Notices
General Cycling Discussion Have a cycling related question or comment that doesn't fit in one of the other specialty forums? Drop on in and post in here! When possible, please select the forum above that most fits your post!

Folding Tricycle

Old 09-14-20, 08:07 PM
  #1  
diggida
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 28
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 17 Post(s)
Liked 9 Times in 6 Posts
Folding Tricycle

Hey all!

My girlfriend’s father is getting quite old(83) and having balance issues. He’s an avid cyclist and doesn’t want to give up riding but we’re concerned he’s going to really hurt himself so I’m trying to find to an upright tricycle that would be fun for him to ride. Ideally we’d find something foldable to make putting it in a car easier.

So far my searches are turning up very ‘old man’ and heavy looking options. Does anyone have any ideas for something more sporty and real bicycle looking and not insanely heavy? In my mind I imagine what’s basically a road/hybrid bike looking thing with three wheels, but most seem to be cheap-o chunky cruisers.

Thank you!

Mike
diggida is offline  
Old 09-14-20, 09:03 PM
  #2  
Buzzkill53120
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: SE Wisconsin
Posts: 128

Bikes: Trek Domane SLR 2019, Trek Trek Madone 5.1 (2011), Trek 1400 (1991)

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 47 Post(s)
Liked 73 Times in 33 Posts
I've seen road bike style trikes way back when. They were custom made, here's a link of something similar: https://classiccycleus.com/home/wp-co...gers-Trike.jpg

Don't know if this is what you're looking for. I've seen 3 wheeled recumbents, not foldable, but can fit in a hatchback or pickup.
Buzzkill53120 is offline  
Old 09-14-20, 09:25 PM
  #3  
VegasTriker
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Sin City, Nevada
Posts: 2,879

Bikes: Catrike 700, Greenspeed GTO trike, , Linear LWB recumbent, Haluzak Horizon SWB recumbent, Balance 450 MTB, Cannondale SM800 Beast of the East

Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 521 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 227 Times in 179 Posts
There are some higher seating trikes among the recumbent trikes but not all of them fold. Folding trikes tend to be a few pounds heavier than a similar model that does not fold. One that folds is the Catrike 559. It's far from a budget trike. It is an excellent brand with a lot of long-time uses (like me but with a different model) who put a lot of miles on them. This one is 39.5 lbs. https://www.catrike.com/catrike-559


VegasTriker is offline  
Likes For VegasTriker:
Old 09-14-20, 10:21 PM
  #4  
diggida
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 28
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 17 Post(s)
Liked 9 Times in 6 Posts
Originally Posted by VegasTriker
There are some higher seating trikes among the recumbent trikes but not all of them fold. Folding trikes tend to be a few pounds heavier than a similar model that does not fold. One that folds is the Catrike 559. It's far from a budget trike. It is an excellent brand with a lot of long-time uses (like me but with a different model) who put a lot of miles on them. This one is 39.5 lbs. https://www.catrike.com/catrike-559


Thank you. I’m concerned about his vision/visibility in a recumbent, so hopefully looking for an upright style. Sorry, I don’t know the technical term.

thanks!

Last edited by diggida; 09-14-20 at 10:38 PM.
diggida is offline  
Old 09-15-20, 07:50 AM
  #5  
VegasTriker
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Sin City, Nevada
Posts: 2,879

Bikes: Catrike 700, Greenspeed GTO trike, , Linear LWB recumbent, Haluzak Horizon SWB recumbent, Balance 450 MTB, Cannondale SM800 Beast of the East

Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 521 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 227 Times in 179 Posts
Visibility for the rider or is not a problem. My Catrike has the most laid back seat configuration of any trike at 25 degrees from horizontal but your head rests on a neck rest so you are looking straight ahead. The field of view is far better than on the road bike I rode in the past where I was often looking at the pavement ahead of me. My two previous trikes had a 45 degree seat angle similar to the one shown in the picture above which is adjustable from 44 to 51 degrees. Trike owners will tell you that motorists give you more room than they ever got on a regular bike too.
VegasTriker is offline  
Likes For VegasTriker:
Old 09-15-20, 08:44 AM
  #6  
fietsbob
Banned
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: NW,Oregon Coast
Posts: 43,598

Bikes: 8

Mentioned: 197 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7607 Post(s)
Liked 1,354 Times in 861 Posts
https://www.hpvelotechnik.com/en/rec...uring-trike-2/

... is another option..
fietsbob is offline  
Likes For fietsbob:
Old 09-15-20, 10:07 AM
  #7  
Notso_fastLane
Senior Member
 
Notso_fastLane's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Layton, UT
Posts: 1,606

Bikes: 2011 Bent TW Elegance 2014 Carbon Strada Velomobile

Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 626 Post(s)
Liked 701 Times in 418 Posts
The Hase trikes are more upright, and sporty, but they are pricey. I'm saving up for a pair for my wife and I to be able to ride together. Hase trikes can be hooked together to make a tandem.
Notso_fastLane is offline  
Old 09-15-20, 10:18 AM
  #8  
70sSanO
Senior Member
 
70sSanO's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Mission Viejo
Posts: 5,771

Bikes: 1986 Cannondale SR400 (Flat bar commuter), 1988 Cannondale Criterium XTR, 1992 Serotta T-Max, 1995 Trek 970

Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1935 Post(s)
Liked 2,149 Times in 1,313 Posts
I have no experience with the Trykit, but they may work. Personally I’m a little leery of an upright tricycle and cornering, especially at speed, but it may work.

