I bought a recumbent trike
01-23-15, 10:08 AM
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I bought a recumbent trike
As I stood over the trike while discussing it with the owner that had it for sale, much to my surprise, I said I would take it. It is a 2012 Scorpion FX, which means nothing to most folks, and did not mean much to me, but I bought it.
Two crashes led me to this decision. A car crash that resulted in a nasty whiplash, which I cannot get over. Then a bike crash. I am over the bike crash, but the neck from the car crash seems to be with me forever, so I said I would take the trike.
I have ridden it on very short rides a few times now. Sort of grows on you. I will almost say "fun" in a weird sort of way. Good exercise. This model is made for tour riding and not so much for speed. If I am not able to recover enough to get back on an upright bike I will purchase a speed trike, such as the ICE VTX.
So, it really is not as bad as I thought it would be, so I will keep ridng the trike for a while.
Two crashes led me to this decision. A car crash that resulted in a nasty whiplash, which I cannot get over. Then a bike crash. I am over the bike crash, but the neck from the car crash seems to be with me forever, so I said I would take the trike.
I have ridden it on very short rides a few times now. Sort of grows on you. I will almost say "fun" in a weird sort of way. Good exercise. This model is made for tour riding and not so much for speed. If I am not able to recover enough to get back on an upright bike I will purchase a speed trike, such as the ICE VTX.
So, it really is not as bad as I thought it would be, so I will keep ridng the trike for a while.
01-23-15, 10:22 AM
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I hope that works out for you. Does it have a head rest?
01-23-15, 11:44 AM
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If you're using platform pedals, be VERY careful. Trikes have a nasty thing called leg suck - if you're moving along at any sort of speed and your foot slips off the pedal and hits the ground, the best case is a nasty bruise on the back of your leg. I switched to clipping in after getting one of the bruises - I didn't want to go for the wrecked knee or ankle joints, or the broken leg! Despite my wife's claims, I can and do learn...
01-23-15, 12:28 PM
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Have never ridden a trike, but love my recumbent bikes.
Scorpion fx looks cool. Will probably take a while to get used to it.
You might want to consider 'bent bikes as a future option.
Scorpion fx looks cool. Will probably take a while to get used to it.
You might want to consider 'bent bikes as a future option.
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Last edited by JanMM; 01-24-15 at 09:04 PM.
01-23-15, 01:21 PM
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If you're using platform pedals, be VERY careful. Trikes have a nasty thing called leg suck - if you're moving along at any sort of speed and your foot slips off the pedal and hits the ground, the best case is a nasty bruise on the back of your leg. I switched to clipping in after getting one of the bruises - I didn't want to go for the wrecked knee or ankle joints, or the broken leg! Despite my wife's claims, I can and do learn...
01-23-15, 01:22 PM
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01-23-15, 01:32 PM
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If you're using platform pedals, be VERY careful. Trikes have a nasty thing called leg suck - if you're moving along at any sort of speed and your foot slips off the pedal and hits the ground, the best case is a nasty bruise on the back of your leg. I switched to clipping in after getting one of the bruises - I didn't want to go for the wrecked knee or ankle joints, or the broken leg! Despite my wife's claims, I can and do learn...
I really like these pedals.......... Nashbar Verge Platform Pedals
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My preferred bicycle brand is.......WORKSMAN CYCLES
I dislike clipless pedals on any city bike since I feel they are unsafe.
Originally Posted by krazygluon
Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred, which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?
My preferred bicycle brand is.......WORKSMAN CYCLES
I dislike clipless pedals on any city bike since I feel they are unsafe.
Originally Posted by krazygluon
Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred, which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?
01-23-15, 02:53 PM
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I don't normally ride a trike but my wife has one and she loves it. She has an ICE Sprint 26" and it's a blast to ride, when she lets me. 
There is a small, city park that intersects with the MUP I ride at and the park is full of sharp, blind, S curves. Riding her trike in that park is like riding a go-cart. The VTX is the one she wanted, because of it's weight, but it's the only ICE that doesn't fold and we couldn't get it to fit in the van. Enjoy your trike. 
There is a small, city park that intersects with the MUP I ride at and the park is full of sharp, blind, S curves. Riding her trike in that park is like riding a go-cart. The VTX is the one she wanted, because of it's weight, but it's the only ICE that doesn't fold and we couldn't get it to fit in the van. Enjoy your trike.
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01-23-15, 03:07 PM
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01-23-15, 03:58 PM
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01-23-15, 04:25 PM
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The Recumbent Quant
After a bike accident, I bought a tadpole trike for my wife. It is an absolute blast to ride (imagine crossing a bike with a go cart). They're so much fun, I'm not sure they're legal in all 50 states... 
Last edited by cplager; 01-23-15 at 06:47 PM.
01-23-15, 05:49 PM
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I, too, bought a tadpole trike (ICE Sprint) this fall. I was laid up with a fractured wrist and apparently spent too much time browsing about cycling stuff on the internet. Anyhow, I discovered these things and became enraptured to the point that when I saw one on the local CL, I snapped it up. I still do most of my riding on 2 wheels, but the trike is a real wonder. I've put about 400 miles on it so far and am still figuring things out.
Also, it's one of the few things I have found that allow old guys to impress kids.
Also, it's one of the few things I have found that allow old guys to impress kids.
