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.

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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. ...
tehnyit's user avatar
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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 ...
Ian's user avatar
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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 ...
Ian's user avatar
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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 ...
tehnyit's user avatar
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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 ...
gerrit's user avatar
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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,...
tehnyit's user avatar
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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 ...
Sidney's user avatar
  • 347
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 ...
Bill Irwin's user avatar
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 ...
fr00ty_l00ps's user avatar
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 ...
Matt's user avatar
  • 275
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 ...
RoboKaren's user avatar
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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 ...
Laurent Grégoire's user avatar
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 ...
Charlie Ojers's user avatar
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 ...
StayOnTarget's user avatar
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 ...
Zeus A.'s user avatar
  • 205
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 ...
Trass Vasston's user avatar
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 ...
James Jenkins's user avatar
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 ...
Mike West's user avatar
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 ...
tehnyit's user avatar
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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 ...
Miles's user avatar
  • 41
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 ...
Dan H's user avatar
  • 41
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 ...
Sarah's user avatar
  • 41
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 ...
causative's user avatar
  • 143
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 ...
Raechel's user avatar
  • 41
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 ...
StayOnTarget's user avatar
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....
Village's user avatar
  • 433
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? ...
EnigMan's user avatar
  • 83
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 ...
18pminus4life's user avatar
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.
Tom Hodo's user avatar
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?
Ian's user avatar
  • 6,113
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 ...
Ken Horkavy's user avatar
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
Paladin's user avatar
  • 31
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 ...
trikey's user avatar
  • 31
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 ...
Rcarey's user avatar
  • 31
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 ...
Tina Greer's user avatar
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 ...
Village's user avatar
  • 433
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 ...
Tina Greer's user avatar
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 ...
Sam Tully's user avatar
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 ...
StayOnTarget's user avatar
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 ...
Frank Froede's user avatar
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 ...
Jeremy Holovacs's user avatar
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 ...
Earthling's user avatar
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 ...
David's user avatar
  • 818
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 ...
Bahry EL's user avatar
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 ...
James Jenkins's user avatar
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?
Andrea Lee's user avatar
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.
Eddie Aldaco's user avatar
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 ...
Nope.'s user avatar
  • 11
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 ...
Eric Huelin's user avatar