Downside is not being able to fold it, but I think that asking for an upright racing style tricycle that also folds is probably not available.

Lightweight Racing and Touring Tricycles and Conversions

John
70sSanO is offline  
Likes For 70sSanO:
Old 09-15-20, 11:42 AM
  #9  
diggida
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 28
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 17 Post(s)
Liked 9 Times in 6 Posts
Originally Posted by VegasTriker
Visibility for the rider or is not a problem. My Catrike has the most laid back seat configuration of any trike at 25 degrees from horizontal but your head rests on a neck rest so you are looking straight ahead. The field of view is far better than on the road bike I rode in the past where I was often looking at the pavement ahead of me. My two previous trikes had a 45 degree seat angle similar to the one shown in the picture above which is adjustable from 44 to 51 degrees. Trike owners will tell you that motorists give you more room than they ever got on a regular bike too.
Thanks. I guess my concern is him being able to see over parked cars, and things like that. I’m also not sure how he’d take to such a foreign device. At his age and general mental capacity I’m not sure he’s up for new tricks, haha. Thanks though!
diggida is offline  
Old 09-15-20, 07:49 PM
  #10  
Retro Grouch 
Senior Member
 
Retro Grouch's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: St Peters, Missouri
Posts: 30,225

Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.

Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1572 Post(s)
Liked 642 Times in 363 Posts
Originally Posted by diggida
Hey all!

My girlfriend’s father is getting quite old(83) and having balance issues. He’s an avid cyclist and doesn’t want to give up riding but we’re concerned he’s going to really hurt himself so I’m trying to find to an upright tricycle that would be fun for him to ride. Ideally we’d find something foldable to make putting it in a car easier.

So far my searches are turning up very ‘old man’ and heavy looking options. Does anyone have any ideas for something more sporty and real bicycle looking and not insanely heavy? In my mind I imagine what’s basically a road/hybrid bike looking thing with three wheels, but most seem to be cheap-o chunky cruisers.

Thank you!

Mike
83 used to be "quite old" but now it's only a little bit older than me. For the record, I ride a Catrike 559, much sportier than that three wheeled contraption you are looking for. I'm selective where I ride, mostly bike trails but some open roads.
__________________
My greatest fear is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was.
Retro Grouch is offline  
Likes For Retro Grouch:
Old 09-15-20, 08:12 PM
  #11  
Ironfish653
Dirty Heathen
 
Ironfish653's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: MC-778, 6250 fsw
Posts: 2,188

Bikes: 1997 Cannondale, 1976 Bridgestone, 1998 SoftRide, 1989 Klein, 1989 Black Lightning #0033

Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 889 Post(s)
Liked 906 Times in 534 Posts
Originally Posted by diggida
Thanks. I guess my concern is him being able to see over parked cars, and things like that. I’m also not sure how he’d take to such a foreign device. At his age and general mental capacity I’m not sure he’s up for new tricks, haha. Thanks though!
The biggest things with trikes, is that they don't lean when you go around a corner, which is pretty critical to keeping a two-wheel bike from flipping over when you go around a curve.
Three-wheelers, particularly delta trikes, are more like a sailing catamaran, where they want to lean the 'wrong way' going around corners. Tadpole trikes get around this by having two wheels in the front, for stability, 'Granny' basket trikes are typically so heavy, and low geared, that they're really only capable of low speeds, so it's not as much of an issue there, either.

For an example of what I mean, here are some British racing trikes (apparently, that's a thing) You can see what it takes to go around a corner with all the wheels on the ground:

Ironfish653 is offline  
Old 09-16-20, 09:13 AM
  #12  
Notso_fastLane
Senior Member
 
Notso_fastLane's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Layton, UT
Posts: 1,606

Bikes: 2011 Bent TW Elegance 2014 Carbon Strada Velomobile

Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 626 Post(s)
Liked 701 Times in 418 Posts
Originally Posted by jesicakmiller
Where can I get one of these, I wanna buy one for my husband and my kids. Seems a fun idea.
Which? The racing trikes in the above post, or trikes in general?

For the record, they are a ton of fun to ride compared to a normal bike, although I still prefer two wheels because I like to lean at speed (I race motorcycles too).