01-23-15, 05:54 PM
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Agree. Today I felt a little more comfortable with the little machine, so I edged the speed up on turns etc. It will bring a smile.
01-23-15, 10:11 PM
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I have a LWB bent and a trike. I ride them about 50-50. There is no doubt that riding the trike is relaxing and a blast to ride. One of the great things about a trike to is that fact it is a great destination ride. When you take it to an event like a bike race, you have your own lawn chair. No setting on the ground. And yes it will grow on you.
01-24-15, 11:47 AM
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I don't normally ride a trike but my wife has one and she loves it. She has an ICE Sprint 26" and it's a blast to ride, when she lets me. There is a small, city park that intersects with the MUP I ride at and the park is full of sharp, blind, S curves. Riding her trike in that park is like riding a go-cart. The VTX is the one she wanted, because of it's weight, but it's the only ICE that doesn't fold and we couldn't get it to fit in the van. Enjoy your trike.
There is a small, city park that intersects with the MUP I ride at and the park is full of sharp, blind, S curves. Riding her trike in that park is like riding a go-cart. The VTX is the one she wanted, because of it's weight, but it's the only ICE that doesn't fold and we couldn't get it to fit in the van. Enjoy your trike.
01-24-15, 05:22 PM
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…I had met Dick on two previous Annual Rides, though had not ridden with him. This year, he brought a finely crafted, low-riding recumbent tricyle. He had previously written that while slow on the uphills, it rode usual speeds on the flats and downhills. We had agreed to sign up for the metric century on Saturday.
The first couple miles on the Charles River Bikepath were great. It was a perfect cycling day, on the well-paved Path, and the Esplanade through which it passed was festive. I wear two, right and left eyeglass-mounted cycling mirrors, and I found that I could deflect the right-sided mirror slightly downwards and keep an eye on Dick without craning my neck to keep him in view.
As mentioned, Dick had come with a low-riding recumbent trike, from Fairborn, Ohio, small, probably rural town I imagined, and now at the end of the Path we were facing the busy mean streets of downtown Boston at rush hour. I myself had never ridden most of that on-street route to the Navy Yard, but I knew we could take sidewalks. Dick, as he was during the entire weekend, said “Fine, you lead the way.”
So we made our way, mostly on crowded sidewalks with some hazardous street crossings. Eventually I had to give up and go onto the streets. Dick had no problems with street riding, and actually seemed to prefer it. Later on he said it’s really no problem, and has cycled streets around the world such as Munich and London, so I realized, “What’s Boston?”
The trip to the Navy Yard, my first by bicycle, was worthwhile as part of the introduction to Boston. A fellow approached us asking about the three-wheeled recumbent since he had one because he had ALS. I soon learned that Dick’s recumbent gave him a celebrity status, and attracted a lot of attention…[The next day on the organized ride] We continued, now on course, again on enchanted roadways. We passed a pick-your-own blueberry farm where a young boy yelled to his dad, “Look at that race car!” (Dick’s bike).
The first couple miles on the Charles River Bikepath were great. It was a perfect cycling day, on the well-paved Path, and the Esplanade through which it passed was festive. I wear two, right and left eyeglass-mounted cycling mirrors, and I found that I could deflect the right-sided mirror slightly downwards and keep an eye on Dick without craning my neck to keep him in view.
As mentioned, Dick had come with a low-riding recumbent trike, from Fairborn, Ohio, small, probably rural town I imagined, and now at the end of the Path we were facing the busy mean streets of downtown Boston at rush hour. I myself had never ridden most of that on-street route to the Navy Yard, but I knew we could take sidewalks. Dick, as he was during the entire weekend, said “Fine, you lead the way.”
So we made our way, mostly on crowded sidewalks with some hazardous street crossings. Eventually I had to give up and go onto the streets. Dick had no problems with street riding, and actually seemed to prefer it. Later on he said it’s really no problem, and has cycled streets around the world such as Munich and London, so I realized, “What’s Boston?”
The trip to the Navy Yard, my first by bicycle, was worthwhile as part of the introduction to Boston. A fellow approached us asking about the three-wheeled recumbent since he had one because he had ALS. I soon learned that Dick’s recumbent gave him a celebrity status, and attracted a lot of attention…[The next day on the organized ride] We continued, now on course, again on enchanted roadways. We passed a pick-your-own blueberry farm where a young boy yelled to his dad, “Look at that race car!” (Dick’s bike).
01-24-15, 05:33 PM
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I never dreamed that I'd own a trike until my wife bought a Catrike Speed to ride with the grandkids. I was hooked from the first ride. I've since owned a Cat Road, 700, Expedition and now an ICE VorTX. Loved them all.
Even though I generally ride uprights, I still manage 1500 or so miles a year on a trike.
BA, congrats on a fine machine.
Even though I generally ride uprights, I still manage 1500 or so miles a year on a trike.
BA, congrats on a fine machine.
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01-25-15, 09:33 AM
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I bought a Catrike Expedition (actually the Utah Trikes upgraded Annihilator) just for the fun of it, and it is fun. While most of my riding is on either my TiRush or the triplet with the kids, I feel like I get a better workout in a brief period of time on shorter rides with the trike. I hope it will meet your post-crash needs for thousands of miles of enjoyment and exercise.
