
78
views
Trike with 60+ pounds basket possible?
I noticed that many trikes have a basket in the back but I need something much stronger capable of carrying a golf cart battery which weighs about 60 pounds so is that possible to make a custom one ...
2
votes
0
answers
94
views
Look at my trike
About 21 days ago exactly I posted for help identifying some junk in a barn.
Today i can show you what these parts were supposed to look like.
I've figured out a bunch during the process.
The lever ...
2
votes
0
answers
202
views
What handling differences should I expect when moving from a bike to a Recumbent Trike? [closed]
I have been riding a normal bicycle, I just purchased a used Sun EZ-3 SX Delta Trike. I only have about a dozen miles on it on a few short trips.
There is an answer here indicating some of the ...
1
vote
2
answers
2k
views
Schwinn Meridian Adult Tricycle not easy to turn left. Turning right is fine
It turns right just fine but going to the left, whether on a curve or a hard left turn, seems stiff and a bit precarious. Can this be repaired?
1
vote
1
answer
87
views
What year would this tricycle be
The only numbers I got from it were C356635 it’s a Montgomery ward Hawthorne from what it says on the front badge.
1
vote
1
answer
211
views
Pet Safety and Adult Tricycle
Am interested in an adult tricycle and would like to add carry-on feature for my dog(slightly overweight-12lb pug mix)that can accommodate safely on either front or back. My question is about the ...
1
vote
2
answers
367
views
Why does a Bella cargo bike not act like a car driving in reverse?
This is crazy you could never make any vehicle have this kinda steering layout. You would imagine that it would be horribly unstable at high speeds +30 km/h. I can't see this being a good idea but it ...