Some ask, "Why a trike?"
#151
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OK, this was from yesterday’s 27 mile ride. It’s an ICE VTX with SRAM eTap shifting, carbon and Ti bits, and a power meter. Frame is a CrMoly (front)/AL (rear)
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Last edited by Trsnrtr; 01-10-20 at 06:39 AM.
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The 2 wheeled bents are faster than my uprights most of the time. When the climbing reaches about 80-90 feet per mile things essentially even up.
All of this is a bit murky because I can't ride two machines at the same time to get true comparisons. And I haven't done any virtual elevation testing in a long time, and have never done it on most of my current fleet.
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Steamer, I’m getting old and tired.
Seriously, though, yesterday’s ride had 22 mph sustained winds with gusts to 35. I would have ridden the trainer if all that I had was an upright but the trike manages the headwind fine.
Seriously, though, yesterday’s ride had 22 mph sustained winds with gusts to 35. I would have ridden the trainer if all that I had was an upright but the trike manages the headwind fine.
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#158
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Parked at work. The roads were mostly clear by the time I left, but definitely nice have 3 wheels in these conditions.
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Trikes are at a disadvantage is almost every way:
higher rolling resistance
higher aero drag (compared to fast recumbent bikes; not so bad compared to a rider with a non-aggressive position on an upright bike)
higher weight
more flexible frame (most impact on steep climbs)
Higher rolling resistance is not because of the third wheel. Other than a little extra hub bearing resistance, the third wheel adds no drag in theory because rolling resistance force is equal to Crr*weight. You may have an extra wheel, but that just means the weight is spread around more. I suspect that much (or all) of the additional rolling resistance comes from lateral scrubbing of the paired wheels (especially tadpoles). Imperfect alignment of those paired wheels and imperfect Ackerman compensation in tadpole designs (that scrubs speed with every minute steering correction being made due to pedal steer or even road camber) being the main culprits. And there are a lot of steering corrections, even as you ride straight. Every little bit of unbalanced lateral motion of the legs requires a steering correction and is therefore made plain as day on a trike whereas a bike's ability to freely pivot conceals this. Every correction scrubs speed. This is much more noticeable on a tadpole than on a delta trike because there are two steering wheels on a tadpole. Deltas have only one steered wheel and they seem to have very little steer scrub, just like a bike.
higher rolling resistance
higher aero drag (compared to fast recumbent bikes; not so bad compared to a rider with a non-aggressive position on an upright bike)
higher weight
more flexible frame (most impact on steep climbs)
Higher rolling resistance is not because of the third wheel. Other than a little extra hub bearing resistance, the third wheel adds no drag in theory because rolling resistance force is equal to Crr*weight. You may have an extra wheel, but that just means the weight is spread around more. I suspect that much (or all) of the additional rolling resistance comes from lateral scrubbing of the paired wheels (especially tadpoles). Imperfect alignment of those paired wheels and imperfect Ackerman compensation in tadpole designs (that scrubs speed with every minute steering correction being made due to pedal steer or even road camber) being the main culprits. And there are a lot of steering corrections, even as you ride straight. Every little bit of unbalanced lateral motion of the legs requires a steering correction and is therefore made plain as day on a trike whereas a bike's ability to freely pivot conceals this. Every correction scrubs speed. This is much more noticeable on a tadpole than on a delta trike because there are two steering wheels on a tadpole. Deltas have only one steered wheel and they seem to have very little steer scrub, just like a bike.
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#165
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Trikes are at a disadvantage is almost every way:
higher rolling resistance
higher aero drag (compared to fast recumbent bikes; not so bad compared to a rider with a non-aggressive position on an upright bike)
higher weight
more flexible frame (most impact on steep climbs)
Higher rolling resistance is not because of the third wheel. Other than a little extra hub bearing resistance, the third wheel adds no drag in theory because rolling resistance force is equal to Crr*weight. You may have an extra wheel, but that just means the weight is spread around more. I suspect that much (or all) of the additional rolling resistance comes from lateral scrubbing of the paired wheels (especially tadpoles). Imperfect alignment of those paired wheels and imperfect Ackerman compensation in tadpole designs (that scrubs speed with every minute steering correction being made due to pedal steer or even road camber) being the main culprits. And there are a lot of steering corrections, even as you ride straight. Every little bit of unbalanced lateral motion of the legs requires a steering correction and is therefore made plain as day on a trike whereas a bike's ability to freely pivot conceals this. Every correction scrubs speed. This is much more noticeable on a tadpole than on a delta trike because there are two steering wheels on a tadpole. Deltas have only one steered wheel and they seem to have very little steer scrub, just like a bike.
higher rolling resistance
higher aero drag (compared to fast recumbent bikes; not so bad compared to a rider with a non-aggressive position on an upright bike)
higher weight
more flexible frame (most impact on steep climbs)
Higher rolling resistance is not because of the third wheel. Other than a little extra hub bearing resistance, the third wheel adds no drag in theory because rolling resistance force is equal to Crr*weight. You may have an extra wheel, but that just means the weight is spread around more. I suspect that much (or all) of the additional rolling resistance comes from lateral scrubbing of the paired wheels (especially tadpoles). Imperfect alignment of those paired wheels and imperfect Ackerman compensation in tadpole designs (that scrubs speed with every minute steering correction being made due to pedal steer or even road camber) being the main culprits. And there are a lot of steering corrections, even as you ride straight. Every little bit of unbalanced lateral motion of the legs requires a steering correction and is therefore made plain as day on a trike whereas a bike's ability to freely pivot conceals this. Every correction scrubs speed. This is much more noticeable on a tadpole than on a delta trike because there are two steering wheels on a tadpole. Deltas have only one steered wheel and they seem to have very little steer scrub, just like a bike.
I think this is the point where I nod a lot and try to look like I have a clue.
I think I followed most of that, thanks!
#167
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#169
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The Bike Rack in St. Charles should have a few trikes to try as does Amlings in Chicago. If you don't mind a drive, Ron at FnA Cycles near Aurora is a good place to go for Catrike.
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#170
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Thanks, I may do that. Not that I need to spend any more money, considering I'm presently working on finding the "perfect road bike for under $10,000".
#171
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Seriously. Is there a trick to getting on and off that thing? I looked at one at a bike shop in Iowa. I was going to try sitting down on it but I didn't see how I could get down gracefully and I knew I'd need help getting back up.
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I’ve ridden low bikes since 2003. It’s just a knack one develops for the low ones.
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Pretty easy to mount a trike. Step over the frame where it goes to the crank. Slowly sit down. To get up, set the brakes, grab the handlebars( steering mechanism) and gently pull yourself into standing position. Just takes a little practice.
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I have no trouble with my 559 or my wife's Trail but have you tried doing that with a VTX? The cruciform tube is too far ahead of the seat for me to sit down gracefully and I have no idea how I might get up.
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In the case of the VTX, ICE is adamant that you not use the handlebars to exit trike. More info available on their website and info on entering/sitting on the VTX, too.
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