Some of the low, fast tadpole trikes are ridiculous amounts of fun, like riding a fast, pedal powered go-kart. (VTX, CatTrike 700, Greenspeed). My velo is crazy fast on level ground, but it's got a narrower wheel track, so it doesn't corner quite as well as some of those racier trikes.

Sources for trikes: Utah Trikes, Bent-up Cycles, Backcountry Recumbent Cycles, Azub, ICE Trikes, CatTrike,

See the list of sponsors at the top of Bent rider for all kinds of great links: 'BentRider Online
Notso_fastLane is offline  
Old 09-16-20, 10:24 AM
  #13  
diggida
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 28
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 17 Post(s)
Liked 9 Times in 6 Posts
I'm not sure I'm using the right descriptions, but I'm not looking for a recumbent bike. Is there some other way to describe the non-recumbent tricycles?
diggida is offline  
Old 09-17-20, 08:45 AM
  #14  
Notso_fastLane
Senior Member
 
Notso_fastLane's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Layton, UT
Posts: 1,606

Bikes: 2011 Bent TW Elegance 2014 Carbon Strada Velomobile

Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 626 Post(s)
Liked 701 Times in 418 Posts
Originally Posted by diggida
I'm not sure I'm using the right descriptions, but I'm not looking for a recumbent bike. Is there some other way to describe the non-recumbent tricycles?
You have a lot of conflicting, exclusive requirements. The upright trikes you describe that he thinks he wants are going to be heavy, slow, and tip over easily at any kind of speed.

If he wants any kind of performance at all, the trike will have to be lower to ground. It's physics.

I don't know why you/he are so resistant to recumbents. They are comfortable, easy to ride, and can be fast. I would say at least give a couple of test rides and see.
Notso_fastLane is offline  
Likes For Notso_fastLane:
Old 09-17-20, 11:19 AM
  #15  
diggida
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 28
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 17 Post(s)
Liked 9 Times in 6 Posts
Originally Posted by Notso_fastLane
You have a lot of conflicting, exclusive requirements. The upright trikes you describe that he thinks he wants are going to be heavy, slow, and tip over easily at any kind of speed.

If he wants any kind of performance at all, the trike will have to be lower to ground. It's physics.

I don't know why you/he are so resistant to recumbents. They are comfortable, easy to ride, and can be fast. I would say at least give a couple of test rides and see.
Fair enough. The hesitation is mostly due to him being in less than optimal health/mental acuity and I'm trying to help him find a way to enjoy riding with limited risk. I'll certainly explore the recumbents and see if he thinks he'll be comfortable with a new fangled contraption, haha.

Thanks.
diggida is offline  
Old 09-17-20, 11:32 AM
  #16  
Ironfish653
Dirty Heathen
 
Ironfish653's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: MC-778, 6250 fsw
Posts: 2,188

Bikes: 1997 Cannondale, 1976 Bridgestone, 1998 SoftRide, 1989 Klein, 1989 Black Lightning #0033

Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 889 Post(s)
Liked 906 Times in 534 Posts
Originally Posted by diggida
Fair enough. The hesitation is mostly due to him being in less than optimal health/mental acuity and I'm trying to help him find a way to enjoy riding with limited risk. I'll certainly explore the recumbents and see if he thinks he'll be comfortable with a new fangled contraption, haha.

Thanks.

Maybe something like the Sunseeker Eco-Delta would fit what you're looking for: it's a RANS-style semi recumbent (like sitting in a lawn chair) so you're still fairly upright, the controls and pedals are still similar to a 'regular' bike, but it's long and low enough to be stable if you get a little enthusiastic with it.

Ironfish653 is offline  
Likes For Ironfish653:
Old 09-18-20, 11:22 AM
  #17  
diggida
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 28
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 17 Post(s)
Liked 9 Times in 6 Posts
That thing is kind rad, thanks.I think regular handle bars would be more familiar for him.
diggida is offline  
Old 09-21-20, 08:31 PM
  #18  
bonjourpanda
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2020
Posts: 26
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Liked 3 Times in 2 Posts
I have the Pacific carryall.

It's fun, but there are some things to consider:

It feels significantly draggier to go uphill, there's no gears.
The wheels are tiny and there's little/no momentum, so it goes more slowly compared to a regular-sized bicycle.
Bumps in paths are bumpier, and
If a path tilts like this /, then the trike is effectively tilted, and it feels way scarier than a bicycle where you can easily correct for the tilt with your balance. One of the routes I like has a tilted, up-and-down sloping bike path that also has large cracks in it : I feel safer just getting off and pushing the tricycle

Upside:
You can fold and roll it
It's easy to fold
It's only 10kg (22 lbs)
It has a sturdy rear rack for groceries.
Edited to add: it handles well, and can turn small circles without you having to lean.

Last edited by bonjourpanda; 09-21-20 at 08:34 PM.
bonjourpanda is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.