Looking for an Upright Tadpole Tricycle
11-04-18, 06:56 AM
#1
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Looking for an Upright Tadpole Tricycle
Hi all,
I'm trying to find the right bike for my wife. She can ride a standard two-wheeler, but never felt fully "in control" when coasting or going downhill. She can go uphill without an issue. She loves it. But she really wants to try out a trike to see if it would avert her stability fears.
Now, I don't want to buy her a delta trike because we're relatively young. She will want to go fast and we all know how delta and corners go. She also refuses to consider a recumbent. She's not willing to adjust her riding style for the lowered road visibility.
So, what I'm looking for is an upright tadpole tricycle. I can't seem to find one anywhere, but given the existence of cargo bikes like the Nihola and Babboe, I know someone has to make one. Who knows of a make/model they can share.
PS - I'm also considering a Nihola or Babboe cargo bike, but I'm trying to cover my bases.
I'm trying to find the right bike for my wife. She can ride a standard two-wheeler, but never felt fully "in control" when coasting or going downhill. She can go uphill without an issue. She loves it. But she really wants to try out a trike to see if it would avert her stability fears.
Now, I don't want to buy her a delta trike because we're relatively young. She will want to go fast and we all know how delta and corners go. She also refuses to consider a recumbent. She's not willing to adjust her riding style for the lowered road visibility.
So, what I'm looking for is an upright tadpole tricycle. I can't seem to find one anywhere, but given the existence of cargo bikes like the Nihola and Babboe, I know someone has to make one. Who knows of a make/model they can share.
PS - I'm also considering a Nihola or Babboe cargo bike, but I'm trying to cover my bases.
11-04-18, 07:25 AM
#2
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You ”can’t” have an upright tadpole If you want any kind of cornering speed.
Well, atleast not without some serious gymnastics.
Or a custom build.
Physics won’t allow it.
Regular bikes have high centers-of-gravity but manages by having the rider lean in corners.
’Bents manages by having a low CoG.
So a high CoG and a non leaning vehicle would need a very wide front axle width to avoid toppling over when cornering.
Regular tadpole ’bents are challenging enough in storage and manual handling.
If built, your upright ”performance” tadpole will be a beast off the road.
To transfer the cornering ability of a tadpole ’bent into an upright tadpole, you need to keep the angle between the CoG and the outboard contact patch.
So - barring serious gymnastics - you’re looking at something like 3X the axle width.
Well, atleast not without some serious gymnastics.
Or a custom build.
Physics won’t allow it.
Regular bikes have high centers-of-gravity but manages by having the rider lean in corners.
’Bents manages by having a low CoG.
So a high CoG and a non leaning vehicle would need a very wide front axle width to avoid toppling over when cornering.
Regular tadpole ’bents are challenging enough in storage and manual handling.
If built, your upright ”performance” tadpole will be a beast off the road.
To transfer the cornering ability of a tadpole ’bent into an upright tadpole, you need to keep the angle between the CoG and the outboard contact patch.
So - barring serious gymnastics - you’re looking at something like 3X the axle width.
Last edited by dabac; 11-04-18 at 08:42 AM.
11-04-18, 07:52 AM
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If you google British racing tricycles, you can see three wheel uprights in delta form. You can also see how much severe body english it takes to corner one. Never seen an upright tadpole and like dabac says, I doubt they exist.
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11-04-18, 08:50 AM
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This page has a few photos of some. mixed in with other types of trikes. Not sure If some are linked to manufacturers.
Edit- can't post the link?
Search for "upright tadpole trikes" they are out there. Maybe only custom made, I did not use all of the links.
Edit- can't post the link?
Search for "upright tadpole trikes" they are out there. Maybe only custom made, I did not use all of the links.
11-04-18, 09:28 AM
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A couple of high seating production trikes (not custom)
Try visiting www.bentrideronline.com and Utah Trikes - Online Recumbent. The first is a recumbent specific website and the second is a very prominent recumbent trike dealership. Catrike makes only tadpole trikes and has at least two with higher seating - Catrike Villager and Catrike 559. I think the Trident Spike is also a candidate for your needs and a little easier on the budget. I can attest for the quality and handling of Catrikes. I own a Catrike 700 and have ridden a Catrike Expedition. Not cheap but definitely a trike good for many thousands of miles. One thing to remember is the higher the center of gravity, the less stable the trike is. It's just a matter of learning the limits for a high seating trike and not exceeding them.
https://www.catrike.com/villager
https://www.catrike.com/catrike-559
Spike | Trident Trikes, Recumbent Trikes, Chameleon Convertitrike, Stowaway Folding Trike
https://www.catrike.com/villager
https://www.catrike.com/catrike-559
Spike | Trident Trikes, Recumbent Trikes, Chameleon Convertitrike, Stowaway Folding Trike
11-04-18, 09:36 AM
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He specified no recumbent style tadpole.
"She also refuses to consider a recumbent. She's not willing to adjust her riding style for the lowered road visibility."
"She also refuses to consider a recumbent. She's not willing to adjust her riding style for the lowered road visibility."
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11-04-18, 09:56 AM
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Missed the no-recumbent requirement. Too bad because I have never come across anything that was as useful as a recumbent trike when comparing trike weight and gearing. If you ask any long time, high mileage recumbent trike rider they will tell you that they get far more room from passing motorists than on an upright bike. The idea that someone can see a granny trike but can't see my 7 foot long Catrike 700 with my head 3 feet above the pavement and waving flag is mystifying.
11-04-18, 10:04 AM
#8
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Tadpole recumbent trikes are stable because the rider's weight is between the 3 wheels, and low. Delta recumbents can be relatively stable if the center of gravity is back by the rear wheels and low, which it's often not. What I'm saying is, the weight distribution is more important than the configuration in making it stable. An upright trike is going to have a high COG no matter what the wheelbase is; so I can't envision a stable tadpole upright anymore than I can a delta style upright.
So my advice is to give her a longer wheelbase and some good hydraulic disc brakes. And make sure she can reach the controls easily.
So my advice is to give her a longer wheelbase and some good hydraulic disc brakes. And make sure she can reach the controls easily.
11-04-18, 11:21 AM
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11-05-18, 11:21 AM
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Your bike, add one of these? https://www.addbike.fr/en/home/
11-06-18, 08:21 PM
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Clark W. Griswold
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Maybe it is the bike she is currently riding? Lower end bikes and bikes with skinny tires or really stiff uncomfortable bikes can lead to feeling unstable. Maybe try something with wider tires and certainly better brakes and that could solve the problem rather than trying to go for a clunky machine that will be harder to pedal and probably come with lower end components due to nobody wanting something like that unless recumbent.
Also it is good to make sure her position is good on the bike and a good fitter can help with that. That won't change the wider tires and better brakes but could help because sometimes people seek out bigger problems rather than just seeking solutions.
Also it is good to make sure her position is good on the bike and a good fitter can help with that. That won't change the wider tires and better brakes but could help because sometimes people seek out bigger problems rather than just seeking solutions.
11-07-18, 03:07 AM
#14
Senior Member
As an alternative, how about getting a tandem so you are looking after the stability and she can just enjoy the ride?
